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01/23/2019 - 03:16 PM
We all Need the Utility System Thursday | November 1, 2018 Utilities throw around terms like distribution system, electric infrastructure and “the grid.” But as an electric consumer – and cooperative member – have you given much thought into how you use the electric system, and your role in maintaining that system? Read more >04/12/2021 - 12:15 PM
We are Dedicated to Keeping the Lights On Monday | April 4, 2022 On April 18th, we will celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day, to recognize and honor our lineworkers for their hard work and dedication. Read more >11/08/2023 - 09:05 AM
Title We May Have Money For You /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/UnclaimedCapitalCredits.jpg?h=45932144&itok=J00brWxz Wednesday | November 8, 2023 Card Teaser United Power is attempting to return unclaimed capital credit retirements to members. United Power is attempting to return unclaimed capital credit retirements to members who received electric service from the cooperative prior to 2020. If you were a member up to Dec. 31, 2019, you may be eligible to claim a previously issued but unclaimed capital credit refund. What Are Capital Credits? Cooperative members periodically receive capital credit allocations based on their electric usage during a specified time period. The amount you receive is based on the amount of power you used and the margins earned for the time period being allocated. In subsequent years, at the Board of Director’s discretion, previously allocated capital credits may be retired and returned to members. Who May be Eligible? Please look for your name on the list of unclaimed capital credit retirements.- If you were a United Power member for any period of time through Dec. 31, 2019 AND you were issued a capital credit retirement check in 2020 or earlier that you did not cash;
- If you are the family member or estate representative of a deceased member who had an uncashed capital credit retirement check issued in 2020 or earlier;
- If you are a current member who:
- Changed your name;
- Added your name to an existing account;
- Or did not cash a capital credit retirement check issued in 2020 or earlier.
08/15/2025 - 09:17 AM
Title We Trim Trees to Keep Your Lights On /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/ROW_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=0AgU8xYT Friday | August 15, 2025 Card Teaser Excessive overgrowth near utility equipment threatens reliability and increases fire risk. Trees are often the favorite aspect of a landscape, and everyone appreciates the beauty, value, and shade that a tree provides. Overgrown trees and vegetation under overhead power lines or near poles and other utility equipment threaten reliability and safety and increases wildfire risk. That is why United Power invests time and resources into regular tree trimming and removal operations in utility rights-of-way. What Are Utility Rights-of-Way? Utility rights-of-way areas designate access for utilities and must be kept clear so that crews are able to access equipment for maintenance and repair. United Power maintains a minimum of 10 feet of clearance on either side of utility equipment within the right-of-way and trims or removes vegetation growing under power lines. Utility rights-of-way may cross a member’s property and United Power is obligated to keep these areas clear of any vegetation blocking equipment and potentially causing a threat to safety or reliability. Vegetation around electrical equipment that cannot be trimmed safely may need to be removed entirely, especially if it could damage or compromise equipment. Why Does United Power Trim or Remove Trees?- Prevent outages. Trees that grow too closely to power lines or that become damaged during storms pose a risk to United Power equipment and could result in an outage.
- Access equipment. Crews need to access equipment quickly and easily for maintenance or for outage restoration. Overgrowth can cause delays and prolong outages.
- Mitigate wildfire risks. “Hazard trees” and other excess vegetation that could potentially contact utility equipment increases the risk of wildfires. United Power dedicates significant resources to reducing the threat of fires and keeping the community safe.
- United Power uses experienced tree trimming contractors to remove vegetation near high-voltage electric equipment.
- Artificial intelligence programs help the cooperative create vegetation management plans and track projects.
- Densely forested parts of the territory and areas where overgrowth is more prevalent are prioritized in vegetation management cycles.
- Crews will trim around equipment when it is safe to do so, but they may have to remove any vegetation that could compromise equipment when trimming is not sufficient.
- Members are contacted in advance when tree trimming projects are planned in their area.
