United Power held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in December to celebrate its newly energized battery storage facility and the cooperative’s continued commitment to adopting and implementing innovative technology. 

Currently the largest utility-scale battery storage facility in Colorado, the Tesla PowerPack battery system, built in collaboration with ENGIE North America, is expected to save the cooperative roughly $1 million annually in wholesale capacity charges. Energy generated from all sources on United Power’s grid will be stored during low-demand hours to be discharged during high-peak periods throughout the year. 

“As a co-op, we have an obligation to our communities and members to continue scanning the horizon and exploring innovative technologies that help distribute affordable and reliable power,” said Jerry Marizza, United Power’s New Business Director. “When we stop looking ahead, that’s when we start falling behind. We hope to continue setting the bar for other utilities to follow.”

The system has the capacity to store and distribute up to four megawatts of energy, or enough to power up to 700 homes simultaneously. Size and duration of the batteries used was determined during a study of United Power’s monthly load profile in early 2018.

“Energy storage is the next logical step to integrating more renewables into the grid,” said Marizza. “As long as people want to watch television at night, renewables can’t provide 100 percent of energy needs without storage.”

Over the past few years, United Power has added other innovative and renewable projects to benefit its members. From Colorado’s first community solar farm to methane gas collection at the Erie landfills, these projects make economic sense for our members while providing reliable power.

New Rates will be Effective Jan. 1, 2019

United Power’s Board of Directors approved a rate change for 2019 that separates energy and demand charges and includes a modest 1.5-2% rate increase for most members. The new rates will be effective with January 1, 2019 electric use, so members will see these changes reflected on their February 2019 bills. 

Since the cooperative began using the advanced metering infrastructure several years ago, we are now able to better measure every member’s impact on the electric system. The new rates break apart the blended rate members have paid in the past, incorporating both an energy charge and a demand charge. 

The new rates allow United Power to more fairly charge members for both their energy consumption and their impact on the delivery grid. 

“We always weigh multiple factors when considering a rate change,” stated Dean Hubbuck, Director of Power Supply and Rates. “The board takes several months to really evaluate our extensive cost of service study, and then considers our budget when setting rates for the coming year.  We are pleased that the rate increase is small, and that members will have more ways to manage their energy bill.”

There have been multiple articles in previous issues of the United Newsline talking about how demand is determined, and how to reduce it. Additionally, the actual demand was added to most bills earlier this year with a zero amount, so members could begin to see how their actions affect their demand.  

The new rate structure will assign a one-dollar per kW charge to the demand component, and members will see a corresponding drop in the cost of the energy. Now members can affect their electric bill in two different ways – reducing their demand by staggering their use of appliances and by simply using less energy. So, while rates are increasing next year, the change in the rate structure gives members more power to control their bill than in the past.

The changes to the rates affect all existing residential, time of use and small commercial rates. The rate change also includes the addition of a new Smart Choice Rate that takes the demand concept a step further. 

This new Smart Choice Rate provides two different peak demand charges, and a much lower energy charge than with any other rate. The higher demand charges and lower energy charges may work well for a member who is willing to shift their demand throughout the day and night, and actively monitor their use. 

In the past year United Power has rolled out access to the Power Portal, a way for members to look at their energy use in near real time (Read more about the Power Portal). The portal provides information about how the member is using power in 15-minute increments.  This is a powerful tool to help members manage their energy use and see how they are impacting the power grid. Used in tandem with the demand rates, the Power Portal will provide the information members need to make good energy choices.

“By using the Power Portal and monitoring how they use appliances in their homes, members will have a greater ability to manage their energy costs than at any time in the past,” stated Hubbuck. “We think we have a new rate structure that really meets the needs of our members – whether they want to take an active role in keeping their costs down, or if they simply want a fair rate they don’t have to think about.”

In October, lights went on for the first time in two villages nestled deep in the jungles of northwest Guatemala. After weeks of grueling manual labor in adverse conditions far from home, line crews from Oklahoma and Colorado completed work on a project to provide the villages of Pie del Cerro and Tierra Blanca Salinas the gift of electricity. 

Between long days caused by the lack of major equipment and staving off dehydration brought on by dense jungle humidity, crews often returned to their rooms late in the evening exhausted – ready to do it again the next day. 

“Nothing came easy,” United Power lineman Kelly Snow said. “We had to gut it out each and every day. But even on the worst days, everyone showed up and gave it their all. We came to accomplish something, and we did.”

Line crews were stationed in the small city of Playa Grande, located roughly 300 miles from Guatemala City. Each morning, crews loaded into trucks and traversed dirt-packed and often jarring roads to the villages they’d be powering nearly an hour away.  

Once there, work had to be completed without the use of specialized tools or mechanical equipment, and vehicles were to be used for transportation only. 

Snow, who’s experienced the worst working conditions as a lineman in Colorado’s Front Range, said it’s hard to prepare for the difficulties of working in a third world country.

“It’s like stepping back in time,” he said. “We talked to others who were on projects before us and looked at all the photos, but there are still elements of the unknown. It’s hot and humid the whole time; hard to stay hydrated.”

Despite the harsh working conditions, crews were able to complete the first half of the project in just over a week – providing power to the first of the two villages – and the whole project on time.

“I’m proud to have been a part of this project to provide power to these families and kids,” Snow said. “It gives these kids the chance to continue their studies, and maybe even opens the door for computers or cell phones one day.”

