Benton PUD

What Benton PUD does

Benton PUD (Public Utility District No. 1 of Benton County) is a customer-owned, not-for-profit municipal public utility district organized by local vote in 1934 and operating since September 12, 1946. It provides regulated electric distribution and wholesale broadband telecommunications services across 927 square miles in Benton County, Washington, serving approximately 59,008 connections in Kennewick, Finley, Benton City, Prosser, and surrounding areas. The utility is governed by a locally elected three-person Commission (Lori Sanders, Jeff Hall, Mike Massey) and operates with no profit embedded in rates; all revenues are reinvested in utility operations.

Its core technology footprint consists of 39 substations with 56 transformers, 1,761 miles of distribution lines (770 overhead, 991 underground), 115 miles of transmission lines, 1,341 miles of service wire, and 528.6 miles of fiber-optic cable. The utility has achieved 100% Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployment using Sensus two-way communications, covering 57,600+ meters with remote disconnect/reconnect, outage detection, and hourly/daily/monthly usage data feeds. The 2024 fuel mix is 89% carbon-free (75.41% hydroelectric, 12.84% nuclear, 0.47% wind), sourced primarily through Bonneville Power Administration contracts.

Benton PUD earns revenue through two streams: regulated retail electric service (2025 operating revenues of $151.2M; retail revenues of $142.1M) and wholesale broadband telecommunications services (~$3.0M annually, cash-flow positive since 2011, $7.1M cumulative positive cash flow over 14 years). The electric business serves four customer classes — Residential (59.3% of connections, 41.0% of energy consumed), Small General Service (~31%), Irrigation (24.0% of connections), and Large Industrial (~3.6%) — billed via published rate schedules with a daily system charge, per-kWh energy charge, and per-kW demand charge. Broadband is delivered on an open-access wholesale basis to 11 Retail Service Providers through Benton PUD's 528.6-mile fiber network and its 11.111% ownership stake in NoaNet, a 3,800+ mile statewide backbone.

Name

Benton PUD

Legal name

Public Utility District No. 1 of Benton County

Website

https://bentonpud.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Benton PUD is a customer-owned, not-for-profit public utility district serving approximately 59,000 electric connections across 927 square miles in Benton County, Washington, providing regulated electric distribution and open-access wholesale broadband fiber services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Electric Providers / Competitive Distribution Utilities (where applicable) (EUADABAE)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Wholesale broadband network
• Open-access fiber
• Advanced metering infrastructure
• Public power distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennewick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retail Electric Service: Benton PUD's primary revenue stream from selling electricity to approximately 59,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation customers. Revenues are used to run the utility with no profit built into rates. 2025 operating revenues: $151.2M; retail revenues: $142.1M.
2. Wholesale Broadband Services: Provides wholesale broadband telecommunication services to 11 Retail Service Providers (RSPs) who serve end-users. Generates approximately $3.0M in annual broadband revenues. The broadband business has been cash flow positive since 2011, with $7.1M in positive cash flow over 14 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Benton PUD is a customer-owned, not-for-profit public utility district that delivers retail electric distribution service to approximately 59,008 residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation connections across 927 square miles in Benton County, Washington. The utility operates 1,761 miles of distribution lines, 115 miles of transmission lines, 39 substations, and over 57,600 automated meters (100% AMI coverage). It also provides wholesale broadband telecommunications through a 528-mile fiber-optic network on an open-access model, serving 11 Retail Service Providers (RSPs) that offer retail internet service to end-users.

Product overview

Benton PUD is a public utility district providing electric distribution services and wholesale broadband telecommunications. The core electric product includes transmission and distribution infrastructure serving 59,008 connections across Benton County, Washington, with 39 substations and nearly 3,000 miles of lines. The utility operates Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) using Sensus smart meters with SmartHub customer portal for energy management. Wholesale broadband services leverage over 500 miles of fiber through membership in Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) on an open-access model. Community solar programs include Ely Community Solar and OIE Community Solar installations. Additional services include rooftop solar/net metering, apprenticeship programs, school and community education programs, and various rebate and savings offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Services Retail electric distribution service delivered to approximately 59,008 residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation connections across 927 square miles of Benton County, Washington. Service comprises 115 miles of transmission lines, 1,761 miles of distribution lines (770 overhead, 991 underground), 1,341 miles of service wire, and 39 substations with 56 transformers.
• Wholesale Broadband Telecommunications Services Wholesale broadband telecommunications delivered on an open-access model through Benton PUD's 528+ mile fiber-optic network spanning Benton County, connected to NoaNet's statewide 3,800+ mile fiber network. Service is sold to 11 Retail Service Providers (RSPs) who serve end-user residential and business customers in Kennewick, Prosser, and Benton City. The broadband business has been cash-flow positive since 2011 and also supports cellular tower backhaul for 5G services.
• SmartHub Online Portal and Mobile App SmartHub is a customer-facing web and mobile app portal that provides Benton PUD customers with bill payment capabilities, hourly/daily/monthly electric usage data, text and email alerts at customer-established usage thresholds, outage notifications, and self-service requests for starting or stopping electric service.
• Community Solar Programs Community solar subscription programs that allow Benton PUD customers to participate in solar generation without installing rooftop systems. Includes the Ely Community Solar project (75 kW capacity, 112 customers) and OIE Community Solar project (25 kW capacity, 42 customers).
• Rooftop Solar / Net Metering Customer-installed rooftop solar program supported by net metering arrangements, with 10,617 kW of installed capacity serving 1,334 Benton PUD customers. Customers receive credit for excess generation exported to the grid.
• Rebates and Savings Programs Energy-efficiency rebate and assistance programs for Benton PUD customers, including Low-Income Home Rebates for HVAC systems, windows, doors, and insulation; senior/disabled/veteran discounts (approximately $562K built into rates); low-income conservation assistance ($558K); and Round Up for Helping Hands ($61K in donations).

