Benton REA Buys Land for New Administration Building in West Richland

Electric prices will not increase due to phased construction schedule. 

After years of research, the Benton REA Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 17.79 acres on Keene Road in West Richland in December 2021. The land will be home to a new Benton REA administration building, with room to add operations facilities, truck bays and storage.

“Due to recent and anticipated growth of the West Richland community and the age of our current facilities, Benton REA is expanding our administrative presence in the community where most of its members live,” says Mike Bradshaw, Benton REA general manager.

The Prosser office will remain open to the public. Employees from many departments—including operations—will remain working in the current Prosser facilities while improvements to these buildings are made.

The current West Richland office and facilities will remain fully open while the new building is designed and built.

Impact to Members

Members will not see an increase in their price of electricity from Benton REA due to the purchase of land and facility improvements.

“We are adding and remodeling our facilities in a phased approach over many years so we will not require a rate increase to members’ electricity bills,” Mike says. “Spreading the costs of a major construction project over several years is a financially wise approach.”

Growing Pains

Benton REA is outgrowing its current facilities in both Prosser and West Richland. The Prosser office was bought in 1962 when Benton REA served 4,504 accounts with 30 employees. The co-op built the West Richland office in 1997 after it grew to 12,396 accounts and 55 employees. Today, Benton REA employs 73 and provides electricity to 15,828 accounts.

More than 60% of Benton REA electric members reside in the West Richland area. Based on projected growth, the West Richland population may double by 2030. As the co-op grows in membership, it will require more employees to maintain member satisfaction regarding power outage response and all member services.

“A new facility will help attract and keep the best local talent,” Mike says.

Sixteen Benton REA employees plan to retire by 2032 and will need to be replaced.

The building’s design is not complete, but members can expect it to include a lobby for member payments and business, offices for Benton REA employees from all departments, up-to-code accessibility and security features and a parking lot. Construction is not expected to begin until 2023.

Benton REA will provide more information to members as the co-op’s administration building progresses.

Benton REA Active Electric Meters and Members from 1962 to 2020