Benton REA

08/11/2026

Today is National 811 Day!

Whether you're planting a tree, installing a fence or starting any project that requires digging, play it safe and contact 811 first.

A quick call or online request can help locate underground utility lines, preventing service interruptions, costly repairs and serious injuries.

811 services are free and simple to use. Dig smart, and dig into safety before your project begins.

08/11/2026

⚡Cooperation Among Cooperatives in Action

When fire caused an outage on Big Bend Electric Cooperative’s system, Benton REA crews answered the call to provide mutual aid and assist with restoration efforts.

We’re proud of our crews for stepping up to support a neighboring cooperative and the communities they serve. It’s what cooperation among cooperatives is all about. 💙

🎥 Take a look at our crews in action at Big Bend.

08/11/2026

⚡ We’re Hiring! Join the Benton REA Member Experience Team!

We’re looking for a customer-service-minded professional to join us as a Temporary Member Experience Representative at our West Richland Complex.

If you enjoy helping people, solving problems, learning new systems, and being part of a collaborative team, this could be a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the electric cooperative industry while making a difference for the members and communities we serve.

Position highlights:

💰 $25.54–$38.31/hour
📅 4-10 work schedule with every Friday off
📍 Primarily in West Richland, with occasional travel to Prosser
⏳ Temporary position expected to last up to four months
🤝 Two years of customer service experience required
💬 Bilingual Spanish skills are a plus!

Ready to bring your skills to Benton REA? Apply today and come make a difference with us!⚡

Apply online: BentonREA.org

08/07/2026

🚩 Red Flag Warning in Effect - 11am 8/7 through 11pm 8/8

What does a Red Flag Warning mean?

A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation create an increased risk of wildfires.

What does that mean for Benton REA members?

During a Red Flag Warning, Benton REA places portions of our electric system into fire-safe mode as part of our Washington state-required Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

In fire safe mode, even brief contact from a tree branch, wildlife or another object can cause a line to trip.

Benton REA is not turning power off preemptively. However, if a line trips, it will not automatically restore power. Our crews must first patrol the affected line and confirm it is safe to re-energize.

Because Benton REA serves many rural areas, this can require crews to inspect miles of power line. This may result in longer outages during periods of high wildfire risk.

What are we doing to improve your experience?

This is one of the reasons Benton REA is investing in Grid Modernization. New equipment and technology will help us:

•Detect outages more precisely.
•Reduce the number of members affected.
•Get your lights on sooner.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to keep our members, employees, first responders and all of our families safe during wildfire season.

08/01/2026

🚩 Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning in Effect 🚩

Benton REA is also urging everyone to exercise the utmost caution this weekend, as the National Weather Service has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for central and eastern Washington. This rare designation indicates extreme fire weather conditions that pose a significant risk to public safety, firefighters, and our communities.

What does this mean for Benton REA members?

As part of our Washington state-required Wildfire Mitigation Plan, Benton REA may place portions of our electric system into Fire Safe Mode during these extreme conditions.

While Fire Safe Mode is active, any interruption to a power line, even from a tree branch, wildlife, or another object, will require crews to inspect the line before power can be restored.

Benton REA is not proactively turning power off. However, automatic restoration is temporarily disabled during Fire Safe Mode to help reduce wildfire risk. Because Benton REA serves many rural areas, crews may need to patrol miles of power line before safely restoring service, which can result in longer outages during periods of extreme fire danger.

How are we improving your experience?

Through our Grid Modernization efforts, Benton REA is investing in new technology that will help us:
⚡ Detect outages more precisely.
⚡ Reduce the number of members affected.
⚡ Restore power more efficiently when it is safe to do so.

We also encourage everyone to avoid activities that could spark a wildfire and to stay aware of changing conditions throughout the weekend.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to protect our members, employees, first responders, and the communities we serve during wildfire season.

We join the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group in urging the
public, land users and partner agencies to exercise the highest level of caution this weekend as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for Saturday afternoon and evening across central and eastern Washington.

This rare designation is reserved for fire-weather conditions that greatly exceed standard Red Flag criteria and pose significant danger to public safety, firefighters and communities.

Find specifics at www.weather.gov/otx

07/30/2026

Exterior doors can be a major source of energy loss, especially during the hottest summer months. Keep cool air in by checking weatherstripping, sealing gaps around door frames and adding a door sweep if you feel drafts underneath. Small fixes like these can help improve comfort and lower energy use year-round.

07/28/2026

Polar, the West Richland Police Department's K-9, stopped by to pay his electric bill, and while he was here, we couldn't resist giving him a tour of our new headquarters. We'd say he gave it two paws up! 🐾

We're proud to be neighbors with one of our favorite community partners, the West Richland Police Department, and we're excited to continue serving our members from our new location.

📍 Our new West Richland Complex is now open! If you're planning a visit, please be aware that construction is underway at the corner of Keene Road and Van Giesen Street. We encourage you to use alternate routes to help make your trip a little easier.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

07/27/2026

🎉⚡ We're officially open for business at our new headquarters!

We look forward to welcoming our members to our new home and continuing to provide the same reliable service you've come to expect from Benton REA.

Our business hours remain the same: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

07/25/2026

Red Flag Warning in our area until 8 pm tonight.

🚩 Red Flag Warning in Effect

What does a Red Flag Warning mean?

A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation create an increased risk of wildfires.

What does that mean for Benton REA members?

During a Red Flag Warning, Benton REA places portions of our electric system into fire-safe mode as part of our Washington state-required Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

In fire safe mode, even brief contact from a tree branch, wildlife or another object can cause a line to trip.

Benton REA is not turning power off preemptively. However, if a line trips, it will not automatically restore power. Our crews must first patrol the affected line and confirm it is safe to re-energize.

Because Benton REA serves many rural areas, this can require crews to inspect miles of power line. This may result in longer outages during periods of high wildfire risk.

What are we doing to improve your experience?

This is one of the reasons Benton REA is investing in Grid Modernization. New equipment and technology will help us:

•Detect outages more precisely.
•Reduce the number of members affected.
•Get your lights on sooner.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to keep our members, employees, first responders and all of our families safe during wildfire season.

07/24/2026

🚩 Red Flag Warning in Effect

What does a Red Flag Warning mean?

A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation create an increased risk of wildfires.

What does that mean for Benton REA members?

During a Red Flag Warning, Benton REA places portions of our electric system into fire-safe mode as part of our Washington state-required Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

In fire safe mode, even brief contact from a tree branch, wildlife or another object can cause a line to trip.

Benton REA is not turning power off preemptively. However, if a line trips, it will not automatically restore power. Our crews must first patrol the affected line and confirm it is safe to re-energize.

Because Benton REA serves many rural areas, this can require crews to inspect miles of power line. This may result in longer outages during periods of high wildfire risk.

What are we doing to improve your experience?

This is one of the reasons Benton REA is investing in Grid Modernization. New equipment and technology will help us:

•Detect outages more precisely.
•Reduce the number of members affected.
•Get your lights on sooner.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to keep our members, employees, first responders and all of our families safe during wildfire season.