Title
2025: A Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Year2026_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vBbR7oPb
Thursday | January 15, 2026
Card Teaser
United Power expanded hyper-local energy strategy in 2025.
United Power Expanded Hyper-Local Energy Strategy in 2025
The Power of Local moves United Power to think of the best way to serve members. That includes identifying best energy practices and meaningful engagement opportunities with the cooperative’s local communities.
Nearly four years ago, as United Power was preparing to exit its former wholesale power contract, staff worked together to create an action plan to serve as its guide. Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap) was the result of collaborative work sessions that leveraged the collective knowledge and experience of employees across the co-op to chart a path forward that addressed uncertainty in the industry and the energy needs of the members now and into the future. The Roadmap provided strategic direction on critical decisions, including power supply and infrastructure planning for the long-term health and resiliency of the distribution system and cooperative as a whole.
Created as a document that would evolve with the co-op and changes in the industry, United Power unveiled its second version last year. Our Cooperative Roadmap 2.0 added more emphasis on a hyper-local energy strategy that was already in process with the installation of several battery energy storage systems (BESS) throughout the cooperative’s service territory.
What is Hyper-Localization?
One of the biggest question marks electric utilities face is access to sufficient transmission capacity, since many rely on distant power generation sources. Building new transmission and updating existing infrastructure will require many years and trillions of dollars in financing nationwide. Even if financing, permitting, and supply chain hurdles can be cleared, demand is increasing at a historic pace, faster than new transmission can be built.
Hyper-localization is the strategy of locating generation and storage resources locally, closer to where power is consumed. Local power bypasses expensive and congested transmission, benefits the distribution system, and provides an added financial incentive for local communities through tax dollars and job opportunities.
United Power expanded its commitment to hyper-localization in 2025 with the completion of a new natural gas peaking plant and the announcement of several new projects that will come on line in the next few years.
The Mountain Peak Power plant is a 162 megawatt (MW) natural gas plant located adjacent to a United Power substation and BESS outside Keenesburg. Its location also takes advantage of close proximity to natural gas sources, which reduces delivery costs and ensures availability. The plant was designed and constructed in partnership with Kindle Energy and completed from conception to operation in less than two years, with construction completed in less than a year after the project broke ground. The addition of this local resource provides an economical source of power when energy demand is high.
The cooperative also announced a power purchase agreement with Alliance Energy Group in 2025 for the 70 MW output of its Brush II natural gas project in Brush, Colorado. Natural gas generation balances and complements renewable resources in United Power’s energy mix.
Two new local solar projects totaling 350 MW were also announced last year.
Silicon Ranch and United Power are partnering on their fifth — and largest — utility-scale solar project, located in Adams County northeast of Byers. Silicon Ranch will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility, and the cooperative will purchase its 150 MW of solar generation output. The new project joins a portfolio including the Fort Lupton (13 MW), Mavericks (6.5 MW), Platteville (16 MW), and Rattlesnake (6 MW) solar farms already in operation.
The second solar project, Fortress, will be a hybrid facility combining 200 MW of solar generation with 200 MW (800 megawatt-hours) of battery energy storage. Aypa Power will manage the innovative project, also located near Brush. It is scheduled to begin operation in 2027.
United Power serves several of the fastest growing communities in Colorado and expects its system demand to continue increasing into the future. The cooperative is prioritizing its hyper-localization strategy for new energy projects that benefit the co-op and its members.
Caring for Community
Hyper-localization may be a term that describes the cooperative’s energy strategy, but United Power also has a hyper-local presence in the communities it serves, supporting events, sponsoring fairs and festivals, recognizing student achievements, and more.
The cooperative annually awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities. Keeping the lights on is difficult work that requires highly skilled and trained professional lineworkers. However, the industry is facing a workforce shortage, with nearly 45% of experienced lineworkers projected to retire within the next decade. That is why the cooperative awards lineworker scholarships to advance the profession. Two $7,500 scholarships were awarded in December for students who are enrolled in a qualified program in 2026.
Employees also gave back to local nonprofits in recognition of National Co-op Month in October. More than 90 employees volunteered for eight service projects at nonprofits located throughout the service territory. Their participation was a visible demonstration of the co-op’s core principle of concern for the community, and a reminder that a spirit of service is important for thriving communities.
