Title
November Message from Mark. A. Gabriel
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP
Friday | November 3, 2023
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
I remember my second day on the job at Central Vermont Public Service when the process of setting electric rates was explained to me by the utility’s head of ratemaking. My head was swimming with numbers when the CEO, Tom Webb, whom I had never met, popped into the room. Shaking his head, he told me the only thing I needed to know about rates is to keep them as low as possible and always at or below the rate of inflation.
United Power’s staff has worked diligently to keep all costs in check, including insurance premiums. Initiatives like our industry-leading wildfire mitigation plan have allowed us to secure insurance coverage and keep premium increases low. The same is true for the efforts around insurance for cybersecurity, medical, and facilities.
Additionally, the entire organization is working to improve processes to better manage resources and ensure high reliability as costs increase. The cooperative is identifying pathways to optimize efficiency, such as expanding its asset management program to allow for more cost-effective planning.
We have all felt the recent challenges of inflation. Here at your cooperative, we have held rates flat since Jan. 1, 2020, despite galloping increases in all areas. A typical distribution transformer found near your home used to cost $1,747 in 2019 and today runs $3,113 – assuming one is even available due to supply chain shortages. The cost for larger units has increased nearly 150%, from $35,689 to $88,286. Even simple electrical cable, the main commodity in our business, has gone from $2.39 per foot to $3.81 – a 59% increase!
Power supply represents 75% of our costs. No matter how well we manage the other 25%, the cost of power has the largest impact on rates. Our current power supplier has filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a considerable rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The change in their rate structure will impact United Power significantly due to the shift from generation costs to transmission. Specifically, if they charge more for transmission – to deliver the power – those costs will have an effect on the rates we have to pay on your behalf.
The good news is that effective May 1, 2024, United Power will move to a competitive market for power with the selection of at least nine providers. Over time, we will have more control over our generation costs as we increase the amount of carbon-free resources and deploy and manage one of the nation’s first distributed battery storage systems. These systems will allow us to buy and store power when energy prices are low and use it when the demand is high. As a wholesale energy market comes to Colorado in 2026, we will further be able to leverage becoming a distribution system operator by buying and selling resources across the western marketplace.
Even with our concerted efforts, we must implement a rate increase across all our member classes, because we recognize the importance of operating a financially strong member-owned cooperative. We are extremely conscious of the impact that even a small rate increase has on our members and commit to continue working to find ways to lower rates into the future.
United Power wants to work with you to help manage your electric bills and has a team of dedicated employees to provide information, audits, and tips to moderate any rate impacts. They can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat at www.unitedpower.com. Likewise, members may email the United Power Member Services team.
The new rates, which go into effect Jan. 1, are split between the demand charge and energy charge. The energy component will include a power cost adjustment, providing us the flexibility to move that portion up and down if needed.
Inflation has risen a staggering 21% since our last rate increase four years ago. I hear my old CEO’s words echoing in the back of my mind: “…keep rates as low as possible, and always at or below the rate of inflation.” Tom, we are working hard to do just that!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
October is Co-op Month
Monday | October 1, 2018
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
Read more >
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Tuesday | October 7, 2025
Card Teaser
Members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions cooperatives make in our lives.
Members Invited to Celebrate Cooperative Contribution
United Power is an electric distribution cooperative. That means it is wholly owned by the members it serves and is designed to meet community needs. Co-ops exist across a multitude of markets and industries, including food and agriculture, finance and banking, consumer retail, insurance, healthcare, and more. Distribution co-ops, like United Power, were formed more than 85 years ago when farmers and business owners in rural areas of the country recognized the need and benefit of electricity and found a way to provide it. Today, there are more than 900 such cooperatives providing power to nearly 75% of the country’s landmass and contributing more than 40% of the nation’s electric grid.
October is National Co-op Month, and members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions of cooperatives in our lives. Co-ops are different from their for-profit counterparts by a commitment to empowering local communities and encouraging a spirit of service.
