Recent Co-op News
5 Ways to Help You Save on Your Summer Energy Bill
Here are 5 ways that can help you save energy, money, and increase the comfort of your home. Installing a smart thermostat is one of the simplest ways to manage home energy use and keep summer bills in check. Smart thermostats are easy to install and allow you to control...
Planting Trees and Bushes for Energy Efficiency
Careful planning can lead to a beautiful, safe, energy saving landscape. Spring and summer are opportune times for yard work and DIY projects. Making improvements to your landscaping can provide valuable shade and promote better efficiency, lowering your summer energy bills. Large deciduous (leaf-shedding) trees planted on the east, west,...
Federal Hydro System Powers Region Through Arctic Blast
Federal dams were operating at levels not seen since the age of aluminum smelters in the Northwest and were key to keeping the lights on. Plunging temperatures across the Pacific Northwest that stayed below freezing for four days from January 12-16 were no match for the Federal Columbia River Power...
Seeking Candidates for Board Districts 7 and 8
Benton REA is governed by eight trustees who each represent a district of members. Trustees are elected by members to serve three-year terms. Candidates In 2024, the incumbent Benton REA trustees whose terms expire are Ted Wallace, district 7 and Catherine Russell, district 8. Members who meet the candidate qualifications...
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...
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...
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....
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....
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: 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...
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...