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Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§917 Prohibition on restricting water and waste facility services to electric customers

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELEPHONE SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - RURAL ELECTRIFICATION › § 917

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal rural development aid from the Department of Agriculture cannot make a person take electric service from any specific utility, supplier, or cooperative. No one getting that aid can be forced to use a particular electric company. The Secretary of Agriculture must write rules to protect this ban. The rules must include regular checks and audits and penalties for anyone who breaks or tries to break the rule. The rule applies to six groups of rural development programs named in the law, including parts of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; parts of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and later related acts; the Food Security Act of 1985; the Rural Development Act of 1972; and other listed sections. Final rules were required no later than 60 days after April 4, 1996.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §917

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Assistance under any rural development program administered by the Secretary or any agency of the Department of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement that the recipient of the 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 any rural development program is not subject to such a condition. The safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating, or attempting to violate subsection (a).
(c)In this section, the term “rural development program” means the following:
(1)section 304(b), 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 310B, and 375 11 See References in Text note below. and subtitle E [7 U.S.C. 2009 et seq.] of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(b), 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932).
(2)Subtitle G 1 of title XVI and section 2281 [42 U.S.C. 5177a], 2333, and 2381 [7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2, 3125b] of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.
(3)Subtitle C of title IX of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act Amendments of 1991 (Public Law 102–237; 7 U.S.C. 5930 note).
(4)section 1323(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 1932 note).
(5)Title V [7 U.S.C. 2661 et seq.] and section 603(c) [7 U.S.C. 2204a] of the Rural Development Act of 1972.
(6)section 905 and 940a 1 of this title and subchapter IV of this chapter.
(d)Not later than 60 days after April 4, 1996, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to ensure compliance with subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 375 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was classified to section 2008j of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 375(j)(7), as added Pub. L. 106–78, title VIII, § 816(d), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1182. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is Pub. L. 87–128, title III, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307. Subtitle E of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2009 et seq.) of chapter 50 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables. The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 101–624, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3359. Subtitle G of title XVI of the Act, known as the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990, was classified generally to subchapter VI (§ 5901 et seq.) of chapter 88 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6201(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 418. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1990

Amendments

note set out under section 1421 of this title and Tables. The Rural Development Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (c)(5), is Pub. L. 92–419, Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 657. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 2661 et seq.) of chapter 59 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables. section 905 and 940a of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(6), were repealed by Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, §§ 774(a), 780, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1150, 1151.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 917, act May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, § 17, as added Nov. 28, 1990, Pub. L. 101–624, title XXIII, § 2343, 104 Stat. 4027, related to establishment of technical assistance unit to provide advice and technical assistance to electric and telephone borrowers under this chapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–237, title VII, § 703(b), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1881.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 917

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73