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09/15/2022 - 03:55 PM
Early Fall Message from Mark A. Gabriel Tuesday | September 6, 2022 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >05/04/2022 - 10:49 AM
Early Summer Message from Mark A. Gabriel Wednesday | May 4, 2022 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >12/02/2022 - 08:55 AM
Title Early Winter Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Board/12_Board_Dec2021.jpg?itok=YhaxrZGT Friday | December 2, 2022 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. One of the newest buzz phrases in the energy industry is the “shared energy economy.” In this economy, all the resources necessary for keeping the lights on, keeping our homes and businesses running, and keeping society humming are jointly managed for the benefit of all. The cooperative business model was founded on this very principle more than 80 years ago, with communities coming together and bringing light where there was darkness. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent nonprofit energy research, development, and deployment organization, has a fancy definition of this shared energy economy: “Technical, business, regulatory, and policy conditions that allow customer-owned resources to supplement utility operations in providing value to consumers while also providing value to the asset owner.” Today we have advanced technologies that are creating an energy web, linking centralized resources and member-owned resources, such as electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and home battery storage in new and exciting ways. The coming of a power market in the next two years will allow United Power — on your behalf — to manage a variety of electric inputs that will help lower bills and make better use of the electricity we buy. Taking advantage of the shared energy economy is one of the many reasons we are working to find new, more forward-leaning power suppliers, as our current arrangement limits the flexibility we can provide our members and the choices that are available. We have outlined this future in Our Cooperative Roadmap that envisions a day in the not-to-distant future when we are no longer penalized for being efficient, having large scale batteries, or working with our members to serve their needs in a mutually beneficial manner. There are more than 9,200 members with solar rooftops, 150 with batteries, and many thousands buying EVs in our service territory. Combining those with load management programs for water heating, air conditioning, and on-site generation will allow United Power to bring value and share the economic benefit of those investments. These changes will help many of our industrial and commercial members meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, while also achieving Colorado’s planned reduction in emissions. It is important to recognize how the economics are driving these changes for United Power first and foremost. We can get the dual benefit of meeting goals and lowering costs. The shared energy economy has been a cornerstone of the cooperative business model, and this continued evolution fits well into United Power’s history as an energy leader on your behalf and recognizes the future opportunities for our communities. As always, I welcome your comments and insights, as well opportunities to meet with our members anytime. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of our executive team with questions or concerns.01/26/2021 - 06:30 AM
Title Electrical Safety During Quarantine /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2021_NL_HomeSafety.jpg?itok=hyHigyIL Monday | January 11, 2021 Card Teaser With more time spent at home, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period. Many United Power members have spent much of the past ten months making necessary lifestyle changes to accommodate recommended precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home and distance learning have become common throughout our territory and may continue throughout the first part of the new year. With more time spent at home and more devices being used, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period. Secure Wall Outlets Over time, standard wall outlets may become loose, causing power cords to hang loose rather than hold firmly. This may not seem like a safety risk, especially if you’ve regularly used these outlets in the past. However, power cords hanging from loose outlets can cause arcing, which may lead to a fire. If your outlets are not firmly holding a plug, contact a certified electrician to make necessary repairs. Don’t Overload Home Circuits An additional safety concern with outlets in your home is overloading, which is when more power is requested of an outlet than it can deliver. This can be the result of either high-powered appliances or many small devices plugged into a single outlets. Overloaded outlets can trip circuit breakers or blow fuses, but it may also melt the plastic or rubber protection around power cords, exposing the wires. This poses another fire risk to households. An electrician can install additional outlets in your home to avoid the risks of overloaded circuits. Don’t Daisy Chain Power Strips One way people may add sockets to a wall outlet is using a power strip. Daisy chaining is the process of plugging an additional power strip into a power strip already in use, creating a “chain” of power strips, and is another way to easily overload your circuit.01/18/2024 - 03:17 PM
Electrical Safety for the New Year Thursday | January 18, 2024 The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety. Read more >12/11/2023 - 02:09 PM
Electricity Powers Your Life Thursday | December 7, 2023 Recently announced rate change takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. Read more >03/02/2020 - 12:30 PM
