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01/23/2026 - 11:19 AM
Title The Cooperative Principles /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Principles_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=ewoHuXBV Saturday | January 31, 2026 Card Teaser Understanding the seven principles that guide United Power and other cooperatives. Understanding the Seven Principles that Guide United Power and Other Cooperatives All cooperatives operate according to the same seven principles. These principles articulate the reasons cooperatives exist, which is for the good of their members, their communities, and one another. 1. Open & Voluntary Membership Membership in a co-op is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. United Power members include anyone who receives power on its lines within its defined service territory. 2. Democratic Member Control Co-ops are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. United Power members elect the co-op’s 11-person Board of Directors. Directors serve four year terms and are elected at the Annual Meeting held in April. The Board is the policy making arm of the cooperative and acts on behalf of its members. 3. Members’ Economic Participation Members contribute equally to the capital of their co-op. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the co-op. United Power members pay not just for the electricity they use, but also for the infrastructure required to distribute power and the resources necessary to maintain the system of poles, lines, and equipment. The cooperative’s rates are designed so that members share the burden relative to their demand on the system and so that no one pays for more than they use. 4. Autonomy & Independence Co-ops are autonomous organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity. United Power operates as an independent electric utility, most evidently demonstrated by its recent power purchase agreements. 5. Education, Training, & Information Education and training for members, elected representatives, CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the co-op’s development. United Power’s Board members obtain and renew credentials that help them effectively govern the cooperative. Employees are also encouraged to attend continuing education and training conferences that better equip them to perform their jobs. 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives Co-ops improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs through cooperation in local, national, and regional structures. United Power partners with other cooperatives and regional and national groups to advocate for policy that benefits electric cooperatives and their members. The co-op is a member of the Association of Large Distribution Cooperatives, where ideas and best practices are shared. 7. Concern for Communities Co-ops work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership. United Power is an advocate for the communities it serves, both as an economic development partner and proud supporter of local events, fairs, festivals, and more.12/30/2020 - 09:00 AM
Title The Diversity of Careers in Cooperatives /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Careers.jpg?itok=Vk96VvfA Friday | December 18, 2020 Card Teaser At a cooperative, you are more than an employee. Your work is valued because it directly benefits the members it serves. Whether it’s a large investor-owned utility or a small, local cooperative like United Power, most people picture lineworkers when they think of the individuals who work at their electric utility. Lineworkers are highly visible around the communites we serve, working to ensure our members have safe and reliable power around the clock. They become all the more visible when the weather turns bad. Our line crews are powered by hard-working employees who are passionate about the jobs they perform. When it comes to keeping your lights on, though, linemen don’t do it alone. There are many who work behind the scenes day in and day out to assist them in their duties and serve our members in less visible, but equally important, roles. United Power’s system is a complicated infrastructure designed to deliver more than 500 megawatts of power to more than 95,000 members over nearly 1,000 square miles. Our engineers and operations staff coordinate to plan and design the system to ensure it runs effectively and efficiently. When the power does go out, this design allows our line crews to restore it quickly. The suburbs around Denver have become an attractive place to live, and because of this, United Power has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. When a new business or subdivision development moves into our territory, our project managers work closely with developers to review and design an electrical route that meets both the system’s and members’ needs. Over the years, United Power has built a name for itself as an innovative and forward-thinking cooperative, due in large part to its willingness to adopt new technology to better serve our members, such as four utility-scale solar farms and the state’s largest battery storage facility. Our New Business team helps coordinate these projects and also manages our diverse set of energy management tools, available free to our members. These represent only a few of the many career paths one can choose to pursue with a cooperative. Opportunities exist in finance and accounting, information technology, communications, government relations and more. You could even assist members directly as part of our Member Services team. At a cooperative, you are more than an employee. Your work is valued because it directly benefits the members it serves. Check United Power’s Careers page to see what opportunities are currently available at Careers.02/19/2026 - 10:14 AM
The Force of Nature Thursday | February 19, 2026 Lineworkers spent days clearing lines following storms on Dec. 17 & 19. Read more >05/19/2026 - 09:19 AM
