The hallmark of an electric cooperative is not simply providing reliable power to its members. United Power is deeply rooted in the communities it serves and committed to their success. We manage our resources in a way that allows us to give back to our communities and empowers our employees to do the same.

Many United Power employees have volunteered their own time and resources to local nonprofits and educational foundations throughout the service territory. They have been able to leverage both their professional experience with the cooperative and personal interests to become leaders who are critical to powering these organizations.

Amy Clement, a Senior Human Resources Generalist at United Power, has been serving on the Adams County Workforce Development Board since 2017. She is the current board chair and serves on the executive committee. The Workforce Development Board’s mission is to create opportunities for success by connecting businesses to a quality workforce in Adams County. The board is composed of community leaders who represent private industry, nonprofits and public agencies.

The individuals on the board represent a variety of industry roles, backgrounds and interests, helping generate quality discussions when determining goals and direction.

Clement said her involvement with the Workforce Development Board represents United Power as an employee of the cooperative, but that it also reflects her desire as a local resident to see community growth.

“My professional background in human resources has afforded me opportunities in workforce development and training that are beneficial to the board” she said. “At the same time, I enjoy personally serving not only the community I live in, but also the people that are looking to better their own lives through employment and career progression.”

When the position on the board opened in 2017, Tom Green, the district representative for United Power in Adams County, said he instantly recommended Clement.

“I believe it’s important for United Power employees to take part in local community organizations, especially when it relates to their role with the cooperative,” Green said. “Amy is a talented professional who I thought could provide fresh input on the workforce in Adams County and be a meaningful contributor on the Workforce Development Board.”

As executive committee chair, Clement is personally involved with policy updates and responsible for communications with state representatives, as well as managing board meetings each month. She recently worked with the board to establish an adult internship program to place Adams County residents in businesses to gain experience and advance their careers.

“This is an exciting opportunity to give back to the community,” she said. “I am hopeful we will be able to place an intern with United Power in the future.”

The board’s responsibilities are accomplished through the activities of the Adams County Workforce and Business Center. For more information, go to www.adcogove.org/WBC.

Demand Rate Addresses How We Use it Differently

United Power switched to a demand rate in January 2019 as a way to more fairly charge its members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system. Since its roll out, some members have asked why the switch was made and requested more information about demand and how to understand it.

Electric utilities like United Power often use terms like “distribution system,” “electric infrastructure” and “grid.” These terms refer to the interconnected network of poles, wires, transformers and substations that work to deliver — or distribute — power to members. The system is carefully engineered to meet the needs of more than 100,000 meters and the homes and businesses served off those meters.

Like any other household appliance or electronic device, pieces of our system wear out over time and need to be repaired, replaced or even upgraded to improve reliability. These maintenance costs aren’t based solely on how much power you use, however, but how and when you use it.

When you use more power at once, you’re creating a higher demand on the system. These demand surges have a greater impact on the grid.

For example, a member in a small apartment with a window air conditioning unit doesn’t have the same impact on the grid as a household with two air conditioning units and a hot tub.

Some devices on the system have capacity limitations, for example, meaning they can only maintain a certain amount of power at a given time. The cooperative places these devices strategically to ensure power reliability. When one household served off that device uses a larger share of energy, it causes more wear on it. In some cases, the cooperative may need to replace existing devices with higher capacity ones to accommodate increases in energy usage.

With the traditional blended rate, which bundles demand and energy usage, each United Power member shares an equal cost in the maintenance of the system despite using it in vastly different ways. This means some members have been paying more than they should, while others aren’t paying enough. Whether you use a lot of energy or a little, or even generate your own, a reliable grid is something we all depend on and need available to us.

By separating the demand and energy components on your bill, we are more fairly distributing these costs to members based on how they use power. Each member now pays their fair share of the cooperative distribution system they rely on.

United Power offers a free online resource for members who want to know more about how they use power. Power Portal breaks down your energy usage in 15-minute intervals so you can easily tell what habits are contributing to your demand. Visit Power Portal to learn more about this member resource.