United Power serves some of the fastest growing cities not just in Colorado but in the country. The cooperative is an innovative energy partner helping meet the growing needs of these transforming communities. It also helps coordinate economic development, supports local nonprofits aiding residents, and sponsors programs that enhance each community. Many employees live, work, play, and serve locally. Their faces are recognizable on local chamber of commerce and nonprofit boards or at fairs, festivals, and other community events.
United Power puts money back into the community every year through scholarships, youth development, sponsorships, and more. The cooperative awarded more than $35,000 in scholarships to local high school students in the spring and four additional scholarships worth $7,500 to students enrolled in a dedicated lineworker program in December. Six students were selected to represent the co-op on youth leadership trips to Washington, D.C. and Steamboat Springs, where peers elected one of them to return as an ambassador next summer. This summer, United Power was once again the Adams County Fair’s presenting sponsor, in addition to supporting community celebrations and events in Fort Lupton, Frederick, Mead, Keenesburg, Gilpin County, and more.
While United Power’s first priority is ensuring the safe and reliable distribution of electricity to its residential, commercial, and industrial members, the cooperative is more than just your neighborhood energy provider. It is powered locally by local people, supporting the growth, development, and prosperity of the communities they — and you — call home.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Friday | September 16, 2022
Card Teaser
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Commitment to Community Continues to Guide Cooperative Through Industry Changes
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and their members. Cooperatives provide many of the same products and services you can get from for-profit businesses, but for uniquely different reasons. They were established as an extension of the local community to spur growth and development while also providing critical services necessary for a thriving city. It was the foundational commitment to community that fueled our founders to establish United Power and deliver the life-changing benefits of power to small rural areas northeast of Denver when larger investor-owned utilities would not. It guided our strategy in our infancy and continues to guide us as the electric industry enters an unprecedented period of change.
This was never more evident than when we debuted Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap)earlier this year. The Roadmap is a detailed action plan to respond to industry changes and modifications in energy usage as electrification becomes an even more essential societal fixture. It identifies four distinct but dependent priority areas the cooperative is addressing to maximize member benefit as technology evolves and the energy fuel mix shifts to more renewable resources. This includes the decision to exit our wholesale power supply contract, which becomes effective in May 2024, and will allow United Power to offer members more competitive rate options. More information on the Roadmap here.
United Power has launched new program initiatives this year to acknowledge the changing energy needs of both the cooperative and our members. The redesigned summer cooling program, Smart Rewards, allows members to earn money back for enrolling in a demand response and control plan that helps us control costs which are then passed back on to the member. The cooperative also launched an all-new electric vehicle pilot program, United EV, which provides at-home charging solutions and wiring rebates for a small monthly fee. This includes the installation of a level 2 charger and all unit maintenance for the duration of your enrollment. For more information on United EV, click here.
Although the cooperative continues to roll out new member programs, it hasn’t strayed from its roots as a proud supporter of local communities. United Power distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors this year and sent two qualifying students for a weeklong leadership training experience in Washington D.C., known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. We were also the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August and have sponsored well over two dozen other community fairs, festivals, parades, and other local events. We are committed to providing educational opportunities, like our safety trailer demonstration, and have many employees serving on local boards and councils.
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Monday | October 4, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops.
United Power is an Essential Partner in Local Communities
Cooperatives are more than a local business. Not only do they provide the same products and services as their for-profit counterparts, they also go beyond the business, placing great emphasis on community involvement and the flourishing of its members. Without the members we serve, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and members. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops. Electric co-ops provide power to nearly 60% of the country’s landmass, maintain more than 40% of its distribution grid — approximately 3 million miles of line — and serve more than 40 million members across 2,500 counties in 47 states.
Birthed out of the hard work of our members more than 80 years ago, electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned utilities had no interest in serving. When co-ops were formed to deliver power to these rural communities, they also made a commitment to serve and strengthen the communities within their service territory through investment in the economy, supporting local nonprofits and developing future leaders.
