Title
2020 Annual Meeting: Connect with Your Co-op
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MarApr_NL_AnnualMeeting.jpg?itok=pKWEcm-1
Monday | March 2, 2020
Card Teaser
All members are invited to connect with United Power leadership at the Annual Meeting, enjoy the company of fellow cooperative members and have a chance to win one of several door prizes.
Due to the potential spread of COVID-19, United Power's 2020 Annual Meeting has been moved to a virtual "town hall" meeting. Find more information about changes to this year's annual meeting format at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.
As United Power gears up for its 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election on April 15, 2020, the cooperative is encouraging its members to participate and reminding them they are more than a customer. When you vote in the director election, you have a say in the future of the cooperative. As a member, your vote carries equal weight as any other member’s vote, regardless of what kind of account they have or how large it is. Your pulse on the community and understanding of what’s important to it is critical in helping the cooperative better serve its members.
All members are invited to connect with United Power leadership at the Annual Meeting, enjoy the company of fellow cooperative members and have a chance to win one of several door prizes. The meeting will be held at Riverdale Regional Park, formerly Adams County Fairgrounds, located at 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601.
Eight candidates will be running for election to the United Power board of directors. This year, one seat in each of United Power’s director districts is up for election. The director candidates are James Vigesaa in the East District; Tamra K. Waltemath in the Mountain District; Greg Campbell, Stan Martin, Phil Noble and David E. Rose in the South District; and Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek and James P. Menghi in the West District. (Candidate statements are published here and included in the March-April United Newsline.)
The cooperative mails out director ballots – including candidate statements – in late March and encourages all members to vote and return their mail ballot prior to the deadline. Ballots may also be dropped off at a United Power office before April 15 or filled out in-person at the Annual Meeting. Although directors live in specific geographic districts, they represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members should cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own.
Member registration opens at 4:30 p.m. Members who did not mail in their ballot or chose not to vote prior to the meeting will be issued a ballot and be able to cast their votes until the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. After members have cast their ballot, they can enjoy a barbecue dinner with us, visit educational exhibit booths and be entertained by musician Dave Connelly.
The official business meeting includes a report on the status of the cooperative, as well as a report from the board treasurer. Election results will be announced prior to adjournment and door prize drawings will conclude the meeting. To learn more about the Annual Meeting or the candidates running for a seat on the board, visit the Annual Meeting & Director Election page.
2020: Year in Review
Friday | February 5, 2021
Even as work and home life looked different during this time, United Power has continued to work hard behind the scenes to provide the same level of service to our members despite unexpected limitations.
Read more >
2021: A Year in Review
Thursday | February 10, 2022
Year after year, United Power works toward an unmatched excellence. Despite endless unpredictability over the past two years, the cooperatve has elevated its expectations.
Read more >
2022: Year in Review
Tuesday | January 10, 2023
United Power is working tirelessly to position the cooperative for future success, using our experience and expertise to prepare for emerging trends and industry changes.
Read more >
Title
2023: Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2023_Year.jpg?h=45932144&itok=rnQcTLEp
Thursday | January 11, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power had a stellar year including new power contracts, eclipsing a milestone in residential rooftop solar, and launching a website refresh.
United Power was focused on securing new power contracts this past year with the flexibility to meet its growing demand in advance of the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power provider — effective May 1, 2024. The cooperative’s leadership recognized the opportunity to stabilize rising wholesale power costs and ease its financial burden when it announced the exit in 2022 and began requesting power supply proposals from regional and national generators. In keeping with its established reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative electric utility, the co-op is partnering with nationally recognized industry leaders to reduce its carbon intensity through a carefully curated mix of generation resources, including natural gas and renewable options, and developing groundbreaking demand response systems that will cut costs when energy is most expensive.
United Power had a stellar year in addition to the new power contracts, which included eclipsing a new milestone in residential rooftop solar installations. The coooperative also launched a website refresh with enhanced focus on member engagement and data-driven navigation updates, renewed the popular Member Choice Grant program, engaged with local communities in new ways, and debuted an all-new battery pilot program for members.
New Power Supply Contracts & Groundbreaking Innovation
United Power has the largest load among Colorado’s electric distribution cooperatives, which means it will require a diverse group of suppliers to meet its energy needs as it continues to grow.
The cooperative announced a power supply contract with Denver-based Guzman Energy in July — featuring fixed wholesale pricing and securing approximately one-third of its supply needs beginning in May 2024 — and a strategic relationship with Xcel Energy in September to explore opportunities for maximizing the value of their combined portfolios. Smaller contracts with OneEnergy and Whetstone Power will add approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of renewable resources to the co-op’s energy mix.
