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12/11/2023 - 09:30 AM
Title United Power Announces Jan Kulmann as SVP and COO /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_03_14_PowerPoleInspection.jpg?h=7d5f15aa&itok=n6aQF9bf Monday | December 11, 2023 Card Teaser Kulmann is a licensed professional engineer who brings nearly 25 years of experience in the energy arena, including work in the utility industry and the oil and gas sector. Brighton, CO – United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of Jan Kulmann to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Now, more than at any time in the cooperative’s history, having the right people in place in our organization is critical, and Jan brings a rich combination of education and experience to this vital leadership position,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “She is the right leader for our operations transition as we step away from our current wholesale power contract.” Kulmann is a licensed professional engineer who brings nearly 25 years of experience in the energy arena. Her background includes work in the utility industry and the oil and gas sector. She has provided direction and strategic leadership for the development of design and engineering standards and compliance programs for natural gas pipeline and electric infrastructure; the management of drilling, completion, and production facilities; and environmental, health, safety, and regulatory programs as well as strategic technical initiatives related to emissions reduction efforts, electrical power transitions, automation, process safety, and mechanical integrity. Before joining United Power, Kulmann served as Xcel Energy’s Senior Director of Standards & Compliance Program Development where she was responsible for the comprehensive design and engineering standards in order for the utility to achieve the clean energy transition while balancing risk, system reliability, resource adequacy, and safety. Kulmann began her electric utility career at CenterPoint Energy in Texas, where she planned, organized, coordinated, and directed the utility’s relay and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) design group, electrical and structural design group, and substation construction design standards and materials group in the design and construction of distribution substation projects across the Houston metro area. Kulmann earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, along with a minor in music performance, from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University. Additionally, she was re-elected to her second term as Mayor of Thornton, CO, in November. “We are excited to add such an accomplished and talented employee to our leadership team,” stated Gabriel. “Jan’s experience will be critical as the cooperative transitions to a distribution system operator. Establishing this new delivery model will benefit United Power members today and into the future. Controlling all the components of the power we deliver will help us ensure reliability and stabilize costs for all cooperative members.” About United Power United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. ###08/12/2024 - 08:58 AM
Title United Power Announces Jenna Hirsch as Vice President of Environmental, Health, Safety, and Risk /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Frederick_Stories_0.png?h=45932144&itok=9hNcyAGQ Monday | August 12, 2024 United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of Jenna Hirsch to the newly created position of Vice President of Environmental, Health, Safety, and Risk. “Jenna is an exciting hire for the cooperative,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “Her background in the electric industry is extensive, and the cooperative’s ongoing focus on the safety of both our employees and the public warrants strong leadership in this area.” Hirsch holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Science in Health and Safety from the University of Denver. Most recently, she served as the Director of Safety and Loss Control for the Colorado Rural Electric Association, providing support and oversight of safety programs for rural electric cooperatives across the state. Her diverse work history includes safety work with the electric generation and transmission industry and in the oil and gas sector. “United Power’s focus on safety underpins every initiative of the cooperative,” said Gabriel. “The importance of our safety culture is outlined in detail in both our guiding document, Our Cooperative Roadmap, and in the cooperative’s Social Responsibility Report. Any conversation we have at United Power – with leadership, among employees, or with our board – is built on this overarching concept of ‘safety first.’ I am confident that Jenna will bring the innovation and careful oversight we need to this critical aspect of our industry.”03/03/2025 - 10:18 AM
United Power Announces Jonathan Aust as Vice President of Energy Resource Planning Monday | March 3, 2025 Aust most recently served as Vice President of Power Operations for the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). Read more >07/17/2019 - 04:14 PM
Title United Power Announces Largest Capital Credit Retirement /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SliceCherryPie_plate.jpg?itok=kTUT_keW Wednesday | July 17, 2019 Card Teaser Retirement of $5.5 Million on its way to Members Beginning in August In a co-op, everyone gets a piece of the pie, and beginning in August United Power will be dishing up $5.5 million in capital credit refunds to members. Upon review of cooperative’s financial position, United Power’s Board of Directors authorized the refund to members for 2019—the largest retirement in United Power’s history. “United Power has a commitment to providing reliable energy to our members, but we also prioritize doing so at an affordable rate,” said John Parker, United Power’s Chief Executive Officer. “While we talk a lot about the benefits we provide to our members both individually and in the community, receiving something you can hold in your hands is a meaningful benefit, and one that differentiates cooperatives from other utilities across the country.” This year, nearly 90,000 checks will be issued to residential and business members. Anyone who had service in 2018 or earlier will be eligible. While many members will receive a check, members receiving a refund amount less than $10 will get a credit on their bill. Look for your checks and bill credits to arrive beginning in mid-August through September. Your capital credit amount is determined based on two factors: how much electricity you use and how long you’ve been a member. The longer you are a member and the more power you use, the larger your share of each retirement. Capital credit retirements have returned a steady stream of money back to members in recent years. During the past decade, United Power has been able to retire millions of dollars back to its members. More About Capital Credits: You might not realize it, but when you signed up to receive electric service from United Power you became a member—and owner—of an electric utility. While investor-owned utilities return a portion of any profits back to their investors, electric co-ops operate on a not-for-profit basis. So instead of returning leftover funds, known as margins, to investors who might not live in the same region or even the same state, we periodically issue capital based on how much you paid the co-op for electricity during a specified time period. Learn more here.05/30/2018 - 03:18 PM
Title United Power Announces Laurie Rydwell as CFO /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_11_17_UPNewCFO.jpg?itok=ycllLIWL Friday | November 17, 2017 Card Teaser Brighton, CO – United Power announced that Laurie Rydwell has been selected to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer for the electric cooperative Brighton, CO – United Power announced that Laurie Rydwell has been selected to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer for the electric cooperative. The position has been vacant since the promotion of John Parker to CEO in July. “We are excited to bring such a qualified candidate to our cooperative in this key leadership position,” stated John Parker, United Power CEO. “Laurie brings both experience and expertise to our cooperative. Her background in utilities, coupled with her strong technical background in finances will be a valuable addition to United Power.” Rydwell most recently worked as Controller at Summit Utilities in Littleton, Colorado. Summit Utilities is a privately-held holding company that owns and operates several natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries. Prior to her work with Summit, Rydwell held several positions at Xcel Energy in Denver, managing the accounting operations for revenue, transmission, commercial, and settlements during her tenure. A native of Anchorage, Alaska, her history there included work as a controller for both energy and investment firms, and work as a Chief Financial Officer for an asset management firm in Anchorage. Rydwell is a graduate of the University of Alaska, with a degree in Business Administration, and is a certified public accountant in both Alaska and Colorado.02/18/2021 - 05:48 PM
Title United Power Announces Mark Gabriel as CEO /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_07_27_UPNewCEO.jpg?itok=7VLEXsKm Thursday | February 18, 2021 Card Teaser United Power’s Board of Directors has named Mark A. Gabriel as President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization effective March 15, 2021. Brighton, Colo. – After a nationwide search, United Power’s Board of Directors has named Mark A. Gabriel as President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization effective March 15, 2021. Gabriel, a 25-year veteran in the electric utility business, has served for the past eight years as the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), which is part of the Department of Energy. “United Power’s Board of Directors is very happy to announce we have selected Mark Gabriel as our new President and CEO,” stated Ursula Morgan, United Power Board Chair. “Mark Gabriel is the right choice to guide United Power into a more successful future. He will help create a lasting impact on our members." “I am extremely honored to have been selected to lead such an amazing organization as we approach a