Brighton, CO – United Power is now a member of the GridWise Alliance, a national organization which helps foster relationships among a diverse group of industry stakeholders and advocates for public policy changes that benefit grid modernization. The group’s executive committee unanimously approved the cooperative’s membership with the organization in July.

Grid modernization is a moving target that evolves over time as new technology is developed and changes the way energy is produced and managed and how consumers use energy. It typically refers to the system of interconnected devices on a grid that improve reliability and efficiency while ensuring safety. The GridWise Alliance is a collaborate effort among members to develop industry best practices used to direct public policy supporting grid modernization by leveraging their different experiences and perspectives.

“We are a comparatively small player next to some of the larger utilities involved with the GridWise Alliance,” said Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “But we’re also extremely progressive. These types of organizations help us accomplish our goals and what we’re trying to achieve for our members.”

As a member, United Power will be able to contribute its unique perspective on the industry as a fast-growing cooperative serving members in suburban and rural communities northeast of Denver. In June, the Brighton-based co-op became just the 31st electric cooperative nationwide to surpass 100,000 meters and is on past to add several thousand more before the end of the year. The unprecedented growth and progressive reputation of the cooperative have earned it a seat at the table helping direct local and national policy conversations.

“United Power stands out from its cooperative peers for its commitment to grid modernization and deployment of emerging technologies,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Gabriel. “As a member of the GridWise Alliance, we have a platform to advocate for policies beneficial to both the cooperative and its members.”

United Power joins Rappahannock as the only other electric cooperative member of the GridWise Alliance. Other prominent members include Con Edison, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy. Non-utility members also include IBM, Intel and General Electric. For more information about the GridWise Alliance, go to www.gridwise.org.

About GridWise Alliance:

The GridWise Alliance (GWA) represents the broad and diverse stakeholders that design, build, and operate the electric grid. Since 2003, the GridWise Alliance has been at the forefront of educating key industry stakeholders on the critical need to modernize our nation’s electricity system. For more information about the GridWise Alliance, visit: www.gridwise.org.

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 cooperatives in the nation, and in June 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. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

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Observe Ten-Foot Rule to Safely Trim Trees Near Power Lines

Summer is in full swing, and as trees begin to grow and bud, they may get close enough to come into contact with power lines. While the fires and damage from 2020 are still fresh on everyone’s minds, we want to remind members that trees near power lines can cause potential hazards, tree-related power outages and increase the risk of fire.

To protect your power and your community, United Power will be concentrating significant resources on clearing vegetation from power lines this summer – especially in portions of our mountain territory that are heavily forested. United Power adheres to industry best practices and will trim away any vegetation within ten feet of power lines. You can help protect your community from power outages, damaged utility equipment and fires by observing the ten-foot rule between trees and power lines.

If you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary line, immediately contact United Power. These are the high-voltage lines running from pole to pole, and they require specially trained tree-trimming crews. Report tree hazards on our website.

Members are responsible for trimming vegetation away from secondary lines – the lines that stretch beyond your electric meter to your service location. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines for tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines.

Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may call unexpectedly and take down power lines and cause potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer.

When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to assess the situation and keep you safe.

For more information on digging and planting safely, go to our Dig Safe, Plant Safe page.