Also announced this past year were two groundbreaking battery storage agreements with Ameresco and Whetstone Power. The cooperative will strategically install more than 100 MW of battery storage at substations located throughout its service territory to increase system resiliency and reliability, balance load, reduce costs, and more efficiently incorporate local renewables.
“The use of batteries on our distribution network is essential to a resilient and responsive power system and we are excited to move ahead with one of the most aggressive plans for such a system,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO.
Read more about United Power’s power supply.
Rooftop Solar Milestone
More United Power members are opting to generate power locally than ever before. Rooftop solar has quickly become the preferred solution for members who are looking to offset their energy usage with renewable options.
The cooperative has a residential solar penetration of nearly 11%, which ranks among the highest representations for electric utilities of all sizes and more than double the national average. Last year, United Power became one of the first cooperatives to surpass 10,000 residential solar installations. Members have added nearly 6,500 rooftop solar systems to their homes since early 2020, more than doubling the total number of systems interconnected to the United Power grid. The combined generation potential of these systems is nearly 70 MW.
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community, and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process, which has been recognized by the Colorado Solar and Storage Association.
United Power also debuted an all-new member program for those interested in pairing their solar system with battery storage. Members interested in learning more about the cooperative’s solar interconnection process and the new battery pilot program can find more details under the My Energy tab at www.unitedpower.com.
Online Experience Improvements
United Power members may have noticed a new look and feel to the website and online account portal. The cooperative launched a refreshed website design in June, focused on helping members quickly navigate to their desired location in fewer clicks and finding information faster.
United Power also rolled out an update for its online account portal, SmartHub, to improve functionality and enhance user experience. Members may sign up for a free account at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub.
Giving Back to the Community
Concern for communities is a cooperative principle United Power values and takes seriously. That is why the cooperative renewed its Member Choice Grant program for a third year and distributed $12,000 to nonprofits nominated by its members. For updates about grants and 2024 nominations, visit Member Choice.
Additionally, the cooperative identified new ways to interact with its members and support local athletics and education through a Friday Night Lights check presentation in Brighton and honoring a lineman in Carbon Valley during the fall football season.
United Power is looking forward to celebrating its 85th anniversary and the change in power suppliers this year. Join us as we recognize how the cooperative has championed community growth, helped spur economic development, supported community engagement, and will continue being more than just your local electric utility now and into the future. Just as we have since 1938, United Power will continue to be “Here for Good” in the communities we serve.
Title
2025 Rebate Changes
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Rebate_Deadline.jpg?h=45932144&itok=YL5hxaKz
Wednesday | November 6, 2024
Card Teaser
Smart thermostat rebate expiring and adjustment to EV make-ready wiring rebate.
Smart Thermostat Rebate Expiring and Adjustment to EV Make-Ready Wiring Rebate
United Power members qualify for exclusive rebates on the purchase and set-up of beneficial electrification items and projects. Each year, the cooperative evaluates its rebate program and may recommend changes based on the benefit to the cooperative and its members.
Most of the cooperative’s rebates will remain the same in the upcoming year, including the home efficiency and outdoor power rebates. However, a couple rebates will be discontinued or adjusted after Dec. 31, 2024.
Smart Thermostat Rebates and Smart Rewards Benefits
Smart Rewards is a program that allows United Power to shift energy use during peak hours and saves the cooperative on expensive power purchases. Those savings are then passed on to the member.
Enrollment in United Power’s Smart Rewards program is required to qualify for the smart thermostat rebate. Although the rebate will be discontinued for smart thermostats purchased in 2025, members may still participate in the Smart Rewards program and receive a $30 incentive, up from $25 in 2024, for each summer they are enrolled with a qualifying smart thermostat.
Members who enroll in Smart Rewards and purchase a qualifying smart thermostat before Dec. 31, 2024 will still be able to submit a rebate application.
EV Make-Ready Wiring and United EV
United Power members who are planning to install wiring for at-home electric vehicle (EV) charging qualify for rebates on installations completed through Dec. 31, 2024.
Members who enroll in the cooperative’s United EV program will still qualify for make-ready wiring rebates in 2025.
United EV helps members with the up-front costs of home charging, including a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger, wiring rebates, and rates for smart charging. The program is available for a $19/month service charge.
Rebate applications must be received within 90 days of purchase or installation.
Rebate applications must be received within 90 days of purchase or installation.
