Assistance to High Energy Cost-Rural Communities (10.859)
Program
10.859 Assistance to High Energy Cost-Rural Communities
Federal Agency
RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Authorization
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, by Public Law 106-472.
Program Number
10.859
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
Assistance to rural communities with extremely high energy costs.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Direct Loans.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds must be used to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the national average residential expenditure for home energy. Not more than 4 percent of amounts made available in grant funds may be used for planning and administrative expenses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Persons, States, subdivisions of States, and other entities organized under the laws of States are eligible, including, but not limited to, corporations, partnerships, associations, cooperatives, public bodies, and tribal entities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Projects must serve rural communities in which the average residential expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the national average residential expenditure for home energy.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Grant applications are requested in response to a Notice of Funds availability published in the Federal Register. Requirements for grant applications are described in the Federal Register notice and on the agency web site. Application materials may also be requested from the Agency. One or more application periods will be announced.
Award Procedure
Grant awards will be based on competitive ranking of applications according to published evaluation criteria.
Deadlines
Deadlines for applications will be published in the Federal Register and on the Agency web site. Applications will be accepted during an announced application window and awarded at the close of the window.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals of numerical rankings of competitive applications may be made through dispute resolution procedures of the RUS.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
New program. Not yet established.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grant recipients will be required to file periodic financial and performance reports specified in the grant agreement and USDA regulations..
Audits
Recipient will be required to report in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations."
Records
Grantee must maintain records in accordance with requirements of USDA regulations and grant agreement.
Program Accomplishments
New program. Not yet established.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-0400-0-1-452.
Obligations
FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $9,934,000; and FY 04 est not available. Note: Unexpended funds are carried over for FY 2002.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
New program. Not yet established.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) will be published in the Federal Register; Public Law 106-472.
Related Programs
10.850, Rural Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees; 10.854, Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250-1500. Telephone: (202) 720-9540. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Ne w program. Not yet established.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Grant applications will be ranked competitively based on published evaluation criteria. All projects must serve rural communities with extremely high energy costs..
