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12/13/2021 - 06:50 PM
Title No Rate Changes for Members in 2022 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Bills_0.jpg?itok=POrQ2snT Monday | December 13, 2021 Card Teaser United Power has announced that there will not be a rate increase for members in 2022, marking the second consecutive year rates have not been increased. Residential & Business Rates Will Not Increase for Second Consecutive Year United Power has announced that there will not be a scheduled rate increase for residential or business members in 2022. This marks the second consecutive year rates have not been increased for members. The cooperative’s Board of Directors made the decision in November upon approval of the 2022 budget. Over the course of the past several months, United Power has focused its efforts to reduce spending where possible and control cooperative costs. It has also continued to monitor the pandemic’s economic impact on the communities it serves and the members on its lines. While there has been a slow transition to normal functions, the result of the cooperative’s cost control measures has enabled it to once again avoid a rate increase, providing a little additional relief for members who continue to feel the pandemic’s affects heading into the holiday season. “We are proud to announce that members will not have to worry about how a rate increase will affect them this upcoming year,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As a cooperative, we don’t answer to corporate shareholders or investor interests, but are here to serve each of our members. We have the flexibility to shift directions quickly, like we had to over the past year, to drive better results for you, our members.” Continued growth also played a significant role in the cooperative’s ability to maintain its current rate structure. Growth this year has exceeded expectations, and United Power became just the second Colorado co-op to surpass 100,000 meters earlier this summer. United Power understands its members have different needs and use electricity in vastly different ways. The cooperative’s residential rates are designed so members have the option to choose one that most closely fits how they use energy. When the demand rate debuted, it separated the energy and demand components and allowed the cooperative to more fairly charge members for both their energy use and impact on the grid. Residential members have four different rates to choose from, each designed with slight variations that allow you to review your energy usage and pick a rate that works best for you and your family. However you use your energy, the flexibility of the cooperative’s residential rates should meet most members’ needs. You can compare the demand and energy charges of each rate and choose one that most closely fits how you and your family use energy here. Members who are curious how home electronics and appliances may impact their demand charge can use the cooperative’s Demand Calculator on the Understanding Demand page.12/08/2020 - 03:54 PM
Title No Rate Increase for Members in 2021 /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Rates.jpg?itok=w13JtHmh Tuesday | December 8, 2020 Card Teaser The decision from the cooperative’s Board of Directors was made in November upon approval of the 2021 budget and rate structure. Cooperative Board of Directors Approves 2021 Budget at November Meeting United Power is pleased to announce there will be no rate increase in 2021. The decision from the cooperative’s Board of Directors was made in November upon approval of the 2021 budget and rate structure. For many members, who have had to endure a tumultuous past few months or have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the news could not have come at a better time. Rates were able to remain steady thanks to the forethought of cooperative leadership, who recognized the potential financial impact the pandemic could have and took immediate action to reduce spending in various departments. Just as businesses and homeowners adjusted spending, each team at United Power was tasked with evaluating initiatives that could either save money or be delayed without impacting service. “United Power has been fortunate during this time,” said Laurie Burkhart, the cooperative’s chief financial officer. “We haven’t seen the same level of impact as many other cooperatives, and that’s due in large part to the actions our teams have taken, as well as continued growth we’ve seen. It’s allowed us to keep our rates from increasing and provide some small relief to our members.” A variety of factors allowed the cooperative to keep rates steady, but perhaps chief among them has been the amount of growth seen throughout the service area, despite the pandemic. The slowdown United Power anticipated on its system never materialized. Instead, another strong year in residential and business growth, as well as load growth, helped fuel its ability to weather the storm. Other shifts in the ways our members interacted with us this year made small, but noticeable, changes to costs. Member enrollment in services like online account management and paperless billing was also a factor, which helped the cooperative improve efficiencies and provided real savings. While keeping the current rate structures may ease the burden for many residential members, it could be especially impactful for local organizations like school districts and businesses that may be facing tough