Title
2020 Annual Meeting: Connect with Your Co-op
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MarApr_NL_AnnualMeeting.jpg?itok=pKWEcm-1
Monday | March 2, 2020
Card Teaser
All members are invited to connect with United Power leadership at the Annual Meeting, enjoy the company of fellow cooperative members and have a chance to win one of several door prizes.
Due to the potential spread of COVID-19, United Power's 2020 Annual Meeting has been moved to a virtual "town hall" meeting. Find more information about changes to this year's annual meeting format at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.
As United Power gears up for its 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election on April 15, 2020, the cooperative is encouraging its members to participate and reminding them they are more than a customer. When you vote in the director election, you have a say in the future of the cooperative. As a member, your vote carries equal weight as any other member’s vote, regardless of what kind of account they have or how large it is. Your pulse on the community and understanding of what’s important to it is critical in helping the cooperative better serve its members.
All members are invited to connect with United Power leadership at the Annual Meeting, enjoy the company of fellow cooperative members and have a chance to win one of several door prizes. The meeting will be held at Riverdale Regional Park, formerly Adams County Fairgrounds, located at 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601.
Eight candidates will be running for election to the United Power board of directors. This year, one seat in each of United Power’s director districts is up for election. The director candidates are James Vigesaa in the East District; Tamra K. Waltemath in the Mountain District; Greg Campbell, Stan Martin, Phil Noble and David E. Rose in the South District; and Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek and James P. Menghi in the West District. (Candidate statements are published here and included in the March-April United Newsline.)
The cooperative mails out director ballots – including candidate statements – in late March and encourages all members to vote and return their mail ballot prior to the deadline. Ballots may also be dropped off at a United Power office before April 15 or filled out in-person at the Annual Meeting. Although directors live in specific geographic districts, they represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members should cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own.
Member registration opens at 4:30 p.m. Members who did not mail in their ballot or chose not to vote prior to the meeting will be issued a ballot and be able to cast their votes until the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. After members have cast their ballot, they can enjoy a barbecue dinner with us, visit educational exhibit booths and be entertained by musician Dave Connelly.
The official business meeting includes a report on the status of the cooperative, as well as a report from the board treasurer. Election results will be announced prior to adjournment and door prize drawings will conclude the meeting. To learn more about the Annual Meeting or the candidates running for a seat on the board, visit the Annual Meeting & Director Election page.
2020: Year in Review
Friday | February 5, 2021
Even as work and home life looked different during this time, United Power has continued to work hard behind the scenes to provide the same level of service to our members despite unexpected limitations.
Read more >
2021: A Year in Review
Thursday | February 10, 2022
Year after year, United Power works toward an unmatched excellence. Despite endless unpredictability over the past two years, the cooperatve has elevated its expectations.
Read more >
2022: Year in Review
Tuesday | January 10, 2023
United Power is working tirelessly to position the cooperative for future success, using our experience and expertise to prepare for emerging trends and industry changes.
Read more >
Title
2023: Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2023_Year.jpg?h=45932144&itok=rnQcTLEp
Thursday | January 11, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power had a stellar year including new power contracts, eclipsing a milestone in residential rooftop solar, and launching a website refresh.
United Power was focused on securing new power contracts this past year with the flexibility to meet its growing demand in advance of the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power provider — effective May 1, 2024. The cooperative’s leadership recognized the opportunity to stabilize rising wholesale power costs and ease its financial burden when it announced the exit in 2022 and began requesting power supply proposals from regional and national generators. In keeping with its established reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative electric utility, the co-op is partnering with nationally recognized industry leaders to reduce its carbon intensity through a carefully curated mix of generation resources, including natural gas and renewable options, and developing groundbreaking demand response systems that will cut costs when energy is most expensive.
United Power had a stellar year in addition to the new power contracts, which included eclipsing a new milestone in residential rooftop solar installations. The coooperative also launched a website refresh with enhanced focus on member engagement and data-driven navigation updates, renewed the popular Member Choice Grant program, engaged with local communities in new ways, and debuted an all-new battery pilot program for members.
New Power Supply Contracts & Groundbreaking Innovation
United Power has the largest load among Colorado’s electric distribution cooperatives, which means it will require a diverse group of suppliers to meet its energy needs as it continues to grow.
The cooperative announced a power supply contract with Denver-based Guzman Energy in July — featuring fixed wholesale pricing and securing approximately one-third of its supply needs beginning in May 2024 — and a strategic relationship with Xcel Energy in September to explore opportunities for maximizing the value of their combined portfolios. Smaller contracts with OneEnergy and Whetstone Power will add approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of renewable resources to the co-op’s energy mix.
