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08/29/2024 - 11:07 AM
Title August Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message_85.jpg?h=45932144&itok=fpbFupeq Thursday | August 29, 2024 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Fall is rapidly upon us, and we have successfully managed our first summer as an independent electric cooperative. It has been a hot summer and despite naysayers, the amazingly dedicated women and men of United Power have led us through this significant transition. United Power’s loads continue to grow. Combining new sources of power and innovative technology, we have managed the system in a new and exciting way. As of May 1, we immediately reduced our carbon intensity by 26%, all while setting new peak loads, month over month. Our investment in nearly 80 MW of battery energy storage systems paid for itself just two weeks after the official ribbon cutting in July. On Aug. 2, we hit an all-time historical peak of nearly 650 MW. The true load had we not deployed battery storage — and initiated demand response — would have been 719 MW! This is up from the 2023 peak of 634 MW. The batteries meant we were able to buy lower cost and lower carbon power at night and use it during peak hours from 4–8 p.m. instead of purchasing expensive fossil fuel alternatives. There is tremendous value in having a diverse portfolio of generation and large-scale storage resources. As United Power members, you do not have to wait until the end of the decade for the energy transition, as other cooperatives are doing. We are living it now with a wide range of power suppliers — 26 at last count — bringing a lower carbon and more flexible energy supply. Hydropower, wind, solar, storage, and gas allow us to have a balanced energy portfolio. An increasing number of our members are adding solar, storage, and electric vehicles to their lives, and we support these efforts, happily providing critical analytical tools to make sure these decisions are being made with the best and most neutral information possible. United Power fully supports an “all of the above” strategy whether we provide the resource or not. One of United Power’s critical goals, as outlined in Our Cooperative Roadmap, is to continually optimize our electric system enabling all technologies to operate seamlessly. For help in these and other energy savings opportunities, click here. In addition to the change in power suppliers, United Power is adding intelligence to how we operate and monitor the grid through advanced systems, including:- A new outage management system, giving us visibility and insight into our operations,
- Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI),
- Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), the system our operators use to monitor real time performance,
- and a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS).
- United Power has been awarded $700,000 to place batteries in four fire stations across the service territory to improve reliability.
- We will receive $6.4 million to supply Fort Lupton’s Water Treatment Facility with floating solar and storage.
- Golden Aluminum is receiving $22.5 million to convert some of their equipment from natural gas to electric power.
11/22/2021 - 03:42 PM
Automated Devices for Better Reliability Monday | November 22, 2021 United Power’s outage restoration system utilizes a sophisticated network of automated field devices that allow it to respond and resolve outages more quickly.. Read more >04/29/2025 - 09:06 AM
Title Balloon Safety Around Power Lines /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Balloons_PowerLines_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=m2jRvnXd Tuesday | April 29, 2025 Card Teaser Balloons can become dangerous when they get loose and contact energized power lines. May is here and that means high school and college graduation ceremonies are around the corner. Helium-filled and mylar balloons are a common theme at celebrations but they can become dangerous when they get loose and contact energized power lines. Thousands of these events occur every year, which can result in expensive equipment repairs and prolonged outages. Balloon-Related Safety Measures Loose balloons can find their way into power lines even if they are not immediately located nearby. Practice the following safety measures at your events and celebrations:- Never let helium-filled balloons drift away outdoors. Keep balloons indoors whenever possible to ensure they cannot be released and drift into power lines. If you are using balloons outside, anchor them with weights and double check to make sure they are secure.
- Avoid bundling balloons together. Anchor each balloon individually with a short string to control its direction.
- Never tie metallic string or streamers to balloons. Metallic materials conduct electricity and can become a pathway to the ground if a balloon contacts a power line.
- Deflate balloons after use. Properly dispose of balloons after your event and clean up any remnants so that wildlife, such as birds or squirrels, cannot carry pieces into energized equipment.
- Never try to retrieve or release balloons caught in power lines. Power lines carry a high voltage and are extremely dangerous. If you notice balloons or other obstructions in power lines, contact United Power at 303-637-1300.
