FAQs

General Questions

What are your hours?

Big Bend Electric Cooperative’s office hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday except holidays.

Why are my electric bills so high even though I make great efforts to conserve?

Making comparisons are difficult because everyone uses electricity differently. But comparisons aside, the cost of heating and cooling your home increases as the outside temperature rises in the summer and drops in the winter.

The impact on your electric bill largely depends on your lifestyle and the energy efficiency of your home. Key factors include the insulation levels of walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and skylights; the type of heating system; the degree of air infiltration; the home’s solar orientation; and the total floor space or volume of the house.

View our Energy Efficiency section for more tips and strategies to reduce your energy consumption and save on your electric bill.

Capital Credit Questions

For more details on Capital Credits, read our Capital Credits page.

Engineering Questions

How long does it take to get power to a new house, pump site or other new load?

The time necessary to fulfill a request varies from a few weeks to several months depending on how much work needs to be done, permitting issues and many other considerations. Please contact 1 of our staking engineers as soon as you know the details (pump size, building location, and electrical load, etc.) and we will work to meet your timeline.

How do I get a newly constructed irrigation account connected?

After your metering equipment has been installed and inspected by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, the Cooperative has been notified by the Department of Labor & Industries that the inspection passed, and the facility charges have been paid, you may call the office and request that the new account be connected.

How do I apply for a new electrical service?

Please contact a Big Bend Electric Cooperative staking engineer. The staking engineer will send you a Service Application to be completed and returned, or you can print the Service Application from our website and submit it to us by mail, fax, email, or at 1 of our offices. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

How do I find out if my existing electrical service will handle new added load(s)?

Please contact a Big Bend Electric Cooperative staking engineer. The staking engineer will send you a Service Upgrade Application to be completed and returned, or you can print the Service Upgrade Application from our web site and submit it to us by mail, fax, email, or at 1 of our offices. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Upon receipt of the application, the staking engineer will determine if the Cooperative’s facilities will need to be upgraded.