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01/23/2019 - 09:07 AM
Title Changes to How Electricity is Billed to be Phased-In Over Next Few Years /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/08_22_2018_DemandPhaseIn.png?itok=EWqGMaJe Wednesday | August 22, 2018 Card Teaser Following the results of a year-long trial of a pilot demand rate, the United Power Board of Directors agreed to a phase-in plan of a residential demand rate to replace the current rate structure. Following the results of a year-long trial of a pilot demand rate, the United Power Board of Directors agreed to a phase-in plan of a residential demand rate to replace the current rate structure. “Since we have detailed information about how members use power in their homes, the new demand rate will be a fairer way for us to bill members for their use,” stated Dean Hubbuck, Director of Power Supply and Rates. “The impact on the system from residential users is lower than commercial customers, and their rates will reflect the difference. We believe a modest demand charge with a reasonable energy rate is the best way to recover our costs.” The dynamic pricing model will provide a more fair cost structure, and gives members an ability to control their costs by staggering the use of electric appliances. Learning about how a demand rate works will take a lot of communication, so the five year period is being used to help our members and employees better understand the rate and how members can control their costs with some simple strategies. All members will now be seeing a new line on their bill simply entitled “Demand Charge.” Initially, there will not be a dollar amount attached to this line item while we provide the information as education for members. By adding the new line it will allow members to see an actual number that corresponds to their use. In 2019 United Power will institute a demand charge and that will slowly increase, with a corresponding reduction in the energy charge. United Power has been actively communicating how a demand charge works via the newsletter United Newsline and members can find more information about Residential Demand here on our website. This information is being presented ahead of the rate change so our members have the opportunity to gain an understanding of this new way of thinking about their electric consumption. Many members will see very little change in their bills, but some members who use more energy all at once may be more heavily affected, and without the demand rate they have been driving up costs for other users. We will continue to communicate about these changes via the newsletter and our website.12/07/2022 - 11:38 AM
Changes to Rebates in 2023 Wednesday | December 7, 2022 Rebates for the purchase of new refrigerators, freezers, and clothes washers will be discontinued in 2023. Read more >01/25/2019 - 01:27 PM
Choosing Energy Efficiency Appliances Friday | January 25, 2019 If you’re holding on to older household appliances, now may be a good time to consider swapping them out for newer, more energy efficient models. Read more >05/02/2022 - 01:16 PM
Title Co-op Announces 2022 Capital Credit Retirement /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MayJune2021_NL_CashBack.jpg?itok=QmEy5xEb Monday | May 2, 2022 Card Teaser Retirement of $4.5 Million on its way to Members Beginning in Late May Retirement of $4.5 Million on its way to Members Beginning in Late May United Power is more than your local electric utility and you are more than a consumer. Over the past two years, we have had to navigate pandemic restrictions, making provisions for the health of the cooperative and also to support our members. The decisions we made were not to satisfy invisible investors or generate profits, but to serve our members and our communities. It is just part of what makes cooperative membership different. Another member benefit that sets us apart is the retirement of capital credits. This year, our members will be part of United Power’s 16th consecutive retirement. If you are new to the cooperative or unfamiliar with this process, capital credits represent your investment in the co-op. Here’s how it works: Becoming a Member The moment you start receiving electric service from United Power, you become a member and an owner of the cooperative. As a member, you have unique privileges, one of which is economic participation. A portion of each electric bill you pay goes toward the cooperative’s operation and infrastructure, which you have an ownership stake in. Members may also vote annually in board elections or run for a seat on the Board to make their voices heard. (A full recap of the 2022 Annual Meeting is available on page 10.) By actively engaging and participating with the cooperative, you will always have a voice in our operation. Allocation of Capital Credits Every spring, United Power looks at the prior year and any funds remaining after all expenses have been paid are allocated to members based on the prior year’s electric consumption – the more power you use, the larger your allocation will be. The allocation is not a check, but a representation of your ownership in the cooperative, i.e. the amount of money you have invested into the electric system based on your electric consumption. The funds are tracked, but not accessible in the form of cash. You are notified of your allocation amount on your bill in May each year. Retirement of Capital Credits Annually, the Board of Directors carefully assesses the financial condition of the cooperative and determines what amount of capital credits are eligible