Occasionally, United Power extends support beyond its borders to help meet the needs of families in disadvantaged areas. This past year, lineworkers returned to the Navajo Nation to provide power to those families for the second year. The cooperative also provided supplies and equipment for projects in July and October.
The Power of Local is expressed in everything United Power does, from pursuing local energy solutions to empowering and championing local communities. But it is also expressed in the co-op’s members, who endeavor to bring their visions for their communities to life through tireless commitment and sacrifice. That is The Power of Local.
Title
2026 United Power Director Candidates Announced
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations.jpg?h=45932144&itok=skNY5iXO
Monday | March 2, 2026
Card Teaser
Balloting Opens March 13
Balloting in the 2026 Director Election Opens March 13Brighton, CO – Six candidates are running for election to the United Power Board of Directors in the cooperative’s 2026 director election. Four positions on the board are up for election and the candidates are Phil Tiffany and Virginia A. “Ginny” Buczek (incumbent) in the North District; Vicki Erickson and Lisa Hough in the Central District; Steven Douglas (incumbent) in the South District; and Tamra K. Waltemath (incumbent) in the Mountain District.
Directors are elected “at-large” and represent all members. This means members may cast a vote for a candidate in each district. United Power encourages all members to vote online or return their mail ballots prior to the 11:59 a.m. deadline on April 14.
Statements from each of the candidates will be available with member ballots; published in the cooperative’s newsletter, delivered in March; and posted online here. Director candidate contribution reports will also be available online.
Proposed amendments to the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation will also appear on the ballot for approval by the membership. These amendments will ensure the articles are clear, transparent, and consistent with current state laws and the co-op’s bylaws. Specifically, the proposed amendments remove duplicative and outdated language and add clarifying language where necessary. The proposed amendments can be viewed in full online.
Ballots will be mailed and electronic balloting opens on March 13. Members may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting, beginning at 4:30 p.m., where votes will be cast using a streamlined digital voting system.
Results of the director election will be announced at the 2026 Annual Meeting, which will be held on April 15 at Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds and livestreamed on United Power’s website. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m., and on-site balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend and engage with cooperative leadership, connect with fellow members, and celebrate the cooperative’s accomplishments over the past year.
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops in the nation, serving more than 117,000 meters. Its 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. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
3,000th Rooftop Solar Connection
Thursday | November 1, 2018
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
Read more >
A Bird's Eye View
Friday | June 1, 2018
In 2016, United Power recognized it needed to brainstorm new ways to inspect its infrastructure in a quicker, safer and more efficient manner. Drones were a cheap and effective solution.
Read more >
Title
A Few Things to be Aware of when Considering Rooftop Solar
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_RooftopSolar.jpg?itok=P1HUaXoN
Friday | December 4, 2020
Card Teaser
Several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar:
United Power has a long history of supporting our rooftop solar members. The cooperative has been nationally recognized for the amount of interconnected solar on its system, and recently surpassed 5,000 rooftop solar connections. That being said, several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar:
Myth #1: Colorado State Law requires me to install solar on my roof.
This is not true. The state recently passed legislation that requires homebuilders to offer rooftop solar options or make-ready wiring for solar on newly constructed homes, but this does not apply to existing households.
Myth #2: United Power contracts solar installers to offer rooftop solar.
United Power does not have any contracts to work with rooftop solar installers. If a solar sales representative claims to be working with or on behalf of the cooperative, that should be a red flag. Members are free to work with any solar vendor they choose, and United Power will let you interconnect with our system. Learn more about our interconnection agreement and other helpful tips before considering solar at www.unitedpower.com/going-solar.
Myth #3: By installing rooftop solar, you will no longer receive a United Power bill or will save against future electric rate increases.
You will still receive a bill for the electricity you consume when the sun isn’t shining and your home is utilizing services from the grid. United Power is actively working to reduce electric rates for all our members, so long term financing forecasts from solar salespeople with future rate increases from United Power may be misleading.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with a United Power energy advisor, please contact us at 303-637-1300. We also have several online resources available for members considering rooftop solar on our website at www.unitedpower.com. You can even view and download meter data on your electric usage through our Power Portal for a more in-depth analysis.
You can learn about United Power’s investments in solar for all our members at www.unitedpower.com/innovating-energy.
A New Look for Our Trucks
Wednesday | February 14, 2018
While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks.
Read more >
A New Look for Our Trucks
Wednesday | February 14, 2018
While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks.
Read more >
Title
A New Name: Union REA Becomes United Power
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2019_NL_Truck.png?itok=tXQpeaxT
Friday | January 25, 2019
Card Teaser
This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
In the late 1980s, United Power overcame a competitive territory war and takeover bid from Public Service Company of Colorado, now Xcel Energy. The rocky battle led the cooperative to reevaluate its service and commit to trimming rates and delivering more reliable power for its members. This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Following a member vote in August 1987 to reject Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) takeover bid of Union Rural Electric Association (Union REA), the Colorado State Legislature urged the two electric utilities to settle its territory dispute in the interest of the public. The dispute had resulted in unnecessary duplication of distribution infrastructure over the years, which was costly to members and customers.
Three years later in 1990, the two utilities finalized an agreement that would exchange certain territories and establish firm territory boundaries. Union REA would begin serving Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the rural areas of Platte Valley. In return, PSCo would receive territory the new Denver International Airport was to be built on. The transfer closed the corridor separating the two areas the cooperative served along the plains.
With the territory battle behind it, the cooperative began focusing on resolving some glaring problems brought to light during the takeover attempt. Union REA’s Board made a commitment to improve rates and reliability using PSCo’s performance records as a measuring stick. With record performance levels and expectations aimed toward the future, Union REA became United Power, intending to help leave behind the unsophisticated image of the traditional cooperative.
The name change to United Power symbolized the cooperative’s commitment to its rural heritage while presenting a progressive utility to a new urban member-base.
By November 1990, United Power had begun serving all the communities acquired in the exchange except for a lone holdout, Brighton, which had voted to deny the service transfer to the cooperative.
A couple years later, United Power had developed a reputation of reliability and reducing rates. When PSCo approached the Brighton city council again in 1992, United Power members were paying 6 percent less than Brighton residents served by PSCo.
As the cooperative and PSCo worked to move the transfer forward, United Power made dedicated efforts to educate Brighton residents and answer questions concerning service, reliability and cost of power to bolster its image as a cutting-edge power supplier. United Power assured residents it would track outage and restoration times, guarantee reliability factors as strong or better than PSCo and pledged to freeze rates for two years if the transfer was approved.
In 1993, United Power finally welcomed Brighton and its residents to the cooperative family.
Title
Adams County District Court Proceeding Delayed
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/AdCo_Courthouse_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=a2gv9WBm
Monday | June 12, 2023
Card Teaser
District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance
Adams County District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance Brighton, CO – District Judge Roberto Ramírez issued an order on June 11 that continued the jury trial between United Power, Inc. (United Power) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) that was set to begin later this month on June 26.
“It is disappointing for the members of United Power that the breach of contract trial between United Power and Tri-State has been delayed,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. Tri-State asked for a continuance after flooding the court with numerous filings in an attempt to slow the judicial process. As Judge Ramírez noted in reluctantly granting Tri-State’s request to postpone a trial date to which it had agreed to more than a year ago, “The Court agrees with United Power that the bulk of the litigated issues pending before the Court are based on filings associated with Tri-State.”
The case centers around two key issues: whether Tri-State illegally added three non-utility members in order to escape state regulation and whether Tri-State’s failure to provide United Power with a fair exit fee in a timely manner is a breach of contract that precludes Tri-State from enforcing the parties’ contract, allowing United Power the right to withdraw from Tri-State at no cost and with the potential for a substantial damages award against Tri-State.
“Sadly, Tri-State has pursued a strategy of delay in both the state courts and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),” continued Gabriel. “This pattern results in uncertainty for both organizations, raises the costs for United Power members, and delays the time in which our members can get lower cost, cleaner energy for homes and businesses.”
United Power is leaving its wholesale power supplier May 1, 2024 based on FERC requirements. “We are leaving Tri-State next year regardless of the Adams County proceedings,” Gabriel said, adding “this critical case does not go away even with our departure nor does Tri-State’s liability for our members’ substantial damages. Stalling is not to anyone’s benefit.”
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
Title
All Hands on Deck for the Bomb Cyclone
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MayJune_NL_BombCyclone.png?itok=S04eC2f-
Wednesday | May 15, 2019
Card Teaser
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted.
The calm before a storm is often the most unsettling. A cold, breezy Wednesday morning belied a more sinister winter storm rapidly intensifying and bearing down on the Colorado’s northern Front Range. Anxious employees peered through slotted window blinds searching for early signs of the encroaching storm (dubbed a "bomb cyclone"), and linemen gathered for morning safety meetings in anticipation of a long day.
Initial signs of the storm began rolling in late morning, bringing with it a mixture of blowing rain and light snow. Within the hour, the storm transformed into a whiteout and roads disappeared underneath a layer of rapidly accumulating snow. As worsening conditions stranded travelers, highway patrol began closing major highways and warning residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Shortly after, Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency.
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted. The storm was beginning to show its teeth.
Strong winds and heavy snow contributed to limited visibility and created a challenging situation for linemen traversing snow-packed roads and drifts measuring several feet deep to restore affected members’ power during the raging storm. Trucks were forced to limit their mobility, moving slowly and only when visibility cleared enough for them to proceed safely.
"Finding the road was sometimes like trying to find your hand in the dark," said Troubleshooter Jon Lundstrom. "There were moments we couldn’t even see beyond the hoods of our trucks, let alone know if we were actually on the road. I’m certain I drove through an empty field at least once."
Back at United Power’s headquarters, operations staff were carefully monitoring incoming outages through the cooperative’s advanced mapping system, SCADA, and relaying them to linemen in the field. Where possible, system improvements now allowed staff to effectively reclose certain breakers instead of having to dispatch crews to a location, freeing them to respond to more critical outages.
While nearly a third of all members impacted by storm-related outages were restored from the office, crews still needed to be dispatched to the majority. Despite uncertain conditions, linemen responded to each outage with as much urgency as the weather would allow.
"Our engineers have done a great job designing an infrastructure that allows us to be responsive without sending out a crew," said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. "But nothing can replace the value of having boots on the ground, especially when the weather turns ugly."
In total, more than a dozen crews with roughly 50 linemen between United Power and its contractor, Ward Electric, responded to just over 10,000 outage alerts over the course of the storm and late into the night. When final Ward crews were called in just before 4 a.m., most linemen had worked in excess of 19 hours to restore power. Just 23 accounts remained without power when crews arrived again later that morning.
According to advanced metrics obtained through the United Power operations team, of the 10,304 meters affected during the storm, only 2,000 experienced an outage lasting longer than 6 hours, and most were restored within 2 hours.
"Storms expose your weak points," said Sydow. "Some parts of our system normally hit hard during strong storms like this held up well. It’s a testament to United Power’s commitment to system and infrastructure improvements over the past couple years, the efficiency of our processes and the hard work of our linemen."
As far as storms go, March’s bomb cyclone was unlike anything Colorado has seen before, confirmed as the most intense storm in state history. Hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power during the storm as it paved its way through the northern Midwest and impacted travel across much of the country. More than 1,300 flights were cancelled and 1,100 travelers were left stranded.
"It takes a certain kind of person to look into a storm like that and say whatever it takes to get the job done," said Troubleshooter Kurt Westhoff. "We’re at our best when the weather is at its worst. It gives us motivation and adrenaline to go out there and get the power back on. It’s what we do; it’s why we got into this."
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Bomb cyclones, also known as bombogensis or explosive cyclogenesis, are naturally occurring weather phenomena producing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions. They are formed when warm air and cold air meet under the right conditions, resulting in cyclonic movement and a sudden and sharp drop in barometric pressure over a short period of time. As pressure continues to drop, the storm intensifies. Only a handful of these weather events have been recorded, and rarely over continental locations.
Title
2025: A Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Year2026_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vBbR7oPb
Thursday | January 15, 2026
Card Teaser
United Power expanded hyper-local energy strategy in 2025.
United Power Expanded Hyper-Local Energy Strategy in 2025
The Power of Local moves United Power to think of the best way to serve members. That includes identifying best energy practices and meaningful engagement opportunities with the cooperative’s local communities.
Nearly four years ago, as United Power was preparing to exit its former wholesale power contract, staff worked together to create an action plan to serve as its guide. Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap) was the result of collaborative work sessions that leveraged the collective knowledge and experience of employees across the co-op to chart a path forward that addressed uncertainty in the industry and the energy needs of the members now and into the future. The Roadmap provided strategic direction on critical decisions, including power supply and infrastructure planning for the long-term health and resiliency of the distribution system and cooperative as a whole.
Created as a document that would evolve with the co-op and changes in the industry, United Power unveiled its second version last year. Our Cooperative Roadmap 2.0 added more emphasis on a hyper-local energy strategy that was already in process with the installation of several battery energy storage systems (BESS) throughout the cooperative’s service territory.
What is Hyper-Localization?
One of the biggest question marks electric utilities face is access to sufficient transmission capacity, since many rely on distant power generation sources. Building new transmission and updating existing infrastructure will require many years and trillions of dollars in financing nationwide. Even if financing, permitting, and supply chain hurdles can be cleared, demand is increasing at a historic pace, faster than new transmission can be built.
Hyper-localization is the strategy of locating generation and storage resources locally, closer to where power is consumed. Local power bypasses expensive and congested transmission, benefits the distribution system, and provides an added financial incentive for local communities through tax dollars and job opportunities.
United Power expanded its commitment to hyper-localization in 2025 with the completion of a new natural gas peaking plant and the announcement of several new projects that will come on line in the next few years.
The Mountain Peak Power plant is a 162 megawatt (MW) natural gas plant located adjacent to a United Power substation and BESS outside Keenesburg. Its location also takes advantage of close proximity to natural gas sources, which reduces delivery costs and ensures availability. The plant was designed and constructed in partnership with Kindle Energy and completed from conception to operation in less than two years, with construction completed in less than a year after the project broke ground. The addition of this local resource provides an economical source of power when energy demand is high.
The cooperative also announced a power purchase agreement with Alliance Energy Group in 2025 for the 70 MW output of its Brush II natural gas project in Brush, Colorado. Natural gas generation balances and complements renewable resources in United Power’s energy mix.
Two new local solar projects totaling 350 MW were also announced last year.
Silicon Ranch and United Power are partnering on their fifth — and largest — utility-scale solar project, located in Adams County northeast of Byers. Silicon Ranch will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility, and the cooperative will purchase its 150 MW of solar generation output. The new project joins a portfolio including the Fort Lupton (13 MW), Mavericks (6.5 MW), Platteville (16 MW), and Rattlesnake (6 MW) solar farms already in operation.
The second solar project, Fortress, will be a hybrid facility combining 200 MW of solar generation with 200 MW (800 megawatt-hours) of battery energy storage. Aypa Power will manage the innovative project, also located near Brush. It is scheduled to begin operation in 2027.
United Power serves several of the fastest growing communities in Colorado and expects its system demand to continue increasing into the future. The cooperative is prioritizing its hyper-localization strategy for new energy projects that benefit the co-op and its members.
Caring for Community
Hyper-localization may be a term that describes the cooperative’s energy strategy, but United Power also has a hyper-local presence in the communities it serves, supporting events, sponsoring fairs and festivals, recognizing student achievements, and more.
The cooperative annually awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities. Keeping the lights on is difficult work that requires highly skilled and trained professional lineworkers. However, the industry is facing a workforce shortage, with nearly 45% of experienced lineworkers projected to retire within the next decade. That is why the cooperative awards lineworker scholarships to advance the profession. Two $7,500 scholarships were awarded in December for students who are enrolled in a qualified program in 2026.
Employees also gave back to local nonprofits in recognition of National Co-op Month in October. More than 90 employees volunteered for eight service projects at nonprofits located throughout the service territory. Their participation was a visible demonstration of the co-op’s core principle of concern for the community, and a reminder that a spirit of service is important for thriving communities.
Occasionally, United Power extends support beyond its borders to help meet the needs of families in disadvantaged areas. This past year, lineworkers returned to the Navajo Nation to provide power to those families for the second year. The cooperative also provided supplies and equipment for projects in July and October.
The Power of Local is expressed in everything United Power does, from pursuing local energy solutions to empowering and championing local communities. But it is also expressed in the co-op’s members, who endeavor to bring their visions for their communities to life through tireless commitment and sacrifice. That is The Power of Local.
Title
2026 United Power Director Candidates Announced
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations.jpg?h=45932144&itok=skNY5iXO
Monday | March 2, 2026
Card Teaser
Balloting Opens March 13
Balloting in the 2026 Director Election Opens March 13Brighton, CO – Six candidates are running for election to the United Power Board of Directors in the cooperative’s 2026 director election. Four positions on the board are up for election and the candidates are Phil Tiffany and Virginia A. “Ginny” Buczek (incumbent) in the North District; Vicki Erickson and Lisa Hough in the Central District; Steven Douglas (incumbent) in the South District; and Tamra K. Waltemath (incumbent) in the Mountain District.
Directors are elected “at-large” and represent all members. This means members may cast a vote for a candidate in each district. United Power encourages all members to vote online or return their mail ballots prior to the 11:59 a.m. deadline on April 14.
Statements from each of the candidates will be available with member ballots; published in the cooperative’s newsletter, delivered in March; and posted online here. Director candidate contribution reports will also be available online.
Proposed amendments to the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation will also appear on the ballot for approval by the membership. These amendments will ensure the articles are clear, transparent, and consistent with current state laws and the co-op’s bylaws. Specifically, the proposed amendments remove duplicative and outdated language and add clarifying language where necessary. The proposed amendments can be viewed in full online.
Ballots will be mailed and electronic balloting opens on March 13. Members may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting, beginning at 4:30 p.m., where votes will be cast using a streamlined digital voting system.
Results of the director election will be announced at the 2026 Annual Meeting, which will be held on April 15 at Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds and livestreamed on United Power’s website. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m., and on-site balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend and engage with cooperative leadership, connect with fellow members, and celebrate the cooperative’s accomplishments over the past year.
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops in the nation, serving more than 117,000 meters. Its 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. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
3,000th Rooftop Solar Connection
Thursday | November 1, 2018
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
Read more >
A Bird's Eye View
Friday | June 1, 2018
In 2016, United Power recognized it needed to brainstorm new ways to inspect its infrastructure in a quicker, safer and more efficient manner. Drones were a cheap and effective solution.
Read more >
Title
A Few Things to be Aware of when Considering Rooftop Solar
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_RooftopSolar.jpg?itok=P1HUaXoN
Friday | December 4, 2020
Card Teaser
Several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar:
United Power has a long history of supporting our rooftop solar members. The cooperative has been nationally recognized for the amount of interconnected solar on its system, and recently surpassed 5,000 rooftop solar connections. That being said, several members have contacted us with questions about some things they are being told by door-to-door solar salespeople. We’d like to take this opportunity to dispel some common myths regarding rooftop solar:
Myth #1: Colorado State Law requires me to install solar on my roof.
This is not true. The state recently passed legislation that requires homebuilders to offer rooftop solar options or make-ready wiring for solar on newly constructed homes, but this does not apply to existing households.
Myth #2: United Power contracts solar installers to offer rooftop solar.
United Power does not have any contracts to work with rooftop solar installers. If a solar sales representative claims to be working with or on behalf of the cooperative, that should be a red flag. Members are free to work with any solar vendor they choose, and United Power will let you interconnect with our system. Learn more about our interconnection agreement and other helpful tips before considering solar at www.unitedpower.com/going-solar.
Myth #3: By installing rooftop solar, you will no longer receive a United Power bill or will save against future electric rate increases.
