Electric co-ops invest $32 million in expansion

Mount Vernon-based Ozark Electric Cooperative’s $25 million and Marshfield-based Webster Electric Cooperative’s $8.2 million will finance construction of about 265 miles of new lines for some 3,000 new customers, combined.

“The number of new homes and businesses around Clever, Nixa and Republic is astounding,” said Jerry Mayberry, Ozark Electric Cooperative manager, in a news release. “We expect to add 1,800 customers over the next two years.”

Ozark Electric Cooperative will build 173 miles of new distribution lines in its service area covering Barry, Christian, Dade, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence and Polk counties.

Webster Electric plans to build 95 miles of power lines for 1,200 new consumers in its service area of Greene, Christian, Dallas, Laclede, Webster, Douglas and Wright counties.

The low-interest, long-term loans are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency.

Officials with both cooperatives said there is an increasing number of new customers in rural areas.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Oct. 17 e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.