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03/02/2026 - 01:00 PM
Title 2026 United Power Director Candidates Announced /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations.jpg?h=45932144&itok=skNY5iXO Monday | March 2, 2026 Card Teaser Balloting Opens March 13 Balloting in the 2026 Director Election Opens March 13 Brighton, CO – Six candidates are running for election to the United Power Board of Directors in the cooperative’s 2026 director election. Four positions on the board are up for election and the candidates are Phil Tiffany and Virginia A. “Ginny” Buczek (incumbent) in the North District; Vicki Erickson and Lisa Hough in the Central District; Steven Douglas (incumbent) in the South District; and Tamra K. Waltemath (incumbent) in the Mountain District. Directors are elected “at-large” and represent all members. This means members may cast a vote for a candidate in each district. United Power encourages all members to vote online or return their mail ballots prior to the 11:59 a.m. deadline on April 14. Statements from each of the candidates will be available with member ballots; published in the cooperative’s newsletter, delivered in March; and posted online here. Director candidate contribution reports will also be available online. Proposed amendments to the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation will also appear on the ballot for approval by the membership. These amendments will ensure the articles are clear, transparent, and consistent with current state laws and the co-op’s bylaws. Specifically, the proposed amendments remove duplicative and outdated language and add clarifying language where necessary. The proposed amendments can be viewed in full online. Ballots will be mailed and electronic balloting opens on March 13. Members may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting, beginning at 4:30 p.m., where votes will be cast using a streamlined digital voting system. Results of the director election will be announced at the 2026 Annual Meeting, which will be held on April 15 at Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds and livestreamed on United Power’s website. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m., and on-site balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend and engage with cooperative leadership, connect with fellow members, and celebrate the cooperative’s accomplishments over the past year. 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 more than 117,000 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. ###01/23/2019 - 03:28 PM
Title 3,000th Rooftop Solar Connection /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Oct2018_NL_Solar_0.png?itok=ytgQaHME Thursday | November 1, 2018 Card Teaser In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative. In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative. United Power has seen rapid growth and adoption of solar power as a renewable energy option among its members over the past few years. According to the 2017 Smart Electric Power Association (SEPA), only Xcel Energy ranks higher in connected solar among electric utilities in Colorado. United Power also ranked 5th among cooperatives nationally for connected solar. Member-owned solar connections account for more than 3 percent of United Power’s total meters, and produce almost 30 million kWhs of energy annually. Since powering Sol Partners, Colorado’s first community solar farm, in 2009, United Power has been at the forefront of adopting solar energy projects that both reduce carbon emissions and make economic sense. Today, the cooperative has four utility-scale solar farms powering our members. These systems provide local solar energy system-wide, purchased at a predictable cost – providing an environmental benefit and adding some rate stability for members.01/22/2019 - 01:55 PM
Title A Bird's Eye View /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/June2018_NL_Drone.png?itok=5R4L3l2P Friday | June 1, 2018 Card Teaser In 2016, United Power recognized it needed to brainstorm new ways to inspect its infrastructure in a quicker, safer and more efficient manner. Drones were a cheap and effective solution. When the drone (unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs) craze took off nearly a decade ago, it was impossible for experts to predict how rapidly impactful the revolutionary technology would become. As sales began to dwarf estimates, professional drone pilots found new and innovative ways to utilize the technology economically, often as a safe and cost-effective alternative to manned aerial operations or underground imaging. In 2016, United Power recognized it needed to brainstorm new ways to inspect its infrastructure in a quicker, safer and more efficient manner. On a daily basis, electrical poles and cross arms are exposed to various weather conditions, which can cause accelerated decay over time. United Power’s linemen put their lives on the line to regularly ensure lines and poles delivering power to families around the service territory are in the best shape. Even in the best conditions, however, the effort necessary to inspect thousands of poles across thousands of miles of line is immense, if not impossible. The idea to incorporate drone technology was first suggested by Mike Robinson, a Safety Specialist with the cooperative, who had been an early adopter of using drones during inspection. United Power partnered with Colorado Aerial Imaging, a veteran-owned drone maintenance business with experience in electric line inspection, and began a trial implementation in the Mountain Territory. Mountain Territory Coal Creek is a 215-square mile noncontiguous parcel of land served by United