United Power had a tremendous year in 2022, from our system’s performance in limiting outages and outage duration to our important decision to withdraw from our wholesale power contract and seek a new power supplier. 

Much is happening behind the scenes as we prepare for the next decade and beyond. The investments we make — strongly supported by your forward-thinking Board of Directors — position United Power for a future with diverse generation and storage technologies to meet the expectations of our members. 

Our dedicated employees are the force behind our successful operations. It takes a team with diverse skill sets and abilities. Our line crews are on call 24/7 to respond to unexpected emergencies and restore power during an outage, and the excellent efforts of our office staff keep the business flowing day-to-day.

Our system relies on dozens of complicated processes that must occur to keep the lights on, and some are not obvious. Supply chain disruption planning, understanding operational challenges through asset management, protecting critical infrastructure across a remote footprint, and understanding and communicating with our members are just a few of these important, yet hidden, processes. 

Electric utilities are one of the few businesses only recognized when they do not perform well. I am proud to say that thanks to our great team, our outage times were half the national average in 2022. Over the past several years, we have made a concerted effort to underground our lines where practical, use new and emerging technologies, and deploy additional sensors while focusing our maintenance efforts and investments on areas needing the most improvements. 

Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap) outlines the key directions for United Power as we boldly move into the future — a future with a shared energy economy, more electrification, and higher demands for reliability and resilience. We are, as previously announced, preparing for a future with a new power supplier and getting ready for a power market to come in 2025. These moves take many months, if not years, of preparation. The team at United Power is working toward these goals. At the same time, we are understanding of the economic challenges our members are facing, and we are working to keep rates low and reliability high while meeting state regulations.

We are also in the process of seeking federal funding to help support our infrastructure, as laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act, in areas such as wildfire mitigation, electric vehicle charging, and sensors. Under the legislation, individual members and businesses may also have opportunities to apply for direct federal funding for efficiency upgrades, such as energy storage projects, heat pumps, insulation, and electrification of industrial processes. 

The upcoming year will be an exciting one as we continue the path outlined in our Roadmap. I am confident we will continue to be the best cooperative in Colorado and one of the best in the nation thanks to our tremendous team and the support from our Board, who are working to keep our communities strong. 

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me anytime.

Demand Rate Addresses How Members Use the System in Different Ways

It has been nearly four years since United Power adopted its current rate structure that includes an energy and demand charge. Separating demand from energy charges was implemented as a way to more fairly charge members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system. While more electric utilities are making the transition to a demand rate, United Power was among the first to introduce a demand charge across its membership. To help our members learn more about demand, we have produced numerous resources dedicated to educating members so they may make the most of the rate. 

What is Demand?

Demand refers simply to the maximum electricity needed at a given time and its impact on the system.  The demand charge is the total wattage of all the power being used at that highest interval and is billed as kilowatts (kW). As the cooperative gained new insights about how each meter impacts the system differently, the decision was made to utilize demand as a measurement that helps the cooperative more fairly bill members for their usage. Since some members use electricity in ways that make them more expensive to serve, demand helps to make sure everyone is paying their fair share. When the demand charge was first introduced, the majority of our members saw very little change. Most members saw only a $1–2 increase or decrease in their bill monthly. 

Is Demand an Added Charge?

No. The demand charge on your monthly bill was separated from the energy charge, essentially “unbundling” the details of your energy use. A traditional “blended” energy rate combines energy usage and demand into a single charge for all members. The blended rate placed an equal burden on all members for system maintenance costs despite differences in how they use energy. Under the old, blended rate some members were paying more than they should while others were not paying enough. United Power’s current rates separate demand — billed as the highest 15-minute interval of energy usage during each billing cycle — from the energy charge so members are now more fairly billed for both their usage and impact on the system. 

How To Reduce My Demand

Now that you can see the impact of both the total energy you use and your highest usage intervals, you have more control over your total bill. By reducing overall energy use with simple tips like turning off devices that aren’t in use and using a programmable thermostat, you can affect your energy charge. To lower your demand charge, avoid using multiple appliances at once. Set the delay feature on your dishwasher so it runs after all the lights are off and avoid doing laundry while the air conditioner is running. 

What is the Fixed Charge?

The “fixed charge” is a line item on your monthly billing statement that all members pay regardless of how much energy they use. The fixed charge is a standard amount and covers a portion of the costs for billing, collections, member services, and metering. These services are required whether you use a lot of energy, or none at all, and all residential members pay the same amount.

You can learn more about the fixed charge and other elements of your billing statement on our Understanding Your Bill page. 

Member Rate Options

United Power introduced demand with a corresponding reduction in its energy charge and most members did not experience significant changes to their monthly bills. However, you may still benefit by switching to a different rate. 

The cooperative offers a variety of rate options for residential members to fit the many ways members use electricity. To ask our trusted advisors if a new rate plan is right for you, schedule a phone assessment here. 

Members can find more information about United Power’s demand charge — including steps you can take to control your demand and a calculator to help understand how appliances may contribute to demand — on our Understanding Demand page.

Member-Funded Foundation has Distributed Nearly $170,000 This Year

Operation Round Up is poised to have one of its biggest giving years on record since the foundation’s inception more than 25 years ago. With another month remaining to consider grant requests, the foundation has already distributed nearly $170,000 to nonprofit organizations serving United Power members across the cooperative’s service territory. The foundation’s board will meet to review grant requests again in December. 

Members who enroll in Round Up will have their monthly billing statements rounded up to the next whole dollar, which averages about $.50 per statement — or just $6 per year. Participation is voluntary and can be ended at any time. Donated funds are distributed to four partner nonprofit organizations representing members in each of the cooperative’s districts, as well as other organizations that submit grant requests. The board, made up of fellow United Power members, meets five times throughout the year to review requests. 