Title The Power of Local Giving /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/RoundUp_Heart_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=epj5Ok2D Tuesday | May 19, 2026 Card Teaser Partner groups helped by Round Up. Partner Groups Helped by Round Up Click Here to Sign Up for Round Up On the fourth Monday of every month, the Weld County Food Bank sets up its mobile food pantry at the intersection of Weld County Road 37 and Lilac Drive in Lochbuie. Early in the morning, as volunteers unload pallets of food from the pantry’s box truck, cars begin lining the surrounding streets. Local families arrive eager and grateful to receive meats, produce, beans, rice, and various other food items. More than 200 households receive food through the pantry’s monthly distribution. It is an unfortunate reality that all communities are home to vulnerable individuals and families who are struggling with financial limitations. In Weld County, nearly 40% of households are living in the margin between poverty and the basic cost of living, according to the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report. Service organizations like the Weld County Food Bank exist to provide some assistance. Operation Round Up, which is a program funded and operated by the United Power Round Up Foundation, was introduced at the cooperative to tie together the needs that often exceed availability, the philosophy that cooperatives give back to the local community, and the belief that members are motivated to contribute. The United Power Round Up Foundation receives its funding from members who voluntarily elect to have their monthly billing statements “rounded up” to the next whole dollar. Those funds are monitored by a board of member volunteers, ensuring every dollar goes back into the community. The board works closely with partner organizations to leverage local connections and maximize each dollar’s benefit in the community. The foundation board added two partner organizations in 2025 to address growing food insecurity in local communities. Weld County Food Bank and the Food Bank of the Rockies joined the roster of partner organizations receiving regular, ongoing assistance to support United Power members. Almost Home in Brighton, the Carbon Valley Help Center in Frederick, Canyon Cares in Coal Creek Canyon, and Catholic Charities in Fort Lupton have been partner organizations since 2017. “We are able to reach more of the community working with partner organizations,” said Andrea Nabarrete, who joined the foundation board in 2005. “We have better outreach, better coverage of services, and it prioritizes the greatest impact to our members.” Round Up donations average just $6 annually for members who are enrolled, but that small change makes waves. The foundation has been able to distribute approximately $3 million in assistance since it launched in 1995, including nearly $370,000 in 2025. Last year, Round Up celebrated its 30th anniversary. “Round Up is a valuable way United Power demonstrates its commitment to the community beyond being the local electric utility,” said Round Up Foundation Board Chair Dale McCall. “It is a tremendous achievement to celebrate 30 years of giving back, but it is an even greater accomplishment to say we have been able to help so many people.” Throughout the years, members have continued to show up for their neighbors through program participation. That is The Power of Local in action. Your giving changes lives. “I am grateful to our members who participate,” said McCall, “and to the cooperative for continuing to support Round Up all this time.”08/03/2026 - 03:20 PM
The Power of Local: How Members Help Power a Resilient Grid Wednesday | July 22, 2026 Distribution system operators (DSOs) leverage energy resources for grid optimization. Read more >11/22/2022 - 09:35 AM
The Value of Electricity Tuesday | November 22, 2022 Electricity is so readily available and easy to access we may not realize it has a surprisingly high value when compared to many of our other regular expenses. Read more >05/30/2018 - 03:05 PM
Third Large Scale Solar Farm to be Complete by November Tuesday | September 12, 2017 By November, a third large scale solar field will be energized in United Power’s territory– the Platteville Solar Farm. Read more >01/13/2022 - 01:46 PM
Three Board Seats Up in Annual Director Election Thursday | January 13, 2022 The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022. Read more >06/23/2020 - 03:49 PM
Three Ways to Electrify Your Lawn Care Tuesday | June 23, 2020 Helpful tips if you’re looking to electrify your lawn care equipment. Read more >09/27/2021 - 11:08 AM
Time to Begin Looking at Electric Vehicles Thursday | September 23, 2021 National Drive EV Week is September 25 - October 3, 2021 Read more >09/30/2021 - 03:39 PM
Title Tips & Tricks to Becoming Energy Efficient /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz Thursday | September 30, 2021 Card Teaser United Power Recognizes Energy Efficiency Day on Wednesday, October 6. United Power Recognizes Energy Efficiency Day on October 5 On October 5, United Power is joining more than 800 other organizations to celebrate National Energy Efficiency Day, a day to remember easy ways we can reduce our energy use and save money. Energy efficiency simply means using less energy to perform the same tasks or eliminating energy waste. Being energy efficient protects our pocketbooks and the environment by lowering demand for energy and, by extension, greenhouse gas emissions. If you’re a homeowner trying to manage your electric usage on a budget, energy efficiency may seem more fantasy than reality. Energy efficiency is often seen as an expensive and unobtainable goal for many homeowners, but it doesn’t have to be. Trimming your electric usage is as quick and simple as making a few modest behavior changes and a little investment in cost-efficient technology. Here are some of the most common ways United Power members can ditch high energy bills and become more efficient in their daily energy usage. For some of our members who may want to go a step further in the journey toward energy efficiency, the article below demonstrates why an electric vehicle may be right for you. 10 Energy Efficient Tips- Make the Switch to LEDs. There’s been a strong push for the switch to LEDs for years, and for good reason. LEDs last up to 25x longer and consume 90 percent less energy.
- Seal Those Leaks. Have you ever left a window cracked in the winter and realized how quickly the cold air can cool your home? Little leaks can be equivalent to leaving a 3 ft x 3 ft window open.
- Install a Smart Thermostat. While an initially high investment, a smart thermostat will pay for itself over time by learning your routine and adjusting accordingly. You can even control it remotely. Members can also enroll in United Power’s Smart Rewards program to save even more. More info at Smart Rewards.
- Heat & Cool Efficiency. Heating and cooling accounts for almost half your energy use. Don’t waste money on an empty home. Raising or lowering the temp on your thermostat also won’t compromise comfort.
- Use a Ceiling Fan. Using a ceiling fan in combination with proper cooling will allow you to raise your thermostat by as much as 4 degrees without losing any comfort.
- Maintain Your HVAC System. A dirty furnace has to work harder to move air. Don’t forget to change air filters during both heating and cooling seasons to keep energy costs low.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR® Label. The label means this appliance is certified energy efficient. United Power also offers rebates on ENERGY STAR® refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines.
- Turn Off Electronics. Electronics on “standby” contribute to “vampire loads,” which is when a device draws energy even with it appears to be off. Turn off all idle electronics that aren’t in use.
- The Sun is Key. In the winter, open curtains during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. In the summer, excess sunlight will make your A/C work harder, so keep those curtains closed.
- Don’t Peak in the Oven. Opening the oven door while cooking or baking can cause the internal temperature to drop by as much as 25 degrees making it work harder to return to the right temperature and also affecting cooking times of your dinner or dessert.
09/13/2019 - 03:32 PM
Title Today's Youth. Tomorrow's Leaders. /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct_NL_Youth.jpg?itok=HNdYgh7M Friday | September 13, 2019 Card Teaser Each summer, United Power selects local youth to represent on our youth leadership trips. 2020 Youth Leadership Applications Available at Year’s End As your cooperative we believe in contributing to the well-being of the communities that make up who we are, including building up tomorrow’s leaders in those communities. Each summer, United Power selects local youth from within our service territory to represent the cooperative for a week in the mountains of northwest Colorado at the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp or an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Applications will be available on our Youth Trips page at the end of the year. . CYLC: Camp, Cabins & Cooperatives The Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp isn’t a camp in the traditional sense. There are no tents, no campfires, no s’mores. Business begins as soon as the buses and vans roll in to deposit campers from their respective cooperatives. Campers establish and manage their own cooperative for the week, including election of a Board of Directors and holding regular meetings for “members.” In between, days are filled with cooperative-focused activities, leadership training and collaborative group projects. However, being part of a cooperative isn’t all business all the time. Whether it was building camaraderie while rafting down the Colorado River or enjoying the majestic Fish Creek Falls, campers had ample opportunity to build friendships and have fun. This summer, three area youth represented United Power at camp: Xavier Galyardt, Mead High School; Audrey Thompson, Prospect Ridge Academy; and Karlen Ruybal, Ft. Lupton High School. Youth Tour: Colorado Youth Visit Capitol Hill The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a proud tradition among cooperatives since 1957 when Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting, suggested sending youth to the capitol to see “what the flag stands for and represents.” Local electric cooperatives throughout the country sponsor approximately 1,500 high school students from small towns and cities for and incredible week in the nation’s capital with the objective of providing an educational experience for young people on the organization and operation of a cooperative. Each day of the Youth Tour is packed full of memorable moments for youth from across the country. Between meeting with elected officials, learning the value of the cooperatives they represent and developing leadership skills, students are able to spend time touring some of Washington D.C.’s landmarks and memorials. Each year, United Power selects three ambitious high school students to attend Youth Tour: Catera Gagna, Brighton High School; Brooklyn Stubby, Mapleton Early College; and Bethany Flanagan, Weld Central High School. Meet Your 2020 Camp Ambassador: Xavier “X” Galyardt Xavier, who goes by “X,” was a United Power representative at the 2019 Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. Each year at CYLC, youth campaign throughout the week and are elected by their peers to return to camp the following year as an ambassador. What did you enjoy most about camp? Although the activities were fantastic – rafting, learning, dancing, adventuring – they are trivial in comparison to the friends I acquired. They are easily what I enjoyed most. The hardest part of camp was leaving them behind. How did it prepare you for being a leader in your school and community? The camp was incredible at presenting leadership ideas and displaying leadership ideals. These ideas reignited my passion for leadership and demonstrated the true influence of leaders. I have adopted a new philosophy on leading, and can’t wait to see how it plays out. What does it mean to be elected a 2020 camp ambassador? Being elected ambassador is a tremendous honor. To become a camp ambassador one must go through two stages of speeches and voting. After all that, my peers selected me because they trust me to represent them next year. Why should others high school students attend camp in 2020? For every reason someone could choose not to attend camp, I could list two reasons to come. For one, it’s a vacation away from normal life. You’ll also meet some of the most compassionate people you may ever now. There is no downside.