Members Invited to Meet the Candidates Event on March 19

Brighton, CO – Five candidates are running for election to the United Power Board of Directors. This year, four positions on the board are up for election. The director candidates are Stephen Whiteside (incumbent) in the Mountain District; Brian A. McCormick (incumbent) in the North District; Tim Erickson (incumbent) and Paige Wagner-Maul in the Central District; and Brad Case (incumbent) in the South District.

United Power will host a Meet the Candidates event at its Brighton Headquarters where members can learn more about each candidate vying to serve on the Board of Directors. The event is open to all members and does not require an RSVP. Event details are as follows: 

Tuesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
United Power Headquarters Office
500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, CO 80603

The Meet the Candidates event will be livestreamed here, with the event video available on the cooperative’s website the following day.

Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. United Power encourages all members to vote online or return their mail ballots prior to the April 16 deadline.

Statements from each of the candidates will be published in the cooperative’s newsletter, the United Newsline, delivered in March, and on its website. Director candidate contribution reports will also be available online.

A bylaw amendment is included on this year’s ballot regarding the length of a director’s term. A vote in favor of the amendment (“yes”) will lengthen the term from three years to four years. 

Ballots will be mailed to all members on March 15, and online balloting opens through the member portal the same day. Members may vote electronically through their online account or via mail ballots. A drop box will be available for members to return their ballots in person at Riverdale Regional Park between noon and 4 p.m. the day of the Annual Meeting. Members may also vote in person beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Results of the director election will be announced at the 2024 Annual Meeting and 85th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held on April 17 at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds and livestreamed on United Power’s website. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and on-site balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend and engage with cooperative leadership, connect with fellow members, and celebrate the cooperative’s 85th anniversary. 

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.

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United Power members have the unique opportunity to have a voice in the future of their electric utility. Each year, our members’ votes in the Director Election determine who will represent them on the co-op’s Board of Directors. As an electric cooperative, your participation in the annual election is critical to helping the co-op better serve its members. 

Every Vote Matters Equally

United Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves. When you become a member, you automatically receive the benefits all other members share, including the right to vote for board representation. As a member, your vote is equal to any other member’s vote, regardless of the kind of account they have or how large it is. “One member, one vote” is part of the cooperative principle known as Democratic Member Control. Director candidates must also live or work within United Power’s service territory, so you know you will be voting for someone who understands your community’s needs. They could even be your friends or neighbors. 

Running for a Board Position

The primary difference between an investor-owned utility (IOU) and a cooperative is democratic control. IOUs make decisions to appease stakeholders and shareholders who might not live in the same state, let alone the same community. Any United Power member who meets the qualifications outlined in the bylaws is eligible to run for a position on the cooperative’s eleven-member Board of Directors. Directors serve three-year terms in one of four geographical districts. Members vote on an “at-large” basis, explained in more detail next.

Voting in the Election

Balloting opens in March. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in this year’s election. Members may vote electronically through their online account, or via mail ballots, sent to all members in mid-March. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure adequate accessibility for members and to provide a representative cross-section of United Power’s member base in the cooperative’s governing body. Find how you can cast your ballot here.

Your vote always matters. To learn more about a director candidate, consider attending our Meet the Candidates event on March 19. Candidates will be announced in February, and candidate statements will be printed in the March newsletter and available online.

2024 Director Election

This year, four positions on the United Power Board are up for election at the 2024 Annual Meeting & Director Election, scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Members may submit their votes electronically, via mail ballot, or in person at the Annual Meeting. 

More information about how members may vote in this year’s Director Election. 

Practice Electrical Safety to Protect Your Home and Family

Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of household fires and other incidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 51,000 electrical fires occur every year and 400 people are electrocuted nationally. Many of these incidents are easily preventable by understanding and adhering to basic electrical safety principles and prioritizing them in your home. The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety.

Below is a simple checklist to conduct an inspection of your home this new year. How many of these have you completed recently or consistently? 

Upgrade Lighting to LEDs

Not only do LEDs use a fraction of the energy and have a far longer life than traditional lighting, they also produce less heat and reduce the risk of starting an electrical fire. So, they will save you on your energy bill over time and also make your home more safe. 

Reset GFCI Outlets Monthly

Set a calendar notification on your phone to remind you to reset your GFCI outlets at the beginning of each month. Simply press the test/reset button and make sure the outlets trip and reset correctly. If they are malfunctioning, contact a certified electrician to have them replaced.

Install Additional Outlets

It is easier than you might think to overload an outlet, and it is not safe to depend on extension cords for long periods of time. If you need additional outlets for your appliances, contact an electrician about having some installed before reaching for extension cords or adapters.

Replace/Upgrade Old Wiring

A number of homes in the United Power service territory were built many years ago. Consider having your home inspected to see if new wiring is recommended. Signs that your wiring may be faulty include flickering lights, sudden loss of power, or burning/sparks around your outlets. Wiring can break down over time due to construction damage, rodents, or even just old age.

Steps Toward Electrical Safety

Here are some further steps you can take to make sure your home is safe day-to-day. 

• Discard damaged or frayed electrical cords.
• Keep walkways clear of extension cords or other electrical power cables.
• Limit your outlets to a single high-wattage appliance at a time. 
• Make sure the bulbs in your lamps are consistent with the wattage recommendations.
• Only use appliances on level surfaces.

More information about home electrical safety.