Big Bend Electric Cooperative

Overview

A Legacy of Service, A Vision for the Future

Big Bend Electric Cooperative (BBEC) has proudly served the rural communities of Eastern Washington since 1939. With a mission to provide safe and reliable service and a values-driven focus on its members, BBEC continuously strives to meet the evolving needs of its community. To keep up with modern expectations for seamless digital experiences, BBEC partnered with Powerful—the team behind their previous website—to refresh their platform. Their goals were to increase the use of online tools, make navigation more intuitive, and keep content up to date with minimal effort.

Simplifying Complex Topics with Visualized Content

BBEC’s members often turn to the website to answer practical questions about their services, from understanding their bills to exploring payment options or starting new construction. To make these processes easier, Powerful introduced visualized pages for “Understand Your Bill,” “Ways to Pay,” and “New Construction.”

These pages break down complicated topics into visually engaging formats. For instance, “Understand Your Bill” uses annotated graphics to explain each section of a billing statement, ensuring members can quickly grasp key details. “Ways to Pay” offers an interactive guide with icons and step-by-step instructions for different payment methods, such as online bill pay, mail-in checks, and auto-pay options.

This approach benefits BBEC by creating a natural flow through the content. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, members can easily follow along, finding answers to their questions in a format that feels approachable and intuitive. By prioritizing visuals and logical navigation, BBEC’s redesigned site transforms potentially frustrating experiences into confident, informed visits—helping BBEC achieve its goal of intuitive design.

Keeping Content Current

For BBEC, staying connected with members means delivering fresh and relevant updates year-round. Whether highlighting seasonal programs or promoting critical services like bill pay and outages, BBEC needed a homepage that could adapt to changing communication priorities.

Leveraging Powerful’s Laurelhurst Promotional blueprint, the new homepage empowers BBEC to update key sections. The homepage features bold promotional sections with a photo, a headline, a brief description, and a call-to-action button. For instance, BBEC can highlight energy assistance programs in the winter or conservation rebates during the summer—ensuring members see timely, relevant content when they visit.

The homepage prominently displays call-to-action buttons for high-priority services like paying a bill, starting or stopping service, managing accounts, reporting outages, and digging safety. These buttons are designed for quick access, ensuring that members can efficiently complete tasks without navigating through multiple pages.

The homepage also features an In the Spotlight section, powered by Powerful’s News Releases app. This section rotates through the latest updates, such as announcements about energy assistance programs or solar initiatives. By keeping this content fresh, BBEC ensures that visitors always find something new and relevant when they visit the site.

With a flexible design, the new site empowers BBEC’s team to update their homepage to reflect current priorities. This adaptability ensures the website remains a valuable resource for members, reinforcing BBEC’s commitment to providing up-to-date and accessible information.