Title Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_MedicalDevices.jpg?h=45932144&itok=Mjp98y1L Tuesday | February 18, 2020 Card Teaser United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond. United Power strives to provide reliable power to its members. At times, however, circumstances may arise that lead to an interruption in power, such as standard maintenance improvements to our system, or an outage, caused by a number of events such as severe weather. When an outage does occur, the cooperative is quick to dispatch linemen to safely restore power to its members as quickly as possible. Some outages, however, can create situations that require an extended time to resolve. These kinds of outages can be especially worrisome for members with special medical needs. If you use life-sustaining medical equipment that depends on electricity for operation, such as oxygen generators, kidney dialysis machines or respirators, it’s important to put together a plan for a power outage before it happens. Have a Backup Plan for Prolonged Outages United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond. Have a Power Backup. Outages can happen at a moment’s notice and without warning. Though the cooperative makes every effort to quickly restore power, we cannot provide a specific time frame for when your power will be restored. If you use medical equipment, consider obtaining a power back-up, such as a battery or generator, in the case of an extended outage. Plan for Evacuation. In the worst case event, such as a significant weather crisis like a blizzard or flood, prepare to evacuate to an alternate location. These events can result in outages lasting several days. How You Can Help If you do experience an outage or other electrical emergency, always report it. Do not assume United Power knows about your outage. You can report your outage by logging into our online portal available at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub or by calling our outage reporting line at 303-637-1350. More information about medically necessary devices can be found on our Medical Devices page.02/11/2021 - 09:00 AM
Title Employees Raise $4,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2021_NL_FoodDonation.jpg?itok=hzxcyw3v Friday | February 5, 2021 Card Teaser For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. Seeking an opportunity to give back during the holiday season, United Power employees participated in a virtual food drive to raise funds for the Food Bank of the Rockies in December. In the two weeks before Christmas, employees donated more than $2,000 to the food bank, which the cooperative generously matched, bringing the total to more than $4,000. For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. Thanks to the contributions of United Power employees, the food bank was able to provide nearly 17,000 meals. The Food Bank of the Rockies was selected as the partner for the employee drive because of its accessibility for members across the service territory. “We wanted to help our communities and our members, and this was a safe-distance solution that allowed us to reach as many members as possible,” said Laurel Eller, Senior Communication Specialist. “Employee giving is a rich tradition and our employees have been very generous this season. We thank all of them for helping make this virtual food drive a success.” Demand at food banks quadrupled last year as many local familes faced food insecurity for the very first time. The Food Bank of the Rockies distributed more than 100 million pounds of food for the first time ever in 2020, which provided more than 83 million meals for those in need. To learn more or support the Food Bank of the Rockies, go to www.foodbankrockies.org.11/07/2022 - 10:29 AM
Title Empowering & Engaging Our Members /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_FairsCommunity.jpg?itok=algtZaFM Monday | November 7, 2022 Card Teaser United Power supports community events, empowers local education, & drives economic development United Power Supports Community Events, Empowers Local Education, & Drives Economic Development United Power members expect their electric utility to provide consistently reliable power when they need it, for as long as they need it; but as a cooperative, United Power is more than your average utility company. Electric distribution cooperatives exist to serve their members and are only as strong as the communities they serve, which is why we have pledged a commitment to actively engage with our members and promote the growth and development of our communities. Our public presence in the community is evident at fairs and festivals throughout the service area. United Power is a proud partner and supporter of community events that offer family fun and celebrate each city or town’s unique and rich history. As the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August, the cooperative helped bring one of the largest county fairs in the country to thousands of local residents and visitors. The cooperative also sponsors community heritage celebrations like Trapper Days in Fort Lupton and Miners Day in Frederick. While summer events bring out large crowds, United Power is also active during the holiday season. You’ll find our community affairs reps passing out candy at local trunk or treat events or see our trucks rolling in festive parades adorned in lights and decorations. We also sponsor Thanksgiving food drives like Food for Hope’s annual Feed 5000 campaign. The cooperative’s sponsorship of the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA) allows it to plan several holiday events for its residents, such as family favorites like the Easter Eggstravaganza and Fourth of July Festival. “If it weren’t for the considerable support the CCCIA receives from United Power, we wouldn’t be able to put on these events for our residents,” said CCCIA Hall Manager Suzy Schemel. “We are able to bring family-friendly events to the families who live up here free of charge thanks to their generous contribution and continued support for Coal Creek. I imagine the sentiment is shared by many of the other communities United Power serves.” The growth and development of local communities hinges on the abilities of their leaders – both current and future. United Power recognizes future mayors, city councilors, and other community leaders among the students in our high schools. Each year, we select local high school students to represent the cooperative on trips to Steamboat Springs and Washington, D.C. for youth leadership training and education on the cooperative principles. We also award nearly two dozen scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing a post-secondary education or vocational degree. (More information on United Power scholarships and youth trips can be found here.) As much as our community leaders spur growth, it also requires creating an environment that supports healthy and thriving businesses. United Power has a seat at the table of local chambers of commerce because of their work behind the scenes helping communities drive economic development. Economic development directors from our communities can contact our readily available and easily accessible community affairs reps with inquiries about new business development and business retention strategies. The cooperative’s close relationship with each community alleviates concerns for potential business owners as they determine future business locations. “United Power operates with a level of certainty about its infrastructure’s ability to handle new or expanding load,” said Max Daffron, economic development manager for the Town of Frederick. “That certainty is important for business owners.” United Power reps can help communities and businesses determine where sufficient infrastructure is available, how additional capacity can be built, or if