Manager's Message

Managers Message

October 2007

The Cooperative Advantage!

Dear Members-Did you know?

Benton REA is a private electric utility.
Benton REA owns and operates over 2,120 miles of power line.
Benton REA services extend from the Tri-Cities to the top of White Pass.
Benton REA is the only consumer owned utility in Benton/Yakima counties.
Benton REA has local offices in Toppenish, West Richland and Prosser.
Benton REA is locally owned by the member which is YOU.
Benton REA operates on a truly not-for-profit basis.
Benton REA is recognized nationally for service reliability.
Benton REA provides five-$8,000 continuing education scholarships/year.
Benton REA offers free conservation and energy efficiency workshops.
Benton REA offers training and education on renewable resources (100kW).
Benton REA offers free computer training courses.
Benton REA teaches a middle school curriculum on electricity.
Benton REA provides free electrical safety demonstrations to schools.
Benton REA returned over $5 million in capital credit refunds to members.
Benton REA provides dial up and high speed wireless Internet access.
Benton REA is part owner of a landfill methane gas generation project.
Benton REA provides 83% of its electrical energy from renewable resources.
Benton REA is governed by a board of nine locally elected Trustees.
Benton REA answers each phone call personally-not with a recording.
Benton REA maintains 24 hour emergency access to key management and staff personnel.
Benton REA maintains 24 hour emergency crews on weekends and holidays.
Benton REA scored 15% above any utility group in the ACSI customer survey.

Benton REA joins over 48,000 other cooperatives this month in celebrating National Cooperative Month. More than 34 million people in the United States receive their electricity from a member owned, democratically controlled Cooperative-after all that is "The Cooperative Way." To find out more about Benton REA visit our web site at www.bentonrea.org.

Sincerely yours,

Charles Dawsey

General Manager

Managers Message October 2007 The Cooperative Advantage! Dear Members-Did you know? Benton REA is a private electric utility. Benton REA owns and operates over 2,120 miles of power line. Benton REA services extend from the Tri-Cities to the top of White Pass. Benton REA is the only consumer owned utility in Benton/Yakima counties. Benton REA has local offices in Toppenish, West Richland and Prosser. Benton REA is locally owned by the member which is YOU. Benton REA operates on a truly not-for-profit basis. Benton REA is recognized nationally for service reliability. Benton REA provides five-$8,000 continuing education scholarships/year. Benton REA offers free conservation and energy efficiency workshops. Benton REA offers training and education on renewable resources (100kW). Benton REA offers free computer training courses. Benton REA teaches a middle school curriculum on electricity. Benton REA provides free electrical safety demonstrations to schools. Benton REA returned over $5 million in capital credit refunds to members. Benton REA provides dial up and high speed wireless Internet access. Benton REA is part owner of a landfill methane gas generation project. Benton REA provides 83% of its electrical energy from renewable resources. Benton REA is governed by a board of nine locally elected Trustees. Benton REA answers each phone call personally-not with a recording. Benton REA maintains 24 hour emergency access to key management and staff personnel. Benton REA maintains 24 hour emergency crews on weekends and holidays. Benton REA scored 15% above any utility group in the ACSI customer survey. Benton REA joins over 48,000 other cooperatives this month in celebrating National Cooperative Month. More than 34 million people in the United States receive their electricity from a member owned, democratically controlled Cooperative-after all that is "The Cooperative Way." To find out more about Benton REA visit our web site at www.bentonrea.org. Sincerely yours, Charles Dawsey General Manager