budget years ahead as a result of slower sales or state budget cuts. Steady electric rates are one less thing for larger members to plan for when making end of year budget adjustments. Many members may realize some small benefit from stable rates in the coming year, but United Power has also prioritized the pursuit of more affordable and competitive rates for several years. The cooperative has had ongoing discussions with its wholesale power provider, Tri-State Generation & Transmission, that would allow it to eventually lower rates as much as 15% to 25% in the next few years. “United Power has worked closely with Tri-State for several years to provide reliable and affordable rates to our members,” said acting CEO Bryant Robbins. “Efforts continue to be made in looking at all of our options with Tri-State to reach our rate reduction goals. We are also looking at other power supply options should we not be able to come to an acceptable agreement. My hope is to provide our Board with a couple of great options so that they can make the decision that they feel is in the best interest of our membership.” In a cooperative, we all share in the expense and prosperity, and members who were able to continue paying bills helped United Power maintain its positive financial condition. For those who were impacted by job loss or illness and unable to pay their bills, the cooperative established the Co-op Cares Fund to provide financial assistance and ease the burden on both members and the co-op. This year $300,000 was allocated to the fund from unclaimed capital credits. In October, the Board approved an additional allocation of $250,000 for members in 2021. United Power understands our members have different needs and use electricity in vastly different ways. United Power’s residential rates are designed so members have the option to choose one that most closely fits how they use energy. When the cooperative’s demand rate debuted in January 2019, it separated the energy and demand components and allowed the cooperative to more fairly charge members for both their energy use and impact on the grid. Along with it, the cooperative also rolled out the Smart Choice Rate, which provided two different peak demand charges and a much lower energy charge. Earlier this year, United Power added a Peak Time of Day rate, which encourages members to switch their usage to off-peak hours. The new rate charges a higher demand for on-peak usage, but does not charge for demand during off-peak hours. The cooperative’s standard and time of day rates also remain options for members. However you use your energy, the flexibility of the cooperative’s residential rates should meet most members’ needs. You can compare the demand and energy charges of each rate and choose the one that most closely fits how you and your family use energy on the Residential Rates page.02/11/2022 - 04:11 PM
Title Notice of 2022 Board Nominations /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations_0.jpg?h=45932144&itok=lhOa2zqi Friday | February 11, 2022 Card Teaser The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc. UNITED POWER, INC. OFFICIAL POSTING OF NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR BY PETITION The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc., in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled April 13, 2022. Districts East, South and West are up for three-year terms. 2022 Director Candidates are as follows: District E (East) Steven "Steve" Douglas Naptali A. Lucks Elizabeth "Beth" A. Martin District S (South) Keith Alquist District W (West) Ursula J. Morgan This notice is posted pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of United Power, Inc. Posted: 2-11-2022 Cooperative Website Brighton Headquarters Carbon Valley Service Center Coal Creek Office Learn more about the 2022 Annual Meeting & Director Election here: Annual Meeting02/14/2020 - 04:10 PM
Title Notice of Board Nominations /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/0_BoardNominations_0.jpg?h=45932144&itok=lhOa2zqi Friday | February 14, 2020 Card Teaser The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc. UNITED POWER, INC. OFFICIAL POSTING OF NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR BY PETITION The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc., in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled April 15, 2020. Districts E (East), Districts M (Mountain), S (South) and W (West) are up for three-year terms. District E (East) James Vigesaa District M (Mountains) Tamra K. Waltemath District S (South) Greg Campbell Stan Martin Phil Noble David E. Rose District W (West) Ginny Buczek James P. Menghi This notice is posted pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of United Power, Inc. Posted: 2-14-2020 Cooperative Website Brighton Headquarters Carbon Valley Service Center Coal Creek Office Ft. Lupton Office Learn more about the 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election here: Annual Meeting07/15/2022 - 09:22 AM
