United EV Provides At-Home Charging-as-a-Service for Co-op Members

Brighton, CO – United Power has launched United EV, a new charging-as-a-service pilot program designed to provide cost-effective, at-home charging solutions for cooperative members with electric vehicles (EVs). United EV will help lower the up-front ownership and installation costs of wall-mounted, at-home EV chargers, to reduce the costs of charging and help the cooperative effectively manage electric demand on the grid. The program will initially be limited to 50 qualifying residential members. 

Members enrolled in United EV will receive several benefits for a $19 monthly fee. The program is a complete service package that includes installation and set-up of a wall-mounted ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger, maintenance and repairs for the duration of the enrollment period, rebates for make-ready wiring, and several rate and charging options to take advantage of the lowest available energy costs. The service fee will be conveniently applied to electric billing statements each month. 

“There’s been rapid growth in electric vehicle sales and ownership within the United Power service territory,” said Joel Danforth, United Power’s Energy Programs Director. “Our comprehensive EV strategy began with the deployment of rapid chargers along major corridors throughout our territory where there were gaps in charging infrastructure. We’re now turning our attention toward reducing the upfront cost, risk, and burden of home charging to make electric vehicle ownership more affordable and accessible.” 

To further address the cost of updating home electrical wiring, United EV participants qualify for rebate dollars toward the installation of make-ready wiring and outlet installation in their homes. United Power’s make-ready wiring rebate covers 50% of the installation cost up to $1,000 for program participants. United Power members not enrolled in the United EV program are eligible to receive a rebate up to $500.

For more information on United EV or the cooperative’s other electric vehicle initiatives, including available rebates and its rapid charging network, visit www.unitedpower.com/ev or reach out to the Energy Programs team at 303-637-1233.

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric cooperatives in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

###

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS TARIFFS OF UNITED POWER, INC.
Date of Notice:  July 12, 2022

You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations. These updates are to become effective on or after August 12, 2022.   Staff has reviewed the current Rules and Regulations tariffs. Business units across the organization were involved in the review. The following main areas have been identified as needing revisions or updating: (1) Updating “Customer” to “Member” to recognize our end-users properly; (2) Updating “United” to “United Power” for consistency throughout the entire document; (3) Formatting and grammatical updates for ease of use, consistency, and clarity; and (4) Updates for Current Business Practices to reflect technological changes, system changes, and efficiencies.

The present and proposed Rules and Regulations tariffs are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Brighton headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado; and the Carbon Valley Service Center located at 9586 E. I-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, Colorado.

Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United Power at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. 

An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint.  An informal complaint shall be considered by United Power, in regard to the proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations tariffs but will not require that a hearing be held.

Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.  A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United Power’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United Power.  

United Power may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints.  If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing.  The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those Rules and Regulations tariffs proposed or currently in effect.  Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United Power, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.

UNITED POWER, INC.

By: Mark A. Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer

United Power Exits its Current Wholesale Contract Effective May 1, 2024

United Power caught the attention of electric distribution cooperatives nationwide in April when it filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from its wholesale power contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission (Tri-State). The cooperative entered a long-term contract with the generation cooperative when few viable sources of affordable and reliable power were available. At the time, it provided stability for United Power and assurance that members would continue to receive reliable power. But the industry has entered a transition, and the contract is no longer reflective of the cooperative or its members’ best interests. 

The current contract is too restrictive, capping locally sourced power at just 5% of its total load and preventing United Power from bringing more local generation onto its system, which would lower costs and expand member options. Before making the difficult decision to exit its contract, leadership at the cooperative attempted to negotiate a revised “partial requirements” contract. The revised contract would have continued United Power’s membership relationship with Tri-State while also allowing the cooperative to explore and purchase lower cost, cleaner power options on the market. Unfortunately, negotiations to this end failed. 

“Our first option was to continue a mutually beneficial relationship with our wholesale power supplier, where we would continue sourcing a portion of our power from them,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is unfortunate they were unwilling to help us reach this goal. Although we feel the current contract does not represent shifts taking place in the industry, it was not a decision we made lightly. We spent countless hours weighing our options and discussing a course of action that would result in the best outcome for our members and our future.”

United Power also issued a request for proposal (RFP) for new wholesale power suppliers along with its Notice of Intent to Withdraw. Perspective power suppliers will have until early August to submit proposals outlining their ability to meet the cooperative’s energy needs. Proposals from suppliers are expected to meet three criteria: 

• Energy, the critical resource keeping lights on for United Power members.
• Capacity, the ability to provide continuously reliable power even in adverse conditions.
• Resource adequacy, the assurance generation will be adequate to meet demand even on hot summer days during peak hours. 

“We are expecting a healthy response to our RFP,” said Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “We’ll spend about two months evaluating proposals before selecting a handful of potential suppliers to work with directly. We hope to select a supplier, or group of suppliers, and begin contract negotiations early next year.”

The final step in United Power’s exit is determining an exit fee, which is currently pending with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Although the fee hasn’t been determined, FERC has issued a number of decisions in the cooperative’s favor over the past few months. In March, FERC economist Greg Golino determined Tri-State’s methodology for calculating the exit fee was “flawed and unreasonable.” The exit fee could be decided as early as this summer. 

“Our situation has substantially changed, with more affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable power supply options now available,” said Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman. “We believe we should deliver electricity that is more reflective of the current market price, ultimately helping our members save.”

In June, United Power hosted a member forum to discuss its upcoming exit. Gabriel and Hubbuck provided detailed background of how United Power got to this point and where the cooperative is heading from here. The forum concluded with a question and answer session from attendees both online and in person. 

Additional information, including a recording of the forum is available on our Power Supply page.