Colorado electric cooperatives United Power and La Plata Electric Association are weighing all options to change their existing energy procurement contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (“Tri-State”). In dual November filings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”), both cooperatives asked the state’s regulating body to exercise its authority to provide a just exit charge from its existing contract with Tri-State. Currently, both entities are required to purchase a minimum of 95% of their power from Tri-State under existing contracts that run through 2050. In addition, a recent S&P report downgraded Tri-State’s credit rating, with one of the reasons being that its Members’ retail energy rates were at least 20% higher than the statewide average.

“As the largest member in the Tri-State cooperative, we have a responsibility to our 92,000 residential and commercial customers to provide them with the cleanest and most affordable energy possible,” said John Parker, Chief Executive Officer of United Power. “Our current contract with Tri-State forces us to purchase some of the dirtiest energy in Colorado, while our customers pay 20% more than what is the state average. We’ve spent 18 months trying to change this contract, and all that we have gotten from Tri-State is delays, evasions and excuses. On behalf of our customers, we will no longer accept this.”

Tri-State relies heavily upon fossil fuels to provide power to its 43 cooperative members across four states, with 56% of its energy generation coming from coal, which is a significantly higher reliance on coal than other energy providers in Colorado. With the passage of HB19-1261, energy companies in Colorado must start work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Tri-State is not well-positioned to meet these new standards.  As renewable energy production continues to drive down the price of energy, Tri-State’s continued reliance on fossil fuels is also hitting its members in the pocketbooks as well as putting the cooperatives at risk of not meeting the new clean energy standards.

 “Our community should have a choice,” said Jessica Matlock, Chief Executive Officer of La Plata Electric Association. “We want to be a part of the clean energy future and can achieve this through working in our backyard, with our community. We can bring jobs and economic growth to Colorado, while also supplying carbon-free energy to the region. We are disappointed that Tri-State is not partnering with us to achieve this clean energy future together. We want input into the process and choice when it comes to a cost-effective and clean energy future, not a one size fits all approach developed without input of the affected member cooperatives.” 

In response to United Power’s and La Plata Energy’s filings with the CPUC, Tri-State recently filed a motion to dismiss their complaints because they do not believe that the CPUC has jurisdiction over these matters. Instead, Tri-State claims that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has jurisdiction over their rates, even though their initial application was rejected in October for being deficient and incomplete.

“Tri-State is going up against a much larger tide that they spent years refusing to confront,” said Parker. “Tri-State’s lack of urgency in addressing these matters is aimed solely at self-preservation rather than what is best for our customers.”

The CPUC has set a date of January 10th to receive testimony on the matter and is expected to make a decision by early April.

About United Power
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 92,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado's north-central front range. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.

About La Plata Electric Association
La Plata Electric Association, Inc. (LPEA) is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative serving La Plata and Archuleta, with segments of Hinsdale, Mineral and San Juan counties. There are 22 cooperatives in Colorado, LPEA is the fifth largest cooperative in the state, providing safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to approximately 34,000 members.

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, and a new decade, it’s never been easier to control your energy and become more energy efficient. Take advantage of the resources the cooperative provides for its members and discover quick home upgrades and behavior changes to see immediate savings. Here are some ways United Power is empowering its members to take control.

Find a Rate that Works for You

United Power’s residential rates are designed so members have the option to choose one that most closely fits how they use energy. When the cooperative’s demand rate debuted in January 2019, it separated the energy and demand components and allowed the cooperative to more fairly charge members for both their energy use and impact on the grid. Along with it, the cooperative also rolled out the Smart Choice Rate, which provided two different peak demand charges and a much lower energy charge. This rate remains unchanged for 2020. New this year, United Power added a Peak Time of Day rate, which encourages members to switch their usage to off-peak hours. The new rate charges a higher demand for on-peak usage, but does not charge for demand during off-peak hours. The cooperative’s standard and time of day rates also remain options for members. However you use your energy, the flexibility of the cooperative’s residential rates should meet most members’ needs. 

Link: United Power Residential Rates

Register for the Power Portal to Monitor Your Usage

Curious to see when you used the most energy this past month or how it compares to your usage throughout the year? Was it the high or low temps causing you to use more energy than you expected? Or was it the new hot tub? New major appliances and recreational equipment often use more energy than we initially expect. To find out what’s driving your energy use, register for the Power Portal. With the Power Portal, you can access your complete energy consumption portfolio in 15-minute intervals throughout the day to get a clear look at how you use your energy. Armed with this information, you can make small behavior changes to save you over time, helping keep bills lower and more manageable.

Link: Find out more about the Power Portal here.