As a voluntary foundation, members form the backbone of Round Up. Because the growing number of people in need is stretching local nonprofits beyond their means, United Power is making a call to its membership to consider enrolling. Your contribution will go further than you imagine and could mean another family has food on their table, clothes on their back, a warm place to sleep, or any other number of needs met. More than 20,000 members are currently enrolled in the program.  

“We participate in Round Up,” said one Commerce City member when asked about the program. “To us, it is just a monthly reminder, however small, that everyone who benefits is part of one big family.”

Members who are interested in enrolling in Round Up or increasing their contribution can go to complete a quick form on our Round Up page or call Member Services at 303-637-1300.

Co-op Employees Raise More Than $5,000 to Support Veterans Through Allegiance Ranch

Cooperatives are driven by a spirit of service and the desire to give back to the communities that built and shaped us, the same motivating factors that inspire our military heroes. United Power is proud to celebrate veterans working in our offices, living in our communities, and throughout the country. Veterans Day allows us to take a moment to appreciate and thank our military veterans. The cooperative is honored to power those who have bravely served our country. 

Many United Power employees have felt the impact of a family member who answered the call to protect our country. Some fought in the most important conflicts in world history. Some employees have known this call firsthand from enlisting in one of our military branches themselves. The cooperative wants to recognize these employees not only for their service to the country, but also their commitment to the cooperative values and principles that drive us to serve members better every day. 

“Please join me in extending a special thank you to all United Power employees who are veterans and all our members who served our country both in peace and conflict,” said United Power President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Gabriel. “Thank you for your patriotism, love of country, and willingness to sacrifice for the common good.”

As part of United Power’s recognition of Veterans Day in November, co-op employees led an effort to raise funds for Allegiance Ranch and Equine Rescue in Erie. Allegiance Ranch is a nonprofit that provides a safe and welcoming place for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families. It provides services free of charge thanks to the support of community members and donors.  

Employees raised more than $5,000 for Allegiance Ranch in less than 48 hours through an online auction featuring themed baskets donated by each United Power department. Many departments and several United Power employees also donated additional items for the auction. Allegiance Ranch will use the funds to complete projects that allow them to better support veterans. To learn more about Allegiance Ranch, go to www.allegianceranch.org.

Thank you again to all our military veterans. You inspire us each day to do our best to serve our members and our communities with pride and commitment. Thank you for your service. 

Rebates for the purchase of new refrigerators, freezers, and clothes washers will be discontinued in 2023. Members who plan to apply for any of these appliance rebates must purchase before Dec. 31, 2022. Rebate applications must be received within 90 days or no later than Dec. 31, 2022, whichever comes first. Rebates will not be issued for refrigerators, freezers, or clothes washers purchased in 2023. 

Appliance rebates for electric clothes dryers, induction cooktops, and refrigerator/freezer recycling will continue to be offered in 2023. In addition, United Power members also qualify for water heater, whole house fan, heat pump, smart thermostat, and electric outdoor power equipment rebates. The application deadline for all rebates is 90 days from the date of purchase. 

United Power evaluates its menu of rebates and energy efficiency programs annually. Rebates are offered to help improve the overall load factor of the cooperative, to help members adopt new energy efficient technologies, or to lower the upfront costs of emerging technology. Rebates may end due to improvements in appliance efficiencies or when market prices come down. New rebates and programs are added for members as emerging technologies are developed. 

Find United Power’s current rebates and programs menu at www.unitedpower.com/rebates.  
 

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. 

When Compared to Other Expenses, Electricity has a Surprisingly High Value

Electricity is a commodity we always expect to be available when we need it. We use it to power almost everything in our lives to some extent – from the alarm clock that wakes us up for work or school, to the television that helps us wind down at night, or the cell phone that keeps us connected with our loved ones. It is so readily available and easy to access we do not often realize it has a surprisingly high value when compared to many of our other daily or monthly expenses. 

As a commodity people use frequently and pay for monthly, we are acutely aware of differences in our monthly billing statements. We may be even more mindful of our electric cost when rate increases make headlines. Given the regular information you receive about utility rates, you might be surprised to learn that electricity rates have one of the lowest cost increases over time when compared to other budget items like rent and education. In fact, when adjusted for inflation, electricity rates have been steadily decreasing since 1980 despite how increasingly reliant we are on the resource in our daily lives (source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics).

The average United Power family uses approximately 22-32 kWh per day, which is roughly equivalent to $3. Now think about your daily routine. Do you grab a coffee on your way to work or order food at a local restaurant during lunch? The average cup of coffee now costs just under $5, and for special blends or add-ons it could cost more. Fast casual meals at restaurants like Chipotle or Panera can cost more than $10. That means for the cost of a single cup of coffee, you could leave an LED TV on for more than 35 days or charge your phone more than 300 times on our standard residential rate. For just $5, you can do about 20 loads of laundry. If you were to shift your usage off-peak on our time-of-use rate, you could save even more.

To put it another way, most United Power members spend more on their cell phone plan ($4-5/day) than they do on electricity (as little at $2/day). The time you spend on your mobile device, which is probably a lot, is incomparable to how frequently you require reliable electric service. Many routines and daily tasks are becoming electrified with the introduction of new electronic devices, which means we are also using far more energy now than ever before.

The best way to capture the value of electricity is to make your home more energy efficient. You could make the transition to ENERGY STAR® appliances that require less energy, install a smart thermostat to monitor and adjust heating/cooling when you are away from home, or look into our rates that reward you for switching use to off-peak hours.