United Power Journeyman Lineman, Kelly Snow, is among seven volunteer linemen selected by the Colorado Rural Electric Association to support a program to help electrify remote communities in northwestern Guatemala this fall.

The Colorado crew will join eight linemen from co-ops in Oklahoma on a joint project coordinated through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s philanthropic NRECA International Foundation.

“We’re very excited about this inaugural CREA-sponsored project in Guatemala,” said CREA Executive Director Kent Singer. “Our group includes outstanding co-op linemen, who will volunteer their time and expertise to bring much needed electricity to people and communities who have never experienced it before.”

The volunteers will build power lines in the village of Pie del Cerro and, potentially, in neighboring Tierra Blanca Salinas. Both communities are located far from larger population areas near a rain forest in the Ixcan region, close to the Mexican border. Collectively, the communities have about 100 households, five churches, two elementary schools and two health centers — all without access to reliable and affordable electricity. The local residents live in small one or two room homes without running water, refrigeration or the use of electronic appliances for household chores or business services. Farming is the local industry; they produce corn, beans cardamom seeds, cocoa and vegetables.

A local utility, Empresa Municipal Rural de Electricidad (EMRE), based in Playa Grande, Ixcan, will maintain the power lines once they are built. The project will consist of 130 poles and two transformers on 4.34 miles of primary line and 3.86 miles of secondary line. Most of the terrain will be flat, but about 1 mile of line will be built through dense rain forest growth. Each home will receive at least two light bulbs and two electrical outlets.

“We’re proud to have Kelly representing United Power on this very worthy project,” said Bryant Robbins, Chief Operations Officer. “Electrifying rural communities is the foundation that electric cooperatives were formed, and it’s part of our ongoing commitment to communities around the world.”

A selection committee consisting of CREA staff members and two board members from CREA’s Colorado Electric Educational Institute interviewed applicants and selected six co-op linemen and two alternates for the trip. The seventh spot will be filled by CREA Director of Safety and Loss Control Dale Kishbaugh.

“Thanks to all of the linemen who were interested in participating in this trip,” Singer said. “It is great to see how many of our co-op family were willing to leave their homes for an extended period for such a grueling trip to help others in another country. This project will bring economic possibilities to these villages, as well as better access to education and enhanced safety and lifestyles.”

Volunteers selected for the project include: Christian Baker, Holy Cross Energy, Glenwood Springs,Springs; Kris Barbee, Southeast Colorado Power Association, La Junta; Ben Ludington, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Fort Collins; Kelly Snow, United Power, Brighton; Chet Stickler, Holy Cross, Glenwood Springs; and Nate Towne, Mountain Parks Electric, Granby.

Alternates are Chris Stanworth, White River Electric; and Baker McKonly, La Plata Electric Association, Durango.

CREA is the statewide trade association for Colorado’s 22 electric cooperatives and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

United Power has spent the past year engaging in innovative solutions to bring members more reliable and efficient energy with an eye toward “Powering the Future,” the theme of the 79th Annual Meeting and Director Election held on April 18th. More than 700 people were represented at the annual member event held at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton, Colo. With seats up for election in each of United Power’s four districts, members were asked to cast ballots to decide who would represent them in those seats for the next three years. For the first time since 2005, however, each of the incumbent directors ran for re-election unopposed. In a cost-saving decision, the cooperative’s board voted to have an onsite election instead of mailing ballots to members.  

Members cast more than 300 votes in the election, and results were announced during the course of the business meeting. South District incumbent, Susan Petrocco, received 321 votes to retain her seat for another term. Rick Newman, Mountain District, and Brian A. McCormick, West District, retained their seats with 311 votes each. In the East District, Tim Erickson also retained his seat with 310 votes.

Balloting began shortly after member registration at 4:30 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. Members were then able to enjoy a Three Tomatoes catered dinner, visit informational exhibit booths and enjoy live entertainment. The business meeting began at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the Waymire Dome and was streamed to overflow seating in the Exhibit Hall.

Once the meeting was called to order, Board President James Vigesaa discussed some of the exciting new projects, developments and initiatives United Power has pursued over the past year.

United Power has been making moves in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency over the course of the past year with several exciting projects and programs on the horizon. The evening’s highlight came when Vigesaa announced United Power had reached an agreement with officials from the Town of Frederick to purchase the municipal electric utility, Frederick Power & Light, serving approximately 2,400 customers. Those customers will become members of the cooperative in the coming months. 

