Current News

Benton REA Lineworkers prepare to set a new power pole. Photo by David Herder.

A Day on the Lines

Benton REA Line crews work hard day and night to keep the lights on Story and photos by David Herder As the Benton Rural Electric Association lineworkers arrive to their worksite on a late February morning, the poles they plan to raise are covered in snow. For the past week, foreman Chris Hill and his…

Map of Benton REA Purchased Property in West Richland (Keene Road and Cooperative Way))

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…

Ruppert Substation bus work

Ruppert Substation to be Energized in December

Benton REA’s newest electric distribution substation is scheduled to come online in December. This eight-bay power distribution hub will receive 115 kilovolt electricity from Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines near Ruppert Road in West Richland. It will transform the high-voltage electricity to 12.4 kV, making it ready to send through Benton REA’s distribution power lines.…

On the cover of the 2022 Ruralite calendar, highlighted by evening light, a farmer’s crops grow near an old grain elevator. PHOTO BY HAROLD CARLSON

Member’s Photo Featured on Cover of 2022 Ruralite Calendar

The cover photo on the 2022 Ruralite calendar was submitted by Benton REA member and amature photographer Harold Carlson of West Richland. “I drove down this gravel road and saw this structure,” Harold says. “The evening light was hitting it so well and luckily the farmer’s crops were starting to show up. I got lucky…

The Benton REA Co-op Connections Card

Support Local and Save

Use Your Benton REA Co-op Connections Card to save at local businesses this holiday shopping season. Gift wish lists are being made with haste and it’s getting a little colder outside. The holiday shopping season is right around the corner. Speaking of around the corner, there are plenty of locally owned businesses in our neck…

Illustration by Atilla N. Wind, solar and hydropower landscape with a river and mountains

Your Feedback Needed on Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation

The Clean Energy Transformation Act, passed in 2019 by the Washington Legislature, requires Benton REA to file a Clean Energy Implementation Plan. Benton REA is seeking member input on this plan. Clean energy is electricity that does not produce carbon or other greenhouse gases as it is generated. Examples include hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and…

three electric meters

Disconnections Resume December 1

After 20 months of waived late fees and no disconnection of service for nonpayment, Benton REA will resume electric and internet disconnections on December 1. Anyone with a past-due balance is encouraged to contact Benton REA before November 30 to set up a payment arrangement. Only during November, those who make arrangements have up to…

Comparison of ACSI Scores (from ACSI) - Members give Benton REA and 89 Satisfaction rating, higher than Southwest Airlines, Nike, Apple, Touchstone average, National Co-op Avg., Wal-Mart, Investor-owned avg., Municipal utility avg., DISH Network and Facebook

Members Give Benton REA An 89 Satisfaction Rating

For the fifth year in a row, Benton REA members gave their electric cooperative an 89 out of 100 rating in the American Customer Satisfaction Index questions included in the annual satisfaction survey. Each year, Benton REA seeks to understand members’ satisfaction with the cooperative to improve customer service, reliability, and the quality of our…

A young mom and her young son crouch together along a trail through tall grass.

Members Support and Benefit from Power to Care Bill Assistance Program

In September 2020, Benton REA launched the Power to Care bill assistance program. One year later, the program is still helping members get through the pandemic together. Donating to the fund Each month, 449 members of the co-op choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar, or to donate $1, $5 or…

2021 Annual Meeting Ad_web

Drive In to the Annual Meeting

Benton REA invites all members to drive in for the 84th Annual Membership Meeting on September 18 at 10:30 a.m. Join us for a modified version of your annual meeting without leaving your vehicle. Drive to the Red Mountain Event Center (8280 W. Van Giesen St.) in West Richland. You’ll get a boxed lunch and…