United Power works closely with its communities to support them directly and indirectly. It maintains close relationships with locally owned and operated businesses. Employees serve on the boards of local nonprofits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils and more.
The cooperative’s commitment to its communities and members was on full display over the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. From temporary suspension of disconnects to contributing $550,000 to the Co-op Cares Fund to provide direct support to members affected throughout the pandemic, United Power put its words into demonstrable action. It established the Member Choice Grants program to help the cooperative direct support to areas members care about and Operation Round-Up, a voluntary member-funded organization supported by the cooperative, went above and beyond to provide additional assistance to area nonprofits where it was needed.
United Power also continued to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to area seniors pursuing a post-secondary education and sponsored dozens of virtual community events while in-person events were not possible. When community events did return this summer, the cooperative played a vital role in making them happen, including fairs, festivals and local movie nights and celebrations.
While some electric cooperatives remain small and rural, others have outgrown their rural roots. As communities have grown from rural farming communities to suburban commuter communities or even urban centers, so has United Power’s commitment to those communities. No matter where you live or how you use electricity, you can count on United Power to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy and to make serving you its priority.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Tuesday | October 1, 2019
Card Teaser
There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States. Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities.
United Power is More Than Your Electric Provider. We’re Part of Your Community.
What sets cooperatives apart from our for-profit counterparts is our emphasis on the communities and members we serve. When United Power celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year, the story was not about us, but each of you and the strength of the communities that make up who we are. Without you, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join with us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives play in their communities. There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives.
Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned companies had no interest in serving. Electric cooperatives were birthed out of the hard work of our members who recognized a need and set out to find a way to meet it. We were formed by our community, for our community.
As our communities have grown, so have we. So too has our commitment to you. United Power is an active presence in the cities and towns we serve. Our employees live, work, play and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chambers of commerce boards, at nonprofits fundraisers, youth sporting events and fairs and festivals across the nearly 900 square miles we serve.
Your cooperative puts money back into the community in the form of sponsorships, scholarships and youth leadership development. In August, United Power partnered with the Touchstone Energy balloon program to highlight two local nonprofits, Foster Source and Food For Hope, and present them with check donations to continue their incredible work in our community.
Operation Round-Up, a foundation that wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our members, provides thousands of dollars to service organizations each year. Over its 20-year history, the foundation has distributed more than $1.5 million to organizations that provide for the necessities and urgent needs of residents in our territory. Operation Round-Up is truly an example of member-driven commitment to giving back.
In May, the board of directors approved a $5.5 million capital credit refund. Those refunds don’t just go back to individual families within our territory. They are also distributed to schools districts and local governments.
This year, United Power has also re-emphasized its commitment to its members with the addition of Meghan Dewey as its Member Engagement Officer. In this newly created position, Dewey is responsible for developing and implementing United Power’s member engagement strategy. Read more about Meghan here.
Ultimately, though, the larger community benefits from these programs because of our members, who empower us through your membership, participation and support.
Members can play an even larger role in setting the direction of the cooperative. Our democratically elected board of directors are members, just like you. Each year, members vote for board members in our director election at our Annual Meeting in April, and any member may be eligible to run for a seat. Our board and leadership team also hold occasional listening sessions to hear the concerns of our membership to make sure our policies reflects your needs.
While United Power exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we hope you think of us as more than your energy provider, but as a local business that supports the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members – by the community, for the community.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_10_05_OctoberCoopMonth.jpg?itok=TtVino3u
Thursday | October 5, 2017
Card Teaser
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to over 200,000 people in our six-county service area along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies,” said John Parker, CEO. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated. Revenue generated by United Power goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. In addition to providing the vital power co-op members depend on, United Power supports our communities directly and indirectly. We provide educational opportunities for youth in our territory, visiting classrooms teaching students about electrical safety or talking to them about job opportunities.
We also educate our communities and members about the dangers of contact with electricity through our safety demonstration trailer. Not only does our presentation team, made up of knowledgeable linemen, teach people how to be safe around electricity, but they also inform people about the complex and dangerous tasks our linemen face each day and explain the importance of safety equipment, including personal protective equipment, rubber gloves, hard hats and cover ups.