Brief reprieves gave Snow and other linemen an opportunity to spend some time building relationships with villagers, playing games with the children and exploring the nearby jungle and lakes. 

Above and beyond providing electricity, the crews were also able to gift each household with two-year water filters and each school with a laptop and wheelchair.

“The Rural Electric Association was founded on the principal of bringing electricity to rural America,” Snow said just before the project. “It’s an inspiration to be a part of that foundation and spreading it to other countries.”

As Published in the Denver Post and Longmont Times Call:  November 9^th, 2018

You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2019 (billings issued after February 1, 2019). A cost of service study was updated and indicated an increase was necessary for several rate classes. There will be a rate increase to the Residential (R1) rate class of 1.5% and a 2% increase to the Residential Time of Use (RTD1) and Irrigation (IRR2) rate classes. The Industrial Service – Substation or Transmission (ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4) rate classes will have an increase of .7 mills per kWh. The Residential (R1), Residential Time of Use (RTD1), Small Commercial (C1), Small Commercial Time of Use (CTD1), Irrigation (IRR2) and Small Industrial Primary (SIP1) will have a demand charge of $1.00 per kW added with a reduction in the energy charge per kWh. The Residential Demand Pilot Rate (RD1) will be eliminated and a new Smart Choice rate will be established for residential service. There will be minor rate language updates for consistency to Residential (R1), Residential Time of Use (RTD1), Small Commercial (C1), Small Commercial Time of Use (CTD1), Irrigation (IRR2), Small Industrial Primary (SIP1), Large Commercial Secondary Demand (ISD1) and Large Industrial Primary Demand (IPD1) rate classes. The Rules and Regulations, Service Rules and Regulations, and the Service Connection and Line Extension Policies will be reformatted.

The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.

Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.

An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint.  An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.

Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.  A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.

United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints.  If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing.  The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect.  Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.

UNITED POWER, INC
By: John D. Parker, Chief Executive Officer

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. The project, developed in collaboration with ENGIE, is the largest utility battery storage facility in Colorado. 

The introduction of battery storage to United Power’s portfolio will allow the cooperative to save an expected $1 million each year in wholesale capacity charges. Energy generated from all sources on United Power’s grid will be stored during low-demand hours to be discharged during high-peak periods throughout the year. 

United Power’s primary goal for its battery storage facility is peak shaving, but it also better positions the cooperative to respond to future innovation and development within the energy environment. 

“Understanding storage is the next logical step in the progression of renewable generation,” said Jerry Marizza, United Power’s New Business Director. “Without the ability to store energy, renewables will have an artificial cap placed on its utilization.” 

On bright days when the sun is shining, solar fields may collect more energy than can be immediately used. Without proper storage capabilities, that excess energy is lost. Allowing the capture of both wind and solar energy produced at off-peak times when demand is low conserves energy and saves money.

“As a co-op, we have an obligation to our communities and individual members to explore these new options to meet this ever changing energy environment,” Marizza said. 

The Tesla battery system United Power and ENGIE utilized for this project is a larger version of the lithium ion battery found in Tesla’s popular electric vehicles. Through years of testing and refinement, Tesla batteries have become the industry standard in energy storage. 

The system has the capacity to store and distribute up to four megawatts of energy, or enough to power up to 700 homes simultaneously. Size and duration of the batteries used was determined during a study of United Power’s monthly load profile.

“As one of the fastest growing co-ops in Colorado, United Power wants to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to integrating new technology that can help boost reliability and keep costs down,” said John Parker, United Power CEO, during the project announcement this past year. “Energy storage will play an important role in the grid of the future, and we’re excited to be starting now.”

The new battery storage facility builds on United Power’s reputation for adopting and implementing innovative technology, such as the Sol Partners Cooperative Solar Farm – the first of its kind in Colorado – and Methane to Megawatts Project at the Erie Landfill – only the second of its kind in the state. More than just renewables, these projects also make economic sense for our members while providing reliable energy. 

All Applications Must be Postmarked by January

Scholarships

Applications Due: Jan. 31, 2019

Each year, United Power awards academic scholarships to outstanding students served by the cooperative. This year, United Power will award 17 scholarships for a total of $19,500. Awards range between $1,000 and $2,000. Eligibility varies for each scholarship, but in general overall academic achievement (such as GPA and ACT/SAT scores), extracurricular activities and community involvement rank high in the evaluation process. A brief written essay is required, and the applicants primary residence must be in United Power’s service territory.

Application

Washington D.C. Youth Tour

Applications Due: Jan. 12, 2019

United Power is accepting applications for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour held June 13–20, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The Tour is a unique opportunity for local students to gain an understanding of American history, develop leadership skills and better understand the role of electric cooperatives. United Power will send three students to represent the cooperative on this all-expense paid trip to our nation’s capital. United Power’s Youth Tour is open to high school students age 16 years or older whose primary residence is in United Power’s service territory. 

Application

Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp

Application Due: Jan. 12, 2019

Each summer, United Power selects youth who stand out from among their peers to represent the co-op for a week in the mountains of northwest Colorado at the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. Students immerse themselves in learning the value of cooperatives while crafting new friendships and developing leadership skills to model in their schools and communities back home. Camp will be held July 13-19, 2019. Interested students must complete an application, be 16 years of age or older and have a primary residents within United Power’s service territory.

Application