Crews Need Safe Access for Maintenance, Power Restoration, and Vegetation Management

One of the essential aspects of maintaining a safe and reliable electric system is ensuring crews and contractors can access power lines and equipment when needed. This access is provided through utility easements and public rights-of-way. 

What is a Utility Easement?

A utility easement is a legal property right that allows United Power to build, operate, inspect, maintain, repair, and replace electric lines and equipment on a specific portion of private property. 

Property owners retain ownership of their land, but the easement grants United Power rights necessary to provide safe and reliable electric service, including access for maintenance, inspections, vegetation management, and emergency restoration.

Why is Access Important?

United Power crews and contractors need access to utility easements and electric facilities to safely operate and maintain the system. Some activities include:

• Vegetation Management. When trees grow too close to electric facilities, they can become a serious threat to the reliability and safety of the electric system.
• Maintenance. United Power conducts regular maintenance across its system to ensure reliability or improve performance.
• Inspections. Inspections are performed to determine whether equipment needs to be repaired or replaced.
• Power Restoration. Safe access to these areas helps crews reduce outage times for all members.

When United Power crews or contractors are working on or near your property, they may need to access utility easements or facilities within a public right-of-way. Please avoid approaching crews or contractors while they are performing work around electric facilities in easements and public rights-of-way for everyone’s safety.

Fast, Free, and Convenient. Why Wait? Enroll Today!

Many United Power members who are already using SmartHub, the cooperative’s online account management portal, are also still receiving their billing statements through postal mail.

But here is the good news. You have a faster option that is not only more convenient — it is also free. When you enroll in paperless billing, you will receive your monthly statement by email as soon as it is available. No more waiting for an envelope to arrive at your home, and you can access your bills anytime through your SmartHub account or the United Power app. 
Paperless billing is not just a different way to view and manage your United Power statements, it also comes with many benefits. Here are just a few of the positive impacts: 

• Faster delivery. Your statement is conveniently delivered to your email as soon as it is available, and you can view it online or on the mobile app. 
• Makes record keeping easier. Your billing and energy usage history is stored in the online portal. You can access it at your leisure without having to keep track of physical documentation. 
• Reduces waste. Most printed billing statements ultimately end up in the same place — the trash. When the cooperative prints fewer billing statements, it reduces waste and helps keep printing and mailing costs in check for all members.

Members who do not have a SmartHub account can create one here. You can view usage, report outages, pay bills, or enroll in paperless billing and autopay through your online account. 

Visit Paperless Billing to learn more  or contact a Member Services Representative at 303-637-1300.