United Power provides college scholarships and sponsors student representatives to youth camps in Colorado and Washington D.C. We are sponsors of dozens of community events including fairs, festivals and school fundraisers. United Power employees are active members of local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils and nonprofit organizations serving our membership.
United Power is proud to be part of America’s cooperative network and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
Title
Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2020_NL_Wiring.jpg?itok=X8Af4Fqy
Friday | January 10, 2020
Card Teaser
Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Nothing has the charm of an older home on a family farm or a cute cottage in a historic district. But cosmetic and structural upgrade needs are often packaged with the cozy charm. Upgrades to your home may include a fresh coat of paint or installing new fixtures, but have you considered the unseen needs, such as wiring behind a switch plate or outlet? Do you know the hidden dangers of aged wiring? Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Type of Wiring
Modern wire used in homes is either copper (for conductivity) or aluminum (for cost effectiveness) and covered in a plastic or rubber insulation. Older homes, usually built before the 1940s, may use an outdated wiring method known as “knob-and-tube,” a two-wire system with no ground. Over time, corrosion can cause insulation to wear away, exposing wires to combustible materials and leading to loose connections, increasing fire risk in a home. This can be a concern in older homes regardless of wiring method. If your home has aluminum wiring, use only aluminum approved switches, outlets and other accessories.
Plugs Falling Out of Outlets Easily
Over time, the contacts in a plug can begin to fail. When contacts loosen, they aren’t able to securely grip your plug. That missed connection can cause electrical arcing, a major risk for house fires. The good news is it’s an easy fix. Consult an electrician for directions.
Not Enough Outlets
The increasing use of chargers for electronic devices, including phones, tablets and gaming devices, means outlets are in high demand. A lack of outlets can result in the overuse of power strips, which could overload an outlet. Overloading can cause heat, leading to fire risk.
Danger in Wet Areas
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are now required in areas around water, like near a kitchen or bathroom sink or outdoors. However, older homes may not have been upgraded to these types of outlets. It is fairly simple to replace old receptacles with GFCIs.
If your home needs upgrades and repairs to its wiring, consider hiring a licensed electrician. An electric professional can safely make wiring updates needed in your home or tell you what inspections and permits are needed to make necessary repairs.
Title
Operation Round-Up Commits $20,000 in Support to Local Food Banks
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/OpRoundUp.jpg?itok=5ff8Tzro
Wednesday | May 13, 2020
Card Teaser
The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
BRIGHTON – United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation will donate a total of $20,000 to large food banks that provide food to members throughout the United Power service territory. The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
“On behalf of the entire Round-Up board of directors, we are very pleased to be able to provide these generous grants to these two organizations,” stated Dale McCall, United Power Operation Round-Up President. “This support, coupled with our ongoing support of our partner organizations, provides direct relief to members of United Power who are being impacted by either health or economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to this one-time grant, the organization has been providing on-going support to several groups that provide essential services to community members over the last three years. Almost Home in Brighton, Catholic Charities in Ft. Lupton, the Carbon Valley Help Center in Firestone, and Canyon Cares in the Coal Creek Canyon area receive quarterly grants to provide assistance to United Power members who may need help paying utility, rent, and other critical expenses.
The Round-Up board is charged with the oversight and distribution of funds collected from members who support the foundation. The foundation is funded by members who “round-up” their bills to the next full dollar amount. The average donation is 50¢ per month, but those pennies add up to really make a substantial impact in United Power’s service territory. Since the foundation was established it has funneled more than $2.5 million back into the community to fund programs that support United Power members. To learn more about United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation, visit our website at www.unitedpower.com, or call us at 303-637-1300.
About United Power and the Operation Round-Up Foundation
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado's north-central front range. The United Power Operation Round-Up Foundation, funded by United Power members, supports the needs of cooperative members through grants to local organizations providing critical services. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
Title
November Message from Mark. A. Gabriel
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP
Friday | November 3, 2023
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
I remember my second day on the job at Central Vermont Public Service when the process of setting electric rates was explained to me by the utility’s head of ratemaking. My head was swimming with numbers when the CEO, Tom Webb, whom I had never met, popped into the room. Shaking his head, he told me the only thing I needed to know about rates is to keep them as low as possible and always at or below the rate of inflation.
United Power’s staff has worked diligently to keep all costs in check, including insurance premiums. Initiatives like our industry-leading wildfire mitigation plan have allowed us to secure insurance coverage and keep premium increases low. The same is true for the efforts around insurance for cybersecurity, medical, and facilities.
Additionally, the entire organization is working to improve processes to better manage resources and ensure high reliability as costs increase. The cooperative is identifying pathways to optimize efficiency, such as expanding its asset management program to allow for more cost-effective planning.
We have all felt the recent challenges of inflation. Here at your cooperative, we have held rates flat since Jan. 1, 2020, despite galloping increases in all areas. A typical distribution transformer found near your home used to cost $1,747 in 2019 and today runs $3,113 – assuming one is even available due to supply chain shortages. The cost for larger units has increased nearly 150%, from $35,689 to $88,286. Even simple electrical cable, the main commodity in our business, has gone from $2.39 per foot to $3.81 – a 59% increase!
Power supply represents 75% of our costs. No matter how well we manage the other 25%, the cost of power has the largest impact on rates. Our current power supplier has filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a considerable rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The change in their rate structure will impact United Power significantly due to the shift from generation costs to transmission. Specifically, if they charge more for transmission – to deliver the power – those costs will have an effect on the rates we have to pay on your behalf.
The good news is that effective May 1, 2024, United Power will move to a competitive market for power with the selection of at least nine providers. Over time, we will have more control over our generation costs as we increase the amount of carbon-free resources and deploy and manage one of the nation’s first distributed battery storage systems. These systems will allow us to buy and store power when energy prices are low and use it when the demand is high. As a wholesale energy market comes to Colorado in 2026, we will further be able to leverage becoming a distribution system operator by buying and selling resources across the western marketplace.
Even with our concerted efforts, we must implement a rate increase across all our member classes, because we recognize the importance of operating a financially strong member-owned cooperative. We are extremely conscious of the impact that even a small rate increase has on our members and commit to continue working to find ways to lower rates into the future.
United Power wants to work with you to help manage your electric bills and has a team of dedicated employees to provide information, audits, and tips to moderate any rate impacts. They can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat at www.unitedpower.com. Likewise, members may email the United Power Member Services team.
The new rates, which go into effect Jan. 1, are split between the demand charge and energy charge. The energy component will include a power cost adjustment, providing us the flexibility to move that portion up and down if needed.
Inflation has risen a staggering 21% since our last rate increase four years ago. I hear my old CEO’s words echoing in the back of my mind: “…keep rates as low as possible, and always at or below the rate of inflation.” Tom, we are working hard to do just that!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
October is Co-op Month
Monday | October 1, 2018
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
Read more >
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Tuesday | October 7, 2025
Card Teaser
Members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions cooperatives make in our lives.
Members Invited to Celebrate Cooperative Contribution
United Power is an electric distribution cooperative. That means it is wholly owned by the members it serves and is designed to meet community needs. Co-ops exist across a multitude of markets and industries, including food and agriculture, finance and banking, consumer retail, insurance, healthcare, and more. Distribution co-ops, like United Power, were formed more than 85 years ago when farmers and business owners in rural areas of the country recognized the need and benefit of electricity and found a way to provide it. Today, there are more than 900 such cooperatives providing power to nearly 75% of the country’s landmass and contributing more than 40% of the nation’s electric grid.
October is National Co-op Month, and members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions of cooperatives in our lives. Co-ops are different from their for-profit counterparts by a commitment to empowering local communities and encouraging a spirit of service.
United Power serves some of the fastest growing cities not just in Colorado but in the country. The cooperative is an innovative energy partner helping meet the growing needs of these transforming communities. It also helps coordinate economic development, supports local nonprofits aiding residents, and sponsors programs that enhance each community. Many employees live, work, play, and serve locally. Their faces are recognizable on local chamber of commerce and nonprofit boards or at fairs, festivals, and other community events.
United Power puts money back into the community every year through scholarships, youth development, sponsorships, and more. The cooperative awarded more than $35,000 in scholarships to local high school students in the spring and four additional scholarships worth $7,500 to students enrolled in a dedicated lineworker program in December. Six students were selected to represent the co-op on youth leadership trips to Washington, D.C. and Steamboat Springs, where peers elected one of them to return as an ambassador next summer. This summer, United Power was once again the Adams County Fair’s presenting sponsor, in addition to supporting community celebrations and events in Fort Lupton, Frederick, Mead, Keenesburg, Gilpin County, and more.
While United Power’s first priority is ensuring the safe and reliable distribution of electricity to its residential, commercial, and industrial members, the cooperative is more than just your neighborhood energy provider. It is powered locally by local people, supporting the growth, development, and prosperity of the communities they — and you — call home.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Friday | September 16, 2022
Card Teaser
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Commitment to Community Continues to Guide Cooperative Through Industry Changes
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and their members. Cooperatives provide many of the same products and services you can get from for-profit businesses, but for uniquely different reasons. They were established as an extension of the local community to spur growth and development while also providing critical services necessary for a thriving city. It was the foundational commitment to community that fueled our founders to establish United Power and deliver the life-changing benefits of power to small rural areas northeast of Denver when larger investor-owned utilities would not. It guided our strategy in our infancy and continues to guide us as the electric industry enters an unprecedented period of change.
This was never more evident than when we debuted Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap)earlier this year. The Roadmap is a detailed action plan to respond to industry changes and modifications in energy usage as electrification becomes an even more essential societal fixture. It identifies four distinct but dependent priority areas the cooperative is addressing to maximize member benefit as technology evolves and the energy fuel mix shifts to more renewable resources. This includes the decision to exit our wholesale power supply contract, which becomes effective in May 2024, and will allow United Power to offer members more competitive rate options. More information on the Roadmap here.
United Power has launched new program initiatives this year to acknowledge the changing energy needs of both the cooperative and our members. The redesigned summer cooling program, Smart Rewards, allows members to earn money back for enrolling in a demand response and control plan that helps us control costs which are then passed back on to the member. The cooperative also launched an all-new electric vehicle pilot program, United EV, which provides at-home charging solutions and wiring rebates for a small monthly fee. This includes the installation of a level 2 charger and all unit maintenance for the duration of your enrollment. For more information on United EV, click here.
Although the cooperative continues to roll out new member programs, it hasn’t strayed from its roots as a proud supporter of local communities. United Power distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors this year and sent two qualifying students for a weeklong leadership training experience in Washington D.C., known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. We were also the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August and have sponsored well over two dozen other community fairs, festivals, parades, and other local events. We are committed to providing educational opportunities, like our safety trailer demonstration, and have many employees serving on local boards and councils.
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Monday | October 4, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops.
United Power is an Essential Partner in Local Communities
Cooperatives are more than a local business. Not only do they provide the same products and services as their for-profit counterparts, they also go beyond the business, placing great emphasis on community involvement and the flourishing of its members. Without the members we serve, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and members. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops. Electric co-ops provide power to nearly 60% of the country’s landmass, maintain more than 40% of its distribution grid — approximately 3 million miles of line — and serve more than 40 million members across 2,500 counties in 47 states.
Birthed out of the hard work of our members more than 80 years ago, electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned utilities had no interest in serving. When co-ops were formed to deliver power to these rural communities, they also made a commitment to serve and strengthen the communities within their service territory through investment in the economy, supporting local nonprofits and developing future leaders.
United Power works closely with its communities to support them directly and indirectly. It maintains close relationships with locally owned and operated businesses. Employees serve on the boards of local nonprofits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils and more.
The cooperative’s commitment to its communities and members was on full display over the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. From temporary suspension of disconnects to contributing $550,000 to the Co-op Cares Fund to provide direct support to members affected throughout the pandemic, United Power put its words into demonstrable action. It established the Member Choice Grants program to help the cooperative direct support to areas members care about and Operation Round-Up, a voluntary member-funded organization supported by the cooperative, went above and beyond to provide additional assistance to area nonprofits where it was needed.
United Power also continued to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to area seniors pursuing a post-secondary education and sponsored dozens of virtual community events while in-person events were not possible. When community events did return this summer, the cooperative played a vital role in making them happen, including fairs, festivals and local movie nights and celebrations.
While some electric cooperatives remain small and rural, others have outgrown their rural roots. As communities have grown from rural farming communities to suburban commuter communities or even urban centers, so has United Power’s commitment to those communities. No matter where you live or how you use electricity, you can count on United Power to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy and to make serving you its priority.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoopMonth_2019.jpg?h=45932144&itok=hVrNvnQ1
Tuesday | October 1, 2019
Card Teaser
There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States. Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities.
United Power is More Than Your Electric Provider. We’re Part of Your Community.
What sets cooperatives apart from our for-profit counterparts is our emphasis on the communities and members we serve. When United Power celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year, the story was not about us, but each of you and the strength of the communities that make up who we are. Without you, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join with us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives play in their communities. There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives.
Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned companies had no interest in serving. Electric cooperatives were birthed out of the hard work of our members who recognized a need and set out to find a way to meet it. We were formed by our community, for our community.
As our communities have grown, so have we. So too has our commitment to you. United Power is an active presence in the cities and towns we serve. Our employees live, work, play and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chambers of commerce boards, at nonprofits fundraisers, youth sporting events and fairs and festivals across the nearly 900 square miles we serve.
Your cooperative puts money back into the community in the form of sponsorships, scholarships and youth leadership development. In August, United Power partnered with the Touchstone Energy balloon program to highlight two local nonprofits, Foster Source and Food For Hope, and present them with check donations to continue their incredible work in our community.
Operation Round-Up, a foundation that wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our members, provides thousands of dollars to service organizations each year. Over its 20-year history, the foundation has distributed more than $1.5 million to organizations that provide for the necessities and urgent needs of residents in our territory. Operation Round-Up is truly an example of member-driven commitment to giving back.
In May, the board of directors approved a $5.5 million capital credit refund. Those refunds don’t just go back to individual families within our territory. They are also distributed to schools districts and local governments.
This year, United Power has also re-emphasized its commitment to its members with the addition of Meghan Dewey as its Member Engagement Officer. In this newly created position, Dewey is responsible for developing and implementing United Power’s member engagement strategy. Read more about Meghan here.
Ultimately, though, the larger community benefits from these programs because of our members, who empower us through your membership, participation and support.
Members can play an even larger role in setting the direction of the cooperative. Our democratically elected board of directors are members, just like you. Each year, members vote for board members in our director election at our Annual Meeting in April, and any member may be eligible to run for a seat. Our board and leadership team also hold occasional listening sessions to hear the concerns of our membership to make sure our policies reflects your needs.
While United Power exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we hope you think of us as more than your energy provider, but as a local business that supports the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members – by the community, for the community.
Title
October is National Co-op Month
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_10_05_OctoberCoopMonth.jpg?itok=TtVino3u
Thursday | October 5, 2017
Card Teaser
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to over 200,000 people in our six-county service area along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies,” said John Parker, CEO. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated. Revenue generated by United Power goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. In addition to providing the vital power co-op members depend on, United Power supports our communities directly and indirectly. We provide educational opportunities for youth in our territory, visiting classrooms teaching students about electrical safety or talking to them about job opportunities.
We also educate our communities and members about the dangers of contact with electricity through our safety demonstration trailer. Not only does our presentation team, made up of knowledgeable linemen, teach people how to be safe around electricity, but they also inform people about the complex and dangerous tasks our linemen face each day and explain the importance of safety equipment, including personal protective equipment, rubber gloves, hard hats and cover ups.