Title Notice of Change in Rules and Regulations Tariffs /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/PowerLine.jpg?h=6ae7ec77&itok=vzIvBZWb Tuesday | July 12, 2022 Card Teaser You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations. NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS TARIFFS OF UNITED POWER, INC. Date of Notice: July 12, 2022 You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations. These updates are to become effective on or after August 12, 2022. Staff has reviewed the current Rules and Regulations tariffs. Business units across the organization were involved in the review. The following main areas have been identified as needing revisions or updating: (1) Updating “Customer” to “Member” to recognize our end-users properly; (2) Updating “United” to “United Power” for consistency throughout the entire document; (3) Formatting and grammatical updates for ease of use, consistency, and clarity; and (4) Updates for Current Business Practices to reflect technological changes, system changes, and efficiencies. The present and proposed Rules and Regulations tariffs are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Brighton headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado; and the Carbon Valley Service Center located at 9586 E. I-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, Colorado. Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United Power at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United Power, in regard to the proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations tariffs but will not require that a hearing be held. Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United Power’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United Power. United Power may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those Rules and Regulations tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United Power, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. UNITED POWER, INC. By: Mark A. Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer01/23/2019 - 03:33 PM
Title Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc. /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/10_08_2018_Tariffs_0.png?itok=md-8OZEr Tuesday | November 27, 2018 Card Teaser The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at United Power's physical location in Brighton, Ft. Lupton and Coal Creek Canyon. As Published in the Denver Post and Longmont Times Call: November 9th, 2018 You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2019 (billings issued after February 1, 2019). A cost of service study was updated and indicated an increase was necessary for several rate classes. There will be a rate increase to the Residential (R1) rate class of 1.5% and a 2% increase to the Residential Time of Use (RTD1) and Irrigation (IRR2) rate classes. The Industrial Service – Substation or Transmission (ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4) rate classes will have an increase of .7 mills per kWh. The Residential (R1), Residential Time of Use (RTD1), Small Commercial (C1), Small Commercial Time of Use (CTD1), Irrigation (IRR2) and Small Industrial Primary (SIP1) will have a demand charge of $1.00 per kW added with a reduction in the energy charge per kWh. The Residential Demand Pilot Rate (RD1) will be eliminated and a new Smart Choice rate will be established for residential service. There will be minor rate language updates for consistency to Residential (R1), Residential Time of Use (RTD1), Small Commercial (C1), Small Commercial Time of Use (CTD1), Irrigation (IRR2), Small Industrial Primary (SIP1), Large Commercial Secondary Demand (ISD1) and Large Industrial Primary Demand (IPD1) rate classes. The Rules and Regulations, Service Rules and Regulations, and the Service Connection and Line Extension Policies will be reformatted. The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado. Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held. Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United. United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. UNITED POWER, INC By: John D. Parker, Chief Executive Officer01/23/2019 - 01:06 PM
Title Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc. /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/10_08_2018_Tariffs.png?h=45932144&itok=LdJNvJkr Monday | October 8, 2018 Card Teaser You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018. Date of Notice: October 10, 2018 You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018. The Reserve Capacity rate for Net Metering will be eliminated and the wording in the Net Metering rate tariff is updated to reflect current language for Interconnection Standards. The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado. Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held. Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United. United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. UNITED POWER, INC By: John D. Parker, Chief Executive Officer05/30/2018 - 03:20 PM
Title Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc. /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_11_20_ChangeInTariffs.jpg?itok=f1OQVp4F Monday | November 20, 2017 Card Teaser You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018). You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018). A cost of service study was completed and indicated a fixed charge cost increase to the Residential R1 rate class of $2.00/month. The Industrial Service Substation or Transmission ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4 rate classes will have a fixed charge increase of $500.00/month. The Grid Access Demand charge will increase for ITD3 to $3.50/kW and ITD4 will increase to $4.00/kW. The Power Cost Adjustment charge will be added into the energy charge for all effected rate classes and then zeroed out. There will be billing language clean up consistent with rate tariffs on all rate classes and Non-Standard Meter Fees will be made available to members with either behind the meter distributed generation or AMI opt-out. Also, the re-connection fee will be decreased for AMI metered accounts only. The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado. Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held. Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United. United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. UNITED POWER, INC By: John Parker, Chief Executive Officer11/04/2024 - 12:32 PM
