Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§2008e Prohibition under rural development programs
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - AGRICULTURAL CREDIT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › § 2008e
Summary
Recipients of rural development aid from USDA agencies must not be forced to take electric service from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative. The Secretary of Agriculture must make rules to enforce this ban. The rules must include regular certifications, audits, and penalties for violators. The Secretary must issue interim final regulations no later than 6 months after November 1, 1993.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §2008e
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Assistance under any rural development program administered by the Rural Development Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration, or any other agency of the Department of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement that the recipient of such assistance accept or receive electric service from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative.
(b)The Secretary shall establish, by regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under such rural development programs is not subject to such a condition. Such safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating, or attempting to violate, the prohibition in subsection (a).
(c)Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1993, the Secretary shall issue interim final regulations to ensure compliance with subsection (a).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 2008e
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73