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09/16/2022 - 11:35 AM
Drive Electric with United EV + Rebates Friday | September 16, 2022 National Drive Electric Week is Sept. 23 – Oct. 2, 2022 Read more >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
Title Early Summer Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Board/04_Board_Apr2021.jpg?itok=OoME10Cc Wednesday | May 4, 2022 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Our Cooperative Roadmap leads a list of amazing accomplishments in 2021. United Power took a different, and slightly longer, view of our actions and investments over the next decade. This was essential as we embrace the dramatic changes and tremendous opportunities taking place in the most critical infrastructure of all – electricity. It is important to put the Roadmap in the context of our innovative history and community involvement. United Power pioneered technologies, installing the first cooperative community solar project, capturing methane gas from the Erie landfill to generate electricity, and installing the largest battery storage project in Colorado. We have expanded our electric vehicle (EV) charging network, examined how blockchain can facilitate member-to-member transactions, and partnered on a geothermal project with oil and gas operators to generate power in the field for use on site. Our Roadmap has four priorities: empower and engage our membership and communities; provide flexible, affordable, sustainable power and services; continuously optimize our electric distribution system; and achieve and maintain business agility and resilience through information technology and operational technology (IT/OT) and system operations. Engaging our members and communities means making programs available so you have a more active role in managing your electric bills while helping us manage the system more efficiently. What does this look like? Simply put, managing connected energy resources to avoid peaks, lower demand, and provide a benefit for all members. We want to help our member communities grow into their vision of an ideal town or city. We want to be the power behind the spaces you call home. But with all our growth, it is important we also continue to perform well as a business. Optimizing our system promotes more efficiency, shorter outages, and better wildfire protection. And what about your power? Should it be less expensive? Should it be generated closer to home? How can we be an active voice in the discussion about where energy is going in the next decade? Flexibility in our power supply has many layers. First and foremost, United Power is seeking a new source for wholesale power. We can no longer live in an expensive, constrained generation environment. We must be in position to take full advantage of coming power markets. This is truly about economics – keeping dollars in our communities, lowering rates, and being able to work with members and others who want to generate more cost-effective electricity. If you want to learn more about how we are planning for these future changes, join us for our Power Supply Forum on June 7 (Details here). Underlying all these initiatives is the need for technology that will allow us to move to the next level. We need to collect and analyze information about our system and provide automated solutions that give members control over their energy usage. Events of the past couple years have tested and confirmed our ability to deliver these solutions to people working beyond the office. There are other utilities fighting the future and trying to keep inefficient generation on the market, failing to embrace technology, markets, and member engagement opportunities. Holding onto the past, be it business models or technologies, has never worked. What does the future look like for United Power? Abraham Lincoln is to have said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” We are doing just that thanks to the tremendous support of your Board of Directors and the employees who work with phenomenal dedication every day. Bottom line: we must continue providing a robust network so that every member behind every meter has every option to engage in the way they desire. We need to do this while ensuring high quality, high reliability, and reasonably priced power. Engagement is key, and I encourage all members to reach out to me as we execute Our Cooperative Roadmap.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
Electrical Safety During Quarantine Monday | January 11, 2021 With more time spent at home, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period. Read more >01/18/2024 - 03:17 PM
Electrical Safety for the New Year Thursday | January 18, 2024 The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety. Read more >12/11/2023 - 02:09 PM
Electricity Powers Your Life Thursday | December 7, 2023 Recently announced rate change takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. Read more >03/02/2020 - 12:30 PM
Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices Tuesday | February 18, 2020 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. Read more >02/11/2021 - 09:00 AM
Employees Raise $4,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies Friday | February 5, 2021 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. Read more >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.