Title November Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message_85.jpg?h=45932144&itok=fpbFupeq Monday | November 4, 2024 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. Engaging with our members and communities is the highest privilege of running an electric cooperative. Understanding our members’ needs and goals allows us to meet — and often exceed — their expectations for providing electricity. I had the pleasure of visiting two of our business members this past month — Meati Foods, the manufacturer of a “superfood” meat substitute made from mycelium, and several Chevron-owned sites. Although the two businesses could not be more different, they are similar in their visions for the energy future. Their corporate visions include using electricity to improve operations and reduce their carbon footprint. This strategy aligns with Our Cooperative Roadmap. We have made significant progress in reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions — down 26% since May 1 — and further reductions are planned. The value of reliable and resilient electric power is core to the business success of both Meati Foods and Chevron. The Rockies Business Unit of Chevron has pioneered the electrification of oil and gas sites, which eliminates the use of diesel generators. The benefits of this solution are a cost-effective alternative to operating and maintaining large generators and a smaller, cleaner, and quieter footprint. One site supervisor told me, “We love [electrification] because it is quiet, does not smell, and we can count on it to work.” Reliable power is also critical for Meati Food’s process, which turns a small handful of mycelium into the meat equivalent of 350 head of cattle in just over three days. Even brief power interruptions create challenges. In both cases, there is a desire to develop on-site generation and storage that aligns perfectly with United Power’s vision of hyper-localized power, keeping power supply close at hand in a world where transmission congestion is increasing and costs are rising. Keeping generation and storage in our communities has the added benefit of bringing additional tax revenue and jobs. It also bolsters reliability and grid resilience. As part of our energy transition and the expansion of our power supply portfolio, we broke ground on a unique 162 MW natural gas project in September that exemplifies our hyper-localization strategy. The Mountain Peak Power plant, developed in partnership with Kindle Energy, sits adjacent to one of our rural substations. The site borders a natural gas line and hosts one of our 11 MW battery energy storage systems. Since it all resides on the distribution system, it negates the need for costly transmission. It will help ensure reliability and resource adequacy at times when renewable generation is underproducing. Combined with the on-site battery, it provides a closed loop for power to support our system. United Power will also open the state’s largest and the West’s longest duration battery on the distribution system in December. The 33 MW, six-hour battery will be located in Brighton. Further, New ERA funds will be used to offset the cost of solar generation produced in a disadvantaged community in Alamosa County, owned by the same company that will operate the Brighton battery facility. It marks continued progress in expanding resources close to home and means we have nearly 115 MW of critical storage, allowing us to buy low-cost energy to discharge during our peak. On a final note, we are moving into the “shoulder” months when electric usage is typically lower. It is also when work gets done on generators, substations, and related equipment. There are times when that means we have to take outages for work to be completed safely — especially by our transmission providers. We understand these outages can be inconvenient and will work diligently to communicate when they may occur. I ask you to make sure the contact information on your account is up-to-date so that you do not miss alerts. A great thank you to your Board of Directors for their vision and support, and to the amazing women and men of United Power, whom I have the honor to serve. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with your questions, comments and concerns.11/01/2021 - 10:10 AM
