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How to Use New Payment Kiosks
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Tuesday | December 10, 2019
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United Power has placed payment kiosks at two office locations this year.

United Power has payment kiosks at our Brighton, Coal Creek and Carbon Valley office locations. These easy-to-use and hassle-free kiosks accept cash, credit card or check payments. Cash and credit card payments made using a kiosk are applied to your account immediately, and accounts subject to disconnection are restored immediately upon payment.

To make a payment at one of these kiosks, bring your United Power account number and a form of payment. 

Set Up Your Fast Pass for Quick Access

To make your transactions faster, there is an option to set up a “Fast Pass,” which will be prompted once you complete a successful transaction. You’ll create a 4-digit PIN and receive a printed barcode.

The next time you visit a United Power payment kiosk, select “Fast Pass” and quickly find your account with the barcode/PIN or the phone number you used when setting up your Fast Pass.

Please be careful to enter the correct phone and account numbers when making a payment because your Fast Pass will reflect these numbers exactly as you input them.

The United Power board of directors proposed a modest increase in residential rates at their November 8th regulatory meeting.

Decking the Halls Safely

Thursday | November 14, 2019
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it the time to put up festive lights, both indoors and outdoors, to enjoy along with the holiday season.
Cooperative Seeks More Renewable Energy, Lower Costs

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Board to Consider Rate Adjustment for 2020
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Monday | November 4, 2019
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The United Power Board meets for its Regulatory Meeting on Nov. 8, 2019.

Annual Regulatory Meeting Planned for November 8, 2019

Meeting Agenda

Every year, the United Power board takes a deep dive into the rates we charge for electricity and considers both the revenue requirements of the cooperative and the anticipated load growth for the cooperative in setting rates for the upcoming year. The United Power board will be considering some adjustments in current rates and adding an additional rate for 2020 at its November 8 Regulatory Meeting.

Recommendations from staff for the upcoming year include a modest 1.5-2% increase for residential members. Similar to last year’s rate changes, the adjustment being proposed would slightly increase the demand component and reduce the cost of energy. In 2019, the cooperative incorporated a demand charge into their residential rate, while reducing the cost of energy.

“When United Power rolled out the advanced metering infrastructure several years ago, we were able to collect better data about how each member uses power in their home or business,” stated Dean Hubbuck, Director of Power Supply and Rates. “Using this data, we constructed a rate that considers not only how much power a member consumes, but we can also measure their impact on the grid that supplies that power. By breaking apart these separate components members are billed more accurately for their use and impact.”

The rate structure not only allowed the cooperative to charge members more fairly for their impact on the electrical system, but it also put more power into the hands of members to control their costs by shifting the way they use electricity in their homes. For instance, by spreading out the use of household appliances like dryers and dishwashers through the course of the day, members can have a direct impact on their demand and reduce their costs.

This year, the board is also considering a new rate that would help lessen the impact on members who utilize electric heating technology in their homes. Homes utilizing electric thermal storage units experienced a larger impact from the rate change in 2019 when compared with the average household. A group of members concerned about the increase met with staff and board members to voice their concerns and ask the board to consider their unique situation.

“One of the best things about being served by a cooperative is that members have direct access to their regulators – the board of directors,” stated Hubbuck. “In response to our members concerns we hosted public meetings, and the new rate being considered in November is in response to these meetings.”

The changes are planned to be in effect for consumption beginning January 1, which means members would see the changes on their February bills. Once the rate adjustments are decided, the changes will be communicated via the United Newsline and on the cooperative’s website.

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Winter Weather Closure
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Tuesday | October 29, 2019
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United Power offices will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 26th.

United Power offices will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26th in anticipation of the incoming winter storm.

To make a payment, manage your account or report an outage, please login to SmartHub https://unitedpower.smarthub.coop/

As always, our dispatch and operations personnel remain on duty to respond to outages and emergencies.

Careers in Energy Week

Monday | October 14, 2019
Celebrating the People Behind Your Power Oct. 14-20

October is National Co-op Month

Tuesday | October 1, 2019
There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States. Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities.