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02/25/2021 - 06:00 AM
Title Democracy at the Cooperative /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_Democracy.jpg?h=45932144&itok=1VGbwdRv Friday | February 14, 2025 Card Teaser United Power members’ votes in the Director Election determine who represents them on the co-op's Board. United Power members are uniquely given the opportunity to have a voice in the future of their electric utility. Each year, our members’ votes in the Director Election determine who will represent them on the co-op’s Board of Directors. As an electric cooperative, your participation in the annual election is critical to helping the co-op better serve its members. Every Vote Matters Equally United Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves. When you become a member, you automatically receive the benefits all other members share, including the right to vote for board representation. As a member, your vote is equal to any other member’s vote, regardless of the kind of account they have or how large it is. “One member, one vote” is part of the cooperative principle known as Democratic Member Control. Director candidates must also live or work within United Power’s service territory, so you know you will be voting for someone who understands your community’s needs. They could even be your friends or neighbors. Running for a Board Position The primary difference between an investor-owned utility (IOU) and a cooperative is democratic control. IOUs make decisions to appease stakeholders and shareholders who might not live in the same state, let alone the same community. Any United Power member who meets the qualifications outlined in the bylaws is eligible to run for a position on the cooperative’s eleven-member Board of Directors. Directors serve four-year terms in one of four geographical districts. Members vote on an “at-large” basis, explained in more detail next. Voting in the Election Balloting opens March 14. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in this year’s election. Members may vote electronically through their online account, or via mail ballots, sent to all members in mid-March. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure adequate accessibility for members and to provide a representative cross-section of United Power’s member base in the cooperative’s governing body. Your vote always matters. To learn more about a director candidate, consider attending our Meet the Candidates event. Candidates will be announced in February, and candidate statements will be printed in the March newsletter and available online. 2025 Director Election This year, three positions on the United Power Board are up for election at the 2025 Annual Meeting & Director Election, scheduled for April 16. Members may submit their votes electronically, via mail ballot, or in person at the Annual Meeting. More information about how members may vote in this year’s Director Election can be found here.02/11/2020 - 09:50 AM
Title Democracy at the Cooperative /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_Democracy.jpg?h=45932144&itok=1VGbwdRv Tuesday | February 11, 2020 Card Teaser Each year our members’ votes in the director election determine who will represent them on the co-op’s board. Prior to this year’s national elections in November, United Power members have the opportunity to have a say in the future of their electric cooperative. Each year our members’ votes in the director election determine who will represent them on the co-op’s board. United Power invites participation from its members. Members have a finger on the pulse of their communities and understand what’s important to them. As an electric utility, your knowledge is critical to helping the co-op better serve its members. Every Vote Matters Equally United Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves. When you become a member, you automatically receive the benefits all other members share, including the right to vote for board representation. Your vote always matters. As a member, your vote carries equal weight as any other member’s vote, regardless of what kind of account they have or how large it is. This is a cooperative principle known as “one member, one vote.” Director candidates must also live within United Power’s service territory, so you know you’ll be voting for someone who understands your community’s needs. They could even be your friends or neighbors. Running for a Board Position The primary difference between an investor-owned utility (IOU) and cooperative is democratic control. IOUs make decisions to appease stakeholders and shareholders who might not live in the same state, let alone the same community. Any United Power member in good standing is eligible to run for a position on the cooperative’s eleven-member board of directors. Directors serve three-year terms in one of four geographical districts. Although directors must live in one of these districts, members vote on an “at-large” basis, explained in more detail next. Voting in the Election The cooperative mails director ballots in March and encourages all members to cast votes in the election. Although directors live in a specific geographic district, they represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure adequate accessibility for members and to provide a representative cross-section of United Power’s member base in their leadership role. Learn more about voting policy here. Your vote always matters. To learn more about a director candidate, consider attending one of our Meet the Candidate events. Director statements are published online after February 14. 2020 Director Election This year, four positions on United Power’s board are up for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election, scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Members may submit their ballot via mail, at drop boxes located at any United Power office location or in-person at the Annual Meeting. More information about how to submit your ballot may be found on the Annual Meeting page.03/20/2020 - 01:46 PM
Title Director Candidate Statements /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Newsletter/Candidates.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uLbaxe7z Friday | March 20, 2020 Card Teaser There are four director seats up for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Director positions in the South, East, West and Mountain districts are up for three-year terms. Annual Meeting Candidate Statements There are four director seats up for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Director positions in the South, East, West and Mountain districts are up for three-year terms. Be sure to read about each of the candidates before casting your ballot. United Power directors serve in geographic districts, but they are elected on an “at-large” basis. Please vote for one candidate in EACH director district. SOUTH DISTRICT Greg Campbell Greg grew up in California with his father working in the energy industry. Greg always knew he wanted to be an engineer, and he followed that dream and attended the Colorado School of Mines, graduating in 2005. Growing up on project job sites, he knew the best experience to learn the energy industry would be in the field. In addition to working throughout the U.S., he has worked around the world, with jobsites in eight different countries. After doing this for about ten years, Greg was able to witness the surge within the U.S. in oil and gas, and he knew it was time to be part of this exciting growth away from energy dependence from foreign countries. He moved back to Colorado where he enjoyed his education, met his wife, and he now has a four-year-old son which has given him a newfound outlook for the importance of health and safety within the energy community. Greg joined Summit Engineering in April of 2016 and is the Senior Vice President. Greg’s understanding of the energy industry and business helped him succeed in growing SESI from 23 people in 2016 ($4M in revenue) to over 140 people in 2020 ($20M+ in revenue). Greg has presented to the COGCC, in addition to his local Commerce City Chamber of Commerce regarding the industry and the drive to provide clean, safe and affordable energy to all of Colorado. Greg’s focus around engineering regarding the health of our communities, safety of all engineering and design processed within SESI, in addition to the environmental economics surrounding this industry, has helped his company spearhead the industry through the political storm currently being experienced in Colorado. Greg understands that the changing political spectrum will result in new laws that will have an impact on the energy market, and the price of utilities to the consumer. Without a plan in place to balance where we get our electricity from (e.g. natural gas, coal, renewables, hydroelectric), we will create an upset condition in the market where the end user is the one that suffers. The main goal of running for this position is to bring a point of view to United Power from someone who is “boots on the ground” in the industry. Colorado electricity is primarily created from coal and natural gas, and the electricity created by renewable sources has more than doubled since 2010. Politicians, both locally and nationally, continue to push an agenda to move away from fossil fuels. If elected, Greg will drive a balanced, long term approach to utilize the cleanest and cheapest form of electricity that utilizes the existing infrastructure, thus ensuring the least amount of impact to each member of United Power. Stan Martin United Power Board needs NEW LIFE and new blood. As Adams County Clerk and Recorder I rolled up my sleeves implementing new innovation and technology saving you the taxpayer over $2 Million during my four year term. As President Elect of the Colorado County Clerks Association having the opportunity to guide a statewide organization I learned what true leadership accomplishes. As a 20 year local small business owner I learned what it takes to operate and oversee a successful business. As a local native I learned that investing in our community pays dividends down the road. As President of a Metro District I learned the importance of customer service. As 17th Judicial District Board Commissioner I learned the value of being a public servant. As a follower of Christ, I learned our purpose and identity in this life. As your next United Power Director, I’ll work on your behalf to bring much needed “Term Limits” creating future opportunity for fresh new ideas ultimately driving innovation and technology better serving your electrical needs for generations. As a customer just like you, what would it look like to bring NEW LIFE to United Power? Please vote for Stan Martin this April. Phil Noble United Power is a co-op to be very proud of. It is always working to increase member value, improve rural and urban service, safeguard the environment and drive toward renewable energy sources. The future, however, has challenges that will require more innovation and leadership. I would like to become an important collaborating team member who contributes experience and knowledge to augment the Board of Directors’ strategic decision-making. As a board member of United Power, I would like to utilize my system-thinking expertise to accomplish strategies to meet the demand for using even fewer hydrocarbons and more energy alternatives. Having started my career in a small town in Illinois working summers and winters during college with the local municipally-owned electrical power facility, I have come full circle to this moment. After graduating from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL I earned a master’s degree at the University of Texas in Arlington. In Texas, I worked in research and organizational development roles with public and private institutions, including the University of Texas Medical Branch, Monsanto and Exxon. In 1993 I moved to Colorado for an opportunity at StorageTek as a Senior Organizational Development consultant, in which I focused primarily on business and quality processes as well as executive coaching, strategic planning and customer intelligence gathering. Seven years later, I became an independent consultant and worked with, to name a few, the US Forest Service, Department of Defense, Exxon, Hewlett Packard, Lucent Technologies and startups in Silicon Valley. In 2005 I became Director of Organizational Development for a Baldridge Award-winning hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and later continued in healthcare as Director of Workforce Development at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Wyoming. In 2009 I joined the Adams County Workforce and Business Center, and two years later became the Director/Administrator. In that capacity, I was involved in board leadership in several organizations:- Executive Director, Adams County Workforce Development Board
- Board Member, Adams County Education Consortium
- Board Member, Adams County Economic Development
- Board Member, Brighton Economic Development
- Chair, Colorado Urban Workforce Alliance
09/21/2020 - 10:22 AM
Title Does Your Family Have a Disaster Plan? /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct2020_NL_Preparedness.jpg?itok=dTNXf5aU Tuesday | September 8, 2020 Card Teaser September is National Preparedness Month. Disasters don't wait. Make a plan; be prepared. September is National Preparedness Month Between a combination of a quiet storm season and other things consuming our thoughts over the course of 2020, preparing for a potential disaster situation may not be high on our list of priorities. However, natural disasters may come in an instant, and it’s important to make sure you and your family are prepared. Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month to educate and empower Americans to take simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies that could affect us where we live, work and visit. This year’s theme, “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today,” touches on four distinct aspects of emergency preparation. Make a plan. Expecting the unexpected begins with having a plan in place to respond, and those conversations can begin casually over a meal or strategically in a family meeting. If you have children, include them in the disaster planning process. Prepare with your friends, family and neighbors to develop communications plans. Finally, practice your plan. Build a Kit. Gather supplies for several days, considering the unique needs of your family. Include items such as food, water and any necessary medications or pet items. You may also include items such as a first aid kit, flashlight and/or radio. Remember to update your kit regularly. Prepare for Disasters. Different areas and regions are impacted by different natural disasters. In Colorado, we can experience devastating floods, debilitating blizzards or even strong tornadoes. Make sure your disaster plan above includes steps for each potential event. Be mindful of disasters that could also occur during travel or on vacations. Teach Youth About Preparedness. It’s important to teach your children about emergency preparation, such as how to communicate in the event of separation or what to do if you’re away. They should know how to communicate with you, their friends and emergency responders. Provide sufficient information and carefully walk through individual steps of your disaster plan or have them practice building their own emergency kits. For more information on National Preparedness Month, including sample emergency communications plans, organizations you can volunteer with during disasters and more, visit www.ready.gov.09/16/2022 - 11:35 AM
Title Drive Electric with United EV + Rebates /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/UnitedEV.jpg?itok=Oj7FXdZY Friday | September 16, 2022 Card Teaser National Drive Electric Week is Sept. 23 – Oct. 2, 2022 National Drive Electric Week is Sept. 23 – Oct. 2, 2022 United Power is embracing strategies that make access and ownership of electric vehicles (EVs) easier for its members. The cooperative is tackling practical hesitations head-on with the expansion of its charging network and now United EV, a new pilot program that provides access to affordable at-home charging options and wiring rebate opportunities. The cooperative invites members to join in recognizing National Drive Electric Week, a nationwide celebration highlighting the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. United EV provides cost-effective, at-home charging solutions for members with EVs and lowers the up-front ownership and installation costs of wall-mounted, at-home EV chargers. The reduced cost of charging will also help the cooperative effectively manage electric demand on its system. The program is initially limited to 50 qualifying residential members. Members enrolled in the program receive a complete service package that includes installation and set-up of a wall-mounted ChargePoint Home Flex level 2 charger, maintenance and repairs for the duration of the enrollment period, rebates for make-ready wiring, and several rate and charging options to take advantage of the lowest available energy costs. A $19 service fee will be conveniently applied to participant electric billing statements each month. To further address the cost of updating home electrical wiring, program participants qualify for rebates toward the cost of wiring and outlet installation in their homes. United Power’s make-ready wiring rebate covers 50% of the installation cost up to $1,000 for program participants. United Power members not enrolled in United EV are eligible to receive a rebate up to $500. For more information on United EV or the cooperative’s other electric vehicle initiatives, including available rebates and the charging network, go to our Electric Vehicles page or reach out to the Energy Programs team at 303-637-1233.09/15/2022 - 03:55 PM