Also announced this past year were two groundbreaking battery storage agreements with Ameresco and Whetstone Power. The cooperative will strategically install more than 100 MW of battery storage at substations located throughout its service territory to increase system resiliency and reliability, balance load, reduce costs, and more efficiently incorporate local renewables.
“The use of batteries on our distribution network is essential to a resilient and responsive power system and we are excited to move ahead with one of the most aggressive plans for such a system,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO.
Read more about United Power’s power supply.
Rooftop Solar Milestone
More United Power members are opting to generate power locally than ever before. Rooftop solar has quickly become the preferred solution for members who are looking to offset their energy usage with renewable options.
The cooperative has a residential solar penetration of nearly 11%, which ranks among the highest representations for electric utilities of all sizes and more than double the national average. Last year, United Power became one of the first cooperatives to surpass 10,000 residential solar installations. Members have added nearly 6,500 rooftop solar systems to their homes since early 2020, more than doubling the total number of systems interconnected to the United Power grid. The combined generation potential of these systems is nearly 70 MW.
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community, and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process, which has been recognized by the Colorado Solar and Storage Association.
United Power also debuted an all-new member program for those interested in pairing their solar system with battery storage. Members interested in learning more about the cooperative’s solar interconnection process and the new battery pilot program can find more details under the My Energy tab at www.unitedpower.com.
Online Experience Improvements
United Power members may have noticed a new look and feel to the website and online account portal. The cooperative launched a refreshed website design in June, focused on helping members quickly navigate to their desired location in fewer clicks and finding information faster.
United Power also rolled out an update for its online account portal, SmartHub, to improve functionality and enhance user experience. Members may sign up for a free account at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub.
Giving Back to the Community
Concern for communities is a cooperative principle United Power values and takes seriously. That is why the cooperative renewed its Member Choice Grant program for a third year and distributed $12,000 to nonprofits nominated by its members. For updates about grants and 2024 nominations, visit Member Choice.
Additionally, the cooperative identified new ways to interact with its members and support local athletics and education through a Friday Night Lights check presentation in Brighton and honoring a lineman in Carbon Valley during the fall football season.
United Power is looking forward to celebrating its 85th anniversary and the change in power suppliers this year. Join us as we recognize how the cooperative has championed community growth, helped spur economic development, supported community engagement, and will continue being more than just your local electric utility now and into the future. Just as we have since 1938, United Power will continue to be “Here for Good” in the communities we serve.
Title
2025 Rebate Changes
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Rebate_Deadline.jpg?h=45932144&itok=YL5hxaKz
Wednesday | November 6, 2024
Card Teaser
Smart thermostat rebate expiring and adjustment to EV make-ready wiring rebate.
Smart Thermostat Rebate Expiring and Adjustment to EV Make-Ready Wiring Rebate
United Power members qualify for exclusive rebates on the purchase and set-up of beneficial electrification items and projects. Each year, the cooperative evaluates its rebate program and may recommend changes based on the benefit to the cooperative and its members.
Most of the cooperative’s rebates will remain the same in the upcoming year, including the home efficiency and outdoor power rebates. However, a couple rebates will be discontinued or adjusted after Dec. 31, 2024.
Smart Thermostat Rebates and Smart Rewards Benefits
Smart Rewards is a program that allows United Power to shift energy use during peak hours and saves the cooperative on expensive power purchases. Those savings are then passed on to the member.
Enrollment in United Power’s Smart Rewards program is required to qualify for the smart thermostat rebate. Although the rebate will be discontinued for smart thermostats purchased in 2025, members may still participate in the Smart Rewards program and receive a $30 incentive, up from $25 in 2024, for each summer they are enrolled with a qualifying smart thermostat.
Members who enroll in Smart Rewards and purchase a qualifying smart thermostat before Dec. 31, 2024 will still be able to submit a rebate application.
EV Make-Ready Wiring and United EV
United Power members who are planning to install wiring for at-home electric vehicle (EV) charging qualify for rebates on installations completed through Dec. 31, 2024.
Members who enroll in the cooperative’s United EV program will still qualify for make-ready wiring rebates in 2025.
United EV helps members with the up-front costs of home charging, including a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger, wiring rebates, and rates for smart charging. The program is available for a $19/month service charge.
Rebate applications must be received within 90 days of purchase or installation.
Rebate applications must be received within 90 days of purchase or installation.