Free Online Resources Help You Take Inventory of Your Usage

How energy efficient are your behaviors? The Power Portal may arm you with the information you need to begin making changes, but what are those changes exactly? What “quick wins” can you implement to see a difference? A home energy assessment tool can show you just how energy efficient certain behaviors are, and how you can change them to get the most out of your energy. These and other tools are available on the United Power website. Just go to Energy Programs and click on Managing My Energy or click below.

Link: Managing My Energy

Install a Smart Thermostat

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling our homes accounts for nearly half of our annual energy usage, making it the most expensive part of our bills. Experts agree adjusting your thermostat a few degrees when you’re not home is the best way to save. With a programmable thermostat, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, you can set your temp when you leave for work and adjust it remotely so it’s comfortable when you get home. Smart thermostats learn your schedule and adjust automatically, respond to changes in local weather and analyze your energy use.

Buy Energy Star® Appliances and Get Money Back

Replacing your old appliances with newer, more energy efficient products is a quick way to see immediate savings on your monthly bill. United Power members qualify for exclusive rebates through the cooperative and its wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission. Rebates are available on select Energy Star® appliances (including refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers and clothes washers). Additional rebates are available on heat pumps, electric water heaters and electric heating systems.

Link: Rebates & Programs

Change a Little, Save a Lot

While United Power provides a wealth of rebates, programs and tools that members can take advantage of to become more energy efficient, some changes are as quick and easy as investing in power strips or closing curtains. Using power strips can help limit infamous “vampire loads,” which happen when devices use energy although they appear to be turned off. Vampire loads are approaching 10 percent of the average household’s electric use, according to the EPA. Upgrading to smart power strips adds the ability to remotely control outlets, either as a whole or individually. Lowering water heater temps to the “warm” setting can save on energy and scalding when washing hands. Leaving your curtains open in the winter lets the sun naturally warm your home, and closing them in the summer keeps heat out. These are a few quick and efficient options to save immediately on your bill.

Link: Find saving tips at Energy Tips

Talk to a United Power Energy Management Specialist

United Power has a team of Energy Management Specialists, available to advise and assist you with your energy concerns. Energy Management Specialists walk through your 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. Turn off power strips to televisions, gaming systems and other electronics, including chargers, that are not in use. Take shorter showers. Consolidate loads of laundry and dishes to make the best use of hot water. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Work with them to start a conversation about saving energy, and you’ll see the savings every month. Enter into the new decade resolved to be more energy efficient. 
 

More Residential Rate Options Available to Members

Residential Rates Understanding Demand

A modest increase in residential rates proposed by the United Power board of directors in November became effective in January. Members on the Standard Residential rate will see a 1.5% rate increase, which amounts to an average increase of $1.58 per month. Members on the residential Time of Day and Irrigation rates will see a 2% increase, or an average monthly increase of $3.23. While the increase became effective beginning with usage on January 1, 2020, members won’t see the increase on their bills until February statements are mailed out.

Changes to residential rates include a small increase to the demand component, which was introduced to members beginning in 2019, and a corresponding reduction in the energy charge. For example, in the Standard Residential rate, the demand charge increased by 50¢ per kW while the energy charge dropped from 10.15¢ per kWh to 9.95¢ per kWh. The separation of the demand and energy elements allows the cooperative to more accurately, and fairly, charge members for their usage and impact on the system.

In addition to the rate change, residential members now have more options with the addition of the new Peak Time of Day Rate. Members who opt into the new rate will pay a slightly higher demand charge than on the standard residential or time of day rates, but are only charged for demand during on-peak hours (2 p.m. – 10 p.m., Monday – Saturday), providing more incentive and savings when members switch usage to off-peak hours.

“United Power is constantly looking into its rates and trying to find the best way to serve its members both individually and collectively,” said Dean Hubbuck, Director of Power Supply and Rates. “The addition of the Smart Choice and Peak Time of Day rates over the past two years has given members more options to find something that’s flexible and works for them.”

The new Peak Time of Day rate offers relief to members who utilize energy-intensive appliances that can cause spikes in demand overnight, such as electric thermal storage. With the new rate, members can charge their storage off-peak without worrying about demand. Electric vehicle owners who charge at night will also benefit from the new rate.

United Power will also be adding a new component to its billing statements that shows members exactly when they hit their peak demand. While this information is available through the Power Portal, it is not currently printed on bills. To find detailed information on United Power’s available residential rates for 2020, go to Residential Rates. There you can compare the demand and energy charges of each rate and choose one that works best for you.

The cooperative has also compiled a helpful list of resources to better understand the demand rate, including videos, printable materials and frequently asked questions. To view these resources and more, go to Understanding Demand.

When it comes to greening up Colorado’s power supply, seismic shifts aren’t just coming out of the state Capitol.

They’re also shaking out of rural Colorado, places like Coal Creek Canyon where utility customer Stephen Whiteside lives. 

Whiteside is a conservative Republican. He’s also pro-renewable energy. It’s not a combination you’d expect, but a recent poll by Pew Research suggests many Republicans favor wind and solar. 

But Whiteside doesn’t support renewables by building a big solar array in his backyard. He does it by cheering on his rural electric cooperative, United Power. In November, United Power said it’s considering parting ways with fossil fuel-heavy power provider Tri-State Generation and Transmission in pursuit of cheaper electricity bills and more renewable energy.

“I think that’s fairly recent that renewables may be more cost-effective than other types of energy,” Whiteside said. “To me that makes a lot of sense to pursue that kind of avenue.”

Grace Hood/CPR News

Right now, Tri-State gets about one-third of its power from renewable energy. Customers like Whiteside want more renewables because they think it will bring cheaper rates. According to a recent estimate by Standard and Poor’s, electricity rates for Whiteside and others under the Tri-State System could be as much as 20 percent above the statewide Colorado average. 

Here’s how the model works now: United Power bands together with 42 other rural electricity providers, called electric cooperatives, to buy power from one entity: Tri-State.

“What that model has not done is kept up with the technological changes in the industry,” United Power CEO John Parker said.

Parker thinks it all adds up to growing pressure on the economic model that rural utilities have followed for decades. In the '80s and '90s, power providers like Tri-State invested heavily in coal-fired plants. Now, they’re trying to green up. 

United Power is not the first or the last utility looking into leave Tri-State. La Plata Electric Association has filed a complaint with Colorado regulators seeking an exit fee from Tri-State.

Grace Hood/CPR News

If those utilities part ways, they’ll follow in the footsteps of two other rural utilities: Colorado-based Delta Montrose Electric Association and New Mexico-based Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Delta Montrose got the OK to leave its generation and transmission association (known as a G&T) with Tri-State in 2019. Kit Carson left in 2016.

“Just as the industry changes, [generation and transmission cooperatives] have to change,” said Lee Boughey, Tri-State senior manager for communications and public affairs.

Generation and Transmission Cooperatives like Tri-State formed in rural America in the middle of the last century. It was historically expensive for rural electricity providers to provide power because they just served a few customers per mile of the electricity line. That’s unlike urban utilities, which have hundreds of customers per mile. G&Ts helped shoulder the burden by providing power to rural utilities, building expensive coal-fired power plants and setting up contracts that lasted decades to help pay off the plants.

Flashforward to 2019, and power customers like Parker have a keen interest to modernize the grid and experiment with battery storage to keep customers like Whiteside happy. United Power owns the largest battery in the state, but it’s locked into a contract with Tri-State that lasts another 30 years. After power supplier Tri-State quoted United Power a $1.2 billion exit fee to leave its 30-year contract, Parker turned to state regulators for help. 

“That’s the balance we’re trying to find. If it costs us $1.2 billion to get out, we probably can’t save enough money to make that work,” Parker said.

Boughey said 2019 was a big year for Tri-State. It opened up community solar options to its members and brought 104 megawatts of new wind power online. It announced plans to build a 100 megawatt new solar farm. Its Nucla coal-fired power plant was retired early from service, reducing emissions and making operations more efficient.

Tri-State’s member cooperatives are finalizing new contracts that would allow rural utilities like United Power more flexibility to buy renewables. Currently, they’re capped in their contracts at generating just 5 percent of renewable power locally. 

Nate Minor

One of the challenges for Tri-State will be to get even more fossil fuel sources off its financial books as it faces regulatory pressure to do so in Colorado and New Mexico. Legislatures in both states passed carbon-reduction goals for utilities this year. Tri-State will be required to participate in expensive planning. However, there are no financial penalties if Tri-State doesn’t meet the goals.  

“As we move into 2020 and chart our course for the future I think there should be confidence that we’ll be able to meet the challenges ahead,” Boughey said. 

Similar disputes are playing out between rural utilities and their power suppliers across the United States. In Indiana, Tipmont Rural Electric is seeking to part ways from its power supplier over high rates. In Minneapolis, suburban utility Connexus is in the midst of talks with its power provider to get lower rates and more flexibility.

“Today memberships across the country are expecting more from their G&Ts. They’re expecting competitive prices and a greening of the grid,” Connexus CEO Greg Ridderbusch said. 

Like United Power, Connexus is locked into a decades-long contact with its power provider. Ridderbusch said in the future it will be important for his utility and others to form more robust partnerships with their power suppliers. 

“We need the G&T to lower the constraints on things we’re doing in our own backyard for our members,” Ridderbusch said. 

Whiteside said he’s on United Power’s side.

“To have reliable electric service is absolutely critical,” Whiteside said. “If solar power can supplement the other sources that United Power has, it would make sense to do that if it’s available.” 

As relationships start to shift across the country between power suppliers and rural utilities, all eyes will be on Colorado. The Public Utilities Commission could rule on the La Plata and United Power cases in 2020.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect that Tri-State’s members will ultimately decide how to roll out a partial-requirements contract.

When used safely and properly, portable space heaters provide a nice relief from the frigid chills of winter temperatures, which can often invade poorly insulated or ventilated rooms in older homes. Although space heaters are safe to use indoors because they don’t require combustion, they still pose burn and fire hazards and should be used with caution. 

Before operating, review the manufacturer’s instructions, including warning labels. Space heaters may seem like simple, easy to use electronics, but each brand and version has its own unique quirks and features. It’s better to be safe than sorry. After reviewing the instructions, inspect the space heater for cracks or broken plugs. 

Next, be sure to place the heater in a safe location. They should be located at least three feet away from anything that can burn, such as clothing and other fabrics, papers, rugs, etc. Do not place space heaters on furniture, such as chairs or tables. Place heaters on a firm, flat location on the ground away from heavily trafficked areas. 

Space heaters place a heavy load on an outlet. For this reason, do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet. Extension cords or power strips could also overheat and result in a fire, so plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. 

Most importantly, never leave space heaters unattended. Turn it off before you leave a room or go to sleep, and don’t let animals or children play too close to the heater. When you’re done using the space heater, always unplug it and store it safely. 

Space Heater Sticker Shock

Winter weather has arrived just in time to greet us for the holidays, and that means the cold temperatures that accompany it have also arrived. Heating is our biggest energy consumer in the winter, and when you are able to do it efficiently, you’ll notice savings on your bill. 

Unfortunately, try as we might, some rooms in our homes just don’t seem to stay as warm as others, whether that’s a room away from the furnace in an older home or a large open room that just needs a little extra warmth in the winter. 

A nice, cozy solution for providing some additional warmth in these rooms can be to use a portable space heater. However, the cost of using one of these heaters can add up quickly over the course of a few days if you’re not careful.

Space heaters are big consumers of electricity, most commonly sold as either 750- or 1500-watt models at retailers like Home Depot or Lowe’s. 

Using your space heater for as little as two hours per day over the course of a month can end up costing you nearly $10 extra on your monthly energy bill. The more hours your space heater is operating, the faster those extra charges add up.

Before you consider space heaters to solve your heating issues, try addressing some of these alternatives. 

• Search and seal. Cool air can find small cracks to get through. Sealing and caulking windows, doors and floors helps keep rooms free of cold air.
• Insulate. Upgrade your insulation or add to your existing insulation to trap more warm air in your home. 
• Install storm windows. These provide an added layer of insulation, which helps retain more heat.

Four Board Seats Up for Election

Four positions on United Power’s eleven-member board are up for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds in Brighton. One seat in the East, West, South and Mountain districts will be up for a three-year term.

To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must be a United Power member and receive electric service from United Power at the member’s primary residence in the district he or she represents. United Power’s bylaws provide in-depth information on director districts, qualifications, terms, elections, meetings and officers.

Each member’s district is printed on their United Power statement. Nominations by written petition must state nominee’s name and district, be signed by 15 or more United Power members, and be filed with the board no less than 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2020. Petitions are available at United Power’s headquarters office in Brighton at 500 Cooperative Way. Additional information can be obtained by calling United Power’s executive department at 303-659-0551 or by visiting our Annual Meeting page.

See attached flyer below for more information. 

2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

4:30 p.m. | Registration Opens
6:30 p.m. | Balloting Closes & Meeting Begins

Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds
9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601

Balloting Deadlines

February 14, 2020 | Direction Nominations by Petition Deadline at 4 p.m.

April 13, 2020 | Mail-in Ballots must arrive at the P.O. Box by 6 a.m.

April 15, 2020 | Ballot Drop-Boxes at offices close at 2 p.m.

April 15, 2020 | Ballot Drop Box Open from 12-4 p.m. at the Riverdale Regional Park and Fairgrounds

Candidate Forums

Attend a Meet the Candidate Forum to learn more about each of the candidates vying to serve on the Board of Directors. The following events are free to members. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are not required.  

Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 6:30 p.m. 
Carbon Valley Service Center
9586 E I-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, CO 80504

Friday, March 20, 2020 | 7:30 a.m.
Coal Creek Canyon Community Center
3158 Highway 72, Golden, CO 80403

Monday, March 23, 2020 | 6:30 p.m.
Riverdale Regional Park
Rendezvous Room, located in Waymire Dome
9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 | 7:30 a.m.
Fort Lupton Recreation Center
Multi-Purpose Room 3
203 S. Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton, CO 80621

*Dates and locations may be subject to change.