Title Early Fall Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Board/09_Board_Sept2021.jpg?itok=xTp3_CIY Tuesday | September 6, 2022 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. The energy transition is upon us and I am proud of the team at United Power for not only being ready but also leading the charge (pun fully intended). Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which will fundamentally and forever change the energy landscape. It will bring beneficial electrification to all Americans in a way not seen since the cooperative model was born to bring electricity to rural parts of our nation in the 1930s. It is in that spirit that funding for critical infrastructure, expanded support for electric vehicles (EVs), and support for new and advanced generation technologies will be made available to our communities. United Power has a proud history of being at the forefront of innovation in the energy industry, thanks to tremendous support from your Board of Directors and visionary leaders in the organization. More than a decade ago, United Power unveiled the first community solar farm and five years ago the cooperative energized the largest (still) long-duration battery storage project in Colorado. It has deployed an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), created and expanded a strategic EV charging network, and recently launched a simple home charging and load control pilot program for just $19 per month. Information about the charging pilot program can be found on our website at www.unitedpower.com/unitedev. Coupled with the numerous energy efficiency and member-friendly programs, your cooperative is well-positioned for the next wave of development. Thanks to Our Cooperative Roadmap, United Power is prepared to manage into this new energy frontier. While some cooperatives are scrambling to find projects to tie to the IRA, we are already able to bring immediate benefits to our communities. Whether it is the expansion of our EV charging network, working with school districts to obtain funds for electric buses, or using coated conductors in our mountain district to reduce the potential for wildfires, United Power has plans to help these programs lauch quickly. Our movement toward becoming a Distribution System Operator (DSO) is key to our continued success. As a DSO, United Power can take advantage of systems we have in place - such as AMI or our Outage Management System (OMS) - to share and control information, reduce the amount of power we need to buy, and better manage our system. As a market comes to the west in the next 24-36 months, we will be able to buy and sell power at lower costs and be part of an expanded footprint that can take advantage of weather and time differences. United Power is focusing on the future of the cooperative, beginning with the finalization of a new power supplier effective May 2024. I am pleased to report that at least 34 companies are vying for our business, with many imaginative projects that will provide better economics, as well as improved carbon management. Our first priority is reliability, followed by affordability, and coupled with a lower carbon future. This aligns with the needs of our membership. These are exciting times in the energy space, and your cooperative is ready to step into the forefront in support of our communities. If you would like me, or any member of our senior team, to speak about the cooperative’s future at any local events or meetings, please let us know. We are proud of our efforts and happy to spread the word. We have a great tradition of being prepared for the future at United Power and I want every member to feel empowered to reach out to me and our staff at any time. I welcome the opportunity to meet you where you are, so do not hesitate to contact me or a member of our senior staff. You can submit a comment for me here.05/04/2022 - 10:49 AM
Early Summer Message from Mark A. Gabriel Wednesday | May 4, 2022 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >12/02/2022 - 08:55 AM
Title Early Winter Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Board/12_Board_Dec2021.jpg?itok=YhaxrZGT Friday | December 2, 2022 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. One of the newest buzz phrases in the energy industry is the “shared energy economy.” In this economy, all the resources necessary for keeping the lights on, keeping our homes and businesses running, and keeping society humming are jointly managed for the benefit of all. The cooperative business model was founded on this very principle more than 80 years ago, with communities coming together and bringing light where there was darkness. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent nonprofit energy research, development, and deployment organization, has a fancy definition of this shared energy economy: “Technical, business, regulatory, and policy conditions that allow customer-owned resources to supplement utility operations in providing value to consumers while also providing value to the asset owner.” Today we have advanced technologies that are creating an energy web, linking centralized resources and member-owned resources, such as electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and home battery storage in new and exciting ways. The coming of a power market in the next two years will allow United Power — on your behalf — to manage a variety of electric inputs that will help lower bills and make better use of the electricity we buy. Taking advantage of the shared energy economy is one of the many reasons we are working to find new, more forward-leaning power suppliers, as our current