
BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – Benton Public Utility District (PUD) is proposing a 5% retail rate increase effective April 1, 2025, according to a PUD release.
For average residential customers, the PUD said they can expect an increase of about $6.00 per month, raising the bill from $115 to $121.
The 5% increase will apply across all customer classes, affecting daily system charges, kilowatt-hour rates, and demand charges where applicable.
Benton PUD said rising costs of materials, labor, and power supply are the main reasons for this proposed increase, the first since 2019.
Benton PUD also said it experienced cost increases of 200% or more for standard equipment since the last retail rate adjustment.
Additionally, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Benton PUD’s wholesale electric supplier, is proposing a 9.8% rate increase for power generation and a 21% increase for transmission starting October 2025, the release added.
As BPA’s rates rise, Benton PUD said it anticipates further retail rate increases in the coming years.
Benton PUD has scheduled a rate information meeting for Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited.