85th Anniversary and Wholesale Power Contract Exit Highlight Co-op’s Year
United Power celebrated its 85th year of serving members along Colorado’s northern Front Range and the cooperative’s successful transition to an independent electric utility in 2024. The two historic milestones represented significant achievements for the cooperative, which has grown from its roots as a small rural utility serving a few hundred members on large farmlands to one of the fastest growing cooperatives in the country.
Rapid residential growth and economic development throughout United Power’s service territory, along with rising wholesale power costs and limitations under its former power contract, required the cooperative to pursue more flexible and affordable power agreements to facilitate an anticipated surge in demand over the coming decade and beyond. Independence provides the freedom and flexibility necessary to meet these needs effectively and in the most financially beneficial way for the cooperative’s members.
Leadership is constantly surveying the horizon and proactively preparing for future shifts in the industry to assure its members that United Power is and will always be Here for Good.
What is Here for Good?
United Power has deployed groundbreaking innovation to manage peak power costs while curating an industry-leading power portfolio designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand generation resources close to home. The cooperative’s efforts prepare it for growing demand on its grid. Being Here for Good means taking coordinated steps to build a resilient system that provides safe and reliable power. It also means United Power will continue to be your electric provider now and into the future.
Delivering uninterrupted power is the core of an electric utility. But being Here for Good means more to a cooperative. It also means supporting and empowering the communities it serves. United Power advocates for the educational goals of its local students, partners with local nonprofits, and even extends its support beyond the service territory to assist disadvantaged communities. It is just some of the many ways the cooperative remains Here for Good.
Innovating Power Supply on the Distribution System
United Power has long been an industry leader for innovative generation on its distribution system. New power supply agreements and strategic partnerships announced ahead of the co-op’s wholesale power contract exit last year gave members confidence it would continue delivering excellence in reliability and resiliency. Thanks to long-term planning and forecasting, the co-op secured a diverse generation mix of traditional energy assets, greenhouse gas reducing generation, and innovative projects to meet its members’ needs as the co-op grows.
The cooperative’s efforts to seek cleaner and more flexible power options were recognized in September when it was selected as a finalist to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program. United Power is eligible to receive up to $261 million to offset 25% of the cost of seven power purchase agreements for renewable energy resources that will provide 760 MW to members by 2030.
Throughout the year, United Power also received grants to assist in the completion of two local microgrid projects. The Department of Energy awarded the cooperative up to $6.1 million toward a floating solar system connected to a battery storage system in Fort Lupton to power the city’s water treatment plant, replacing an aged diesel generator with clean and renewable energy. Another project to install a series of mini microgrid systems at rural fire protection facilities in Coal Creek, Dacono, Frederick, and Lochbuie received $700,000 from Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs.
Construction on one of United Power’s newest innovative energy project was completed in July. The multi-location battery energy storage system (BESS) was announced in 2023 in partnership with Ameresco. The peak-mitigating asset charges when energy costs are low and discharges when costs are high, which not only reduces the cooperative’s energy demand but also helps manage wholesale energy costs. It is the largest BESS asset in Ameresco’s portfolio. A similar project in partnership with Whetstone Power was completed in December. Together, the batteries provide more than 110 MW of energy storage across nine locations throughout the cooperative’s service territory.
Another resource that will be available soon is the Mountain Peak Power Plant in Keenesburg, which broke ground in September. The peaking unit is being built in partnership with Kindle Energy to add 162 MW of natural gas capacity to the system. The plant is located directly adjacent to a natural gas line, making the construction more economical. It also ensures greater flexibility when power costs are high and resource adequacy when renewable energy generation is low or in extreme weather conditions.
United Power also has additional projects under construction and expected to come online soon, including a 150 MW solar farm power purchase agreement with NextEra. Watch the co-op’s website for more updates about innovative projects and partnerships.
Participating in Local Communities
United Power is frequently visible around the community, most often due to the cooperative’s ongoing support for local fairs and festivals. However, being Here for Good extends to other ways it supports the local community and its members.
The cooperative has annually awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities, but keeping the lights on is difficult work that requires highly skilled and trained professional lineworkers. Our crews receive years of on-the-job training following graduation from a line school program. That is why the cooperative introduced a new scholarship program to advance the profession. Four $7,500 scholarships were awarded in December.
Member Choice Grants allow members to nominate local nonprofits to receive funds that enable them to continue serving their communities and achieving their mission. The program was renewed for a fifth year, and six $2,000 grants were awarded based on nominations submitted in 2024.
Employees also gave back to local nonprofits in recognition of National Co-op Month in October. More than 80 employees volunteered for eight service projects located 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’s support extends beyond its borders to help meet the needs of families in disadvantaged areas. This past year, lineworkers were dispatched to the Navajo Nation to provide power to those families for the first time. The cooperative provided additional supplies and equipment for projects in July and again in October.
As United Power looks ahead to its next 85 years, we want to remind members that the cooperative is Here for Good. That looks like planning for your future power needs and helping each of the communities we serve reach their full potential through our continued support for their vision. Your cooperative is Here for Good.