7 CFR § 1717.603 - RUS approval of extensions and additions.

(a) Distribution borrowers. Prior written approval by RUS is required for a distribution borrower to extend or add to its electric system if the extension or addition will be financed by RUS. For extensions and additions that will not be financed by RUS, approval is hereby given to distribution borrowers to make such extensions and additions to their electric systems, including the use of (or commitment to use) general funds of the borrower, except for the following:

(1) Construction, procurement, or leasing of generating facilities if the combined capacity of the facilities to be built, procured, or leased, including any future facilities included in the planned project, will exceed the lesser of 5 megawatts or 30 percent of the borrower's equity;

(2) Acquisition or leasing of existing electric facilities or systems in service whose purchase price, or capitalized value in the case of a lease, exceeds 10 percent of the borrower's net utility plant; and

(3) Construction, procurement, or leasing of electric facilities to serve a customer whose annual kWh purchases or maximum annual kW demand in the foreseeable future is projected to exceed 25 percent of the borrower's total kWh sales or maximum kW demand in the year immediately preceding the acquisition or start of construction.

(b) Power supply borrowers. Prior written approval by RUS is required for a power supply borrower to extend or add to its electric system if the extension or addition will be financed by RUS. Requirements for RUS approval of extensions and additions that will not be financed by RUS are set forth in other RUS regulations.

(c) Additional details. Additional details relating to RUS approval of extensions and additions of a borrower's electric system financed by RUS are set forth in other RUS regulations, e.g., in 7 CFR parts 1710 and 1726.