03/19/2024 - 11:26 AM
Title Balloting Open in 2024 United Power Director Election /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations_0.jpg?h=45932144&itok=lhOa2zqi Tuesday | March 19, 2024 Card Teaser Balloting in the Director Election is open. Members may cast ballots electronically or via paper ballot, mailed March 15. Electronic Balloting Now Open; Paper Ballots Mailed March 15 Brighton, CO – Balloting in United Power’s 2024 Director Election is open. Members of the cooperative have the option to cast their ballots electronically through their online account or via paper ballot, mailed to members on Friday, March 15. Electronic and mail ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 16. Members may also vote in person at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting on April 17. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the annual Director Election. Voting allows members to have a voice in their board representation and helps the cooperative better serve its members. Members can log into their online account or the United Power mobile app to cast an electronic ballot. Click the “Vote Now” button to access the ballot. Mail ballots should be returned via the postage-paid envelope included in the ballot package. Four positions on United Power’s Board are up for election this year – one seat in the Mountain, North, Central, and South Districts. The director candidates are Stephen Whiteside (incumbent) in the Mountain District; Brian A. McCormick (incumbent) in the North District; Tim Erickson (incumbent) and Paige Wagner-Maul in the Central District; and Brad Case (incumbent) in the South District. Candidate statements are available here. Directors represent all members and are elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure United Power’s Board adequately represents members throughout the service territory and provides accessibility to cooperative leadership. A bylaw amendment is included on this year’s ballot regarding the length of a director’s term. Members will be asked whether director terms should be lengthened from three years to four years. Director Election and bylaw amendment results will be announced at the 2024 Annual Meeting, held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds in Brighton on April 17. Registration for the meeting opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. A livestream of the meeting will be hosted on the cooperative’s website at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting. 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, and in June 2021 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. ###03/17/2025 - 03:12 PM
Title Balloting Open in 2025 United Power Director Election /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations_0.jpg?h=45932144&itok=lhOa2zqi Monday | March 17, 2025 Card Teaser Electronic balloting now open; paper ballots mailed March 14. Electronic Balloting Now Open; Paper Ballots Mailed March 14 Brighton, CO – Balloting in United Power’s 2025 Director Election is open. Members of the cooperative have the option to cast their ballots electronically through their online account or via paper ballot, mailed to members on Friday, March 14. Electronic and mail ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 15. Members may also vote in person at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting on April 16. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the annual Director Election. Voting allows members to have a voice in their board representation and helps the cooperative better serve its members. Members may return their mail ballot via the postage-paid envelope included in the ballot packet, or they can log into their online account to cast an electronic ballot. Members voting online can access the ballot by clicking the “Vote Now” button. Three positions on United Power’s Board are up for election this year – one seat in the North, Central, and South Districts. The director candidates are Ursula J. Morgan (incumbent) in the North District; Keith Alquist (incumbent) in the Central District; and Ryan Keefer and Beth Martin (incumbent) in the South District. Candidate statements are available online. Directors represent all members and are elected on an “at-large” basis to four-year terms. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure equitable representation of United Power’s member base in the cooperative’s governing body. Director Election results will be announced at the 2025 Annual Meeting, held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds in Brighton on April 16. Registration for the meeting opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. A livestream of the meeting will be hosted on the cooperative’s website at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting. 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 nearly 114,000 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. ###03/13/2026 - 12:35 PM