for retirement. If the Board decides a retirement is feasible, the money is paid out, or “retired,” from each member’s account. This year, the Board approved a $4.5 million retirement. Those retirements will be distributed beginning in late May. Anyone who had service in 2021 or earlier will be eligible to receive a refund. Refunds more than $50 will arrive as a check, and members who receive a refund less than $50 will see it reflected on their billing statement as a credit. Look for this credit on your bill in May or June. “There isn’t a more tangible benefit of cooperative membership than receiving money back on your investment in the utility itself,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Your investment not only makes you an owner, but helps ensure the resiliency of our system, the reliability of your power, and the affordability of our rates. It is a tangible representation of your value as both a member and an owner.” Capital credit retirements have returned a steady stream of money back to members in recent years. During the last 15 years, the cooperative has been able to retire millions of dollars back to its members. Want to learn more about capital credits? Frequently asked questions can be found at www.unitedpower.com or you can call a member services representative at 303-637-1300. IMPORTANT REMINDERS If you move, please be sure to leave your new address with us so we can continue to refund any capital credits you are eligible to receive in the future. Upon death, the deceased member’s capital credit account is available for estate retirement. The representative of the estate should contact United Power to settle the capital credit account.06/13/2023 - 12:02 AM
Title Co-op Announces 2023 Capital Credit Retirement /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CapitalCredits_1320x860.png?h=45932144&itok=gEFxjqd2 Friday | May 19, 2023 Card Teaser Retirement of $4.5 Million on its way to Members Beginning in late May. Retirement of $4.5 Million on its way to Members Beginning in Late May United Power is more than your local electric utility and you are more than a consumer. You have probably heard there are benefits to cooperative membership. The decisions we make are not to satisfy investors or generate profits, but to serve our members and our communities, ensuring our system is well maintained and delivers reliable power. It is just part of what makes cooperative membership different. Another member benefit that sets us apart is the retirement of capital credits. This year, our members will be part of United Power’s 17th consecutive retirement. If you are unfamiliar with this process, capital credits represent your investment in the co-op. Becoming a Member The moment you start receiving electric service from United Power, you become a member and an owner of the cooperative. As a member, you have unique privileges, one of which is economic participation. A portion of each electric bill you pay goes toward the cooperative’s operation and infrastructure, which represents your ownership stake. Members may also vote annually in the Director Elections or run for a seat on the Board to make their voices heard. By actively engaging and participating with the cooperative, you will always have a voice in our operation. Allocation of Capital Credits Every spring, United Power looks at the prior year and any funds remaining after all expenses have been paid are allocated to members based on the prior year’s electric consumption — generally the more power you use, the larger your allocation will be. The allocation is not a check, but a bookkeeping of your ownership in the cooperative, i.e., the amount of money you invested into the electric system based on your electric consumption the past year. The funds are tracked, but not accessible in the form of cash until they are retired. You are notified of your allocation amount on your bill in May or June each year. Retirement of Capital Credits Annually, the Board of Directors assesses the financial condition of the cooperative and determines what amount of capital credits are eligible for retirement. If the Board decides a retirement is feasible, the money is paid out, or “retired,” from each member’s account. The Board approved a $4.5 million retirement this year. Those retirements will be distributed beginning in late May. Anyone who had service in 2021 or earlier will be eligible to receive a refund. Refunds more than $50 will arrive as a check, and members who receive a refund less than $50 will see it reflected on their billing statement as a credit. Look for this credit on your bill in May or June. “There isn’t a more tangible benefit of cooperative membership than receiving money back on your investment in the utility itself,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Your investment not only makes you an owner, but helps ensure the resiliency of our system, the reliability of your power, and the affordability of our rates. It is a tangible representation of your value as both a member and an owner.” Capital credit retirements have returned a steady stream of money back to members in recent years. During the last 17 years, the cooperative has been able to retire millions of dollars back to its members. Want to learn more about capital credits? Frequently asked questions can be found at www.unitedpower.com or you can call a member services representative at 303-637-1300. IMPORTANT REMINDERS- If you move, please be sure to leave your new address with us so we can continue to refund any capital credits you are eligible to receive in the future.
- Upon death, the deceased member’s capital credit account is available for estate retirement. The representative of the estate should contact United Power to settle the capital credit account.
01/18/2021 - 09:00 AM
Title Co-op Cares Receives Funding for 2021 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/04_10_2020_CoopCaresFund.jpg?h=45932144&itok=ItS-xyIb Monday | January 11, 2021 Card Teaser An additional $250,000 has been allocated to the Co-op Cares Fund for this year. The United Power Board of Directors has allocated an additional $250,000 to the cooperative’s Co-op Cares Fund for this year. The fund was created in April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was designed to provide financial assistance to members who have been directly impacted, especially by illness or job loss. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of members who are struggling to make their payments because of the lasting effects of this pandemic,” said Laurie Burkhart, the cooperative’s chief financial officer. “The Co-op Cares Fund was the result of proactive measures by the cooperative to provide temporary relief to members who were unfortunately impacted in dramatic ways. The inability to make payments can be a serious burden to carry. We hope our Board’s additional allocation to the Co-op Cares Fund provides some measure of relief to our members.” The cooperative was able to finance the Co-op Cares Fund by allocating funds from unclaimed capital credits, which are capital credits that were not claimed by former United Power members after several attempts to notify them over a period of years. This past year, the Board allocated $300,000 in unclaimed credits to the Co-op Cares Fund. An initial allocation of $250,000 was made in April, and an additional $50,000 was added later in the year after it was clear more assistance was needed for impacted members. “The Co-op Cares Fund has been an important pillar in our strategy to provide support to our members during this difficult time, and complements the many other ways United Power is helping our members weather this situation,” said interim CEO Bryant Robbins in a December press release announcing the additional allocation. “Through this program, United Power has provided $550,000 in direct assistance to our members who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. We are proud to have already provided assistance to more than 1,500 members.” In addition to the Co-op Cares Fund, United Power has various means of helping members stay on top of their electric bills, including payment arrangements, extensions, prepay, budget billing and assistance from local agencies. United Power encourages members to contact Member Services so we can connect them with the most appropriate assistance program for their situation. “United Power has several ways to help members when they are having difficulty paying their electric bills,” stated Robbins. “All we are asking our members to do is pick up the phone and call us if they are having difficulty paying their bill. We can’t help you if we don’t know you are struggling.” The Co-op Cares Fund will be available for assistance through the end of 2021, or when the fund is depleted. United Power members who are impacted by the current emergency or any other situation can reach our Member Services department at 303-637-1300.09/25/2023 - 11:16 AM
Title Co-op Here to Stay /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/BucketTruck_Sept2023.jpg?h=45932144&itok=EnJL7rmy Monday | September 25, 2023 Card Teaser It is important that members know the upcoming power supply transition will not impact your membership with the cooperative. United Power Announced Three New Power Purchase Agreements in July United Power recently announced three new power purchase agreements in advance of its upcoming exit from its current wholesale power contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission in May 2024. The cooperative has reviewed dozens of power supply proposals over the past several months to determine the most fiscally and socially responsible partners moving forward. Finding and securing established partners in the energy industry will not only ensure sufficient power supply is available for United Power’s growing load, but having multiple agreements also presents added flexibility for the cooperative’s power mix. United Power tried to no avail to negotiate more contract flexibility and lower costs on behalf of its members. These costs are above market value, accounting for more than 70% of the cooperative’s operating expenses. Further, the existing contract locks United Power into a restrictive generation mix and prevents it from obtaining more than 5% of its total load from locally generated sources, such as utility-scale solar farms, gas-capture facilities, or even residential rooftop solar. The cooperative’s power purchase agreements announced in July demonstrate the freedom available by exiting its current wholesale power contract next year. Two of the three agreements will facilitate a large portion of United Power’s expected load when the cooperative exits its current contract. The cooperative’s load is presently the largest among Colorado distribution co-ops — at more than 630 megawatts (MW) — despite serving the smallest geographic footprint. The third agreement is an innovative battery storage solution that will help mitigate costs when power demand is high — also known as peak demand. “The energy industry is entering a period of revolutionary change,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have always put our members first and will continue to do so while advancing our position as an industry-leading distribution cooperative. Leaving our restrictive wholesale power contract affords us the flexibility and freedom to keeps rates competitive, join national power markets, and attract innovative energy partners.” As the exit date approaches, questions about the cooperative’s future have started to circulate. It is important that members know the upcoming power supply transition will not impact your membership with the cooperative. United Power will continue as your power provider. New power suppliers will allow the co-op to better serve its members, who can expect the same commitment to delivering reliable and economical electricity to local homes and businesses. Office locations in Brighton, Coal Creek, and Carbon Valley will also still provide the service and support members have come to expect. Guzman to Provide Key Power Block United Power’s power purchase agreement with the Denver-based power supplier Guzman Energy locks in one-third of the cooperative’s power needs beginning in May 2024. The 15-year agreement features fixed wholesale power pricing that provides prearranged power supply costs and rate stability for members. Guzman partners with cooperatives, municipalities, companies, and tribes across North America to customize energy portfolios that make economic and environmental sense. New Utility-Scale Solar Addition United Power signed a 25-year power purchase agreement to receive power from Whetstone’s Solar of Alamosa project in Southern Colorado. It will add 30 MW of renewable energy to the co-op’s diverse portfolio of generation resources beginning in 2024. The solar farm sits atop one of the state’s highest elevation plateaus and receives some of the highest irradiance in the country. Built in 2012, project upgrades are scheduled throughout 2024 to achieve optimum power output. Ameresco’s Largest Battery Project United Power and Ameresco will partner to connect nearly 80 MW/315 MWh of battery storage capacity throughout the cooperative’s service territory. The groundbreaking project will allow United Power to balance its load while integrating renewable resources. Batteries will be located on eight different cooperative-owned substation sites in Adams, Broomfield, and Weld counties, storing and dispatching power during heavy consumption periods.01/03/2020 - 11:05 AM
Colorado Electric Cooperatives Ask State for Greater Local Control Friday | January 3, 2020 United Power and La Plata Electric push for lower rates and cleaner energy for customers Read more >05/30/2018 - 02:53 PM
Coming Soon – Another Location to Serve Our Members Better Monday | June 12, 2017 As a cooperative, our United Power employees always pay close attention to the needs of our members. Read more >01/23/2019 - 12:35 PM
Title Coming Soon: A New Look to Your Bill /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/08_22_2018_DemandPhaseIn_0.png?h=45932144&itok=lHFf_EBe Monday | October 1, 2018 Card Teaser In the coming months, you’ll receive a newly designed billing statement that has been streamlined and re-organized so you can find the information you need as quickly and easily as possible. We’ve incorporated feedback from members like you to provide you with an easier to read bill. In the coming months, you’ll receive a newly designed billing statement that has been streamlined and re-organized so you can find the information you need as quickly and easily as possible. A quick glance at the new statement will allow you to easily see how much energy you used, the total amount due and the payment due date. The new design also includes more information about your energy use and consumption history, and more information relevant to members taking advantage of rebates, billing programs and those with net-metered service locations. More information about how to read the new bill will be included in your first statement with the new look. Watch your mailbox or your SmartHub statement alerts for your new United Power billing statement.01/22/2019 - 03:25 PM
Title Coming Soon: New Demand Rate on Billing Statements /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/July2018_NL_DemandComing.png?itok=gie9FG7S Monday | July 2, 2018 Card Teaser Beginning this fall, United Power residential members will begin to see a new line of information on their bill – the ‘Demand Charge.’ Beginning this fall, United Power residential members will begin to see a new line of information on their bill – the ‘Demand Charge.’ For the remainder of 2018, members will see a number of kW multiplied by a zero dollar amount. This number represents the highest level of ‘demand’ that your electric consumption creates on our system, and there is currently no cost assigned to that demand. While it is simply a way for you to begin understanding how you impact the electric grid today, it will eventually become a way for members to control and impact their own electric bills in the coming years. What’s in your rate? Today your rate incorporates many different costs – the cost of fuels to generate electricity, the cost to deliver the energy to your home, the cost to the electric cooperative to maintain and repair the system, even the cost of billing is included in the rates you pay. Residential members have been paying a blended bill for a long time, because most members use power in a very similar way. However, we now have access to more information about how individual members use power. We have information about every member’s energy consumption in 15 minute increments, and we can actually determine how individual households are impacting our system. This additional information allows us to break apart the various components of your electric bill and charge you more precisely for the two largest components of your bill: your impact on the electric system, or your ‘demand’ on the system, and amount of power you consume – your energy use. So, what is ‘demand’? The demand charge that United Power will show on your bill is the highest amount of electricity used during a 15 minute period in that billing month. Here’s a simple demonstration: Both Mary and Joe use the same amount of energy, but Joe’s demand is higher since he is using his appliances simultaneously. Mary has a lower demand because she’s staggering the use of her appliances. It costs more for the cooperative to serve Joe’s home than it does to serve Mary’s because we need to have the ability to produce and deliver the energy for both appliances at the same time. We may have to plan to have additional electric generation plants or increase system resources to meet Joe’s higher demand and that comes at a cost to the entire co-op. Under the new demand rate, if Joe continues to use power the same way his bill will be higher than in the past and Mary will see a savings. While these changes tend to be small for most households, the new rate structure will more closely represent the actual cost to provide that power. Now is the time to study the demand number printed on your bill and determine how you impact our electric system. In 2019, our members will begin to see a cost attached to the demand portion of the bill, and a corresponding reduction in the cost of energy. While this new rate structure will provide a fairer bill for each of our members, it’s important that you understand how your behavior affects your demand. To help you understand demand, we will be providing a series of articles in upcoming issues of United Newsline and on our website.12/04/2020 - 03:46 PM
Title Commitment to the Virtual Community /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_FairsCommunity.jpg?itok=algtZaFM Tuesday | November 24, 2020 Card Teaser Reaching members via virtual format isn't a new concept, but until this year it has never been the preferred method for encouraging community participation. The cooperative often supported communities as they navigated this transition. United Power was forced to shift gears while planning its annual meeting in March as heightened concerns over the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds and many other local businesses. While many maintained hopeful expectations that the pandemic would begin to play itself out as summer weather faded, a third wave has instead continued the halt to in-person community activities and organizational fundraisers. Reaching members via virtual format is hardly a new concept, but until this year it has never been the preferred method for encouraging community members to participate with one another. For United Power, that meant turning around months of planning to offer members a virtual annual meeting that still drew their interest and encouraged participation. The cooperative wasn’t alone in navigating this journey, and often supported others holding similar events. Joining the Virtual Classroom United Power electrical engineer Tyler Bain joined a Brighton High School engineering class in September via Zoom live from one of the cooperative’s substations to talk about where electricity comes from, how it is generated and what kind of schooling it takes to become an electrical engineer. He also discussed renewable energy with the students. Decorating Virtual Ducks United Power has long participated in and supported the annual Duck Derby hosted by the Rotary Club of Northglenn-Thornton. The duck race helps raise money for the Rotary Club to support scholarships, food banks and other local projects. This year, due to COVID-19, the club hosted its first virtual Duck Derby with an online “Best Dressed Duck” contest, which United Power entered, of course. Although our authentic, one-of-a-kind cow duck did not win, we are still proud to be a supporter of all the work the Rotary Club does. Scarecrows in Fort Lupton Thinking creatively for ways to entertain and engage businesses and residents this Halloween season while maintaining safe social distancing, the City of Fort Lupton and Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce sponsored a unique scarecrow contest throughout the community. United Power introduced the first-ever lineman made of hay into the contest. Early thoughts on the new lineman include the suggestion that he stay clear of energized line. Assisting the Career Path Each year, the Adams County Education Consortium hosts its career expo for middle school students. This year’s virtual event will feature 2-hour sessions over the course of two days in late November where students can learn more about potential career paths. United Power will both sponsor and participate in the annual event in its new first-ever virtual event.