01/25/2019 - 01:31 PM
Title What are Vampire Loads? /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2019_NL_Vampire.png?itok=lR6w03eY Friday | January 25, 2019 Card Teaser All of these items are responsible for contributing to your “vampire load,” also known as the “phantom load.” Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off. The desktop computer in your office. The living room TV and gaming console in standby or rest mode. Even the cell phone charger you keep plugged in throughout the day. All of these items are responsible for contributing to your “vampire load,” also known as the “phantom load.” Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off. These loads are approaching 10 percent of the average household electric use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Electronics and appliances in standby or rest modes require a little electricity to maintain minimal function of the device so it’s ready to go when you return to using it. The primary culprits are televisions, desktop computers and, particularly, gaming consoles which can use as much electricity as a refrigerator even when not in use thanks to frequent system updates. Chargers are another contributor to the phantom load. A single charger might not be a drain on your bill, but in an increasingly plugged in world, the impact can begin to add up. So how can you limit your vampire loads? The obvious solution is to simply unplug devices when not in use and disabling auto-update features that draw power when in rest mode. If you want a limited impact on your daily routine, consider investing in smart power strips. These devices can usually connect to your phone through WiFi or Bluetooth so you can turn them off and on automatically. Many of them even come with surge protection to keep your devices safe during storms or other events that may cause a surge. In the digital, connected age, these vampire, or phantom, loads can become a real problem. A little investment and some small changes can end up saving you on your bill. For more energy efficiency information, check out My Energy.12/19/2022 - 10:07 AM
What is Demand? Monday | December 19, 2022 The demand rate addresses how members use the system in different ways. Read more >01/06/2026 - 02:56 PM
White House Chronicle: Managing the Power Crisis at the Local Level Tuesday | January 6, 2026 United Power President and CEO Mark Gabriel speaks about the need for all fuels and his approach to keeping the lights on. Read more >12/18/2020 - 04:50 PM
Title Why Members Round Up /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_RoundUp.jpg?itok=YdOl3AGv Thursday | December 10, 2020 Card Teaser In November, we asked our members to tell us why they round up, and we received some tremendous responses. When United Power founded Operation Round-Up in 1995 as a way for members to voluntarily help each other through a small monthly contribution built right into their billing statement, we envisioned being able to help vulnerable and struggling members in the communities we serve make ends meet. We couldn’t have imagined then that a nationwide pandemic would stretch the foundation to its limits as we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year. It hasn’t been an easy year for anyone, and some have felt the impacts more than others. Although many more members are in need of assistance, the Round-Up board has remained committed to finding the most effective ways to help meet needs throughout this time. For those not familiar with Operation Round-Up, it is a foundation funded entirely by members who “round up” their monthly billing statements to the next whole dollar. Participation is voluntary, and average yearly contributions are only $6, or approximately $.50 per month. Those funds are then redistributed to nonprofits in various parts of the service territory to ensure as many members receive help as possible. The Round-Up Board selected these nonprofits because they have more resources and are better equipped to provide for members in need. The Board is made up of fellow United Power members who also live within the various parts of the service territory and are familiar with the specific needs of their respective areas. This unusual year hasn’t prevented the board from going above and beyond to meet increased needs, which created an added burden on the foundation. Without the generous contributions of more than 20,000 members who have elected to round up their bill, this wouldn’t have been possible. In November, we asked our members to tell us why they round up, and we received some tremendous responses: “Yes, been rounding up for at least a decade. One of a list of gratifying things to give. Maximum of $12 a year. A feel good thing!” Larry W., Commerce City “I haven’t participated in Round-Up before, but I am signing up today. Sounds like a great program and I can see that even a little bit helps.” Sam G., Firestone “Yes we do. We have dealt with hardships and want to contribute to help others in need.” Brad L., Frederick “We participate in Round-Up to ensure that our little contribution helps members who are less fortunate, especially in these times of COVID-19.” James D., Black Hawk “Yes! We do participate in the Round-Up program. We are grateful for the opportunity to assist members of our and the greater United Power community when the need arises.” Michelle B., Golden “I haven’t yet, I did not know what it was! But will be signing up now.” Terry H., Brighton03/09/2020 - 10:58 AM
Why United Power Plans Outages Monday | March 9, 2020 You may have at one time or another received a recorded message from United Power informing you of a “preplanned” outage in your area. Read more >05/30/2018 - 03:22 PM
Title Why We Plan Outages /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2018_02_02_PlannedOutages.jpg?itok=3GEM8PdY Friday | February 2, 2018 Card Teaser Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?” Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?” You may have wondered, “What is a planned outage?” and “Why does my electric utility need to perform one?” Occasionally, the equipment we use to bring power to your home needs to be replaced, repaired, or updated. When this happens, as a way to keep our crews and you safe, we plan an interruption to electric service. We do our best to plan these outages during times when members will be the least inconvenienced. We also try to avoid planning these outages during winter or summer months. We understand these are peak times of the year when you depend on running your heating and cooling units the most. While they may sound slightly inconvenient, planned outages are actually beneficial to you. Regular system upgrades are necessary for optimal performance, and they increase reliability. Repairing and upgrading our equipment is also critical to maintaining public safety. If older lines need to be replaced, we plan for it, repair or replace it, and that keeps everyone safe. Planned outages also allow us to keep you informed of when and how long you will be without power. In most cases, we will notify you in advance, by telephone, before an outage, so you can be prepared. We will also keep you aware of when line crews will be working in your area. Here at United Power, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and to keep our system running smoothly. So the next time you hear about a planned outage, know that it is one of the best ways we can provide you with quality electric service.09/15/2020 - 11:54 AM
Wildfire Mitigation a Cooperative Priority Tuesday | September 15, 2020 As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention. Read more >02/14/2022 - 02:50 PM
Wildfire Safety Seminar Monday | February 14, 2022 In March, the Firestone Free Thinkers 4-H Club, in partnership with United Power, is hosting a free one-hour wildfire preparedness training, presented by the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District and the CVEMA. Read more >