New West Richland Complex is Now Open
We are excited to welcome members to the new West Richland Complex located at 2121 Cooperative Way.
The project began in 2021 when Benton REA purchased 17 acres of land for future development. Benton REA Board of Trustees and staff completed a member impact study, then underwent careful planning to ensure it could be carried out responsibly. The building project was first estimated to cost $28 million, but conservative budgeting, smart design methods, and efficient project management helped this project reach completion for just under $20 million.
Watch this video for an inside look at the West Richland Complex.
Why a New Complex?
- Aging facilities in Prosser and West Richland increased costs to address continual maintenance and repair issues.
- Failing HVAC systems resulted in increased service calls and maintenance costs.
- Electrical issues caused internal power loss and overloaded circuits.
- Facilities deteriorated due to age and increased traffic.
- Crews gain efficiency by not having to stop at multiple locations to gather materials before heading to job sites or outage locations.
Future Impact on Rates
- Benton REA rates will be impacted by all facility improvements considered including the new complex in West Richland.
- The estimated impact on rates is approximately 3% over time, of which 2.5% has already been implemented. This equals less than $7 per month for the average residential bill.
- The sale of current properties will provide future cost savings.