Title Balloting Open in 2026 United Power Director Election /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations_0.jpg?h=45932144&itok=lhOa2zqi Friday | March 13, 2026 Card Teaser Electronic balloting now open; paper ballots mailed March 13. Electronic Balloting Now Open; Paper Ballots Mailed March 13 Brighton, CO – Balloting in United Power’s 2026 Director Election is open. Members of the cooperative have the option to cast their ballots electronically through their online account or via paper ballot, mailed to members on March 13. Electronic and mail ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 14. Members may also vote in person at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting on April 15, where votes will be cast using a streamlined digital voting system. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the annual Director Election. Voting allows members to have a voice in their board representation and helps the cooperative better serve its members. Members may return their mail ballot via the postage-paid envelope included in the ballot packet, or they can log into their online account to cast an electronic ballot. Members voting online can access the ballot by clicking the “Vote Now” button. This year, one seat is up for election in each of United Power’s four director districts, and six candidates are running for election. The director 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. Candidate statements are 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. Directors represent all members and are elected on an “at-large” basis to four-year terms. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure equitable representation of United Power’s member base in the cooperative’s governing body. Director Election results will be announced at the 2026 Annual Meeting, held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds in Brighton on April 15. Registration for the meeting opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. A livestream of the meeting will be hosted on the cooperative’s website at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting. 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 - 02:04 PM
Battery Storage System Goes Live Thursday | November 1, 2018 Earlier this month, United Power went live with its much anticipated battery storage facility at its new west office, located on the I-25 Frontage Road south of state Highway 119. Read more >01/23/2019 - 11:10 AM
Title Beat the Heat...and Your Energy Bill /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Sept2018_NL_BeatHeat.png?h=45932144&itok=T214ateq Monday | September 3, 2018 Card Teaser If you’ve seen your electric usage trickle up over the past couple months, it might have something to do with Colorado’s hot summer weather. If you’ve seen your electric usage trickle up over the past couple months, it might have something to do with Colorado’s hot summer weather. By mid-July, the state had already experienced more than 30 days of temperatures higher than 90 degrees, breaking a July 2012 temperature record. While the excessive heat wave has probably contributed to some increase in your energy usage, there are some other factors that may have, as well. It’s a good time to talk about those reasons, and how you can use your air conditioning in a way that keeps you comfortable without the added burden on your bill. Summer vacation is over for school age kids, but for the past two months, they’ve been spending more time at home while you’re at work. That means more time running the air conditioning, playing on electronics and maybe even cooking. All those things require more energy. Along with having kids home during the weekday, maybe you or your family recently purchased a pool or used your existing pool more often to escape the summer heat. Water features, like pool pumps, use a lot of extra energy. Seemingly small things can also contribute extra energy usage over the summer. Remembering to close windows and blinds, which block solar heat from entering your home, can keep the house a little cooler. Programmable smart thermostats also give you control when you’re away from the home. You can turn the air conditioning on when you’re about to head home or turn it off if you’re out and forgot. The summer months are coming to an end and the kids are back in school, but there are a few tips and tricks you can use to help save a little more energy until fall rolls around or even when summer returns next year. Start with growth prevention. Grass and other plants can grow up around outside air conditioning units, making it more difficult for them to breathe, potentially freezing coils. Take a few extra moments each week to make sure any excess growth around your unit has been cleared. When you return home from a long day at work or out with the family, turn on your ceiling fan before the air conditioning. The breeze the fan creates will evaporate moisture from your skin and make you feel cooler, even when room temperatures are a few degrees warmer. Remember to turn off fans when you leave a room, though. If you’re new to Colorado, you might not be familiar with the advantages the climate here provides. Opening your windows before going to bed allows cool air to move through your home so you can keep the air conditioning off. Remember to close windows early in the morning and pull blinds on the south and west sides of your home later in the day. Another quick and easy technique you can utilize is weatherstripping. Air leaks from your home through cracks around windows, doors and even the foundation. Applying weatherstripping and caulking seals in cool air and prevents hot air from entering.06/17/2021 - 09:51 AM
Beating the Heat & Summer Demand Thursday | June 17, 2021 June is here and summer is just around the corner. With many people still working from home as we approach summer, electricity usage is going to be important to watch. Read more >11/11/2021 - 09:54 AM
Beneficial Electrification: What It Is & Why It Matters Thursday | November 11, 2021 Beneficial electrification is electricity produced by environmentally friendly means that saves money and/or improves quality of life. Also known as "strategic" electrification. Read more >05/02/2024 - 01:12 PM
