Benton REA members to vote on sale to Yakama Power

The Benton Rural Electric Association is one step closer to making an estimated $24 million deal to sell its power lines on the Yakama Nation Reservation to the tribe’s electric utility.

REA’s board of trustees approved a plan to put the sale to a vote of the membership, according to a news release. As a cooperative, its members are its owners.

Meetings will be held in Prosser and West Richland to discuss the proposed transaction and the voting process.

Under the deal, Yakama Power would take over service to approximately 1,200 customers on the reservation.

For the deal to be approved, at least 25 percent of the utility’s 11,400 members need to vote. Ballots will be mailed to members in September and the voting period will end Oct. 31.

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Benton REA members to vote on sale to Yakama Power."