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10/30/2021 - 03:18 PM
Title Have You Checked Out Your Bill Pay Addresses Recently? /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Bills.jpg?itok=uq89MTti Saturday | October 30, 2021 Do you pay your United Power using a bill pay service from your bank? Remember that you are responsible for making sure that the payment is being sent to the correct account. Bill pay is a function of your bank account, and United Power can not help you if a payment is sent to an incorrect address. Both the utilities that serve you and the financial services industry are constantly updating processes and sometimes that includes changes in routing numbers or to addresses where bill payments are sent. If you haven’t checked your bill payment addresses recently, we recommend you take a few minutes to review those payments including your United Power bill. Where Should Your Payment be Sent? United Power bill payments should be sent to: United Power PO Box 173703 Denver, CO 80217-3703 What Can I Do If My Payment Was Sent to a Different Address? We recommend contacting your bank to determine what happened to your payment. United Power is unable to access your bank account or assist you in changing bill pay details on your personal account. If you have fallen behind on your United Power account because of a misdirected payment, please contact us to let us know you are working with your bank to correct the issue. Is There Another Way to Pay My United Power Bill? United Power offers several ways to pay your bill. You can make a simple one-time payment through our Pay Now link, set up auto pay, or even explore our Pay as You Go program. Learn more about each of these options on our website, or contact one of our Member Services Representatives to help you understand and access any of these options. Of course we also accept payments in person during business hours at our Brighton Office, or you can use a payment kiosk at our Brighton, Carbon Valley, Ft. Lupton or Coal Creek Canyon kiosk locations. These self-serve kiosks are open outside of normal business hours, including weekends. Available hours for each kiosk vary, so check out their open times on our website.05/13/2021 - 10:52 AM
Title Helping Forge a Renewable Future /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Solar.jpg?itok=riumQVwI Thursday | May 13, 2021 Card Teaser United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members. United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members. The cooperative has built a national reputation for its introduction of innovative renewable projects over the past decade, beginning with the launch of its community solar garden, Sol Partners, in May 2010. As your cooperative, United Power continues to monitor the renewable energy landscape and recognizes the future of electrical generation will be an “all of the above” strategy of investing in a variety of generation sources. The addition of these projects, from utility scale solar farms to a state-leading battery storage facility, helps build some cost stability for members. The addition of the Platteville Solar Farm in December brought United Power’s cumulative solar production to more than 45 megawatts. Together with the cooperative’s other renewable projects and its members’ rooftop solar systems, United Power produces nearly 85 total megawatts, accounting for 14 percent of its energy needs and enough to power more than 11,000 homes and businesses. United Power members recently topped more than 6,100 total rooftop solar systems across the cooperative’s territory. “United Power has demonstrative success in planning for and implementing renewable projects that provide tangible benefits for our members,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President & Chief Executive Officer. “As we plan for the future, we’ll continue to prioritize projects that establish us as a leader in the energy industry and also meet our members’ expectations for us as their cooperative. What we are doing now is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and environmentally friendly electric utility.” For more information about United Power’s renewable portfolio and other innovative energy projects, visit www.unitedpower.com.11/25/2024 - 04:30 PM
Here for the Community Monday | November 25, 2024 United Power's community support demonstrates it is "Here for Good." Read more >08/28/2022 - 10:31 AM
Title High Heat Can Lead to High Bills /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoolinginfrontofFan.jpg?h=2d828ae9&itok=jLiJUHlr Wednesday | June 15, 2022 Card Teaser How to stay on top of energy use before your bill arrives. Nothing affects your energy use and your bill like extremely low or extremely high temperatures. Especially when those temperatures stay high for an extended period, as we’ve experienced over the last month. Heating and cooling are the largest contributors to your energy use, so when the temperature drastically rises, usage and bills go up. Your home’s age, how many people live there, and how cool you keep your home all play a part. So, what can you do? United Power offers a variety of tools and programs to help you manage your budget and be more energy-efficient. Monitor Your Daily Usage Through the United Power mobile app and the Power Portal, you can watch for trends in your usage to see how much energy you’ve used before your bill arrives. Make Your Smart Thermostat Work Enroll your Nest or Honeywell smart thermostat in our Smart Rewards program and you’ll help us curb energy during peak times. This saves the cooperative from purchasing expensive peak power, reduces your energy use, and we pay you $25 at the end of the summer for participating. Enroll in Pay As You Go Never receive a bill after the fact. With Pay As You Go, you pay for electricity the same way you pay for gas or groceries, keeping you well informed of how much energy you’re using and what it is costing daily. Energy-Saving Tips Check out these energy-saving tips to help lower your bill:- Keep your thermostat setting as high as you can. Every degree below 78 can increase your bill three percent or more.