Title Board Approves June 1 Rate Increase /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2019_NL_Rates.png?h=45932144&itok=KW7a9GOa Thursday | May 2, 2024 Card Teaser Increase to fund wholesale power contract exit. Increase to Fund Wholesale Power Contract Exit United Power members will see a rate increase effective for usage beginning on June 1, 2024. The rate increase, which is being spread across all rate classes, is intended to offset the contract termination costs paid by the cooperative to leave its current wholesale power contract on May 1. The average household on the standard residential rate using about 850 kwh per month with a demand of 7 kW will see their bill rise from $124.82 to $136.85, an increase of $12.03. United Power’s Board and leadership signed a historic funding agreement last month to fund the contract termination payment with the co-op’s wholesale power supplier. The agreement provided $627 million toward its exit fee, with at least $179 million of that amount for prepayment for use of the Tri-State Generation and Transmission’s transmission system. The prepayment amount will be credited back monthly with interest against United Power’s transmission bills. “We are proud of the work that went into this effort to leave our wholesale power contract,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “We envision a future with more locally produced power, more predictability in rates, and the flexibility to meet the changing needs of our members. We will have control over the largest single component of our members’ bills – their wholesale power costs. Leaving this contract gives us the ability to design the future we want.” What is Changing? The average residential member will see increases in both the demand charge and in the energy charge, while the fixed charge will remain the same. The demand charge will increase from $2.50 to $4.00 per kW, while the energy charge will increase from 10.39 cents per kwh to 10.57 cents. Residential time-of-use members will see a similar increase, with an increase in demand from $2.50 to $4.00 per kW. On-peak energy charges will drop from 16.07 cents to 15.25 cents, while off-peak energy charges will increase from 5.5 cents per kwh to 6 cents. All other rates will see similar increases. See full menu of rate changes. How to Control Your Demand The structure of United Power’s rates provides members the ability to keep costs lower by both reducing use and controlling demand. Lowering demand is as simple as not using electric appliances at the same time. Additionally, setting timers on dryers and dishwashers so they start after the family goes to sleep moves the demand of that appliance to a lower use period and actively reduces demand costs. Learn more about demand and how you can reduce the impact of this portion of your bill. Members who need assistance managing their monthly bills are encouraged to contact United Power’s member services team about billing options such as Budget Billing, which provides the same predictable payment each month. The team can also provide information about assistance organizations in the co-op’s service territory that can provide counseling and resources for those having trouble paying their bill. The member services team can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat, located in the bottom right hand corner of the United Power website. Likewise, members may email the United Power team at memberservices@unitedpower.com.05/30/2018 - 11:39 AM
Title Board Approves Modest Rate Increase for 2017 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_01_04_ModestRateIncrease.jpg?itok=CfIx_FJ4 Tuesday | January 24, 2017 Card Teaser United Power’s Board of Directors approved a rate increase of 2.79 percent for residential and commercial members in 2017. Increase Offsets 4.23 percent Wholesale Power Increase from Tri-State United Power’s Board of Directors approved a rate increase of 2.79 percent for residential and commercial members in 2017. The rate increase, coupled with cost containment efforts, will offset the 4.23 percent increase in wholesale power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, United Power’s wholesale power supplier. The average residential member will see an increase of less than $3 a month in their bill, while commercial members will see just under a $13 increase. The rate increase would become effective for usage beginning February 1st, so members will not see the increase until their March, 2017 bill. “The board and staff worked hard looking at the ways we could contain operating costs to lessen the impact of this increase on our members,” said Darryl Schriver, CEO. “This modest increase will help the cooperative remain financially healthy, and should make a minimal impact on most members’ electric bills.” Tri-State Generation and Transmission, a generation cooperative headquartered in Westminster, provides wholesale power to 43 distribution cooperatives in a four state region, including United Power. Tri-State indicated that both increased expenses and lower revenues have made the increase necessary. An unexpected mid-year increase in power costs from one of their larger suppliers, coupled with increased costs of producing power is stated to be key drivers of their expense increases. Tri-State states that cost increases are being driven by regulatory compliance, additional environmental controls and increases to basic fuel and production costs. Tri-State is also forecasting a reduction in revenue, due in part to lagging oil and gas production, slow growth, and closure of several large manufacturing and energy production facilities throughout their territory. In 2014, United Power absorbed most of a 1.6 percent wholesale power cost increase by adjusting rates to a handful of rate classes, and reducing some operational costs. In 2015 only one industrial rate was adjusted even though many costs continued to increase for the cooperative. “I am pleased with the effort both the board and staff made to find a rate solution that balanced the cooperative’s financial health and the well-being of our members,” Schriver said. “We remain committed to looking out for all our members, while continuing to build a system that delivers safe and reliable power.”