transformational time in the electricity business,” Gabriel said. “United Power is uniquely positioned to be engaged in the decarbonization of the grid, and to take advantage of the introduction of new technologies as we move to a cleaner energy future.” Prior to his appointment at WAPA, Gabriel served in numerous positions in the industry, including more than eight years as a management consultant and Acting President at the Electric Power Research Institute where he led the nationwide effort known as the Electricity Sector Framework for the Future. He is also the author of, “Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future”, which won the Indie Award for Environmental Writing. “United Power has a rich history of innovation and is serving one of Colorado’s, and the Nation’s, fastest growing service territories,” Gabriel said. “The power of the cooperative business model to embrace change is unmatched in its ability to engage with its members for the future.” Gabriel replaces Acting CEO, Bryant Robbins. Robbins is the Chief Operating Officer and has been filling both roles for the past year. “The Board is appreciative of Robbins’ leadership and guidance this past year, helping us meet the many challenges of our fast-growing cooperative,” added Morgan. United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to more than 97,000 meters at homes, farms and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The 900 square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson and Keenesburg. At the end of 2020, the cooperative reached more than 97,000 meters representing more than 300,000 members. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop. ###09/02/2020 - 01:45 PM
United Power Announces National Search for New Chief Executive Officer Wednesday | September 2, 2020 Candidates may submit a letter of interest and resume through October 7, 2020. Read more >01/30/2024 - 09:20 AM
Title United Power Announces New $7,500 Lineman Scholarship for High School Seniors /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/Scholarship_Money_Hat.jpg?h=f2d9e41f&itok=v6ahZW5i Tuesday | January 30, 2024 Card Teaser Applications for all scholarships are now open. United Power is proud to announce the launch of a new scholarship program aimed at supporting graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing a career as a utility lineworker. The United Power Lineman Scholarship will provide two deserving students with a $7,500 scholarship each to support their education in a power line program. With the increasing demand for skilled lineworkers in the electrical industry, United Power recognizes the importance of investing in the next generation of talent. The scholarship aims to alleviate the financial burden for students entering the lineworker profession and empower them to pursue their career goals. “We are excited to introduce the United Power Lineman Scholarship as part of our ongoing commitment to support continuing education in the communities we serve,” said Julie Stewart, Community Outreach Coordinator at United Power. “The Lineman Scholarships are the newest addition to our annual cooperative scholarship program and will be awarded along with an additional $31,500 in post-secondary and vocational scholarships in 2024.” Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors who are a dependent of a United Power member. Eligibility for scholarships varies, but in general, applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and leadership potential. To be eligible for the Lineman Scholarship, the students must be entering a power line program. “We encourage all eligible students who are passionate about pursuing a career in the electrical industry to apply for the United Power Lineman Scholarship,” added Stewart. “We are proud to support tomorrow’s lineworkers and the educational goals of all local students.” Applications for all scholarships from United Power are now open and will close on March 1. Interested students can find more information and access the application here.05/30/2018 - 03:01 PM
United Power Announces New CEO Thursday | July 27, 2017 United Power Board President James Vigesaa officially announced the promotion of John Parker to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the cooperative. Read more >05/30/2018 - 02:27 PM
Title United Power Announces Plans to Purchase Facility in Western Territory /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_WesternFacility.JPG?itok=bwh6P9_0 Tuesday | April 18, 2017 Card Teaser United Power is in the process of closing a deal to purchase a 130,000 square foot facility located on the west side of the cooperative’s service territory. United Power is in the process of closing a deal to purchase a 130,000 square foot facility located on the west side of the cooperative’s service territory. CEO Darryl Schriver made the announcement at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting at the Adams County Fairgrounds. The new facility is located on the east side of I-25, just south of Highway 119. “The purchase of this building is a great step toward meeting some of United Power’s strategic goals,” stated United Power CEO, Darryl Schriver. “As the territory becomes more