The addition of these new members comes at an exciting time for United Power. In October, the cooperative announced plans to construct a battery storage system at its new western facility located along Interstate 25. Developed in collaboration with SoCore Energy, the battery storage system would become the largest such system in Colorado and one of the largest systems owned and operated by a cooperative in the country. 

In the previous year, the board named a new Chief Executive Officer, John Parker, and appointed Keith Alquist II to fill the seat left vacant when Bob Grant resigned in August. United Power also completed construction on its third solar farm. The Platte Solar Farm, energized in November, adds 16 additional megawatts of energy to United Power’s renewable energy portfolio and joins existing farms in Ft. Lupton and Mead. 

Through developments and initiatives like these, United Power continues to aim high and set the standard for others to follow, and has been rewarded with continued economic stability. The cooperative’s operating expenses totaled $226 million in 2017, an increase of nearly $14 million from 2016, nearly all due to higher purchased power costs, Board Secretary/Treasurer Beth Martin reported. Purchased power represents more than 76 percent of operating costs. 

The strong financial standing allowed United Power to retire more than $5 million in capital credits this past year compared to $4 million the previous year. In the past five years, United Power has retired nearly $24 million in capital credits.

The Annual Meeting continued with the CEO’s Report, including two special video presentations. The first demonstrated some of the ways United Power has innovatively restructured departments to make processes more efficient. The second video detailed the use of UAVs (or drones) to inspect power lines and poles in our mountain territory in a way that makes identifying issues quicker, safer and cheaper. The program will soon launch in the plains territory. 

“Our Annual Meeting is more than an event to inform our members,” Parker said. “It’s a chance for them to celebrate our accomplishments with us. Everything we’re doing is an effort to bring them safe, reliable and sustainable power.”

For members who were unable to attend but are still interested in how United Power continues to serve them, these videos are available on the cooperative’s website, social media and YouTube channel.

The evening also included a special check presentation to 2018 scholarship winners. United Power is proud to provide more than $18,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors within our service territory who are intent on pursing postsecondary education. 

The meeting concluded with a member forum and drawing for door prizes. United Power looks forward to monitoring trends and innovations that allow us to best serve our members as we also look forward to celebrating our 80th anniversary in the coming year.

2018 Director Election Results

United Power members cast more than 300 ballots, and the following results were certified by the Election and Credentials Committee at the 2018 Annual Meeting:

South District
Susan Petrocco, 321

West District
Brian A. McCormick, 311

East District
Tim Erickson, 310

Mountain District
Rick Newman, 311
 

United Power, an electric cooperative utility headquartered in Brighton, Colorado, and the Town of Frederick, Colorado, jointly announced today that they have reached an agreement for the cooperative to purchase the Town of Frederick’s municipal electric utility, Frederick Power & Light.

Frederick has agreed to sell the electrical infrastructure to United Power, who will provide on-going service to the citizens of the Town’s original municipal utility. This agreement means that all Frederick residents will be served by United Power.

“We are pleased to reach a resolution on this issue, and look forward to welcoming these Frederick citizens as new members of our cooperative,” stated James Vigesaa, United Power Board President. “The agreement helps to clarify our future territory and will help us to plan for all our future growth in an efficient and effective manner.”

“Throughout the process of exploring options related to our electric utility, our main goal has been to find a solution that is in the best interests of our community,” said Tony Carey, Mayor of Frederick. “We have met that goal as this agreement is a win for our residents and United Power’s members. I’m excited to continue moving forward with our new board as we explore more opportunities for Frederick’s future.”

The agreement will help the cooperative better integrate their electric delivery system as it grows, and brings greater density to the operation, which will reduce operating costs for all cooperative members. Information and updates about the purchase and transition will be available on both the Town of Frederick and United Power’s websites. Additionally, United Power will be reaching out to affected citizens in the coming weeks to welcome them to the cooperative, and share information about the transition.

“On behalf of United Power’s Board of Directors I want to extend our thanks to the Town Trustees of Frederick,” stated Vigesaa. “We appreciate their willingness to negotiate, and to reach an agreement that is good for not only their citizens, but for the cooperative membership at-large.”