Consumer-owned electric cooperatives maintain nearly half the nation's electric distribution lines, which cover 56 percent of America's land mass while serving one in eight U.S. business and residential electric consumers. Cooperatives meet that challeng in part by using RUS loans to help finance infrastructure that provides affordable, reliable electric service. Repayment of these loans also contribute to deficit reduction as a result of interest paid to the U.S. Treasury. In fiscal year 2019, electric loan repayments will net more than $160 million to the Treasury.