- Have your air conditioner serviced regularly and don’t forget to change the filters. Dirty filters reduce air flow and cause your system to work harder, which can increase your cooling costs and lead to costly repairs.
- Plug those leaks! Use weather stripping, caulk or foam insulation to fill in the leaks around windows, doors, or under your sinks where the pipes go into the wall.
- Block the sun! During the day, close your blinds or curtains, especially on windows that face the sun to avoid extra heat gain.
05/30/2018 - 03:14 PM
Title Hodge, Whitmore Honored /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_11_03_HodgeWhitmoreHonored.jpg?itok=e4KUm7oR Friday | November 3, 2017 Card Teaser Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October. Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October. Commissioner Hodge was also inducted into the Pro 15 Legislative Hall of Fame. Hodge, a United Power member, graduated from high school in Idalia, Colo., and prior to serving as an Adams County Commissioner, she served in the Colorado State Legislature in both the House and Senate. Whitmore graduated from high school in Haxtun, Colo. and has been with United Power for 31 years. He has served the community on the Thornton City Council, Brighton Economic Development Council, MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce Board and Government Affairs Committee, Northeastern Junior College Alumni Association and the Colorado 4-H and Colorado FFA Foundations. The Alumni of the Plains award was established eleven years ago to recognize individuals who graduated from a high school in one of the 15 counties in Northeast Colorado, and who have excelled in their profession. Progressive 15 (Pro 15) is the collective voice of 15 counties in Northeast Colorado—advocating for legislation and policy that impact the economic vitality of the region.02/25/2022 - 09:46 AM
Title Home Appliances: 6 Ways to Save /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/appliances6.jpg?itok=k5aHFCbp Friday | February 25, 2022 Card Teaser Take some easy steps to save on the operation of your appliances, or boost your savings with a new appliance rebate from your co-op. Our appliances make life easier and help tackle the manual tasks of housework, but there’s a cost to this convenience. Many newer models are designed to be energy efficient, but why not take measures that will help you save even more energy and money?- Run a full load. Wash clothes and dishes with a full load only; partial loads waste energy and water. Load your dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fill the racks completely to maximize water and energy use but allow for adequate water circulation to ensure clean dishes.
- Stay cool and fresh. Set refrigerator and freezer thermostats at the recommended temperature settings: 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator, and 5°F for the freezer. It will help optimize energy savings while keeping foods fresh.
- Stock the fridge. A fully stocked unit uses less energy because there is less air to cool. Avoid overfilling; too many items packed together closely will reduce air circulation.
- Keep your dryer dry. Clean the lint filter after each dryer load; this will increase air circulation and improve dryer efficiency. Inspect your dryer vent periodically to ensure that it's not blocked.
- Air your clean laundry. When doing laundry, why not air-dry your clothes? It will reduce energy costs, and it may help to keep clothes looking new.
- Get cooking efficiently. Use your microwave or toaster oven rather than the stovetop or oven. These smaller appliances often heat food more quickly, while using less energy. If you do use the stovetop, match the pan size to the burner size, and cover pots and pans.
