It is often said that while Roosevelt was staying at his home “the Little White House” in Warm Springs, GA, he was shocked at the cost of his electric bill. According to the story, Roosevelt claimed that he paid less at his large home in New York than he did for his small home in Georgia. Whether this story is true or not, Roosevelt had an interest in bringing electricity to all parts of the country.

 

In 1935 the Rural Electrification Administration was established by presidential Executive Order 7037 to do just that. Though many members of Congress and state governors, such as Georgia’s Eugene Talmadge, fought against this program, fearing it would lead to socialism, many farmers benefited from it.

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The Rural Electrification Act was passed by Congress in 1936. According to the New Deal Network, by 1939 there was a 25% increase in the number of rural households that had electricity, and for a reasonable price. If they could afford it, many farmers bought appliances that used electricity which helped stimulate the economy. Since Georgia was a rural state during this time period, many Georgians also benefited from the program