Spare Change For Good

Round up your electric bill to help fellow member; Benton REA will match $5,000

What can you buy with $6? You could spend it on a large, flavored, cold brew and a tip at your favorite coffee drive-thru. Six dollars will almost pay for a car wash.

If that $6 could be spent making a positive difference in your neighbor’s life, would you spend it or share it?

Benton REA’s new bill assistance program allows members to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar, donating the spare change to a fund that helps fellow members pay their past-due electric bills, enabling them to keep the lights on. The average donation is only $6 a year.

If your total bill is $105.25, it would be rounded up to $106. The extra 75 cents is donated to the bill assistance program. By rounding up your bill, you would give 0 to 99 cents each month. Your annual donation would be between 12 cents and $11.88.

If every member enrolled, more than $5,250 would be raised each month for the program.

Members must opt in to round up their bill and can unenroll at any time. Larger one-time and monthly donations will also be accepted from members and nonmembers.

From September 1 to October 31, 2020, Benton REA will make a matching donation to the bill assistance fund up to $5,000.

For example, if $2,000 is donated by October 31, Benton REA will also donate $2,000. If $5,000 or more is donated Benton REA will add $5,000 to the fund.

“This new bill assistance program is a great way to live the cooperative spirit by helping those in need,” General Manager and Benton REA member Mike Bradshaw says.

Mike made the first contribution by rounding up his monthly bill and giving a $200 one-time donation.

How to Contribute

Benton REA members can enroll in one of three ways:

1. Through your SmartHub online account or the SmartHub app. Click “Bill Assistance Program” under the “Billing & Payments” tab and click “Enroll” to select your round-up options.
2. Call 509-786-2913, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Mail the enrollment form on the back of your payment stub to a Benton REA office. This can be found on page two of your monthly Benton REA billing statement.

Nonmembers who wish to contribute—including individuals, businesses or community organizations— may call 509-786-2913.

Applying for Assistance

Members who have a residential account with a past-due balance and have a combined gross household income equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty guideline are eligible to apply.

Bill assistance will be granted as a credit on the electric account of the qualifying member once per calendar year. The amount of assistance depends on the family size, household income and amount due on the electric account.

Information about applying for bill assistance will be available this fall after funding is raised.

Help Choose a Name

Benton REA members and anyone who donates to the program will be allowed to vote on the official name. To vote online and learn more about rounding up your bill, giving a one-time donation or applying for bill assistance funds, visit www.BentonREA.org/BAP.