Power. Extending from Golden to the Continental Divide, the Mountain Territory is sparsely populated, requiring lots of line carrying a higher voltage. The higher voltage lines, rugged terrain and severe weather made the Mountain Territory an easy place to begin initial implementation for the drone maintenance program. With poles perched on cliff sides, in dense forests and at high elevations, inspection is a risky endeavor for linemen in Coal Creek. The time-consuming process also takes a backseat to restoring power during an outage, which can be exacerbated during storms and winter weather. UAVs provide quicker access to hard to reach poles and limit exposure to risk. “The process of identifying and correcting an issue on a pole in a place like Coal Creek can require multiple hours to complete,” said Chief Operating Officer Bryant Robbins. “If another problem occurs during inspection, the linemen have no choice but to abandon it and return to it later.” For linemen in Coal Creek, hiking in and out of an area multiple times to repair poles is not uncommon, but the task is no less daunting in United Power’s larger Plains Territory. Plains Territory Colorado Aerial Imaging recently completed its first phase in the Plains Territory near Brighton, with two more phases scheduled for the upcoming months. While the service territory is more favorable for weather and terrain, it still comes with challenges. “We try to remain respectful of people’s concerns about privacy and security,” said Don McDaniel, Engineering Director for United Power. “It’s more densely populated, and more of our poles are located on or near private property.” Since drones eliminate the need for linemen to approach poles during inspection, there’s limited impact to members — no property intrusion or interrupted service — and a sense of respect for their privacy. Though linemen on the plains don’t have to hike to and from poles through dense foliage and up steep inclines, the time necessary to inspect poles would be exorbitant. Crews rarely have the ability to devote large parts of their day to inspection across the service territory. “We serve some of the fastest growing areas in the Northern Front Range,” said McDaniel. “We have a lot of requests for new service from residential communities and businesses moving in, and not enough linemen to dedicate solely to inspecting poles, as much as we’d like to be able to.” Other Benefits “While examining and analyzing pole damages for an area in Coal Creek, we noticed rot along the top of a cross arm,” said Greg Bergin, co-owner of Colorado Aerial Imaging. “From where we were standing, the pole looked to be in fairly healthy condition.” Because drones are not limited to the area around the pole, they are able to capture images from angles linemen wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. “Without physically climbing the pole and inspecting every part of it for damage, we wouldn’t have noticed this damage without the use of drones,” said lineman Adam Dillion. “Some poles may look fine, even from our best vantage points, but the pictures from above tell another story.” Aerial images obtained from drones are visual, thermal and geotagged, providing a broader, wider and higher view of each pole and piece of equipment. There’s an inherent redundancy built into the program to ensure accurate inspections. “Before we ever send out a crew, we are able to determine what tools and materials we’ll need, how many men are required and whether we’ll need to be on someone’s property,” said Dillon. To date, Colorado Aerial Imaging has inspected more than 30 miles of line and nearly 800 poles. “What may take a line crew more than a day to complete a drone is able to do in less than an hour,” Robbins said. “Our drone program has been a cost-effective way to stay proactive, instead of reactive, to the potential for outages on our lines. The amount of time and risk this program has saved us, and will continue to save us, is incalculable.”12/04/2020 - 03:44 PM
Title A Few Things to be Aware of when Considering Rooftop Solar /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_RooftopSolar.jpg?itok=P1HUaXoN Friday | December 4, 2020 Card Teaser Several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar: United Power has a long history of supporting our rooftop solar members. The cooperative has been nationally recognized for the amount of interconnected solar on its system, and recently surpassed 5,000 rooftop solar connections. That being said, several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar: Myth #1: Colorado State Law requires me to install solar on my roof. This is not true. The state recently passed legislation that requires homebuilders to offer rooftop solar options or make-ready wiring for solar on newly constructed homes, but this does not apply to existing households. Myth #2: United Power contracts solar installers to offer rooftop solar. United Power does not have any contracts to work with rooftop solar installers. If a solar sales representative claims to be working with or on behalf of the cooperative, that should be a red flag. Members are free to work with any solar vendor they choose, and United Power will let you interconnect with our system. Learn more about our interconnection agreement and other helpful tips before considering solar at www.unitedpower.com/going-solar. Myth #3: By installing rooftop solar, you will no longer receive a United Power bill or will save against future electric rate increases. You will still receive a bill for the electricity you consume when the sun isn’t shining and your home is utilizing services from the grid. United Power is actively working to reduce electric rates for all our members, so long term financing forecasts from solar salespeople with future rate increases from United Power may be misleading. If you have any questions or would like to speak with a United Power energy advisor, please contact us at 303-637-1300. We also have several online resources available for members considering rooftop solar on our website at www.unitedpower.com. You can even view and download meter data on your electric usage through our Power Portal for a more in-depth analysis. You can learn about United Power’s investments in solar for all our members at www.unitedpower.com/innovating-energy.05/30/2018 - 03:33 PM