arrangement limits the flexibility we can provide our members and the choices that are available. We have outlined this future in Our Cooperative Roadmap that envisions a day in the not-to-distant future when we are no longer penalized for being efficient, having large scale batteries, or working with our members to serve their needs in a mutually beneficial manner. There are more than 9,200 members with solar rooftops, 150 with batteries, and many thousands buying EVs in our service territory. Combining those with load management programs for water heating, air conditioning, and on-site generation will allow United Power to bring value and share the economic benefit of those investments. These changes will help many of our industrial and commercial members meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, while also achieving Colorado’s planned reduction in emissions. It is important to recognize how the economics are driving these changes for United Power first and foremost. We can get the dual benefit of meeting goals and lowering costs. The shared energy economy has been a cornerstone of the cooperative business model, and this continued evolution fits well into United Power’s history as an energy leader on your behalf and recognizes the future opportunities for our communities. As always, I welcome your comments and insights, as well opportunities to meet with our members anytime. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of our executive team with questions or concerns.01/26/2021 - 06:30 AM
Title Electrical Safety During Quarantine /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2021_NL_HomeSafety.jpg?itok=hyHigyIL Monday | January 11, 2021 Card Teaser With more time spent at home, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period. Many United Power members have spent much of the past ten months making necessary lifestyle changes to accommodate recommended precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home and distance learning have become common throughout our territory and may continue throughout the first part of the new year. With more time spent at home and more devices being used, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period. Secure Wall Outlets Over time, standard wall outlets may become loose, causing power cords to hang loose rather than hold firmly. This may not seem like a safety risk, especially if you’ve regularly used these outlets in the past. However, power cords hanging from loose outlets can cause arcing, which may lead to a fire. If your outlets are not firmly holding a plug, contact a certified electrician to make necessary repairs. Don’t Overload Home Circuits An additional safety concern with outlets in your home is overloading, which is when more power is requested of an outlet than it can deliver. This can be the result of either high-powered appliances or many small devices plugged into a single outlets. Overloaded outlets can trip circuit breakers or blow fuses, but it may also melt the plastic or rubber protection around power cords, exposing the wires. This poses another fire risk to households. An electrician can install additional outlets in your home to avoid the risks of overloaded circuits. Don’t Daisy Chain Power Strips One way people may add sockets to a wall outlet is using a power strip. Daisy chaining is the process of plugging an additional power strip into a power strip already in use, creating a “chain” of power strips, and is another way to easily overload your circuit.01/18/2024 - 03:17 PM
Title Electrical Safety for the New Year /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/ElectricalSafety_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=z5zfjNDm Thursday | January 18, 2024 Card Teaser The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety. Practice Electrical Safety to Protect Your Home and Family Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of household fires and other incidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 51,000 electrical fires occur every year and 400 people are electrocuted nationally. Many of these incidents are easily preventable by understanding and adhering to basic electrical safety principles and prioritizing them in your home. The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety. Below is a simple checklist to conduct an inspection of your home this new year. How many of these have you completed recently or consistently? Upgrade Lighting to LEDs Not only do LEDs use a fraction of the energy and have a far longer life than traditional lighting, they also produce less heat and reduce the risk of starting an electrical fire. So, they will save you on your energy bill over time and also make your home more safe. Reset GFCI Outlets Monthly Set a calendar notification on your phone to remind you to reset your GFCI outlets at the beginning of each month. Simply press the test/reset button and make sure the outlets trip and reset correctly. If they are malfunctioning, contact a certified electrician to have them replaced. Install Additional Outlets It is easier than you might think to overload an outlet, and it is not safe to depend on extension cords for long periods of time. If you need additional outlets for your appliances, contact an electrician about having some installed before reaching for extension cords or adapters. Replace/Upgrade Old Wiring A number of homes in the United Power service territory were built many years ago. Consider having your home inspected to see if new wiring is recommended. Signs that your wiring may be faulty include flickering lights, sudden loss of power, or burning/sparks around your outlets. Wiring can break down over time due to construction damage, rodents, or even just old age. Steps Toward Electrical Safety Here are some further steps you can take to make sure your home is safe day-to-day.- Discard damaged or frayed electrical cords.