You will still receive a bill for the electricity you consume when the sun isn’t shining and your home is utilizing services from the grid. United Power is actively working to reduce electric rates for all our members, so long term financing forecasts from solar salespeople with future rate increases from United Power may be misleading.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with a United Power energy advisor, please contact us at 303-637-1300. We also have several online resources available for members considering rooftop solar on our website at www.unitedpower.com. You can even view and download meter data on your electric usage through our Power Portal for a more in-depth analysis.
You can learn about United Power’s investments in solar for all our members at www.unitedpower.com/innovating-energy.
A New Look for Our Trucks
Wednesday | February 14, 2018
While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks.
Read more >
A New Look for Our Trucks
Wednesday | February 14, 2018
While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks.
Read more >
Title
A New Name: Union REA Becomes United Power
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2019_NL_Truck.png?itok=tXQpeaxT
Friday | January 25, 2019
Card Teaser
This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
In the late 1980s, United Power overcame a competitive territory war and takeover bid from Public Service Company of Colorado, now Xcel Energy. The rocky battle led the cooperative to reevaluate its service and commit to trimming rates and delivering more reliable power for its members. This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Following a member vote in August 1987 to reject Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) takeover bid of Union Rural Electric Association (Union REA), the Colorado State Legislature urged the two electric utilities to settle its territory dispute in the interest of the public. The dispute had resulted in unnecessary duplication of distribution infrastructure over the years, which was costly to members and customers.
Three years later in 1990, the two utilities finalized an agreement that would exchange certain territories and establish firm territory boundaries. Union REA would begin serving Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the rural areas of Platte Valley. In return, PSCo would receive territory the new Denver International Airport was to be built on. The transfer closed the corridor separating the two areas the cooperative served along the plains.
With the territory battle behind it, the cooperative began focusing on resolving some glaring problems brought to light during the takeover attempt. Union REA’s Board made a commitment to improve rates and reliability using PSCo’s performance records as a measuring stick. With record performance levels and expectations aimed toward the future, Union REA became United Power, intending to help leave behind the unsophisticated image of the traditional cooperative.
The name change to United Power symbolized the cooperative’s commitment to its rural heritage while presenting a progressive utility to a new urban member-base.
By November 1990, United Power had begun serving all the communities acquired in the exchange except for a lone holdout, Brighton, which had voted to deny the service transfer to the cooperative.
A couple years later, United Power had developed a reputation of reliability and reducing rates. When PSCo approached the Brighton city council again in 1992, United Power members were paying 6 percent less than Brighton residents served by PSCo.
As the cooperative and PSCo worked to move the transfer forward, United Power made dedicated efforts to educate Brighton residents and answer questions concerning service, reliability and cost of power to bolster its image as a cutting-edge power supplier. United Power assured residents it would track outage and restoration times, guarantee reliability factors as strong or better than PSCo and pledged to freeze rates for two years if the transfer was approved.
In 1993, United Power finally welcomed Brighton and its residents to the cooperative family.
Title
Adams County District Court Proceeding Delayed
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/AdCo_Courthouse_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=a2gv9WBm
Monday | June 12, 2023
Card Teaser
District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance
Adams County District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance Brighton, CO – District Judge Roberto Ramírez issued an order on June 11 that continued the jury trial between United Power, Inc. (United Power) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) that was set to begin later this month on June 26.
“It is disappointing for the members of United Power that the breach of contract trial between United Power and Tri-State has been delayed,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. Tri-State asked for a continuance after flooding the court with numerous filings in an attempt to slow the judicial process. As Judge Ramírez noted in reluctantly granting Tri-State’s request to postpone a trial date to which it had agreed to more than a year ago, “The Court agrees with United Power that the bulk of the litigated issues pending before the Court are based on filings associated with Tri-State.”
The case centers around two key issues: whether Tri-State illegally added three non-utility members in order to escape state regulation and whether Tri-State’s failure to provide United Power with a fair exit fee in a timely manner is a breach of contract that precludes Tri-State from enforcing the parties’ contract, allowing United Power the right to withdraw from Tri-State at no cost and with the potential for a substantial damages award against Tri-State.
“Sadly, Tri-State has pursued a strategy of delay in both the state courts and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),” continued Gabriel. “This pattern results in uncertainty for both organizations, raises the costs for United Power members, and delays the time in which our members can get lower cost, cleaner energy for homes and businesses.”
