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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
It Pays to Be a Member – Capital Credit Refunds Issued to Members in August Monday | July 17, 2017 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. Read more >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.
01/02/2024 - 01:09 PM
Title January Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP Tuesday | January 2, 2024 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Along with the honor of operating an electric cooperative on behalf of you, our members, comes the accountability of being prepared for the changing future in energy. Two recent, recurrent themes have emerged that emphasize the need for United Power to work diligently to make Our Cooperative Roadmap a reality. The first is the need to continue investing in the grid, and the second is an ongoing concern that the need for capacity — the backbone of reliable power — is getting perilously close to a crisis. Both issues tend to focus on the problem. United Power is actively seeking solutions. There has been a lot of talk recently about investing significant financial resources in the grid. The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include funding to target large-scale projects over the next decade. These investments are needed and welcomed, but the completion estimates are measured in years or even decades. Meeting the needs of a growing enterprise like United Power is at least four to five years away, even with aggressive siting and execution. People tend to think of the grid as the large power lines that deliver electricity from power plants miles away. Much of the energy transition challenge is that a lot of low or non-carbon generation is located far from population centers. Coupled with permitting challenges, supply chain constraints, and a confusing financing model, large-scale projects just take time. But the grid also includes distribution systems, operated by utilities like United Power. It is the main conduit to our members and requires as much — or more — investment as its larger cousins. Your Board of Directors has continuously supported budgets to upgrade and expand critical infrastructure, and these investments have paid off. United Power has one of the best distribution networks in the country, evidenced by high reliability numbers, rapid outage response, and data-driven system management. A robust distribution grid is also critical to the second issue — the potential for seasonal power shortages. The North American Reliability Corporation (NERC), responsible for assessing and enforcing reliability standards, recently found the country is at an elevated risk of having insufficient energy supplies to meet demand in extreme conditions. The reasons for this potential shortfall range from coal and nuclear plant closures and an expanded reliance on natural gas to the increased electrification of everything. “Extreme cold weather events can cause electricity demand to deviate significantly from historical forecasts. Electricity demand in winter is closely tied to outside temperature. As electric heat pumps and heating systems become more prevalent, their combined effect on system demand is even more pronounced,” NERC stated. The industry has tried to slow the energy transition and continue operating money-losing coal plants instead of proposing solutions. And, importantly, there are solutions. This is where United Power’s strategy of hyper-localizing generation and storage comes into play. As we prepare for our upcoming power supply transition, United Power is adding significant amounts of battery storage, spread across our system. We are locating natural gas peaking units tied in to the distribution — versus transmission — networks and contracting with power supplies closer to the communities we serve. This reduces line losses, improves reliability, and keeps tax dollars local. We will couple this with efficiency programs, support any members who want to generate part of their own power through solar, and expand demand response options now that we will have a realistic peak window. Of course, we will continue to get power from generation plants and support efforts to build out the transmission grid as it will continue to have a role in a modern electric enterprise. But, we will focus on what we can do locally. As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns. United Power welcomes the opportunity to meet with your community groups and discuss the cooperative’s response to the changing industry.02/01/2022 - 10:02 AM
January Message from Mark A. Gabriel Saturday | January 1, 2022 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >03/11/2022 - 02:29 PM
Title Join Us Online or In-Person for the 2022 Annual Meeting /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/04_18_2018_AnnualMeeting79.png?h=45932144&itok=OsZd0myY Friday | March 11, 2022 Card Teaser For the past two years, United Power has hosted its Annual Meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the health and safety of members and employees. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format on April 13, meaning members may also participate online via a livestream hosted on the cooperative’s website. First In-Person Annual Meeting Since 2019 For the past two years, United Power has hosted its Annual Meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the health and safety of members and employees. As public health restrictions ease, the cooperative will offer members an opportunity to gather in person and hear from co-op leadership for the first time since 2019. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format on April 13, meaning members may also participate online via a livestream hosted on the cooperative’s website. All members are invited to attend the Annual Meeting to hear from United Power leadership about the exciting ways the cooperative has continued to serve members throughout the previous year. Despite navigating ongoing public safety restrictions from the pandemic, the cooperative managed contract negotiations with its wholesale power supplier while also improving system reliability and continuing to provide the same level of service its members have come to expect. Participating members will receive an attendance gift, and an opportunity to win one of several door prizes. Voting in the annual director election also provides United Power members the unique ability to voice their thoughts on the cooperative’s future. Each year, your votes determine who serves on the United Power Board of Directors. Your participation in the election is critical to helping the cooperative better serve you. Five candidates are running for election to the Board of Directors. This year, one seat in the East, South, and West Districts is up for election. The director candidates are Steven “Steve” Douglas, Naptali A. Lucks, and Elizabeth “Beth” A. Martin in the East District; Keith Alquist in the South District; and Ursula J. Morgan in the West District. Candidate Statements The cooperative mails out director ballots in mid-March and encourages all members to vote and return their ballots prior to the deadline. This year, members can participate in the director election electronically through their online account. Voting online is a fast and secure way to submit your ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. Online and mail-in ballots must be received by noon on April 12, or members can vote in person on April 13 at the meeting. Although directors live in specific geographical districts, they represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. Please cast a vote for a director in each district regardless of where you live. Attending the Meeting The in-person meeting will be held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds on April 13. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. The virtual stream will begin at 6:30 p.m. To view the livestream, go to www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.07/01/2025 - 08:39 AM
Title July Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message_85.jpg?h=45932144&itok=fpbFupeq Tuesday | July 1, 2025 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Engaging with our communities is the best part of working for a cooperative. Whether it is answering a direct question from one of our members, supporting local fairs and festivals, or receiving input from our key accounts at quarterly meetings, the insight you provide helps us understand and respond to member needs. Listening to your needs is a critical component of how we operate. Since I joined United Power in early 2021, we have seen amazing and continued growth. Loads have increased by more than 31% and our projected peak this summer is nearly 700 MW (for context, 1 MW is enough to power 700–1,000 average-sized homes). We have also added nearly 20,000 new meters, which is the size of an average cooperative in the United States. Annually, we add as many members as some smaller U.S. cooperatives have in total. Ensuring we have sufficient power supply to serve growing loads now and for years to come meant we needed to expand our portfolio of power projects. Our power comes from a variety of technologies, ranging from hydropower and natural gas to solar and battery storage, bringing reliability and resilience to our distribution system and our members. And, of course, many members have added their own solar and storage resources and drive electric vehicles (EV). United Power’s service territory has among the highest penetration of residential solar in the nation and more than 8,000 EVs. The cooperative is fortunate to have a growing and well-diversified membership base nearly evenly split between oil and gas, commercial and industrial, and residential and small commercial. This allows for a balanced load factor on our system, resulting in high utilization of the electricity we provide for members. Recently, we have had conversations with our oil and gas members to understand their needs and how we can support them as they strive to meet state regulations. Electrification of the oil and gas industry provides a cleaner way of producing their products and a more efficient use of resources, as is true of many parts of society. Closely coordinating with these members means we can leverage our reduced-carbon generating resources in alignment with their needs. Data centers are also expanding their footprint in our territory. While some utilities are challenged by the influx of these energy-intensive operations, we encourage these potential members to work with us in a coordinated fashion that aligns with the concept of “growth pays,” as well as our move to expanding our distribution system operator plans. It is especially important that we hear from our members directly about our $262 million grant through the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. One of the cornerstones of the program has been developing our Community Benefit Plan (CBP). We are asking for your input on how our CBP initiatives can help local communities. Our first outreach was at Brighton Summerfest in early June, where dozens of members “voted” for their top three (out of seven) projects to be implemented as part of the CBP. There will be additional opportunities throughout the summer to participate, including multiple days at the Adams County Fair. Members may also let us know their favorite projects on the co-op website. We want to hear from you! It is a privilege to work with the tremendous people here at United Power, supported by an active and engaged Board of Directors, as we enact Our Cooperative Roadmap. Engaging with our members makes us strong. As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns or if you would like to discuss the CBP or New ERA grant program. I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your continued support. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.07/01/2024 - 03:11 PM
Title July Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message_85.jpg?h=45932144&itok=fpbFupeq Monday | July 1, 2024 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. I recently attended a conference for cooperative CEOs and board directors. The keynote speaker asked a rhetorical question of the audience: “Why are you here?” An admonition we are all familiar with, often seen on raffle tickets, followed the question: “Must be present to win.” Both the question and the advice resonated with me, so much so that I asked my senior staff that very question. We spent time talking about the importance of being present — in our communities and with our employees — especially given the monumental changes we are seeing in the electric industry, as well as the new day we are now operating under at United Power as an independent distribution cooperative. People come to work at an electric cooperative for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, we come to make a difference for our friends, neighbors, businesses, and communities. Many United Power employees have decades of service; others, like myself, come after years of seeing different ways utilities provide electricity — the most critical commodity after air and water — to their members and customers. I truly believe the cooperative model is the best way to deliver this valuable resource. We are attracted to a place like United Power to bring critical change in an exciting and transformational time. The same holds true for our Board of Directors, who come from all walks of life and different backgrounds, giving their time for the betterment of the communities we serve. Being on a board, especially one that has made some difficult and challenging decisions to ensure the continued viability