Quantifiable outcome

• Average monthly residential bill of $121 is lower than two-thirds of comparable Northwest utilities. Median for comparable NW utilities is $136.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anterix Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Benton PUD signed a utility agreement with Anterix for the company's licensed 900 MHz spectrum to support private wireless broadband communications. Anterix reported Benton PUD as one of four utility agreements signed within a three-month period during fiscal 2026, as part of Anterix's accelerated utility demand for 900 MHz spectrum. The FCC adopted a Report and Order in February 2026 to expand the 900 MHz broadband segment from 6 MHz to 10 MHz, creating additional opportunities for utility sector customers like Benton PUD.
• Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Benton PUD is a founding member and one of ten current owners of NoaNet. NoaNet operates a world-class high-speed broadband network with over 3,800 miles of fiber-optic cable statewide. Benton PUD hosts a major NoaNet network hub at its Kennewick offices. NoaNet connects Benton PUD's network to the international internet backbone at Seattle and Portland. Benton PUD holds an 11.111% ownership share of NoaNet (approximately $63M net book value).
• Benton Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenton PUD partners with the Benton Conservation District to offer the Salmon Power program for fourth-grade classrooms participating in Salmon in the Classroom. The program focuses on the role dams play in providing hydropower and supporting fish migration.
• Foundation for Water & Energy Education (FWEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenton PUD serves as an anchor sponsor of the Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy, a FWEE event. The STEM Academy offers students hands-on exploration of hydropower physics, hydrogen/solar car design, drone building, and agricultural education, taught by industry professionals including engineers, plant operators, skilled trades workers, scientists, and conservationists.
• Energy NorthwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Northwest interlocal agreement for grant services (Contract #23-21-08). Energy Northwest develops and operates generating resources for public utilities in the Pacific Northwest.
• City of KennewickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterlocal Agreement (Contract #19-46-09) for Advanced Wireless & Broadband Telecommunications Technology Collaboration signed after October 2020.
• National Cellular Carriers (via NoaNet)coreTechnology or IntegrationSeveral national cell phone carriers use Benton PUD fiber for data transport from cellular tower sites, enabling 5G cellular service in the Tri-Cities. This partnership with NoaNet and private cellular telephone carriers demonstrates the reliability and extent of the fiber networks.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Franklin County PUD: Benton PUD's immediate geographic neighbor in the Tri-Cities, also a small Washington PUD operating electric distribution with a similar agricultural irrigation load profile. Directly comparable in size, customer mix, and reliance on BPA hydro power.
• Mason County PUD No. 3: Small Washington PUD operating electric distribution and a fiber-based wholesale broadband business on the same open-access retail service provider model. Comparable customer scale and AMI deployment on Sensus equipment.
• Chelan County PUD: Mid-sized Washington PUD with significant hydroelectric generation assets and a fiber broadband business — closely mirrors Benton PUD's combination of regulated electric distribution and open-access wholesale telecom under the Washington PUD framework.
• Clark Public Utilities: Customer-owned Washington PUD serving Vancouver, WA with electric distribution plus a wholesale/open-access broadband subsidiary — a very close structural parallel to Benton PUD on both the electric and telecom sides.
• Cowlitz County PUD: Mid-sized Washington PUD providing electric distribution and wholesale broadband across a similarly sized rural/suburban service territory. Comparable customer count, AMI deployment stage, and reliance on BPA power supply.
• Clallam County PUD: Small Washington PUD with electric distribution and a wholesale fiber broadband business on the open-access retail provider model — analogous in scale, product mix, and governance structure to Benton PUD.
• Tacoma Public Utilities (Tacoma Power / Click! Network): Washington municipal utility combining regulated electric distribution with a fiber broadband operation (Click! Network) — the closest same-state analog to Benton PUD's combination of electric T&D with a separately branded telecom franchise.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Power (Berkshire Hathaway Energy): Investor-owned utility serving overlapping Washington/Oregon territory including parts of Benton County's neighboring counties. Different ownership model (investor-owned vs. customer-owned), but a direct competitor for commercial and industrial loads and a benchmark for retail rate comparisons.
• Snohomish County PUD: The largest PUD in Washington, providing electric distribution to ~370,000 customers and operating a sizable fiber/telecom business. Overlaps with Benton PUD in PUD governance, AMI and broadband strategy but at materially greater scale and a wider portfolio.
• Grant County PUD: Large Washington PUD with extensive hydroelectric generation and electric distribution serving an agricultural-heavy territory. Shares Benton PUD's Columbia River hydro dependency and irrigation load, but operates at significantly larger scale and is also a generation owner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BentonPUD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bentonpud5425
• Facebookfacebook.com/BentonPUD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benton-pud
• Instagraminstagram.com/bentonpud

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benton PUD