-
My Account
-
-
Start, Stop or Transfer
-
-
My Energy
-
-
Energy Options
-
-
Outage & Safety
-
-
New Construction
-
-
Construction Projects
-
Construction Guides
-
-
-
News & Community
-
-
About Us
-
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.02/11/2021 - 09:00 AM
Title Employees Raise $4,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2021_NL_FoodDonation.jpg?itok=hzxcyw3v Friday | February 5, 2021 Card Teaser For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. Seeking an opportunity to give back during the holiday season, United Power employees participated in a virtual food drive to raise funds for the Food Bank of the Rockies in December. In the two weeks before Christmas, employees donated more than $2,000 to the food bank, which the cooperative generously matched, bringing the total to more than $4,000. For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. Thanks to the contributions of United Power employees, the food bank was able to provide nearly 17,000 meals. The Food Bank of the Rockies was selected as the partner for the employee drive because of its accessibility for members across the service territory. “We wanted to help our communities and our members, and this was a safe-distance solution that allowed us to reach as many members as possible,” said Laurel Eller, Senior Communication Specialist. “Employee giving is a rich tradition and our employees have been very generous this season. We thank all of them for helping make this virtual food drive a success.” Demand at food banks quadrupled last year as many local familes faced food insecurity for the very first time. The Food Bank of the Rockies distributed more than 100 million pounds of food for the first time ever in 2020, which provided more than 83 million meals for those in need. To learn more or support the Food Bank of the Rockies, go to www.foodbankrockies.org.11/07/2022 - 10:29 AM
Title Empowering & Engaging Our Members /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2020_NL_FairsCommunity.jpg?itok=algtZaFM Monday | November 7, 2022 Card Teaser United Power supports community events, empowers local education, & drives economic development United Power Supports Community Events, Empowers Local Education, & Drives Economic Development United Power members expect their electric utility to provide consistently reliable power when they need it, for as long as they need it; but as a cooperative, United Power is more than your average utility company. Electric distribution cooperatives exist to serve their members and are only as strong as the communities they serve, which is why we have pledged a commitment to actively engage with our members and promote the growth and development of our communities. Our public presence in the community is evident at fairs and festivals throughout the service area. United Power is a proud partner and supporter of community events that offer family fun and celebrate each city or town’s unique and rich history. As the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August, the cooperative helped bring one of the largest county fairs in the country to thousands of local residents and visitors. The cooperative also sponsors community heritage celebrations like Trapper Days in Fort Lupton and Miners Day in Frederick. While summer events bring out large crowds, United Power is also active during the holiday season. You’ll find our community affairs reps passing out candy at local trunk or treat events or see our trucks rolling in festive parades adorned in lights and decorations. We also sponsor Thanksgiving food drives like Food for Hope’s annual Feed 5000 campaign. The cooperative’s sponsorship of the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA) allows it to plan several holiday events for its residents, such as family favorites like the Easter Eggstravaganza and Fourth of July Festival. “If it weren’t for the considerable support the CCCIA receives from United Power, we wouldn’t be able to put on these events for our residents,” said CCCIA Hall Manager Suzy Schemel. “We are able to bring family-friendly events to the families who live up here free of charge thanks to their generous contribution and continued support for Coal Creek. I imagine the sentiment is shared by many of the other communities United Power serves.” The growth and development of local communities hinges on the abilities of their leaders – both current and future. United Power recognizes future mayors, city councilors, and other community leaders among the students in our high schools. Each year, we select local high school students to represent the cooperative on trips to Steamboat Springs and Washington, D.C. for youth leadership training and education on the cooperative principles. We also award nearly two dozen scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing a post-secondary education or vocational degree. (More information on United Power scholarships and youth trips can be found here.) As much as our community leaders spur growth, it also requires creating an environment that supports healthy and thriving businesses. United Power has a seat at the table of local chambers of commerce because of their work behind the scenes helping communities drive economic development. Economic development directors from our communities can contact our readily available and easily accessible community affairs reps with inquiries about new business development and business retention strategies. The cooperative’s close relationship with each community alleviates concerns for potential business owners as they determine future business locations. “United Power operates with a level of certainty about its infrastructure’s ability to handle new or expanding load,” said Max Daffron, economic development manager for the Town of Frederick. “That certainty is important for business owners.” United Power reps can help communities and businesses determine where sufficient infrastructure is available, how additional capacity can be built, or if redundant power is necessary. They can even recommend ideal business locations based on their energy needs and prospective development in the area. United Power has also partnered with communities to help develop comprehensive strategies and plan for future growth. “As a small business owner, I see real value in United Power’s commitment to community support and development,” said Cody LeBlanc, owner of Cinn-A-Brew in Brighton and The KM Cup in Fort Lupton. “Their support showcases our businesses and demonstrates the area is a great place live.” United Power’s commitment extends to all areas that support community health and well-being, including its state parks and nonprofits that serve the local community. The cooperative assisted Barr Lake State Park in placing its popular osprey platform in 2014; and earlier this year, helped raise its eagles nest on the southern end of the park. When the cooperative hit 100,000 meters in 2021, United Power made contributions to each state park in its service territory – Barr Lake, St. Vrain, and Golden Gate – in recognition of their importance to the community. Now more than 100,000 meters strong, United Power impacts more people than ever before. We recognize how beneficial the support we provide for our communities has been and how crucial it is for continued growth and development. As a cooperative, we strive to see each of our communities, and the members who call them home, reach their full potential. As we grow and evolve into the electric utility of the future, our members will continue to remain our focus.12/13/2023 - 09:59 AM