- Keep walkways clear of extension cords or other electrical power cables.
- Limit your outlets to a single high-wattage appliance at a time.
- Make sure the bulbs in your lamps are consistent with the wattage recommendations.
- Only use appliances on level surfaces.
12/11/2023 - 02:09 PM
Title Electricity Powers Your Life /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Outlet_Glowing_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=-m3fkbc5 Thursday | December 7, 2023 Card Teaser Recently announced rate change takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. Recently Announced Rate Change Takes Effect Jan. 1, 2024 Last month, United Power announced a rate increase taking effect Jan. 1, 2024, and while it is never easy to hear about prices going up, electricity remains one of the best values in most households. Today’s modern household is powering more appliances with electricity. It provides warmth, safety, sanitation, and entertainment. Consider what was in your home just ten or twenty years ago. How many televisions do you have today, compared with how many were in your home growing up? How many connected devices like laptops, tablets, or phones are charging in your home every day? Even something like air conditioning, which was not a standard feature in Colorado homes twenty years ago, is making the modern household more comfortable. When people talk about the rising cost of electricity, they often fail to notice how much more they are using. Rates at United Power have not changed since Jan. 1, 2020. During the pandemic and through the many months while inflation was running rampant in everything our members need to live — from groceries to gas — United Power rates did not change. Advanced planning was one of the key reasons we were able to hold rates steady during that period — from existing orders of heavy equipment and vehicles to belt-tightening in every function at the cooperative. United Power was able to provide stable rates while our members navigated rising prices on everything they need for their households. The Colorado Sun recently reported on the cost of the five most common grocery items Colorado households purchase — milk, one pound of hamburger, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, and a pound of coffee. They reported that over the last five years the cost of these items has risen 35%. The price of many goods has been impacted by increases in transportation costs, labor, and raw ingredients. Any homeowner who was lucky enough to lock in a low interest home loan is still seeing their monthly payment rise due to increases in property taxes and homeowners’ insurance. All of those factors also impact your utility. Keeping the system operating efficiently and making sure we can replace and upgrade equipment where necessary are adding to our operational costs. Consider when we need to purchase land for a substation to serve a new neighborhood; United Power is paying higher and higher prices to acquire land for this development, and all those costs are paid through the rates members pay for electricity. One of the most powerful things about being served by a cooperative is that United Power is a not-for-profit entity. The cooperative does not work for shareholders who want to see profits. Anything collected above what we need to operate is considered patronage capital — and is eventually returned to members as capital credits. United Power serves its members with the goal of providing reliable electricity without an eye on profits. Learn more about upcoming rate changes.03/02/2020 - 12:30 PM
Title Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_MedicalDevices.jpg?itok=Mjp98y1L Tuesday | February 18, 2020 Card Teaser United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond. United Power strives to provide reliable power to its members. At times, however, circumstances may arise that lead to an interruption in power, such as standard maintenance improvements to our system, or an outage, caused by a number of events such as severe weather. When an outage does occur, the cooperative is quick to dispatch linemen to safely restore power to its members as quickly as possible. Some outages, however, can create situations that require an extended time to resolve. These kinds of outages can be especially worrisome for members with special medical needs. If you use life-sustaining medical equipment that depends on electricity for operation, such as oxygen generators, kidney dialysis machines or respirators, it’s important to put together a plan for a power outage before it happens. Have a Backup Plan for Prolonged Outages United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond. Register with United Power. United Power can place a flag on the accounts of members who utilize special medical equipment, allowing us to contact you in an unplanned outage and before a planned outage. Have a Power Backup. Outages can happen at a moment’s notice and without warning. Though the cooperative makes every effort to quickly restore power, we cannot provide a specific time frame for when your power will be restored. If you use medical equipment, consider obtaining a power back-up, such as a battery or generator, in the case of an extended outage. Plan for Evacuation. In the worst case event, such as a significant weather crisis like a blizzard or flood, prepare to evacuate to an alternate location. These events can result in outages lasting several days. How You Can Help If you do experience an outage or other electrical emergency, always report it. Do not assume United Power knows about your outage. You can report your outage by logging into our online portal available at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub or by calling our outage reporting line at 303-637-1350. More information about medically necessary devices can be found on our Medical Devices page.