08/02/2021 - 01:02 PM
Title How to Modernize the Electric Grid: Rethinking Our Vision /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP Monday | August 2, 2021 Card Teaser Modernization of the electric grid should not be the singular focus of spending in the United States, rather we should also be targeting our efforts and dollars at specific projects that will make the most immediate impacts. Modernization of the electric grid should not be the singular focus of spending in the United States, rather we should also be targeting our efforts and dollars at specific projects that will make the most immediate impacts. Billions are spent every year on upgrading the system and adding intelligence to the grid and are always balanced against the impacts on rates and customers. Even with unlimited checkbooks on transmission – California and Texas are great examples – system issues can occur. As a country, we should dream big but equally critical are to make improvements that can have an immediate impact on improving the nation’s infrastructure. The vision of seven hundred and sixty-five megawatt lines crisscrossing the U.S. is a “BHAG” – big, hairy audacious goal – that should be pursued. However, with even the simplest transmission project taking a decade or more, we should take some specific, short- and medium-term actions. It is also important to realize while permitting is slow, money is currently available to invest in transmission. The hang up is in assuring the line will be used and commitments made to guarantee the offtake of power. In other words, if no demand backed by financial arrangements, no construction. So, what projects do I believe can and should be done today? Rebuild the seven AC/DC ties between the Eastern and Western grid. At a cost of roughly thirty million, this project could be complete in less than eighteen months. Expand the Mead Substation at Hoover Dam into a renewable energy hub. This project will take between twenty-four to thirty-six months to complete. It is at the base of the El Dorado Valley, connects to California, and is the ideal spot for a robust hub. Complete the Intertie Project started in 1964. In forty-eight months or less, the two hundred and seventy-five miles of transmission could be built that would loop the Pacific Northwest across the west and into the Southwest Power Pool. Widen our focus and fund technology that benefits the nation and not just a single region. Concentrate those efforts on grid cybersecurity, as well as advanced system sensing to anticipate and avoid issues. Another key area is to create a cohesive national effort to enhance wildfire tools and technology, including the expansion of right-of-way tree clearing. Encourage or standardize the use of coated cables, especially in areas when undergrounding is limited by terrain or cost. Create an incentive structure that supports our end goals for improvements in the grid. Pay higher incentives for the power solutions that are really needed: pay a higher rate of return for lines that serve grids wider than a single state, quit paying for redundant infrastructure, and guarantee offtake as a fundamental component of the incentive structure. Create real markets that span time zones and weather conditions and empower those entities to support. This should also include an RTO to coordinate offshore wind and provide the trading and management platform. Finally, recognize that transmission is best suited to fix the growing energy divide. The digital divide is often spoken of in our country when the energy divide is an even greater one to navigate for underserved or unserved communities. The “haves” can afford solar panels and storage, while the “have nots” are paying the price. The haves can create microgrids – which serve a purpose – but also serve to create a balkanized electrical system. Our current business models hang on an engineering measurement – the kilowatt/megawatt hour paradigm. This paradigm is no longer valid when the haves can move their energy supply off the grid for a portion of the day while the have nots pay the carrying costs. We need to move beyond a simple engineering focus on our grid and the delivery of power and understand the far-reaching effects being created with our inherently uneven system. The question to be asking is how can we effectively grow our grid to realize all the intrinsic potential, and bring all our citizens along to enjoy those benefits? Let us dream for the future and act for today. This article recently appeared in August 2021 Public Utilities Fortnightly. Read the original article here.12/10/2019 - 10:41 AM
Title How to Use New Payment Kiosks /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2019_NL_Kiosk.jpg?itok=jg74aqOV Tuesday | December 10, 2019 Card Teaser United Power has placed payment kiosks at two office locations this year. United Power has payment kiosks at our Brighton, Coal Creek and Carbon Valley office locations. These easy-to-use and hassle-free kiosks accept cash, credit card or check payments. Cash and credit card payments made using a kiosk are applied to your account immediately, and accounts subject to disconnection are restored immediately upon payment. To make a payment at one of these kiosks, bring your United Power account number and a form of payment. Set Up Your Fast Pass for Quick Access To make your transactions faster, there is an option to set up a “Fast Pass,” which will be prompted once you complete a successful transaction. You’ll create a 4-digit PIN and receive a printed barcode. The next time you visit a United Power payment kiosk, select “Fast Pass” and quickly find your account with the barcode/PIN or the phone number you used when setting up your Fast Pass. Please be careful to enter the correct phone and account numbers when making a payment because your Fast Pass will reflect these numbers exactly as you input them.02/14/2022 - 02:21 PM
