Benton REA – Benton and Yakima Counties


Benton REA has provided the people of Benton and Yakima counties with high-quality, reliable service since 1937. With 10,555 members, Benton REA continuously develops member-driven programs and services, such as the Member Power Program – a grassroots organization of Benton REA members who have the opportunity to make their voices heard in an effort to keep power affordable and reliable in the region.  Benton REA is part owner of a landfill generation project, producing clean and reliable power. Additionally, their PowerNET provides wireless broadband Internet service to rural areas, and works with school districts and businesses to improve their computer networks.

 

Big Bend Electric Cooperative – Adams and Franklin Counties


Big Bend was formed in 1939 to bring electricity to rural Adams and Franklin counties in Eastern Washington. From its humble beginning, Big Bend has grown into a financially sound cooperative serving the needs of its 8,694 members. About 60% of the electricity used by Big Bend members is for agricultural purposes. The remaining 40% is for residential accounts and a variety of business accounts. Because the economy in Big Bend’s service area is heavily dependant on agriculture, the federal hydro system is vital to Big Bend’s members. The federal hydro system provides water for irrigation, transportation for products, and low-cost power provided by the Bonneville Power Administration.

 

Columbia REA – Columbia and Walla Walla, Washington, and Umatilla County, Oregon


Coumbia REA was formed in 1939 in Dayton, Washington – the gateway to the beautiful Blue Mountains. Today, Columbia REA is a progressive, strategically focused, member-owned electric cooperative that serves 4,600 customers in the south-eastern corner of Washington.  Columbia serves most of the new subdivisions in the Walla Walla area, as well as Walmart, the Home Depot, and other retailers. They also serve Walla Walla University, in addition to significant irrigation loads that make up a sizable percentage of the cooperative’s kilowatt-hour sales.

 

Inland Power and Light – Spokane


Inland Power and Light has served its members with safe, reliable electricity at competitive rates since 1937. As the largest electric cooperative in the state, Inland Power proudly serves more than 34,000 members spanning 13 counties in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, and is headquartered in Spokane, WA. Ten percent of Inland Power’s load serves irrigation and commercial accounts including Spokane’s Amazon distribution center, a variety of school districts and manufacturing companies. Inland Power is proud that the vast majority of its electricity is renewable and carbon-free, thanks in large part to the federal hydro system.

 

Lakeview Light & Power – Lakewood


The Lakeview Light & Water Company was incorporated March 21, 1922 as a mutual non-profit company for the purpose of obtaining electric service for its members. This corporation was formed because a few forward looking families wanted to make things better for their community. Today Lakeview has 2,350 members and serves in excess of 10,300 meters. Lakeview Light & Power continues today the commitment of its founders to serve its members at the lowest possible cost by means of a reliable electrical distribution system.

 

Modern Electric Water Co. – Spokane Valley


Modern Electric Water Company (MEWCO) is a  customer owned not-for profit corporation, engaged in providing high quality, economical electric and water utility services for the benefit of residents and businesses in the Spokane Valley for more than 100 years. The company provides electricity services to almost 10,000 customers and water services to 6,000 customers. MEWCO caters its services to residential, commercial and light industrial customers.  Further, the company purchases 100% of the power it sells from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).

 

Nespelem Valley Electric Co-op – Southeastern Okanogan County


Before the Rural Electrification Act, tiny communities such as Nespelem, Elmer City, Lone Pine, Belvedere, Disautal, Cameron Lakes, and others were in the dark. Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative serves the western area of the Colville Indian Reservation in Southeastern Okanogan County – areas no other utility would serve. Almost half of their cooperative members are members of the Colville Confederated Tribes. Founded in 1939, NVEC began operations as one of the Bonneville Power Administration’s first customers in 1941. It had 34 miles of line and 140 consumers. Today, NVEC has 403 miles of line and serves 1,563 customers.

Okanogan County Electric Co-op – Methow Valley Area


Okanogan County Electric Co-op serves the beautiful Methow (pronounced met-how) Valley, the towns of Winthrop, Mazama, and areas surrounding the town of Twisp. Located in the North Cascade Mountains, the deep winter snows add to the challenge of serving this rural area. Okanogan County Electric Co-op currently has 500 miles of line in place, and in 1999 they added propane distribution to better serve their members’ energy needs.

 

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative – San Juan County


Founded in 1937, Orcas Power & LIght Cooperative provides reliable service to 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO serves 11,075 members through 13,538 accounts. Their main challenge is installing and maintaining submarine cables and an underground distribution system; more than 80% of OPALCO’s distribution system is underground.  OPALCO is committed to energy efficiency and has a robust interconnection program. More than 70 members generate their own local renewable energy and are interconnected to their system mostly through net metering and buy-sell arrangements.

 

Peninsula Light Co. – Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas, Fox Island


Peninsula Light Co. is a member-owned electric cooperative located in Gig Harbor, WA. Since 1926, PenLight has served the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas, and Fox Island in western Pierce County. PenLight is a “full requirements utility” of the Bonneville Power Administration. The utility has grown to be the second largest cooperative in the Northwest, serving over 31,600 meters with 977 miles of line and 112 square miles of service territory. The company also provides service to 3,230 water consumers.

 

Tanner Electric Cooperative – North Bend Area


Tanner Electric was founded in 1936 as Mutual Power and Light Association of Tanner by the rural members who lived along Edgewick Road, southeast of the city of North Bend. By the end of 1937 the cooperative had its first 32 customers; it purchased 6,000 kilowatt hours from Seattle City Light’s Cedar Falls Plant. Since then, Tanner Electric has experienced quite a few changes, and now has 4,462 customer accounts that are both residential and commercial.