Title Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ Tuesday | December 12, 2023 Card Teaser It can be difficult to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage during the holidays. We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We are often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking, and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down, resulting in more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected. However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. A little forethought and diligence makes it easy to find savings during this time of year. Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they have always used when decorating for the holidays. Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up — perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs are up to 90% more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights. Beware the Holiday Vampires United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming large consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. Give the Gift of Energy Savings Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR® label. These devices meet or exceed federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family. For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit Managing Your Energy.12/18/2020 - 04:32 PM
Title Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ Tuesday | December 15, 2020 Card Teaser It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage during the holiday season than you might expect. We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We’re often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected. However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. With a little forethought and diligence, it’s easy to find a little savings during this time of year. Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they’ve always used when decorating for the holidays. Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up – perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs, however, are up to 90 percent more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights. Beware the Holiday Vampires United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming larger consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles or charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. Give the Gift of Energy Savings Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR label. These devices are at or better than federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family. For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit our Energy Tips page.01/06/2022 - 11:44 AM
Energy Efficiency for 2022 Thursday | January 6, 2022 United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use. Read more >01/29/2024 - 11:14 AM
Title Energy Efficiency for a New Year /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2022_NL_EnergyEfficiency.jpg?h=45932144&itok=12lzkvaR Tuesday | January 23, 2024 Card Teaser Make the pledge to be more energy efficient this year. Learn how United Power is here to help you. United Power is committed to providing members with tools and resources to take control of their energy use. This new year it is easier to become more energy efficient. Rates that Work for You Changes in work life over the past few years have made many members more aware of the ways they use energy. Now is a good time to review your rate options and choose one that works for you and your family. United Power’s residential rates are designed to fit a variety of lifestyles and enable members to select a rate that fits their usage patterns. For more information about United Power’s rates, visit our Residential Rates page, or to have a member services representative review your history and recommend a rate option, call 303-637-1300. Free Member Resources United Power’s website and online account portal are rich resources to help members understand and manage their energy usage. Through the online account portal, available on the web or via the United Power mobile app, members can see detailed energy data and historical comparisons. Learn more here. The cooperative also has an online calculator to help members understand what drives their demand. More tools and resources are available for members on our My Energy page. ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating & Cooling Heating and cooling accounts for approximately half your annual energy usage on average, making it the most expensive part of your energy costs. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you are not home. A simple adjustment to your thermostat could save you as much as 10% annually, according to the Department of Energy, which recommends adjusting your temperature a couple degrees when you are home and a couple more when you are away. Many smart thermostats can learn your schedule and make these adjustments automatically. Click here to learn more about United Power’s Smart Rewards program and smart thermostat rebates. Talk to an Energy Management Specialist A United Power energy management specialist is available to walk through your energy concerns, analyze your usage, and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs, and rebates to ensure you are maximizing your energy usage. Schedule an Assessment01/14/2021 - 07:30 AM
Title Energy Efficiency for a New Year /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2021_NL_EnergyEff.jpg?itok=agIR9TG_ Monday | January 11, 2021 Card Teaser United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage. This past year may have challenged many of our members to find ways to use energy more efficiently with many families staying home for both work and school during the pandemic. While the end may be in sight, members should remain vigilant about using energy efficiently to help keep bills low and manageable. United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage throughout the pandemic and after it is over. Rates that Work for You With families spending more time at home over the past year, our members may have become increasingly aware of how they use energy. As we roll into the new year, now is a good time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family. United Power expanded its menu of residential rates over the past couple years so we now offer several rates designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables our members to review their energy use habits and select one that most closely fits their usage patterns. For example, if you’ve effectively managed to switch your usage to off-peak hours, perhaps the Peak Time of Day rate, which does not charge for demand during those hours, would be the best option for your household. The cooperative’s Board of Directors also approved a budget this past year that allowed rates to remain unchanged in 2021, which may come as a relief for many United Power members. For more information on United Power’s residential rates, you can flip to page 6 or go to our Rates page. To have a dedicated Energy Management Specialist review your usage and recommend a rate option, call 303- 637-1300. Take Advantage of Free Member Resources United Power has rolled out several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. While our online account portal provides information related to your energy usage, the Power Portal is a