Columbia REA members face rate increase in 2026
By Dan Thesman on Sunday, December 7th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Effective January 1, 2026, Columbia REA, a member-owned cooperative, will implement an average rate increase of three percent on households and businesses.
This necessary increase, according to the board of directors, is attributed to several factors: the Bonneville Power Administration’s rate hike, inflation, higher equipment costs, and growing electricity demand by population growth, data centers, and the shift to carbon-free energy.
The change appears on the February billing statement.
The board of directors made the rate increase announcement in the December edition of the member magazine called Ruralite.