If you have additional questions about the demand rate, you can go to Understanding Demand or reach one of our dedicated energy management specialists at 303-637-1300.

Demand for Electricity is like Demand for Water

You can fill the same 5-gallon bucket with either a garden hose, or a fire hose. A garden hose will not fill as quickly – but the hose costs less to operate, and the impact on the water system is minimal. Fill that same bucket with a fire hose, and it will fill up very quickly, but the surge of water from a fire hose requires larger pipes and a more expensive hose. In the end, both buckets would be full with the same amount of water, but filling a bucket more slowly – smoothing the water use over time – creates less demand on the system and costs less to do. 
 

Pad-mounted transformers, those big green utility boxes commonly seen around town, serve the purpose of lowering high voltage to standard household voltage used to power electronics, appliances and lighting. These transformers are not protected in the way overhead lines and substations are. Though they may appear safe to use as workbenches and climbing obstacles, electrical equipment can still pose a risk to anyone who may come in contact with them. Members should always use caution and keep a safe distance.

United Power crews also need safe access for repairs and maintenance. Barriers, such as landscaping and fencing, should be kept clear of electrical equipment. While it may be tempting to “camouflage” transformers with landscaping, please remember cooperative crews need at least 10-feet of clearance at the opening of a pad-mounted transformer and four-feet at the rear and sides of the housing. The distance allows crews to safely use tools required for working with energized equipment. It also ensures crews have the ability to move about safely should problems arise.

In many newer subdivisions and residential developments pad-mounted transformers are more common – and in many cases are located on consumer property. These transformers are connected to primary high voltage lines, and secondary lines can extend from the transform in several directions underground. Remember this before planting shrubs or trees, setting fence posts, installing sprinkler systems or digging anywhere near a transformer. And remember, you should always dial 811 before you dig to ensure lines are located so your project doesn’t disrupt utility service, cause serious injury or worse.

Brighton, CO – United Power is now a member of the GridWise Alliance, a national organization which helps foster relationships among a diverse group of industry stakeholders and advocates for public policy changes that benefit grid modernization. The group’s executive committee unanimously approved the cooperative’s membership with the organization in July.

Grid modernization is a moving target that evolves over time as new technology is developed and changes the way energy is produced and managed and how consumers use energy. It typically refers to the system of interconnected devices on a grid that improve reliability and efficiency while ensuring safety. The GridWise Alliance is a collaborate effort among members to develop industry best practices used to direct public policy supporting grid modernization by leveraging their different experiences and perspectives.

“We are a comparatively small player next to some of the larger utilities involved with the GridWise Alliance,” said Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “But we’re also extremely progressive. These types of organizations help us accomplish our goals and what we’re trying to achieve for our members.”

As a member, United Power will be able to contribute its unique perspective on the industry as a fast-growing cooperative serving members in suburban and rural communities northeast of Denver. In June, the Brighton-based co-op became just the 31st electric cooperative nationwide to surpass 100,000 meters and is on past to add several thousand more before the end of the year. The unprecedented growth and progressive reputation of the cooperative have earned it a seat at the table helping direct local and national policy conversations.

“United Power stands out from its cooperative peers for its commitment to grid modernization and deployment of emerging technologies,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Gabriel. “As a member of the GridWise Alliance, we have a platform to advocate for policies beneficial to both the cooperative and its members.”

United Power joins Rappahannock as the only other electric cooperative member of the GridWise Alliance. Other prominent members include Con Edison, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy. Non-utility members also include IBM, Intel and General Electric. For more information about the GridWise Alliance, go to www.gridwise.org.

About GridWise Alliance:

The GridWise Alliance (GWA) represents the broad and diverse stakeholders that design, build, and operate the electric grid. Since 2003, the GridWise Alliance has been at the forefront of educating key industry stakeholders on the critical need to modernize our nation’s electricity system. For more information about the GridWise Alliance, visit: www.gridwise.org.

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 cooperatives in the nation, and in June 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. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

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