member tool that goes deeper into your usage patterns. With the Power Portal, you can access your complete energy consumption portfolio in 15-minute intervals throughout the day to get a clear look at how you use your energy. You can then compare days or months to determine what behaviors are driving your usage and make small or large changes to save you over time and help keep bills manageable. You can find out more about the Power Portal here. In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members. The ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter Nearly half of our energy use comes from keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature year-round, making it the most expensive part of our electric bills. A simple adjustment to your thermostat may be all it takes to realize quick savings on heating and cooling your home, and it’s unlikely you’ll even notice the slight change in temperature. The Department of Energy estimates a savings of approximately 1 percent per degree adjustment per 8 hours. Adjusting the temperature to a greater degree when you’re away from home may result in savings up to 10 percent annually. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. Many smart thermostats can also learn your schedule, analyze weather and adjust automatically. Have you ever considered your water heater as a potential user of excess energy? Turns out, keeping your water warmer than necessary can also cause small spikes in energy use. Consider turning down the temperature to the warm setting (120°F) to save a little extra. Watch for Vampire Loads The way many families use energy makes it difficult to notice the small things that use energy, but those small uses can quickly add up. Over time, small loads may lead to noticeable changes on your electric bills. This is increasingly the case as more members make the switch to chargeable devices and electronics that use energy even when they appear to be off. These are known as “vampire loads.” Gaming systems or TVs set to standby or chargers left plugged in when not in use are examples of small things that can contribute to these loads, which account for approximately 10 percent of the average household’s energy use. Many devices are now available that can control the flow of energy to devices that might cause these loads, such as smart power strips or plugs that can be turned off or on either manually or remotely (some via WiFi and others Bluetooth). Talk to a United Power Energy Management Specialist A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to advise and assist you with your energy concerns. An Energy Management Specialist can walk through your concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings. Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Turn off power strips to televisions, gaming systems and other electronics, including chargers, that are not in use. Take shorter showers. Consolidate loads of laundry and dishes to make the best use of hot water. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Work with them to start a conversation about saving energy, and you’ll see the savings every month. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.03/04/2020 - 09:54 AM
Title Energy Efficiency Myths /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz Wednesday | March 4, 2020 Card Teaser As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills. As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills. There’s a stigma surrounding energy efficiency, though, that it’s either too hard or too expensive to implement in a home. Other members may be unintentionally using more energy from implementing some not-so-energy-efficient “savings” myths. In this article, we dive into a few of these energy efficiency myths to separate fact from fiction and help you make more energy efficient choices. Electric Space Heaters Save Money Some people have heard using an electric space heater to heat individual rooms in a house is more cost effective than running a heating system. In fact, electric space heaters are among the most energy inefficient appliances you can use in your home. A central heating system is more effective at heating your home. It’s best to use space heaters as supplemental heat for short periods of time only. Myth or Truth: Myth Closing Vents Reduces Consumption It may seem logical that closing vents in a room would mean saving energy. You’re not heating an extra room in the house, after all. However, closing vents actually puts an added weight on your central heating system. Closed vents only redirect air and throw the system off balance, forcing it to work harder. An energy efficient alternative is investing in a smart thermostat that gives you more control of your system, especially when you’re away. Myth or Truth: Myth Try Blasting Your Thermostat This idea stems from a misconception about how central heating and cooling systems work. Your thermostat is designed to keep a room at a steady temperature. When you crank it up or down, it does not heat or cool more quickly, but it will work continuously until it has reached the temperature setting. From then on, it will turn on or off as required to maintain the temperature setting. Because your home will continue to gain or lose heat through various escape points, this will cause your system to run more frequently and use more energy. Myth or Truth: Myth You Can Save with a Microwave Cooking is not a large part of the average household’s electric bill. However, heavy use of an oven or stove can contribute to an increase in your bill, especially if you cook much during the summer. The heat produced by a stove or oven can cause your A/C to work harder to maintain the temperature in the room. By contrast, a microwave is quicker and uses less energy. Myth or Truth: Truth Using a Dishwasher is Better than Hand Washing Most homes aren’t equipped with an electric water heater, so you might not think of how this could ultimately save you on energy efficiency. However, washing your dishes by hand requires a lot of hot water. Dishwashers actually use your hot water more efficiently, and many of them have energy efficient settings to help conserve gas, electricity and water. Myth or Truth: Truth Close Doors to Unused Rooms When Heating If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard energy efficiency points from both sides, but here’s the truth. Your heating system operates through a convection current. As air cycles into a room, hot air rises and sinks as it cools. The cool air is then reheated, beginning the cycle again. Keeping doors to unused rooms closed keeps this cycle of heated air within a contained space, which is more efficient than dispersing it throughout the house. Myth or Truth: Truth Becoming energy efficient doesn’t mean spending lots of money on the latest technology or struggling with strict rules. It’s about making small lifestyle changes or remembering to make a few changes around the house. It’s also about sifting the fact from the fiction. As your trusted energy provider, we’re here to provide you with the best resources to take control of your usage, become more energy efficient and save. If you’re curious about more ways you can save, check out our Energy Tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.11/19/2021 - 12:50 PM
Energy Efficiency Rebates Changing in 2022 Friday | November 19, 2021 Rebate changes are coming next year. United Power must receive 2021 rebate applications by December 15. Read more >