If approved, proposed rates are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2026

Why propose a rate increase?

• Rising power supply costs: On October 1, 2025, Benton PUD’s wholesale electricity provider Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) increased power rates by an average of 8.9% and transmission rates by an average of 19.9%
  • BPA’s increase is driven by rising operational costs and the need to fund critically important upgrades to hydroelectric dams, transmission systems, and the Columbia Generating Station nuclear plant
  • Benton PUD along with consumer owned utilities across the Northwest worked hard to advocate for consumers to ensure reasonable BPA rates which resulted in a lower rate increase than originally proposed
    
    
• BPA power costs represent over 50% of Benton PUD’s entire budget
  • Power supply costs account for $85.4 million of Benton PUD’s 2026 annual retail revenue requirement of $150.5 million 

What you need to know!

• As a consumer-owned not-for-profit utility, the increase in power costs have a direct and significant impact on Benton PUD’s retail rates 
• As a result, Benton PUD is proposing to increase retail rates April 1, 2026
• Through the strategic use of cash reserves and responsible use of low-interest debt Benton PUD is able to propose smaller rate increases than would otherwise be needed
• To better align rates with cost causation principles, the proposed retail rate increases are different by rate class and would be implemented by increasing the Demand Charge for most customers; with three rate classes requiring no rate increase

  
  

Proposed Rate Increases

Proposed Residential Rate Increase