United Power is pleased to see the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) thoughtful and comprehensive order in the Stated Rate proceeding. The cooperative looks forward to Tri-State Generation and Transmission’s (Tri-State) revised formula rate filing, also referred to as the Come-Back Filing, incorporating FERC’s clear guidance. FERC’s order directs Tri-State to unbundle the costs of services in its wholesale power service rate to its utility members, such as United Power, and to ensure that any transmission cost allocation is consistent with cost causation principles outlined in Order No. 888. FERC confirmed that Tri-State, having voluntarily become FERC jurisdictional, is bound by FERC policies and precedents and cannot claim that its membership structure allows it to impose rates or terms that are not just and reasonable.
 
Of note, FERC also determined that Tri-State's Board Policy 119 was unjust and unreasonable because utility members that do not participate in community solar projects should not bear more costs than those members that do participate in the community solar program. Further, FERC required Tri-State to make a compliance filing, outlining how it will reimburse United Power for overcharges related to transmission/delivery demand charges assessed on battery storage resources.
 
United Power looks forward to receiving the Commission’s guidance on our other related filings. Final decisions from FERC will ensure that United Power exits Tri-State by May 1, 2024, with the ability not only to purchase power from multiple new suppliers, but to develop cleaner generation that is sourced locally while keeping rates affordable and maintaining the high reliability our members expect.

Separately, United Power is pleased with the Adams County decision denying Tri-State’s request for reconsideration of the Court’s July 28th order concerning Tri-State’s motion for summary judgment (MSJ). The Court has not yet responded to Tri-State’s appeal of the Court’s MSJ. In its appeal, Tri-State argues “[t]he duty of good faith and fair dealing is not implied in a cooperative’s bylaws.” United Power continues to believe that Tri-State has a duty to treat all its members fairly and to deal with them in good faith.

United Power is pleased to announce the hiring of Robin Z. Meidhof to the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. 

“Robin brings a uniquely well-suited background to the cooperative, especially as we move forward into our new energy future,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “Her background with nearly every legal aspect of utility operations is complemented by her professional experience working with some of the most powerful regulatory agencies in our industry.”

Meidhof is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, and has extensive regulatory, policy, and in-house counsel experience in the utility industry. Following several years as an attorney in the Office of Enforcement, Division of Investigations, for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C., she served as Legal and Policy Advisor to FERC Commissioner Tony Clark. Meidhof then served as Senior Attorney for Southern California Edison Company, leading a wide range of regulatory proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Most recently, she served as the Deputy Attorney General of the Revenue and Utilities Section of the Colorado Office of the Attorney General, where she helped drive innovative leadership initiatives and led a team of legal professionals who represent the Department of Revenue, Trial Staff at the Colorado PUC, the Property Tax Administrator, Division of Housing, and all statewide clients in bankruptcy matters. 

“United Power is honored to have such a consummate professional join our executive team. Robin will help us represent the interests of all cooperative members as we depart our power supplier in May of 2024,” stated Gabriel. “The cooperative has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and over this time, our need for Robin’s level of expertise has become increasingly apparent. I know that she is the right person to help move us forward as we exit our current wholesale power contract and acquire lower cost, cleaner energy for our members.”
 

Battery capacity key to renewable integration and load stabilization

Brighton, CO — United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern Front Range, and Ameresco, Inc. (Ameresco), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announce the signing of a groundbreaking battery storage contract. Under the 20-year agreement Ameresco will install a multiple site, 78.3 MW/313.34 MWh battery storage project on the cooperative’s electric distribution system.

The innovative project will strategically locate battery arrays throughout the cooperative’s service territory to allow United Power to balance its load while integrating renewable resources. The contract is just one of the many steps the cooperative is taking as it plans for the May 1, 2024 departure from its current wholesale power contract.

“The use of batteries on our distribution network is essential to a resilient and responsive power system, and we are excited to be moving ahead with one of the most aggressive plans for such a system,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “These battery arrays will allow us to balance our power needs throughout the day and incorporate local renewables more efficiently.”

Ameresco will provide four 11.75 MW and four 7.84 MW battery arrays, which will be located on eight different substation sites owned by United Power. The batteries, sited in Adams, Broomfield, and Weld counties, will enable the cooperative to store and dispatch power during heavy consumption periods. 

“We are thrilled to partner with United Power on this transformational battery storage project,” said Jon Mancini, Ameresco Senior Vice President of Solar Project Development. “By strategically locating distributed resources and battery storage throughout their service territory, United Power will make strides toward achieving a resilient and responsive power system that integrates clean and renewable power resources for their rate base.”

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. It includes the north and northeast metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470 and the Golden Gate and Coal Creek canyons, two of Colorado’s most iconic and historic mountain canyons. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually.

To learn more about United Power’s power supply transition, visit Power Supply. 

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.

About Ameresco

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator. Our comprehensive portfolio includes solutions that help customers reduce costs, decarbonize to net zero, and build energy resiliency while leveraging smart, connected technologies. From implementing energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades to developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources – we are a trusted sustainability partner. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, utilities, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,500 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

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