Title November Message from Mark A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP Monday | November 1, 2021 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. At the turn of the past century (1900, not 2000) there were as many electric vehicles as gas powered cars. The EVs of the day were more expensive, but quieter, cleaner and easier to start and drive. Now, 120 years later, EVs are becoming increasingly popular, with nearly 4,000 United Power members driving one, and the numbers are growing. With an electric grid in its infancy and before the creation of rural electric cooperatives, most of America outside of its cities would not be fully electrified for another 25 years. Gasoline became an essential commodity. Although it was dirty, noisy and somewhat flammable, it was also portable and easy to move across great distances in bulk, allowing for rapid expansion. I had the opportunity to drive many of the early EVs on the market during my time at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 20 years ago – the ill-fated EV1, an all-electric RAV4, a converted S-10 pickup and an experimental Honda. They all shared similar benefits to today’s EVs: rapid acceleration, amazing handling – due to the weight of the batteries – and were eerily quiet. I also clearly recall taking the pickup to my daughter’s school for a show and tell, driving across the San Mateo bridge to my home in Pleasanton, Cali. and nervously watching the battery meter drifting toward zero. My, how has the world changed. An expanding electric grid has made electricity the commodity, EV battery life is now up to 300 miles or more and we have 49 publicly available “Level 2” chargers and seven DC Fast Chargers (two owned by United Power) in our service territory. The network is rapidly expanding across Colorado and the U.S. Now, with most charging taking place at home, United Power will soon begin offering a leasing program for home chargers to our members. I have been driving an electric vehicle almost daily for the past seven months and have learned much in that time. The Tesla Model 3 I drive is a pleasure and nothing short of a modern engineering miracle – an iPhone on wheels. But it is different in other ways too, some of which take getting used to versus traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. First and foremost, more planning is involved for long trips. I made a journey to Wyoming for a Tri-State meeting, a distance of about 250 miles. Although the car would have made it on a single charge there were no fast chargers available at my destination. So, my car instructed me to stop at Laramie for a 15-minute charge coming and going. This means not pushing on to the next gas/charging station since that might be miles away. Secondly, since most people charge at home and “filling up” at 120 volts takes a long time, United Power’s upcoming Level 2 leasing program targets the length of time it takes to charge while adding sophistication to the timing of the charge for better bill management. There are four key questions to ask as you consider an EV for your next ride: Does it meet my needs? My other vehicle is a 4WD Ford- F-250 with a 7.3-liter gas engine since towing my camper, heading to the woods for hunting or even making it up to my house on the mountain at 9,000 feet in the winter would be a challenge. Do I like it? As with any automobile purchase, our cars reflect our personal tastes. Early EVs were, well, not exactly “attractive” to most of us. The “geek look” worked for some, but not all. Can I afford it? The total cost of an EV is much less expensive than an ICE with no tune-ups or oil changes and fewer mechanical things to go wrong. There are roughly 30% fewer parts in an EV. However, some of the initial costs may be higher. How can I fuel it? For apartment dwellers or renters, charging at home might be a challenge. For homeowners, it might require an additional 240-volt service on your electric panel. The great news is that the availability of public charging is dramatically increasing. As your electric cooperative we are here to help answer your questions. You can find information online at ChooseEV or by calling 720-685-5644. Come join the EV revolution!11/03/2023 - 01:12 PM
Title November Message from Mark. A. Gabriel /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP Friday | November 3, 2023 Card Teaser A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer. I remember my second day on the job at Central Vermont Public Service when the process of setting electric rates was explained to me by the utility’s head of ratemaking. My head was swimming with numbers when the CEO, Tom Webb, whom I had never met, popped into the room. Shaking his head, he told me the only thing I needed to know about rates is to keep them as low as possible and always at or below the rate of inflation. United Power’s staff has worked diligently to keep all costs in check, including insurance premiums. Initiatives like our industry-leading wildfire mitigation plan have allowed us to secure insurance coverage and keep premium increases low. The same is true for the efforts around insurance for cybersecurity, medical, and facilities. Additionally, the entire organization is working to improve processes to better manage resources and ensure high reliability as costs increase. The cooperative is identifying pathways to optimize efficiency, such as expanding its asset management program to allow for more cost-effective planning. We have all felt the recent challenges of inflation. Here at your cooperative, we have held rates flat since Jan. 1, 2020, despite galloping increases in all areas. A typical distribution transformer found near your home used to cost $1,747 in 2019 and today runs $3,113 – assuming one is even available due to supply chain shortages. The cost for larger units has increased nearly 150%, from $35,689 to $88,286. Even simple electrical cable, the main commodity in our business, has gone from $2.39 per foot to $3.81 – a 59% increase! Power supply represents 75% of our costs. No matter how well we manage the other 25%, the cost of power has the largest impact on rates. Our current power supplier has filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a considerable rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The change in their rate structure will impact United Power significantly due to the shift from generation costs to transmission. Specifically, if they charge more for transmission – to deliver the power – those costs will have an effect on the rates we have to pay on your behalf. The good news is that effective May 1, 2024, United Power will move to a competitive market for power with the selection of at least nine providers. Over time, we will have more control over our generation costs as we increase the amount of carbon-free resources and deploy and manage one of the nation’s first distributed battery storage systems. These systems will allow us to buy and store power when energy prices are low and use it when the demand is high. As a wholesale energy market comes to Colorado in 2026, we will further be able to leverage becoming a distribution system operator by buying and selling resources across the western marketplace. Even with our concerted efforts, we must implement a rate increase across all our member classes, because we recognize the importance of operating a financially strong member-owned cooperative. We are extremely conscious of the impact that even a small rate increase has on our members and commit to continue working to find ways to lower rates into the future. United Power wants to work with you to help manage your electric bills and has a team of dedicated employees to provide information, audits, and tips to moderate any rate impacts. They can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat at www.unitedpower.com. Likewise, members may email the United Power Member Services team. The new rates, which go into effect Jan. 1, are split between the demand charge and energy charge. The energy component will include a power cost adjustment, providing us the flexibility to move that portion up and down if needed. Inflation has risen a staggering 21% since our last rate increase four years ago. I hear my old CEO’s words echoing in the back of my mind: “…keep rates as low as possible, and always at or below the rate of inflation.” Tom, we are working hard to do just that! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.01/23/2019 - 11:36 AM
Title October is Co-op Month /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Oct2018_NL_CoopMonth.png?itok=S1MtPl85 Monday | October 1, 2018 Card Teaser This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month. This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month. More than 1,000 electric cooperatives serve rural communities in America. Rural electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country that the larger, investor-owned companies had no interest in serving due to the increased costs incurred from less densely populated areas. The demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles and new technology is at an all-time high. As your electric provider, United Power is focused on utilizing the latest technology to bring you safe and reliable power. While technological improvements allow us to provide energy more efficiently and renewable options become more feasible in our industry, one thing about us remains unchanged. As your cooperative, we operate under a set of principles that guide how we interact and engage with our members and the communities we serve. At their core, cooperatives care for their communities. From educating and empowering youth through safety demonstrations, scholarship opportunities or leadership training to sponsoring local fairs, festivals and parades, you’ll regularly find United Power actively involved in and around the communities we serve. So far this year, United Power has attended more than 30 fairs and festivals, provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships to high school seniors and sent five area youth on leadership training trips. Preparing for the future also means supporting community growth and development. United Power’s employees work as partners in the cities and towns we serve, helping each community reach its vision for the future. Employees are encouraged to have active roles within their communities through involvement in local organizations and charities, sitting on boards and councils and supporting local schools. Employees sit on the board of school foundations, non-profits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils, leadership councils and more. Their presence helps strengthen not only the communities, but our relationship to them. While leadership within United Power has a strategic vision for the future, our members may see opportunities they’d like to share with us. As a member, you have a voice in the cooperative. Cooperatives have democratically elected leadership. Members are eligible to run for Board seats and vote in annual elections. United Power isn’t alone in caring for communities. These are principles found within cooperatives throughout the country and in every industry. More than 350 million members benefit from the cooperative difference. Cooperatives generate jobs, keep profits local and pay taxes to help support community services. Their community involvement ensures everyone has an opportunity to benefit from cooperative principles. We understand what really prepares us for the future is you, our members. United Power is proud to be a part of America’s cooperative network, and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.