Noticias Recientes de la Cooperativa

African,American,Mother,Kissing,Her,Daughter,On,Forehead,While,Lying

You Have the Power to Care

In September 2020, Benton REA launched the Power to Care bill assistance program. Now, the program has helped income-qualified members pay nearly $85,000 in past-due bills. Donating to the Fund Each month, 744 Benton REA members choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar or more. Since...
Andrew Gould

Benton REA Hires Andrew Gould as VP of Engineering & Operations

Benton REA is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew W. Gould, P.E. as Benton REA’s Vice President of Engineering and Operations. As a third-generation engineer, Gould brings 12 years of experience in the utility industry. He has dedicated his career to the safe and reliable transmission and distribution of...
A woman and cat sit on a couch with a blanket. A space heater is on in front of them.

Are Portable Space Heaters Efficient?

Small space heaters are meant to do exactly as their name says: heat a small space. Unfortunately, many people use portable space heaters to heat their entire home, which takes a toll on their energy bills. Whether you should use space heaters depends on your home’s efficiency and energy needs....
A hispanic woman with curly hair holds several $20 bills in her right hand. She is wearing a red t-shirt and the background is orange.

Claim Your Ownership Cash

Benton REA members, you may have money on the table. Each year the Benton REA Board of Trustees chooses to pay back ownership credits to members, and thousands of those checks go uncashed. After one year, uncashed checks become unclaimed and the funds are transferred to Benton REA’s Education Fund....
A mother, son, father and daughter sit at a couch looking at a map for their family emergency plan. Emergency supplies and food are on the coffee table. Backpacks and clothes are on the couch and floor.

Be A Fam With A Plan

It’s not pleasant to think about worst-case scenarios, but a little planning can make a big difference if the worst happens. Follow these tips to avoid feeling helpless during a disaster. Before Communicate:  Talk with your family about who to call, where to go and what to do if disaster...
Dams provide irrigation water and electricity to run irrigation pumps north of West Richland, Washington. Photo of irrigated corn and alfalfa fields near a Benton REA distribution power line north of West Richland.

Dams: One Structure, Many Benefits

At first glance, dams look like they hold back and store water, but they actually do so much more. Dams protect communities from floods, provide water to irrigate farmland, enable safe passage for boats and barges, create places to play on the river and provide the Northwest with renewable, carbon-free...
Scholarships photo header

2024 Scholarships and Youth Tour Applications Due January 8

Children of Benton REA members whose main residence is in Benton, Yakima or Lewis counties may apply for the co-op's 2024 continuing education scholarships and the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Funds for Benton REA's scholarships, youth tour and other education programs come from members' unclaimed ownership credits. Applications are...
Bird lasers protect birds and prevent electric outages

Lasers Protect Birds and Prevent Large Electric Outages

Why do you live where you live? Is it close to where you earn your income that feeds your family? Is it a structurally sound building in a safe neighborhood? These are the same reasons birds choose to nest inside electric substations. The steel beams and small hiding spots within...
Lightning strikes ground, dark blue clouds hang above. Lightning is the most common cause of a power surge.

Surge Protection for $6 A Month

A power surge is an unexpected increase in voltage. Regardless of the cause, power surges can damage electronics in your home. Benton REA offers surge protection at your electric meter for only $6 a month. But first, let's look at common causes of power surges and how you can protect...
A photo split down the middle, the left shows the back left side of an electric lineworker wearing a hard hat with a powerline in the background. The right side shows the right half of a lineworker wearing a ball cap and holding a baby girl with his home in the background. It says, "Lineworker Appreciation - We thank lineworkers for their courage and commitment to powering our community."

A Month of Appreciation

Lineworker Appreciation If you have noticed Benton REA's line crews working on power lines and other electrical equipment, it's no secret a lineworker's job is tough—but it's a job that's essential. This month we celebrate lineworkers. The next time you see a lineworker, please thank them for the work they...
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,...
two irrigation nozzles spray water with a blue sky background. You see a lot of water droplets.

Irrigating Around Electricity

Know the Risks and How to Safe Safe Spring planting is around the corner. Whether you’re a large producer or backyard gardener, keeping safety in mind as you plant and irrigate can save your life. Know What’s Below Do you know where the overhead and underground utilities are on your...