of our cooperative for the future, is not easy. I am sure there are United Power Board members — and employees — who wrestle with the question posed by the speaker: “Why are you here?” For me personally, I am here at United Power to help us build and prepare for the dynamic future ahead. It entails a transition to cleaner — and ultimately lower cost — generating resources. It is a future that will require deploying new and innovative technologies. It is a future that required a change in power suppliers, a new way of doing business, and a significant investment in order to make way for the changing environment. We are on the cusp of massive amounts of electrification and growth, powered by artificial intelligence and coupled with more direct interaction with our members. This is not change for the sake of change, and there is certainly a cost to moving to this new world. But, just as the founders of United Power (then called Union REA) decided 85 years ago, the future was worth the investment. Rate increases are not any easier now than they were then, but they are a necessary part of being prepared and moving the cooperative ahead. So, why are we here? The team at United Power is here to win every day. We are present at community events, present in industry forums, and present in working to make sure legislation and regulation support the vision outlined in Our Cooperative Roadmap. Employees at United Power are present to ensure reliable electricity is available for our members 24/7/365, or as close to that goal as possible. These are not passive actions. By definition the actions we are taking ensure a continued, robust future for our growing membership base. These actions are to keep electricity flowing. Being present to win means we will be able to stabilize power prices, take advantage of coming energy markets, escape the burden of coal, and deploy new technologies, like battery storage, in a hyper-localized fashion. Being present to win means we will be there for our members for the long term with electricity and services that support the economic growth and vitality of our communities. Being present means we are HERE FOR GOOD. As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns. I am honored to work for United Power and serve our members. I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your continued support.07/13/2023 - 01:55 PM
July Message from Mark. A. Gabriel Thursday | July 13, 2023 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >07/13/2021 - 11:20 AM
Title July/August Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP Monday | July 5, 2021 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. My first four months as United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer have been a whirlwind of activity and opportunity. These are exciting times to be a part of the cooperative community and the electric utility business. From humble beginnings, rural electric cooperatives have transformed the energy enterprise serving members around the country. In June, United Power became one of the privileged few cooperatives that have surpassed 100,000 meters. Early in my career at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), I could only dream about the tools we have today. These advancements represent the culmination of decades of technological progress and changing social consciousness. I came to United Power after eight years as Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Area Power Association (WAPA), where I was responsible for one of the largest grids in the US, bringing power to nearly 40 million Americans from 57 dams across the West. Prior to WAPA, I was a consultant and senior officer at EPRI. The growth and progress I have witnessed throughout my time in the industry, and the value it adds to our lives, continues to inspire me. Technology has shifted the way our members use energy and increased its impact on their lives. More than 6,000 households on our lines have added solar systems to their rooftops and nearly 3,000 members are now driving an electric vehicle – myself included. Many more families are using smart devices in their homes — like Nest, Alexa and Google Home — to power their lives more efficiently. The changing patterns in energy usage and growing dependence on this resource are driving our industry’s future. Our relationship with members must change to meet these growing needs. United Power must balance our members’ growing dependence on energy with a path toward environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability. This means pursuing energy alternatives that are clean, cost effective and beneficial. The affordability of renewable options, such as utility scale wind and solar, is driving down the costs of traditional options like natural gas as competition among resources increases. We have seen rapid expansion of battery storage projects as the technology becomes more viable and more affordable. United Power was among the early adopters of battery storage, and we are examining how we can take further advantage of this growing option for members. There are many ongoing conversations about cyber security challenges, power supply, renewable energy and regional transmission organizations (and markets in general) happening in Colorado and across the country. I am proud to lead a team of professionals who are aware of the opportunities available to us and the challenges we must overcome. Their hard work and dedication have made United Power one of the leading distribution cooperatives in the nation. Our reputation gives us a voice on the national stage and allows us to be a driving force in the industry. As members and our only stakeholders, your voice helps shape our strategies. We are here to understand and meet your needs. Cooperatives have the flexibility to make strategic changes and are nimble enough to make them in a timely manner. Whether you live on a large farm, own a home in a suburban neighborhood or operate a local business, we exist as an extension of our communities and are here to serve our members. Those who came before me built a reputation for excellence here at United Power, and I look forward to building upon it. I want every member to feel empowered to reach out to me and our staff with questions, comments or concerns at any time. I welcome the opportunity to meet you where you are, so please do not hesitate to email me. Have a safe and healthy summer. Email Mark A. Gabriel07/16/2020 - 02:14 PM
June Derecho Strikes Cooperative Thursday | July 16, 2020 Derechos are fast-moving bands of thunderstorms featuring hurricane- or even tornado-like winds. June’s storm was Colorado’s first derecho and also one of the strongest on record. Read more >10/26/2022 - 12:38 PM
Late Fall Message from Mark A. Gabriel Wednesday | October 26, 2022 A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Read more >