populated, our ability to respond quickly and efficiently to our members is vital. This west office will allow us to dispatch trucks and personnel to the west and north sides of our territory quickly without the substantial drive time from the headquarters in Brighton.” The final closing is planned for next week. The new facility will help the cooperative free up space in the Brighton headquarters to have more room for training and storage. Plans are also in place to lease part of the facility back to United Power’s primary contractor, Ward Electric. Ward Electric recently added United Power logos to their trucks to help members quickly identify cooperative contractors in the field. “This facility is a win for the cooperative, for Ward Electric and for our members,” stated Schriver. “We’ve been able to negotiate a great financial deal on this purchase, in part because the seller appreciated the cooperative’s profile in the community and sees us a valuable resource. Now we’ll be able to better support the rapidly growing areas in our territory by having trucks and staff that can respond from both sides of our plains territory.” United Power is also in negotiations to acquire an adjacent plot of undeveloped land. The additional property would allow for the addition of on-site material storage and expanded parking. The cooperative will be communicating updates about the new facility and how it will be used via the member newsletter United Newsline and on the website.06/26/2023 - 10:03 AM
Title United Power Announces Request for Proposals for Next Round of Planned Power Needs /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2019_NL_Rates.png?h=45932144&itok=KW7a9GOa Monday | June 26, 2023 Brighton, Colo. – United Power, one of the nation’s fastest growing electric distribution cooperatives, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on June 23 for additional wholesale electric power products. The RFP seeks projects of up to 300 MW to supplement the general wholesale power contracts the cooperative has already secured in advance of its exit from its current power supplier next May. Resources sought through this RFP are targeted for deployment and/or purchase in 2025-29. “This newest RFP continues our commitment to building a comprehensive power supply, not just for when we exit, but as we grow into the future,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “We are very interested in not only purchasing power, but in developing new, cleaner generation that is sourced locally. This will help to assure we continue to provide the reliability our members expect, while keeping costs as low as possible.” Open to both new and existing resources, the RFP is soliciting power sources that will help the cooperative meet longer term environmental goals as well as the expected system growth. Additionally, the RFP seeks strategic partnerships with developers who can plan and execute distributed energy resources on United Power’s local distribution system. United Power serves nearly 110,000 meters and maintains and operates over 6,500 miles of distribution line. The 900-square mile service territory wraps around the north and west borders of the Denver International Airport and includes the north metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually. United Power has contracted with The Energy Authority (TEA), a national energy marketing and risk management services provider, to issue the RFP and administer the RFP process. Commitments of intent to participate in the RFP are due by July 10. Respondents must submit proposals via TEA’s RFP Marketplace (rfpmarketplace.teainc.org) by July 24. Questions about the RFP or RFP process may be directed to UPIRFP@teainc.org. About United Power United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. ###02/27/2020 - 03:22 PM
Title United Power Announces Robbins as Acting CEO /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/images/Images_News/UP%40Sunrise.jpg?itok=gJWeUflm Thursday | February 27, 2020 Card Teaser CEO John Parker Retiring United Power Board Chair, James Vigesaa, announced at an all-employee meeting yesterday, that CEO John Parker is on a medical leave transitioning into retirement. Chief Operating Officer, Bryant Robbins, has been named as Acting CEO, effective immediately. Robbins joined United Power in January 2003 as the Mountain District Manager, before his promotion in January 2017 to Chief Operating Officer. “With Bryant, we are confident that we have selected a leader who can continue to meet the many challenges of our fast-growing cooperative,” stated Vigesaa. “Not only does Bryant have many years of experience at United Power, a record of success in building teams and leading successful change initiatives, he also served United Power as Acting CEO in 2019 during a previous medical leave.” Parker joined United Power in 2006 as the CFO and was promoted to CEO in June of 2017. “As CEO, John successfully led the cooperative on several key initiatives these past two and a half years, and has positioned United Power well to move on to future,” stated Vigesaa. “On behalf of the entire United Power Board, we wish John enjoyment in his retirement and thank him for his contributions.” Bryant Robbins