Who We Are

Robert D. Broderick Chief Executive Officer

United Power is a rural electric cooperative, providing electric service to homes and businesses throughout Colorado's northern front range. The service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson and Keenesburg. At the end of 2006, the cooperative served more than 60,000 meters representing more than 120,000 customers, and continues to grow by nearly 10% every year.

As a cooperative, we are owned by the customer-members who receive electricity from us. We are governed by a member-elected board of directors, who direct the operations of the cooperative, oversee needed rate changes, and help the staff and employees plan for the future of the company. In addition to holding a board seat or voting in annual elections, customers can get involved with the cooperative by joining the Consumer Resource Committee (CRC). The group meets several times throughout the year to learn more about the industry and provide customer insights to the staff and board.

Through careful management and constant improvements in technology, United Power demonstrates its commitment to providing economical, reliable power to our customers.

Service Territory

**Click to enlarge**

Surrounding Denver on three sides, United Power serves 800 square miles along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies. Our service territory wraps around the north and west borders of Denver International Airport, and includes the north metropolitan development corridors, including Interstate 25, State Highway 85, and E-470.

United Power has electric franchise agreements to serve all of the new growth areas of the following 17 Colorado cities:

Facts & Figures

Number of meters: 64,875 (08/2008)

Miles of line: 5,551 (08/2008)

Number of employees: 168 (08/2008)

Average bill/month (YTD 08/2008)
Residential: $101.50
Commercial: $541.87          

Average kWh per member/month (YTD 08/2008)
Residential: 925 kWh

Sources of revenue (YTD 08/2008)
Residential: 53.58%
Large Commercial: 5.64%
Small Commercial: 36.92%
Resale: 1.26%
Lighting: 0.96%
Irrigation: 0.94%
Other: 0.70 %

Financial information (YTD 08/2008)
Total assets: $259,733,483
Cost of purchased power: $50,748,073

Our History

United Power was originally founded as Union Rural Electric. The cooperative was incorporated in October of 1938 through the efforts of 26 original founders. Dubbed Union Rural Electric by the original founders, the name came to describe the "united" efforts of dozens of farmers from Adams, Boulder, Gilpin, Jefferson and Weld counties. Roughly a year after the cooperative was incorporated, construction began on 300 miles of distribution line that would serve 750 customers. Power first surged through the newly erected lines on January 29, 1940.

In 1952, Union Rural Electric joined with 24 other rural electric utilities to form Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Exhibiting extraordinary foresight, the move guaranteed an adequate source of electricity for the coming years of growth. The partnership between Tri-State and United Power remains strong today, as power generation continues to be a key part of the rural electric quotient.

In April of 1990, the cooperative name was changed to United Power, Inc., a visible sign of a new, more powerful entity emerging in the electric industry. By November of the same year, United Power had added over 6,000 new customers with the acquisition of the Platte Valley Division. The Platte Valley Division encompassed the cities of Fort Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the surrounding rural lands. To better help serve customers in this new district, United added another branch in Fort Lupton. The 1993 acquisition of customers in the city of Brighton fueled a second surge of growth, adding an additional 6,000 meters.

Located in one of the Denver metro area's fastest growing suburbs, United Power is growing quickly. By the end of 2006 the cooperative served more than 60,000 meters, and the growth continues.