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Show Currently' peaking O NS'CA v :Moon Lake Electric Asso., Inc. ft RAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Financing gets clean bill of health from gao v;iere's an old adage that says, "It it .as, don't fix it." According to vert D. Partridge, Executive Vice 'fSident of the National Rural Wic Cooperative Association ':.:ECA), the adage could apply to the I 1 electric financing program. Mr. .'ridge, in reviewing the reports, 'ts out that the above adage applies joperatives very well, because the !r ram has worked to the benefit of citizens and the country as a He. And he added, "The GAO has ' Cd to make any case whatsoever for idling with what is truly one of the H successful programs ever devised rtr'overnment." The study by GAO commenced in 1978, and the report relased to the public this month. 5 study looked into every facit of the j icing programs for rural electric Iterative power generating cities. IECA is a national association .prised of 1,000 rural electric u' ;ms which provide power to more '"' 25 million consumers in 46 states. GAO is an investigative arm of the '' Congress. Everyone who has had experience . the GAO knows it is an agency er' a well-earned reputation of looking ".'the shortcomings of government rams," Partridge said. "In this 6 they have come up empty-handed. pleased and pleasantly sur- d," he continued, "that after acting into every aspect of the power fely financing program for more nditwo years, the GAO found so little feiticize and has come up with an oc ntially positive report. In effect Ids- admit we are doing a good job." fertridge further pointed out that the 1 tk report in its study had: er Recognized the great potential the ;'2i electrification financing program 18 in helping the nation meet its e 4:al energy needs. eCredited rural electric co-ops with ? a good job in promoting energy 'J;3rvation, noting that 95 percent of 3nM are providing energy audits and :olE' conservation services to their amer-owners. '" Noted the outstanding record of loan repayment by borrowers the 45-year program history. Credited rural electric co-ops for support and involvement in the iMwpment and use of supplemental a !y sources. hough the GAO report does con-wee con-wee recommendations for change rfe REA financing program, Par-t)i Par-t)i characterized them as "not w:ng good sense." The first, lC jesting the reduction of the jj ;.iunent loan guarantee from 100 ovf::nt to 90 percent, is in accordance iat i:3AO policy of opposition to any 100 mt programs. In the case of the sr program, however, GAO has J 1 to show that the change is really Wanted. ,4 :ond is a recommendation that a e required to fund a reserve for j 3. Partridge pointed out that there been no losses under the REA intee loan program, that the 'ment record of rural electrics is lent and that GAO concedes all n its report. J third recommendation is that ral Financing Bank (FFB) par-ition par-ition in the REA loan guarantee am be restricted, even though, Idge noted, that the GAO report 5 "we agree that the FFB itself iS money on this (the REA) If3"1" the history of the rural electric "am reflecting continued service iral Americans, Mr. Partridge s again to the conclusion, "If it s, don't fix it." i tj posaur National Monument is ad-P ad-P itered by the National Park Ser-L, Ser-L, U.S. Department of the Interior. tvark takes its name from a deposit iTsil bones in the southwestern cor-)f cor-)f the area. The site is a burial id on an ancient river course, hie" fied bones of crocodiles, turtles tlif 14 species of dinosaurs have been tjyiijht to view by excavating river iient in the 140 million-year-old-.ison Formation. Rivers, such as 1 l,l.'reen River and Yampa River pro-si1'-master roles in nature's environ-' environ-' 1 ' for the park in that they cause ia3 on in the canyons in a wilderness S ig revealing fossils and different varied structures of the earth's 0 resulting in recreational areas to jji and incomparable scenic beauty. |