Rural Electrification Administration (Rea)
Scope and Content Note: Little electricity in area until REA. Northern States Power Company's installation rates prohibitive. RS active in organizing farmers to sign up for REA; got required three farmers to a mile from town of Naples to beyond Trempealeau county line. Some farmers unwilling to participate either out of habit or skepticism. Wisconsin Farmers Union strongly backed REA and educated members to support it. REA charged minimum of $3.50 per month for forty kilowatts; some people not ready to use current after electricity turned on. Northern States received little business although its rates dropped drastically.