Current News
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. The others are in Cle…
Meet Your 2020 Trustee Election Candidates
Mail-in ballots due July 10 for districts 4, 5 and 6 Members who live in districts 4, 5 and 6 will receive a ballot in June for the trustee election. Each membership receives one vote. Members may submit their vote by returning a completed ballot in the postage-paid envelope provided with the mailing. Mailed ballots…
Member Satisfaction Survey Coming
A randomly selected group of members will receive a postcard this month asking them to complete a Benton REA satisfaction survey. If you receive one, please take 10 minutes or less to answer our questions. Each year, Benton REA seeks to understand our members’ satisfaction with the cooperative to improve customer service, reliability and the…
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 area, based on the number…
Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Incentives Now Available
Members can now receive up to $100 from Benton REA towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. In April, the Benton REA Board of Trustees voted to approve the new incentive program, rewarding those members who choose to reduce their tailpipe carbon emissions and purchase electricity to fuel their daily driver. Incentive Requirements Members will…
Sign Up for June 30 Blood Drive
A blood drive is scheduled for June 30 at the Benton REA West Richland office at 6095 W. Van Giesen St. According to the American Red Cross, thousands of blood drives were cancelled this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including one of Benton REA’s drives in March due to the temporary office closure. The…
All in a Night’s Work
Around 5 a.m. Sunday, May 3, Foreman Lineworker Jeff Ripplinger snapped a photo of the long-awaited sunrise, signaling not the beginning of the workday, but nearing the end. He and his crew got a call shortly after 11 p.m. the night before that a Benton PUD 115 kilovolt transmission line power pole was on fire…
2018 Benton REA Fuel Mix Report
How your electricity is generated, as reported in the Washington State Department of Commerce 2018 Electric Utility Fuel Mix Disclosure Report In 2018, Benton REA members received their electricity from the following generation sources: 75.96% Hydropower, 14.58% Unspecified, 9.45% Nuclear and 0.01% Natural Gas. This is the most recent data available for Benton REA’s fuel…
Kids’ Electrical Safety Poster Contest
Posters are due June 19, 2020, for this year’s Electrical Safety Poster Contest. All elementary-age children whose parents or guardians are Benton REA members with active electrical accounts are eligible. Prizes will be distributed in July. For more information, call 509-781-6752 or email rmitchell@bentonrea.org. Age Categories: Kindergartners and 1st graders 2nd and 3rd graders 4th…
Power Bills, Reliable Service and COVID-19
Answers to your questions about Benton REA’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Q: Are my electricity and internet service considered essential? A: Yes. Benton REA and PowerNET are considered essential service providers and will remain operating during the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-home order. Reliable electricity and internet services are critical to fighting the virus. Benton…