United Power provides college scholarships and sponsors student representatives to youth camps in Colorado and Washington D.C. We are sponsors of dozens of community events including fairs, festivals and school fundraisers. United Power employees are active members of local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils and nonprofit organizations serving our membership.
United Power is proud to be part of America’s cooperative network and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
Title
Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2020_NL_Wiring.jpg?itok=X8Af4Fqy
Friday | January 10, 2020
Card Teaser
Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Nothing has the charm of an older home on a family farm or a cute cottage in a historic district. But cosmetic and structural upgrade needs are often packaged with the cozy charm. Upgrades to your home may include a fresh coat of paint or installing new fixtures, but have you considered the unseen needs, such as wiring behind a switch plate or outlet? Do you know the hidden dangers of aged wiring? Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Type of Wiring
Modern wire used in homes is either copper (for conductivity) or aluminum (for cost effectiveness) and covered in a plastic or rubber insulation. Older homes, usually built before the 1940s, may use an outdated wiring method known as “knob-and-tube,” a two-wire system with no ground. Over time, corrosion can cause insulation to wear away, exposing wires to combustible materials and leading to loose connections, increasing fire risk in a home. This can be a concern in older homes regardless of wiring method. If your home has aluminum wiring, use only aluminum approved switches, outlets and other accessories.
Plugs Falling Out of Outlets Easily
Over time, the contacts in a plug can begin to fail. When contacts loosen, they aren’t able to securely grip your plug. That missed connection can cause electrical arcing, a major risk for house fires. The good news is it’s an easy fix. Consult an electrician for directions.
Not Enough Outlets
The increasing use of chargers for electronic devices, including phones, tablets and gaming devices, means outlets are in high demand. A lack of outlets can result in the overuse of power strips, which could overload an outlet. Overloading can cause heat, leading to fire risk.
Danger in Wet Areas
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are now required in areas around water, like near a kitchen or bathroom sink or outdoors. However, older homes may not have been upgraded to these types of outlets. It is fairly simple to replace old receptacles with GFCIs.
If your home needs upgrades and repairs to its wiring, consider hiring a licensed electrician. An electric professional can safely make wiring updates needed in your home or tell you what inspections and permits are needed to make necessary repairs.
Title
Operation Round-Up Commits $20,000 in Support to Local Food Banks
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/OpRoundUp.jpg?itok=5ff8Tzro
Wednesday | May 13, 2020
Card Teaser
The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
BRIGHTON – United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation will donate a total of $20,000 to large food banks that provide food to members throughout the United Power service territory. The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
“On behalf of the entire Round-Up board of directors, we are very pleased to be able to provide these generous grants to these two organizations,” stated Dale McCall, United Power Operation Round-Up President. “This support, coupled with our ongoing support of our partner organizations, provides direct relief to members of United Power who are being impacted by either health or economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to this one-time grant, the organization has been providing on-going support to several groups that provide essential services to community members over the last three years. Almost Home in Brighton, Catholic Charities in Ft. Lupton, the Carbon Valley Help Center in Firestone, and Canyon Cares in the Coal Creek Canyon area receive quarterly grants to provide assistance to United Power members who may need help paying utility, rent, and other critical expenses.
The Round-Up board is charged with the oversight and distribution of funds collected from members who support the foundation. The foundation is funded by members who “round-up” their bills to the next full dollar amount. The average donation is 50¢ per month, but those pennies add up to really make a substantial impact in United Power’s service territory. Since the foundation was established it has funneled more than $2.5 million back into the community to fund programs that support United Power members. To learn more about United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation, visit our website at www.unitedpower.com, or call us at 303-637-1300.
About United Power and the Operation Round-Up Foundation
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado's north-central front range. The United Power Operation Round-Up Foundation, funded by United Power members, supports the needs of cooperative members through grants to local organizations providing critical services. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