United Power is leaving its wholesale power supplier May 1, 2024 based on FERC requirements. “We are leaving Tri-State next year regardless of the Adams County proceedings,” Gabriel said, adding “this critical case does not go away even with our departure nor does Tri-State’s liability for our members’ substantial damages. Stalling is not to anyone’s benefit.”
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
Title
All Hands on Deck for the Bomb Cyclone
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MayJune_NL_BombCyclone.png?itok=S04eC2f-
Wednesday | May 15, 2019
Card Teaser
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted.
The calm before a storm is often the most unsettling. A cold, breezy Wednesday morning belied a more sinister winter storm rapidly intensifying and bearing down on the Colorado’s northern Front Range. Anxious employees peered through slotted window blinds searching for early signs of the encroaching storm (dubbed a "bomb cyclone"), and linemen gathered for morning safety meetings in anticipation of a long day.
Initial signs of the storm began rolling in late morning, bringing with it a mixture of blowing rain and light snow. Within the hour, the storm transformed into a whiteout and roads disappeared underneath a layer of rapidly accumulating snow. As worsening conditions stranded travelers, highway patrol began closing major highways and warning residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Shortly after, Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency.
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted. The storm was beginning to show its teeth.
Strong winds and heavy snow contributed to limited visibility and created a challenging situation for linemen traversing snow-packed roads and drifts measuring several feet deep to restore affected members’ power during the raging storm. Trucks were forced to limit their mobility, moving slowly and only when visibility cleared enough for them to proceed safely.
"Finding the road was sometimes like trying to find your hand in the dark," said Troubleshooter Jon Lundstrom. "There were moments we couldn’t even see beyond the hoods of our trucks, let alone know if we were actually on the road. I’m certain I drove through an empty field at least once."
Back at United Power’s headquarters, operations staff were carefully monitoring incoming outages through the cooperative’s advanced mapping system, SCADA, and relaying them to linemen in the field. Where possible, system improvements now allowed staff to effectively reclose certain breakers instead of having to dispatch crews to a location, freeing them to respond to more critical outages.
While nearly a third of all members impacted by storm-related outages were restored from the office, crews still needed to be dispatched to the majority. Despite uncertain conditions, linemen responded to each outage with as much urgency as the weather would allow.
"Our engineers have done a great job designing an infrastructure that allows us to be responsive without sending out a crew," said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. "But nothing can replace the value of having boots on the ground, especially when the weather turns ugly."
In total, more than a dozen crews with roughly 50 linemen between United Power and its contractor, Ward Electric, responded to just over 10,000 outage alerts over the course of the storm and late into the night. When final Ward crews were called in just before 4 a.m., most linemen had worked in excess of 19 hours to restore power. Just 23 accounts remained without power when crews arrived again later that morning.
According to advanced metrics obtained through the United Power operations team, of the 10,304 meters affected during the storm, only 2,000 experienced an outage lasting longer than 6 hours, and most were restored within 2 hours.
"Storms expose your weak points," said Sydow. "Some parts of our system normally hit hard during strong storms like this held up well. It’s a testament to United Power’s commitment to system and infrastructure improvements over the past couple years, the efficiency of our processes and the hard work of our linemen."
As far as storms go, March’s bomb cyclone was unlike anything Colorado has seen before, confirmed as the most intense storm in state history. Hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power during the storm as it paved its way through the northern Midwest and impacted travel across much of the country. More than 1,300 flights were cancelled and 1,100 travelers were left stranded.
"It takes a certain kind of person to look into a storm like that and say whatever it takes to get the job done," said Troubleshooter Kurt Westhoff. "We’re at our best when the weather is at its worst. It gives us motivation and adrenaline to go out there and get the power back on. It’s what we do; it’s why we got into this."
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Bomb cyclones, also known as bombogensis or explosive cyclogenesis, are naturally occurring weather phenomena producing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions. They are formed when warm air and cold air meet under the right conditions, resulting in cyclonic movement and a sudden and sharp drop in barometric pressure over a short period of time. As pressure continues to drop, the storm intensifies. Only a handful of these weather events have been recorded, and rarely over continental locations.
