Managers Message

 

Dear Member

Absent wholesale power cost increases, Benton REA’s current retail rates would be adequate for the foreseeable future, and no retail rate increases would be necessary.  The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has announced that it will increase wholesale power costs by 7.8% (on average) beginning October 1st.  Unfortunately, because of member usage patterns, BPA has notified Benton REA that the cost of wholesale power it purchases from BPA will actually increase 15% in October. 

In response to these wholesale power increases, Benton REA will be increasing retail rates by 9.5% (on average) in March of 2012.  We urge all Benton REA members to plan for a 9% to 10% increase to electricity prices in their budgeting process for 2012. 

Each Benton REA member will be receiving the new retail rate schedules that are applicable to their specific account types. These new retail rate schedules will be sent to each member in a special mailer sometime in October. The new rate schedules will go into effect and be reflected on the Benton REA bills that members receive the first week of April 2012.

We know that cost increases are never welcome.  We are doing everything possible to keep electricity rates affordable, and to provide information so that the financial impact can be included in individual budgets.  Please refer to page 8 of this Ruralite for more information on the upcoming rate increase and details regarding area member meetings which have been scheduled to discuss the changes in retail rates. If you have any questions about the rate changes please call us at 1-800-221-6987.

By working together we can hopefully minimize the negative impacts of rate increases, after all that is the "The Cooperative Way.”