Board Responsible for Enforcing State Electrical Statutes

Governor Jared Polis appointed United Power’s Energy Solutions Director Tyler Bain to the Colorado State Electrical Board earlier this year and he was recommended to the Senate for confirmation in April. The board is responsible for the licensing, registering, and regulating of electricians, apprentices, and electrical contractors, as well as adopting and revising rules and regulations concerning wiring apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power. Its mission is to enforce the state’s electrical statutes and protect the health and safety of Colorado residents. The board is made up of nine professional and public members. Bain joins the board as a representative for electrical utilities. 

Prior to moving into his role as director of the energy solutions team, Bain worked as an electrical engineer for the cooperative. He is also a certified professional engineer with a degree from the Colorado School of Mines. As the Energy Solutions Director, he is leading United Power’s efforts to become a distribution system operator and is responsible for the development and implementation of the co-op’s energy programs. 

“It is an honor to be appointed to this position, and I am thankful for the opportunity to represent United Power and other electric utilities on this board,” said Bain.

Bain’s term on the Colorado Electric Board expires on July 1, 2026. 

Several years ago, while working for the federal government, I had the opportunity to spend time aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. The captain explained that aircraft carriers are focused on being a “forward projection of force.” I enjoyed my time with the crew of 4,000 and the leadership command team as they went about the complex duties of operating the finest example of U.S. power in the middle of the ocean. 

Part of my experience included a tailhook landing in a COD (carrier onboard delivery) plane that appears way too big to land on anything but a runway, as well as a catapult takeoff. When preparing for takeoff, there is a tremendous amount of noise, confusion, and turmoil. Once hooked onto the catapult, the noise cuts through your body and your vision blurs. The anticipation of the launch is an adrenaline rush. Then a strange thing happens; the noise disappears as the plane clears the runway, dips off the deck, and heads into the air. The flight at that point is quiet and smooth, heading toward its destination. There may be occasional turbulence, but flight plans are executed with great precision.

A year ago, there was a lot of noise as your cooperative awaited takeoff on the catapult to independence. Like the catapult takeoff, silence quickly replaced the noise. The co-op’s flight plan — also known as Our Cooperative Roadmap — is being executed with great precision. United Power is the forward projection of force, taking action to meet the needs today and in the future.  

There are headwinds and tailwinds on the energy horizon. The West may find itself short of capacity, the critical back-up generation resource to ensure grid reliability. It, and specifically United Power, will also find it has plenty of energy thanks to more and more people adding their own generating resources, coupled with new solar and wind facilities. The headwinds and tailwinds mean there will be times of excess and inexpensive power and times when things are tight.

Electricity has never been more important to our homes, businesses, and communities. United Power, like many other utilities, is finding the need to balance each new opportunity with the realities of power supply. We have created the LIT process to work with potential large commercial and industrial members, which focuses on three key items: location, investment, and timing. The good news for United Power is our history of ensuring growth pays its own way. The better news is that companies want to be in your cooperative’s territory.

Part of United Power’s flight plan involves the strategy to hyper-localize generation and storage resources. This is one way we will maintain reliability, as well as add to the local tax base. We have added a new gas-fired power plant and 115 MW of battery storage located at substations across our system. The battery array is the largest in Colorado and most likely the West, allowing us to buy power when prices are low and use it when prices are high. As a matter of fact, this month marks the first time United Power actively managed the deployment of power from two of our battery systems to meet a contingency reserve need on the system. The batteries improve and support our grid and leverage the storage capacity for financial benefit.

Our flight plan also includes becoming a distribution system operator (DSO), which allows the management of systems in concert with each other and not just individual pieces. As on the aircraft carrier, everything will be coordinated to manage costs and keep the lights on. This means members can offer their self-generation or storage to United Power as an aggregator that gets sold back to the market. It also means the possibility of smoothing out demand through the system to lower overall costs and the better use of resources in a capacity constrained world.

For three days on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, I witnessed the tight coordination of people, safely navigating in open ocean while defending our nation. At United Power, I see the tight coordination of our tremendous staff, supported by the oversight of your Board who lead the cooperative. We have nailed the landing, cleared the takeoff, and are flying ahead. Full steam ahead. 

Alliance Energy Partners with United Power 

Brighton, CO – United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern front range, announces the signing of a power purchase agreement for the output of the Brush II natural gas generation project. Located in Brush, Colorado, the 70-megawatt facility is owned and operated by Alliance Energy Group, LLC (Alliance Energy). 

“United Power is continuing to add resources that make sense for our cooperative members and Brush II is a critical step as we expand our power portfolio,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “Natural gas generation is a vital link to balancing the many renewable resources currently in the cooperative’s power mix. The integration of renewable generation is complemented by natural gas resources and is vital to keeping our system delivering power no matter how high the demand. This facility will be able to quickly ramp up and dispatch power exactly when we need it most. Our vision to diversify and hyper-localize power production will pay dividends to cooperative members in an increasingly volatile energy market.”

Alliance Energy will be responsible for the facility’s operation and maintenance, with United Power purchasing all the power it produces. 

“Brush II is a reliable generation resource that is an integral part of the Colorado supply stack and Alliance Energy will help ensure the quality of the resources for United Power’s cooperative members,” said Sam Nappi, Founder and Chairman, Alliance Energy. “Alliance is proud to partner with United Power. This long-term partnership provides surety for the current staff employed at the facility, keeping jobs in Brush for years to come.” 

The Brush II unit has been in operation since 1994, and has been owned by Alliance Energy since May of 2022, when it was purchased from AltaGas. United Power will begin accepting generation from the site on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Learn more about United Power and its ongoing energy transition plans here.

About United Power

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 co-ops in the nation, serving nearly 115,000 meters. Its 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. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Alliance Energy Group

Our mission at Alliance Energy is to safely provide a clean, reliable supply of electricity to meet the critical demands of our society, while simultaneously maintaining a high level of environmental stewardship. Alliance Energy specializes in all aspects of the energy industry; from electric power generation and marketing, to mergers and acquisitions, to the exploration, production and transportation of natural gas, to research and development activities into other emerging markets. 

###
 

May is here and that means high school and college graduation ceremonies are around the corner. Helium-filled and mylar balloons are a common theme at celebrations but they can become dangerous when they get loose and contact energized power lines. Thousands of these events occur every year, which can result in expensive equipment repairs and prolonged outages. 

Balloon-Related Safety Measures

Loose balloons can find their way into power lines even if they are not immediately located nearby. Practice the following safety measures at your events and celebrations: 

• Never let helium-filled balloons drift away outdoors. Keep balloons indoors whenever possible to ensure they cannot be released and drift into power lines. If you are using balloons outside, anchor them with weights and double check to make sure they are secure. 
• Avoid bundling balloons together. Anchor each balloon individually with a short string to control its direction. 
• Never tie metallic string or streamers to balloons. Metallic materials conduct electricity and can become a pathway to the ground if a balloon contacts a power line. 
• Deflate balloons after use. Properly dispose of balloons after your event and clean up any remnants so that wildlife, such as birds or squirrels, cannot carry pieces into energized equipment. 
• Never try to retrieve or release balloons caught in power lines. Power lines carry a high voltage and are extremely dangerous. If you notice balloons or other obstructions in power lines, contact United Power at 303-637-1300. 

Member Responsibility

United Power members who release balloons could be liable for damages to the cooperative’s electrical equipment as well as any related damages. Members are encouraged to practice balloon safety and properly dispose of them after use.