Title Industry Standard in System Reliability /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2021_NL_SystemReliability.jpg?h=45932144&itok=twbW3RYA Monday | February 14, 2022 Card Teaser Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers. United Power Consistently, Significantly Better than National Average United Power understands the most important thing its members want is consistently reliable power. Being able to deliver uninterrupted power is prominently weighed in how the cooperative defines success each year. Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers. Already an industry leader in automated field devices and other innovative projects, the cooperative is also trending well below the national average in utility outage times, setting yet another standard for others to emulate. The national average for outage duration among electric utilities in the United States has consistently hovered around 120 minutes per meter. This means the average electric consumer can expect to experience approximately two hours of outage time at their home over the course of a year. When United Power’s operations team instituted a new data-driven maintenance plan in 2017, its average outage times resembled the national averages. In the four years following the plan’s launch, the cooperative’s outage times per meter have dropped below 70 minutes. The new maintenance practice focuses on analyzing data collected across thousands of miles of line to isolate the worst performing segments. With these segments identified, targeted maintenance projects can be scheduled to improve their performance. “When you target maintenance efforts at the worst performing parts of the system it improves reliability for members served off of it,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power’s Chief Operating Officer. “Maintenance is an ongoing process, but as long as we continue analyzing the data, isolating problem sections and targeting our maintenance efforts to improve them, it improves the whole system’s reliability and resilience.” Devices on the system, such as enhanced technology in substations and advanced metering equipment, collect data and transfer it back to system operators. In the event of an outage, these devices can capture important information, such as time, location and sequence-of-events. Armed with this, lineworkers in the field can use the information to restore power to members more quickly, which also contributes to decreased outage times. Without this information, not only would identifying problematic areas be difficult, or even impossible, it would also create additional delays in power restoration as lineworkers inspect miles of line to find the cause. Some system improvements have served dual functions. United Power recently published its comprehensive fire mitigation plan, which includes new standards and program initiatives primarily focused on areas of the territory that are particularly at risk of wildfires, such as Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyons. In December, storms blew through the territory with wind speeds in excess of 115 mph, including the storm that ultimately fueled the Marshall Fire. The cooperative activated its fire mitigation protocols during these windstorms, and due to proactive upgrades only experienced a few small outages. “Our maintenance and system improvement efforts are already paying off for our members,” said Robbins. “Implementing this new maintenance plan has been effective and is proving its value. It’s hard to estimate how many outages you’ve prevented when you don’t have them, but our proactive efforts have gone a long way in helping prevent and/or quickly resolving outages.” Regardless of the size or length of outage, United Power is continually investigating what causes them and how it can implement new practices to decrease their impact to members and duration. From system redundancies allowing the cooperative to restore power from a secondary location while repairs are being made to deploying an industry-leading number of automated devices, improving system reliability is one of United Power’s core goals.01/16/2020 - 09:07 AM
Title Is Your Contact Info Up to Date? /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2020_NL_ContactInfo.jpg?itok=RMmrwr-P Thursday | January 16, 2020 Card Teaser Check your information to make sure you're getting important updates from your co-op. United Power has been using recorded phone messages to let members know when a preplanned outage has been scheduled in their area for maintenance work. As new software becomes available, the cooperative may have more options to send important communications to members electronically. Electronic communications are tied to individual member accounts and use the phone numbers and/or email addresses the cooperative has on record. If the contact information on record isn’t up-to-date or is entered incorrectly, you may be missing out on important notifications from United Power. You can check your contact information and make necessary updates using the free online payment portal, SmartHub. To set up an online account, go to www.unitedpower.com and click on Online Account Services under My Account. Contact information can also be updated by calling the Member Services Team at 303-637-1300.05/30/2018 - 02:56 PM
