First In-Person Annual Meeting Since 2019

For the past two years, United Power has hosted its Annual Meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the health and safety of members and employees. As public health restrictions ease, the cooperative will offer members an opportunity to gather in person and hear from co-op leadership for the first time since 2019. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format on April 13, meaning members may also participate online via a livestream hosted on the cooperative’s website.

All members are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to hear from United Power leadership about the exciting ways the cooperative has continued to serve members throughout the previous year. Despite navigating ongoing public safety restrictions from the pandemic, the cooperative managed contract negotiations with its wholesale power supplier while also improving system reliability and continuing to provide the same level of service its members have come to expect. Participating members will receive an attendance gift, and an opportunity to win one of several door prizes.

Voting in the annual director election also provides United Power members the unique ability to voice their thoughts on the cooperative’s future. Each year, your votes determine who serves on the United Power Board of Directors. Your participation in the election is critical to helping the cooperative better serve you.

Five candidates are running for election to the Board of Directors. This year, one seat in the East, South, and West Districts is up for election. The director candidates are Steven “Steve” Douglas, Naptali A. Lucks, and Elizabeth “Beth” A. Martin in the East District; Keith Alquist in the South District; and Ursula J. Morgan in the West District.

Candidate Statements

The cooperative mails out director ballots in mid-March and encourages all members to vote and return their ballots prior to the deadline. This year, members can participate in the director election electronically through their online account. Voting online is a fast and secure way to submit your ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. Online and mail-in ballots must be received by noon on April 12, or members can vote in person on April 13 at the meeting. Although directors live in specific geographical districts, they represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. Please cast a vote for a director in each district regardless of where you live.

Attending the Meeting

The in-person meeting will be held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds on April 13. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. The virtual stream will begin at 6:30 p.m. To view the livestream, go to www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.

Looking ahead while focusing on the present is a challenge in today’s electric power industry. Whether it is changing regulations; the desire of more members to engage with us as their electric cooperative in new ways; the advancement of technologies; or simply the expectations of high quality, always on, reliable power, being prepared is key.

Thanks to the hard work of staff at United Power, supported by our Board of Directors, we have created “Our Cooperative Roadmap,” or Roadmap, to document both where we are today and how we are looking toward the future. The Roadmap has four Guiding Principles: Reliability, Affordability, Flexibility, and Responsibility. Each of these principles embodies the elements most critical to us as we seek to prepare for the future while building and maintaining the important investments we have made on behalf of our members over the decades. These are the lenses through which we evaluate options such as reimagining our power supply, integrating new technologies, preparing for future markets, and supporting the needs of the workforce.

Reliability

Strive to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted service to our members through the design, operation, protection, and maintenance of a failure-resistant and resilient electric distribution system.

Affordability

Continually seek fair and equitable wholesale rates, manage distribution costs in a highly efficient manner, and responsibly allocate those costs across our membership with stable and transparent rate options.

Flexibility

Demonstrate maximum agility and adaptiveness through forward-looking plans; versatile, innovative programs and business models; and diverse power supply options as we respond to changes in our environment and the needs of our members and community.

Responsibility

Act honestly, ethically, sustainably, and in the best interest of our members and communities as we manage operations and secure resources.

The Roadmap defines the working plan priorities for your cooperative and aligns the work of employees at United Power. The document will ensure continuity in our thinking and guide us as we make important resource decisions. 

The Roadmap also keeps us looking at the immediate opportunities and challenges we face. The criticality of electricity has never been more evident as a growing number of our members work from home. The advances of technology require high quality, reliable power. And, as our communities grow, so too do the demands for more power.

A good example in planning ahead and working for today lies in the investments your cooperative made in our fire mitigation plan. Several years ago, we began switching to covered cable in the mountains, undergrounded critical lines, and moved to an advanced breaker. While no plan can perfectly protect us from the unpredictability of wildfires, we were ready to respond during the recent events here in Colorado. Fortunately, our system was not impacted.

The same is true as we ready our technologies to accept more distributed energy resources, storage, and solar on our system while preparing for the advent of a power market here in the west.

We encourage members to read Our Cooperative Roadmap and engage in future discussions about it. The senior team and I welcome the opportunity to come and speak to community groups and will be posting several videos online that cover the Roadmap’s key elements. 

Our Cooperative Roadmap covers a wide range of areas – all designed with you, our member, in mind. Importantly, it helps define the cooperative’s future and keeps us on track today. As always, I welcome your comments, questions, and feedback on any topic, including the Roadmap. Please contact me here.  
 

Our appliances make life easier and help tackle the manual tasks of housework, but there’s a cost to this convenience. Many newer models are designed to be energy efficient, but why not take measures that will help you save even more energy and money?

1. Run a full load. Wash clothes and dishes with a full load only; partial loads waste energy and water. Load your dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fill the racks completely to maximize water and energy use but allow for adequate water circulation to ensure clean dishes.
2. Stay cool and fresh. Set refrigerator and freezer thermostats at the recommended temperature settings: 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator, and 5°F for the freezer. It will help optimize energy savings while keeping foods fresh.
3. Stock the fridge. A fully stocked unit uses less energy because there is less air to cool. Avoid overfilling; too many items packed together closely will reduce air circulation.
4. Keep your dryer dry. Clean the lint filter after each dryer load; this will increase air circulation and improve dryer efficiency. Inspect your dryer vent periodically to ensure that it's not blocked.
5. Air your clean laundry. When doing laundry, why not air-dry your clothes? It will reduce energy costs, and it may help to keep clothes looking new.
6. Get cooking efficiently. Use your microwave or toaster oven rather than the stovetop or oven. These smaller appliances often heat food more quickly, while using less energy. If you do use the stovetop, match the pan size to the burner size, and cover pots and pans.

Boost your Savings with an Energy Smart Rebate

Looking to upgrade to more efficient appliances? Replace older appliances with new ENERGY STAR®-certified efficient models. These products are the best of the best, delivering cutting-edge energy efficiency along with the latest in technological innovation.

United Power members can boost their savings with rebates on a variety of ENERGY STAR® and select efficient electric appliances. View the complete menu of Energy Smart Rebates to reduce the cost your new appliance purchase.