The US Department of Agriculture has announced over one point four billion dollars in loan guarantees to rural electric cooperatives across the country.

In South Dakota, B-Y Electric, based in Tabor will get a six point seven million dollar loan.

B-Y Manager Merlin Goehring (ger-ing) says while it is part of their normal operation funding, he says this loan will help them continue putting more power lines underground…

 

Goehring says despite their growth in service to homes near Lewis & Clark Lake, they still serve a very rural area…

 

Part of the loan will be used to continue their conversion to a “smart grid” system. Goehring says they are already using some of that technology…

 

Goehring says the loan will help with their ongoing construction over the next five years.