The purpose of the Rural Electrification Act (REA) was to bring electricity to rural areas of the United States that did not have access to electricity. Before the REA was passed in 1936, only 10% of rural households had electricity, while the majority of urban areas were already electrified. The act aimed to address the disparity by providing federal loans and grants to cooperative electric companies to build power lines and infrastructure necessary to bring electricity to rural communities. Its goal was to improve the quality of life, increase agricultural productivity, and promote economic development in rural areas by ensuring access to affordable electricity. The REA was highly successful in its mission and played a crucial role in electrifying rural America.