Title A New Look for Our Trucks /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2018_02_14_NewTruckLook.jpg?itok=_6lfHEfO Wednesday | February 14, 2018 Card Teaser While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks. Greater Visibility for Increased Safety While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks. Here at United Power, we think a lot about the safety of our employees, and of our members. We are always looking for ways to keep our employees safer in the field and on the job. One of our initiatives to increase safety is better visibility—both for our employees and our vehicles. For our field employees, we recently traded in our blue uniform shirts for more highly visible yellow shirts with reflective stripes. For our trucks, you’ll soon see a bigger, bolder look making them more visible out on the road. The new design includes a larger and more prominent United Power logo, so members can more clearly see us when we are working in their communities, or on their property. Incorporated into the design is a reflective vinyl material which will help make our trucks more visible. This will help to protect our workers who often are called out to work at night and during storms where visibility conditions are poor. We want you to know when you’re working with United Power and to know when we’re in your community—and we want to ensure the safety of our employees who are working hard for you03/15/2018 - 01:45 PM
A New Look for Our Trucks Wednesday | February 14, 2018 While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks. Read more >01/25/2019 - 01:21 PM
Title A New Name: Union REA Becomes United Power /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2019_NL_Truck.png?itok=tXQpeaxT Friday | January 25, 2019 Card Teaser This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April. In the late 1980s, United Power overcame a competitive territory war and takeover bid from Public Service Company of Colorado, now Xcel Energy. The rocky battle led the cooperative to reevaluate its service and commit to trimming rates and delivering more reliable power for its members. This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April. Following a member vote in August 1987 to reject Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) takeover bid of Union Rural Electric Association (Union REA), the Colorado State Legislature urged the two electric utilities to settle its territory dispute in the interest of the public. The dispute had resulted in unnecessary duplication of distribution infrastructure over the years, which was costly to members and customers. Three years later in 1990, the two utilities finalized an agreement that would exchange certain territories and establish firm territory boundaries. Union REA would begin serving Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the rural areas of Platte Valley. In return, PSCo would receive territory the new Denver International Airport was to be built on. The transfer closed the corridor separating the two areas the cooperative served along the plains. With the territory battle behind it, the cooperative began focusing on resolving some glaring problems brought to light during the takeover attempt. Union REA’s Board made a commitment to improve rates and reliability using PSCo’s performance records as a measuring stick. With record performance levels and expectations aimed toward the future, Union REA became United Power, intending to help leave behind the unsophisticated image of the traditional cooperative. The name change to United Power symbolized the cooperative’s commitment to its rural heritage while presenting a progressive utility to a new urban member-base. By November 1990, United Power had begun serving all the communities acquired in the exchange except for a lone holdout, Brighton, which had voted to deny the service transfer to the cooperative. A couple years later, United Power had developed a reputation of reliability and reducing rates. When PSCo approached the Brighton city council again in 1992, United Power members were paying 6 percent less than Brighton residents served by PSCo. As the cooperative and PSCo worked to move the transfer forward, United Power made dedicated efforts to educate Brighton residents and answer questions concerning service, reliability and cost of power to bolster its image as a cutting-edge power supplier. United Power assured residents it would track outage and restoration times, guarantee reliability factors as strong or better than PSCo and pledged to freeze rates for two years if the transfer was approved. In 1993, United Power finally welcomed Brighton and its residents to the cooperative family.06/12/2023 - 03:50 PM
Adams County District Court Proceeding Delayed Monday | June 12, 2023 District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance Read more >06/03/2024 - 02:19 PM
