Baucus, Tester announce nearly $2 million for Carter Co. Co-op

Dollars Will Help The Co-Op Recover From A Storm That Left 1,000 In the Dark

(Washington, D.C.) Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today
announced that nearly $2 million in federal funds are headed to the Southeast
Electric Cooperative in Carter County. The dollars will be spent helping
the co-op recover from a spring storm that left nearly 1,000 co-op members in
the dark for 16 days.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will
provide $1,982,747 to help cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged
or destroyed elements of the electrical system in Carter County. 

“The Southeast Electric Co-op is a vital operation in
Carter
County,” Baucus said. “They
create good paying jobs, and keep the lights on for homes and businesses- and
that means keeping future bright, too. This money will be put to good use- just
in time for winter.”

“This is smart investment in the infrastructure and the
future of rural Montana,” Tester said. “Reliable power is a
service all Montanans deserve, which is why Max and I always go to bat for
important projects like this.”

Near record snowfall and heavy winds on May 1, 2008,
caused snow and ice to accumulate on electric transmission lines in Carter
County. The combination of heavy snow and high winds caused lines to break and
fall to the ground at numerous locations. Power to all 927 members of the
electrical cooperative was lost on May 1. Electrical service was restored to all
residential customers by May 16, 2008.