Title It Pays to Be a Member – Capital Credit Refunds Issued to Members in August /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_07_17_PaysToBeMember.jpg?itok=psAlv8eY Monday | July 17, 2017 Card Teaser The United Power board approved a retirement this year of $5 million dollars, and that means that every member will get to share in the cooperative’s continuing good financial health. 2017 Capital Credit Retirement to Distribute $5 Million The United Power board approved a retirement this year of $5 million dollars, and that means that every member will get to share in the cooperative’s continuing good financial health. As the 11th consecutive year United Power has retired capital credits to its members, this $5 million dollar amount continues the commitment to sharing the performance of the cooperative with its members. United Power, as a cooperative, is a not-for-profit operation. This means the co-op doesn’t work to earn margins for shareholders, but works for the members. Every year the United Power Board of Directors assesses the cooperative’s financial condition, and determines if and how much the cooperative can afford to return to the members. Capital credits are based on two factors: how much electricity members use, and how long members have been a cooperative member. Essentially, the more power a member uses and the longer the member is part of the cooperative, the larger the share of each capital retirement. Each capital credit account represents a member’s investment into the cooperative, and those investment dollars are used over time to make capital improvements to the electric system. “Capital credits illustrate one of the ways that cooperatives are very different from other utilities,” said John Parker, Interim CEO. “Our goal is to provide reliable electricity at economical rates, and with our members providing the support for our growing system we can meet the need for new service and keep rates economical. Every time a member receives a capital credit retirement from the cooperative, they receive a tangible benefit from their membership.” Anyone who had service in 2016 or earlier will receive either a check or a bill credit as part of this year’s capital credit retirement. Any member who has a retirement of $10 or more will receive a check and anyone under that amount will receive a credit on their bill in August or September. “We will be issuing more than 79,000 checks to our members this year, and many of those checks will be substantial,” Parker said. “Consider some of our largest users like local businesses, school districts, municipalities and farms and you can understand the impact United Power’s cooperative model has on the communities we serve. Large checks to a school district or for town facilities can really help with operational costs.” Capital credit retirements have returned a steady stream of money back to members in recent years. In the past 11 years, United Power has retired $41 million in capital credits to our members. To learn more about Capital Credits visit our Capital Credits page, or call a Member Services Representative at 303-637-1300.01/06/2025 - 10:35 AM
Title January Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message_85.jpg?h=45932144&itok=fpbFupeq Monday | January 6, 2025 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”Cheshire Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” This quote from Alice and the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is often paraphrased, “If you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get you there.” It speaks to the fact that a lack of direction can create challenges instead of opportunities and simply reinforces the status quo. Having strategic direction, especially in times of significant societal and technological change, is critical. That is why the amazing team at United Power, supported by your Board of Directors, has unveiled the second version of Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap). This document gives the co-op its direction and helps us screen activities in — as well as out. The Roadmap v1.0 led us to where we are today. We have reduced our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 26% since May 1 and successfully raised $700 million to evolve as an independent utility and meet the needs of our communities and more than 113,000 members. The Roadmap helped us obtain $261 million through the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program to support the transition to a cleaner energy supply and hyper-localize our resources. It clarified our technology investments, how we interact with members, and our role in supporting our communities. Much has changed nearly three years after we unveiled the initial Roadmap. The western United States is edging closer to a power market and new power sources have come online. More members are adding solar panels and purchasing electric vehicles. But much has also remained the same, such as Colorado’s goal of 80% reduction in GHG emissions over 2005 levels by 2030 — a goal we will meet or exceed by helping members such as those in the oil and gas industry achieve their targets simply by electrifying the production facilities. The Roadmap v2.0 maintains its focus on four critical areas that lie at the heart of what we do as a member-owned electric cooperative:- Empower and Engage with Members and Communities. This critical element ties directly to United Power’s Community Benefit Plan through New ERA. Our dedicated focus on supporting communities and members made creating the benefit plan a simple task for our team.
- Provide Flexible, Affordable, Responsible Power and Services. United Power’s hyperlocalization strategy has resulted in significant deployment of battery energy storage systems, with more than 110 MWs spread across nine substations. It already proved valuable during last summer’s peak. This industry-leading deployment means we can benefit from times when power prices are low, using the stored energy when demand (and prices) are high.
- Continuously Optimize the Electric Distribution System. As we move toward becoming a distribution system operator (DSO), focusing on local generation and control, our system investments are made with your future needs in mind. We installed a new outage management system in 2024 that, coupled with our advanced metering infrastructure, gives us better real-time operational data.
- Achieve and Maintain Business Agility and Resilience. We will be replacing our distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) in 2025 to better manage system operations, and are rolling out a new asset management tool to improve our response times and better manage material and projects.