redundant power is necessary. They can even recommend ideal business locations based on their energy needs and prospective development in the area. United Power has also partnered with communities to help develop comprehensive strategies and plan for future growth. “As a small business owner, I see real value in United Power’s commitment to community support and development,” said Cody LeBlanc, owner of Cinn-A-Brew in Brighton and The KM Cup in Fort Lupton. “Their support showcases our businesses and demonstrates the area is a great place live.” United Power’s commitment extends to all areas that support community health and well-being, including its state parks and nonprofits that serve the local community. The cooperative assisted Barr Lake State Park in placing its popular osprey platform in 2014; and earlier this year, helped raise its eagles nest on the southern end of the park. When the cooperative hit 100,000 meters in 2021, United Power made contributions to each state park in its service territory – Barr Lake, St. Vrain, and Golden Gate – in recognition of their importance to the community. Now more than 100,000 meters strong, United Power impacts more people than ever before. We recognize how beneficial the support we provide for our communities has been and how crucial it is for continued growth and development. As a cooperative, we strive to see each of our communities, and the members who call them home, reach their full potential. As we grow and evolve into the electric utility of the future, our members will continue to remain our focus.12/13/2023 - 09:59 AM
Title Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ Tuesday | December 12, 2023 Card Teaser It can be difficult to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage during the holidays. We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We are often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking, and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down, resulting in more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected. However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. A little forethought and diligence makes it easy to find savings during this time of year. Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they have always used when decorating for the holidays. Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up — perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs are up to 90% more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights. Beware the Holiday Vampires United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming large consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. Give the Gift of Energy Savings Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR® label. These devices meet or exceed federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family. For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit Managing Your Energy.12/18/2020 - 04:32 PM
Title Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ Tuesday | December 15, 2020 Card Teaser It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage during the holiday season than you might expect. We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We’re often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected. However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. With a little forethought and diligence, it’s easy to find a little savings during this time of year. Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they’ve always used when decorating for the holidays. Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up – perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs, however, are up to 90 percent more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights. Beware the Holiday Vampires United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming larger consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles or charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. Give the Gift of Energy Savings Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR label. These devices are at or better than federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family. For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit our Energy Tips page.01/06/2022 - 11:44 AM
Title Energy Efficiency for 2022 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2022_NL_EnergyEfficiency.jpg?h=45932144&itok=12lzkvaR Thursday | January 6, 2022 Card Teaser United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use. United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use. As we enter a new year, it’s now easier to control your energy and become more energy efficient. Here are some ways United Power is empowering its members to take control. Rates that Work for You Families spent more time at home over the past two years due to the pandemic transitioning many to working from a home office while schooling from the kitchen or living room. As a result, members are more aware of the ways they use energy. Now is the time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family. United Power’s residential rates provide individuals and families options designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables members to review their energy use habits and select a plan that fits their usage patterns. The cooperative’s rates will also remain unchanged as we head into 2022. For more information on United Power’s rates, go to the cooperative's Rates page, or to have a dedicated energy management specialist review your history and recommend a rate option, call 303-637-1311. Take Advantage of Free Member Resources United Power provides several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. The Power Portal is an accessory to the cooperative’s online account portal and provides detailed energy use information. With information displayed in 15-minute intervals throughout the day, members can compare days or months to determine what’s driving energy usage. In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members. ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter Heating and cooling your home accounts for approximately half your annual energy usage, making it the most expensive part of your energy costs. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. A simple adjustment to your thermostat could save you as much as 10 percent annually, according to the Department of Energy, which recommends adjusting your temperature a couple degrees when you’re home and a couple more when you’re away. Many smart thermostats can learn your schedule and make these adjustments automatically. Talk to an Energy Management Specialist A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to walk through your energy concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings. Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.