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Don’t miss this week’s video series, “The People Behind Public Power” and learn more about the faces behind Benton PUD!
Want to save money and energy? You can do both of these by making improvements around your home!
Benton PUD installed two self-serve payment kiosks to add to the list of ways customers can pay their bill. The payment kiosks are located next to the entry ways at the Kennewick and Prosser office locations to provide easy access any time or day.
Local utilities have joined utilities across the nation to raise awareness of utility scams with Utility Scam Awareness Day, Wednesday, November 14. Utility Scam Awareness Day will be supported by a week-long social media campaign.
Benton PUD staff is presenting a Weatherization and Home Automation Workshop at the Benton PUD Auditorium in Kennewick from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4 and again at the Benton PUD Auditorium in Prosser from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 5.
Benton PUD's Commission will hold a public hearing on Benton PUD's Preliminary 2019 Budget on Tuesday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Benton PUD's Administration Office Auditorium, 2721 West 10th Avenue, Kennewick, Washington.
Benton PUD’s advanced meters offer significant benefits to our customers including increased operating efficiencies, lower cost and quicker outage restoration. As with most technologies, the meter manufacturer has continued to improve the design and functionality of our meters. Over the next two weeks we will be replacing 225 meters, many of which were installed during our initial implementation in 2009. If you have questions about a meter that is being replaced please contact us Customer Service at (509) 582-1299.
A prominent way to scam people continues to be by telephone calls. Local utilities – Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, City of Richland Energy Services and Benton REA – urge customers to be aware of unusual and unlawful requests by phone.
The Washington Public Utility Districts (PUD) Association is conducting a statewide survey of electric utility customers. This survey will include Benton PUD and Franklin PUD customers. The survey’s purpose it to better understand public opinion and experiences with public power utilities.
Senior customers are invited to Benton PUD’s annual Senior Day on Thursday, October 11 at both the Kennewick Benton PUD Auditorium and Prosser Benton PUD Auditorium.
Fitch Ratings affirmed its ‘A+’ rating with a stable outlook on Benton PUD’s electric revenue bonds.
High temperatures are forecast to continue through the week. When temperatures go up, electricity usage goes up and customers may see a big increase in their next bill due solely to usage. Benton PUD rates have not changed since October 2017, and no increase is forecast for the remainder of the year.
Workshops are scheduled for Tuesday, July 24 at the Benton PUD Auditorium in Kennewick and Wednesday, July 25 at Bethel Church next to Benton PUD in Prosser. Both will take place from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Benton PUD wants you to be aware that scammers are out there. It's a new day but not a new scam.
Benton PUD paid $2.68 million in “privilege taxes” to the State of Washington at the end of May which is up $0.24 million from last year.
Benton PUD has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® Diamond designation from the American Public Power Association, the highest level awarded, for safely providing reliable electric service.
Benton PUD and EVITA (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Transportation Alliance) members celebrate the opening of the Southridge Sports and Event Complex electric vehicle charging station. This is the first of nine electric vehicle charging stations being installed as part of a pilot project led by EVITA and its partners, Greenlots and EV4.
Benton PUD commemorates National Electrical Safety Month to raise awareness about critical electrical safety topics as part of year around electrical safety education.
The first charging station of nine to be installed as part of the EVITA pilot project. The first CCS & CHAdeMO electric vehicle DC Fast Charging Station* in the Tri-Cities.
Benton PUD’s SmartHub® allows you to easily manage your account online.
In response to growing customer interest in cryptocurrency mining and block chain operations, coupled with concerns about distribution system safety and reliability, Benton PUD’s Commission has approved an Electricity Intensive Load (EIL) policy. The policy addresses parameters that balance stewardship and fiscal responsibility for all of Benton PUD’s customers while offering cost-effective and reliable service to EIL customers. The policy defines EIL customers as:
Examples include, but are not limited to: server farms, an aggregation of microprocessor-based computing equipment within a home, garage or business, or special purpose data centers. EIL customers have unique load attributes that are different from typical residential and commercial customers. Because of this, Benton PUD must ensure that distribution facilities are adequate to meet the electricity intensive load. Overloading equipment poses a potential safety and reliability risk for both the customer and their neighbors. To address this concern, customers pursuing EIL operations, new EIL customers, and existing customers whose load meets the definition of EIL are required to notify Benton PUD that they meet the definition of an EIL customer. An assessment will be performed to ensure the distribution system can safely serve the load. Customers who fail to notify Benton PUD will be liable for damage to distribution system equipment caused by EIL operations. Customers must also complete a Business and Commercial Application for Electric Service and may be eligible for a different rate schedule. To sign-up for service or for more information about EILs.
Installing a solar system on your property may make sense if you own your home or business and want to make a long-term investment in solar.
Benton PUD announced that a new Outage Center has been added to their website featuring a near real-time outage map. The outage map has also been added to Benton PUD’s SmartHub® app, which already offered outage reporting capabilities.
Benton PUD is offering customers an energy efficiency kit with a low-flow showerhead and two LED light bulbs with a home energy audit to customers who pledge a recurring $1 donation or more each month or increase their current monthly donation or make a one-time donation of $20 or more to Benton PUD’s Helping Hands program.
Learn more about the latest technologies available to make your home more energy efficient.
Benton PUD received an Excellence in Communications award from the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) for their website. The award recognizes top communications efforts from NWPPA member utilities and associations. The award was presented at the NWPPA's Northwest Communications & Energy Innovations Conference (NIC) held in Sacramento, California.
Benton PUD Commission approved an overall 1.9% retail rate increase to all customer rate classes effective October 1, 2017. The increase is directly attributed to the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA’s) 5.4% average wholesale rate increase effective the same day. BPA is the primary provider of power to Benton PUD and its customers.
Benton PUD and Franklin PUD Commissions passed resolutions in support of federal legislation that affirms the current operations under the existing Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp). Other utilities also passed resolutions including Benton REA, Mason PUD 1 and Mason PUD 3 (Shelton, WA). The legislation, H.R. 3144, proposed on a bipartisan basis by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Greg Walden (R-OR), supports the hydrosystem and the benefits it brings to the region through clean, renewable and affordable power.
It has come to our attention that a third-party online bill payment service company known as Doxo, Inc., is marketing bill payment services to Benton PUD customers.
Over 10,000 customers have enrolled in SmartHub®!
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is conducting a comprehensive research study in April of energy efficiency in northwest residential buildings.
Benton PUD paid $2.37 million in “privilege taxes” to the State of Washington at the end of May.