P U D OFFICE

Industrial > Energy and Utilities

Washington’s first initiative, passed by voters in 1930, gave citizens of each county the right to form a public utility district (PUD). Benton PUD was organized by a local vote of the people in 1934. PUDs were created to provide electricity, water and sewer services for the benefit of the people of Washington State. Since their conception, the role of public utility districts has expanded to include wholesale broadband telecommunication services.

On September 12, 1946 Benton PUD became an operating utility and assumed operation of the electrical distribution system from Pacific Power and Light serving 3,754 customers. Those first years were busy upgrading and expanding the system to handle the very fast growing county. Thanks to abundant public power, Hanford had catapulted the county from a small rurual area to an industrial and commercial community. While the average bill in 1946 was around $5, electricity was only used for lighting, a few appliances and in rare cases, heat. Our quality of life has changed over the years, thanks to electricity. Today, we take electricity for granted to operate our computers, televisions and charge our cell phones.

During Benton PUD's first year of operation, manager John Whitehead, also managed the Benton REA. At that time Benton PUD's main office was in Prosser and the Kennewick office was in downtown Kennewick on Kennewick Avenue. On November 20, 1947, Mr. Whitehead resigned because the REA Management Division recommended dissolution of joint management and operation of Benton REA and Benton PUD. In the spring of 1955, Benton PUD moved to new headquarters at 524 S. Auburn in Kennewick.

In January 1994, Benton PUD moved its Kennewick headquarters to its present location of 2721 W. 10th Avenue. The Prosser office opened a new facility in 2007 at 250 N. Gap Road.

Benton PUD now serves over 50,000 customers in Kennewick, Finley, Benton City, Prosser, and outlying areas.

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