Featured News and Services
Benton REA & PowerNET
Offices Closed Until Further Notice
In response to COVID-19, Benton REA and PowerNET's Prosser and West Richland offices and community rooms are closed to the public until further notice. The safety of our employees, members and community remains our highest priority. Benton REA and PowerNET personnel will continue to be accessible by calling 800-221-6987, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Power outages can be reported by calling 800-221-6987 or through SmartHub.
Recent Co-op News
Integrating Other Renewables: The Perfect Partner
When the sun sets and the wind fades, the river rolls on The perpetual nature of hydropower makes it the perfect companion for the Northwest’s newest renewable energy sources, primarily wind and solar, which now total more than 8,000 megawatts. Just like hydropower, new renewables benefit the region in many...
Manager’s Message – August 2020, Worth the Cost
Dear Members, This year has been mentally, emotionally and, for some, financially draining. In these uncertain times, Benton REA is still here for you, providing necessary electricity and internet service. In a cooperative, your financial investment in Benton REA not only pays for the electricity you use, but helps keep...
$80K Window Rebate Makes Energy-Efficient Upgrade Possible
If you live in or drive by Westview Garden Apartments on West Richland’s 38th Avenue, you will notice new paint and new roofs. What you cannot see is residents enjoying lower electricity bills from their new, energy-efficient windows. “The windows are awesome,” says one apartment resident. “Our electric bill is...
Donate Blood August 18 in Prosser
Benton REA and the Prosser Holiday Inn Express & Suites will cosponsor a blood drive at the hotel August 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The American Red Cross continues to monitor the situation and is committed to operating blood drives in the safest way possible. At each blood...
Benton REA Pays $1.8 Million Back To Members During COVID-19 Pandemic
Ownership credits have traditionally been paid in December, but Benton REA is paying them early this year to help members power on through the pandemic If you are a Benton REA member and your 2020 capital (ownership) credit payment is $10 or greater, you will receive a check in the...
Reservoirs: The Region’s Storage Battery
Just like animals in times of abundance gather and store food for the leaner months, hydropower operators store water during wet months in preparation for drier conditions. Though squirrels may opt for underground storage, hydropower operators store water behind hydroelectric dams in large pools called reservoirs. Not all dams have...
Smart Thermostat Options and Rebates
A comparison of the market's smartest and most popular Heating and cooling costs account for about half of a user’s energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. When it comes to reducing energy use and cutting home energy costs, programming the thermostat can make a big impact. The...
Prosser Public Charging Station Operational
On May 11, Prosser gained an electric vehicle (EV) fast charger at 20 Merlot Drive, near the Verizon store and Chevron. The EV fast-charging station is the last to be energized as part of a nine-station network along Washington state highway corridors designed to enhance interstate and intrastate EV travel....
Water Cycle: The Power Behind Hydropower
Hydropower is the most abundant energy source in the Northwest. It’s also reliable and renewable, thanks to the benefits and predictability of our planet’s water cycle. The water cycle, also called the hydrological cycle, is the path water takes as it changes from solid to liquid to gas and back...
Benton REA Donates $20K to Local Food Banks
Twenty thousand dollars is feeding local families thanks to Benton REA and matching funds from CoBank, one of the utility’s lenders. Benton REA received a $10,000 matching grant from the CoBank Sharing Success program. Together, the $20,000 donation will help families through three organizations within the Benton REA member service...
