Solar Power

Solar Demonstration Project at Benton PUD

Benton PUD, in conjunction with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), has installed solar demonstration projects at their Kennewick and Prosser offices to provide customers an opportunity to get a closer look at how solar works. 

Located at Benton PUD’s Kennewick facility, there are 24 two foot by four foot panels mounted three different ways to demonstrate various mounting techniques. The fully operational 4kW system in Kennewick can generate 6,570 kWh per year.  (Click here to view the solar energy generated graph in Kennewick)

The system located at the Benton PUD facility in Prosser is a 3 kW system with 18 two foot by four foot panels that uses a pole mount system.  The 3kW system can generate 4,927 kWh a year.  The charging system for Benton PUD’s Prius Plug-in vehicle is tied into the system. The Prius Plug-in is a hybrid electric car that has been modified under a statewide study program to test the use of electricity to charge the vehicle in addition to the car’s hybrid design.  (Click here to view the solar energy generated graph in Prosser)

The solar systems were paid for through the BPA conservation program.

If an average Benton PUD residential customer wants to have a system large enough to offset their annual electric usage (approx. 17,000 kWh per year) they would need to install a 10.3 kW solar system on their house and participate in the Benton PUD’s Net Metering Program.  One kW solar panel will generate approximately 1,600 kWh of energy in a year.  The cost of a solar system varies depending on the size of the system with the price per kW dropping with the size of the system.   Prices can range from $9,000 - $11,000 per kW.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about our Solar Program

Click here to learn more about our Net Metering Program