Get Involved
Since a cooperative is owned by the members it serves, it is important that those members are actively involved in the operation of the cooperative. Here are several ways members can be more informed and more involved:
Annual Meeting & Special Elections
United Power's members elect their board of directors by secret ballot at the Annual Meeting of Members held each spring. In addition to the annual director election, the business portion of the Annual Meeting provides members with an update about the cooperative's goals, accomplishments and financial condition.
Occasionally the cooperative will hold special elections to address issues that affect the cooperative and its members. These elections are typically conducted by mail ballot and information about the election is distributed via the cooperative newsletter and website. Members are highly encouraged to exercise their right to vote in the cooperative's annual director elections and other special elections.
Consumer Resource Committee
The CRC serves two purposes: committee members become more familiar with United Power; its goals and objectives, policies, and other factors which influence the operation of the Association; and the committee provides a forum for consumer input into such areas as rate design, meter reading alternatives, the annual meeting, line extension policies, high-bill complaints, electric service hardship cases, disconnect policies and other issues that are concerns of the members and United Power.
Coordinated by the External Affairs Department, the CRC meets 3-4 times each year. One meeting is generally scheduled as a trip to view the operation of the Laramie River Plant, a coal-fired electric generation plant in Wheatland, Wyoming. While there are no attendance requirements for the CRC, we hope members attend as many meetings as possible to gain the greatest value for themselves and our cooperative.
If you are interested in joining the CRC, e-mail us or call us at 303-659-0551.
CARE/ACRE
Your support of Colorado Advocates for Rural Electrification (CARE) or the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) ensures that elected officials who are supportive of electric cooperatives stay in office and continue to support our cause.
CARE is a state-level political action committee (PAC) maintained in Denver and administered by the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA) through the CARE Committee and membership. This money is used for candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to the Colorado General Assembly and other statewide offices. CARE money cannot be used for local or county candidates.
ACRE is a federal political action committee (PAC) facilitated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). ACRE supports congressional candidates, regardless of party, who share public policy goals that are consistent with the mission of member-owned electric cooperatives. Also, half of the contributions to ACRE are returned to the statewide associations for use in state elections. While ACRE supports candidates for the United States House and Senate, it does not contribute to presidential campaigns.
If you are interested in more information about CARE or ACRE, call United Power's External Affairs department at 303-659-0551.