Our Vision in a Rapidly Evolving Energy Industry
The electric utility industry is undergoing a significant refocus on everything from technology to power supply. The delivery model of today will look vastly different in the next decade. Grid technology is improving, energy markets are evolving, and member demands and expectations are changing. United Power must be prepared to adapt quickly and respond proactively to shifts in an ever-changing environment. We recognize the wealth of opportunities - and challenges - that come with these changes.
Our mission as your local electric cooperative is to safely and responsibly deliver reliable electricity and excellent service to our members. To continue delivering on that promise, we must identify the range of potential futures that we need to prepare for, harness our strengths, recognize where growth and investments are required, and develop innovative approaches to proactively address challenges.
It is, therefore, critical United Power ensures all the pieces work together to optimize financial investments, operating efficiencies, and resources. The intent of our cooperative roadmap is to document organizational objectives to create an alignment from the Board of Directors to every employee and, in turn, our members.
Empower and Engage with Members and Communities
Electric cooperatives are owned by the members they serve, which means the members are not just consumers but stakeholders in the cooperative’s success.
Provide Flexible, Affordable, Responsible Power and Services
As the needs of the distribution system have increased, so has the need for United Power to evolve and optimize the supply of power and services to its members.
Continuously Optimize the Electric Distribution System
The optimization of the electric distribution system is paramount as the cooperative confronts increasing demands and complexities driven by rapid electrification, the integration of DERs, and the evolving expectations of members.
Achieve and Maintain Business Agility and Resilience
Business agility and resilience are key investments of United Power’s strategic and operational plan.
Guiding Principles
The following guiding principles were used to develop this roadmap. They are the lenses through which United Power evaluates options, particularly when there are trade-offs.
Recent Roadmap Posts
United Power Hosts Member Forum to Discuss Power Supply
FERC Rules in Favor of United Power
Groundbreaking Pilot to Leverage Energy from Oil and Gas Wells to Generate Dispatchable Power
Denver and Brighton, Colo. – Transitional Energy, a geothermal development company, joined Brighton-based United Power to announce that they have signed a Letter of Intent to develop a dispatchable energy pilot program. The program will focus on geothermal resources from oil and gas operations located in the electric cooperative’s service territory.
United Power provides electric service to multiple oil and gas operations in Colorado’s DJ Oil Basin. Transitional Energy’s program will use geothermal energy to generate dispatchable baseload electric power. The program may be used with both operational and abandoned wells to capture and convert what would otherwise be waste geothermal energy to electricity.
Many oil and gas operators use traditional electric service to power drilling rigs and other well pad equipment. Through this partnership, United Power and Transitional Energy will be able to provide a unique solution that can convert oil and gas operations using traditional electric service to facilities powered by up to 100% geothermal resources. Owner-operators of wells in the United Power service territory would work directly with Transitional Energy to utilize the technology to offset their energy purchases while reducing their greenhouse gas footprint.
Transitional Energy was founded in Colorado and is partially funded by a grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Taking advantage of the team’s oil and gas expertise as well as emerging advancements in Organic Rankine Cycle technology for heat recovery, Transitional Energy will tap into the geothermal potential of thousands of wellbores within the DJ Basin. Reuse of existing wells and infrastructure is a capital-efficient way to use the heat beneath our feet. This pilot program compliments the many innovative energy investments United Power has made in renewable energy projects in its territory.
“United Power is excited to work on this innovative pilot project,” stated Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resources Officer. “Utilizing clean, economical geothermal energy to provide local power that can be dispatched when needed is a critical component of our growing energy portfolio. Geothermal energy represents a huge untapped renewable resource that can reduce our reliance on power from other traditional sources.”
About Transitional Energy
Transitional Energy is a geothermal development company based in Denver. The company is majority women owned and Native led. With deep expertise in subsurface engineering, facilities engineering and geology, Transitional Energy is passionate about a clean energy future and utilizing existing oil and gas wells and infrastructure to generate geothermal energy. Learn more at www.transitionalenergy.us.
About the 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 2021 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. 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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