Title Additional Lines on Billing Statements During Rate Transition /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/BillPay_Online_Mobile.jpg?h=8bae0fe2&itok=Mu5dNVPV Monday | June 3, 2024 Card Teaser Rates were adjusted for all rate classes beginning with June 1 electric usage As a reminder, rates were adjusted for all rate classes beginning with June 1 electric usage. Some billing cycles include billing dates that span from May to June, so billing statements issued in June will reflect energy usage billed at two different rates - delineated as different lines. To clearly differentiate energy usage and the per kWh rate billed, a separate line item will appear on bills for energy used before June 1, and another line item for energy used on June 1 and beyond. Bills for members on Time of Day rates will include added lines for the two on-peak and off-peak rates over the billing cycle. These additional line items will only appear on statements billed during the rate transition and member bills will resume to the standard format moving forward. If you have additional questions about the current rates, please visit www.unitedpower.com/rates or call United Power’s member services team at 303-637-1300. Líneas adicionales en las facturas durante la transición de tarifas Como recordatorio, se ajustaron las tarifas de todas las clases tarifarias a partir del consumo eléctrico del 1.o de junio. Algunos ciclos de facturación incluyen fechas de facturación que abarcan de mayo a junio, por lo que las facturas emitidas en junio reflejarán el consumo de energía facturado a dos tarifas diferentes, detalladas en líneas distintas. Para diferenciar claramente el consumo de energía y la tarifa por kWh facturada, verá la energía utilizada antes del 1.o de junio y la energía utilizada a partir del 1.o de junio en dos líneas separadas. Las facturas para los clientes con tarifas Time of Day incluirán líneas adicionales para las dos tarifas de horas pico y no pico durante el ciclo de facturación. Estas líneas adicionales solo aparecerán en las facturas emitidas durante la transición de tarifas. Después de esta transición, las facturas volverán al formato estándar. Si tiene preguntas adicionales sobre las tarifas actuales, visite www.unitedpower.com/rates o llame al equipo de Servicios a los Miembros de United Power al 303-637-1300.04/29/2019 - 01:45 PM
Title Adjusted Office Hours on Wednesday, April 17 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/02_18_2019_AnnualMeet80_1.png?itok=VlVTszBN Tuesday | April 16, 2019 Card Teaser United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting. United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting. United Power lobbies will open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds beginning at 4:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend the meeting for dinner, director election, co-op update and door prizes.05/31/2019 - 03:54 PM
All Hands on Deck for the Bomb Cyclone Wednesday | May 15, 2019 All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted. Read more >09/23/2020 - 12:19 PM
Title An Exciting Time to Invest in EVs /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EV_plugin.jpg?h=45932144&itok=UKkauilg Wednesday | September 23, 2020 Card Teaser There are more options at more price points available today than there have been in any year prior. Join us on September 27 as we explore all you need to know about electric vehicles. What once seemed like a hopeful concept for the future has become a reality. Today, you’re more likely to see multiple electric vehicles while you’re driving to work or the grocery store than not, and it’s becoming more common for gas stations and public spaces to install charging stations to accommodate electric vehicle drivers. You probably support a business with an electric vehicle fleet or know someone who has invested in either an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. “It’s safe to say electric vehicle adoption has far outpaced our expectations,” said Tyler Bain, a United Power electrical engineer and longtime EV driver. “A sizeable number of EV drivers live in United Power’s service territory, and there’s still a lot of opportunity for growth – for both us and potential EV drivers.” Why has there been so much recent growth in electric vehicles? Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan explains it has a lot to do with understanding and education. Many potential buyers face concerns and hesitations about integrating an electric vehicle into their daily lives. “There’s a perception that electric vehicles aren’t capable of meeting the average person’s needs,” Zeid says. “Every main concern can be boiled down to that root perception, which is an incorrect one. With a little information, we can turn hesitation into excitement. Electric vehicles have all the benefits of any other vehicle without much of the cost.” Range anxiety, for example, is one of the hardest barriers for people to overcome, Zeid says. He recommends using your vehicle’s trip odometer to calculate how far you commute in a given day, either to and from work or for various other errands. People usually drive far less than they estimate, and that can demonstrate how range anxiety is typically more psychological than reality. The growth also has to do with pricing and availability. There are more options at more price points available today than there have been in any year prior. Many major car brands have announced new and upcoming electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Some will even come as a trim option on already popular models for a small premium, which can be more than offset by current state and federal rebates and incentives. Join United Power from September 26 — October 4 for National Drive EV Week as the cooperative and Zeid walk you through the finer points of EV ownership and much more. Follow our journey and find out more at Drive EV Week.