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. 

The electrification of America is one of the most significant achievements of all time. More than 100 years ago, the most prominent population centers across the country were granted access to the valuable resource and quickly began to grow and prosper. Over the past century, access to electricity has expanded to include all parts of the country, especially thanks to the development of member-owned and operated rural electric cooperatives. 

Today, the industry is one in the midst of an overarching transition. The retirement of coal plants, relative affordability of renewable energy and advancements in technology have primed electric utilities to power the movement toward beneficial electrification. 

As we’re moving closer to an electrified future, renewable energy sources are becoming as affordable or more affordable than traditional fossil fuels. Electricity generated from renewable sources also produces zero carbon emissions and the movement toward electrified “smart” devices utilizes energy more efficiently. 

Beneficial electrification, then, is electricity produced by environmentally friendly means that saves money and/or improves quality of life. This is also known as “strategic” electrification because it targets the most practical and valuable fuel switching opportunities, such as electric vehicles and lawn equipment, traditionally powered by gas engines. 

Saves Money Over Time

New energy efficient technology that saves consumers money over time is being developed every day. From regularly used appliances in your home or kitchen to the construction of new homes, efficiency is key for both cost savings and environmental impact. Although there’s usually a higher initial investment, it pays for itself over time. For example, electric vehicles are priced above their gas engine equivalents, but because there are fewer moving parts and less standard maintenance, owners will realize greater savings over the life of the vehicle. That’s without considering rebates and the significant price gap between electricity and gas. 

Consider heating and cooling your home, as well. Energy used for heating and cooling account for more than half the average consumer’s energy costs. A solution to reducing these costs are air source and ground source heat pumps, which are so efficient they actually provide more energy than they consume. Smart thermostats can regulate energy use whether you’re home or away, analyze your usage and make recommendations. Energy efficient lighting is brighter, lasts longer and uses just a fraction of the energy as traditional incandescent lighting.  

Improves Quality of Life

We don’t often purchase devices or appliances that make our lives more difficult. Many of the same devices that provide us with energy savings also improve our quality of life, satisfying two criteria for beneficial electrification. Consider electric vehicles again. Much hesitancy surrounding EVs is related to perceived quality of life – range anxiety and access to a sufficient charging infrastructure. However, range is increasing, charging infrastructure is growing and initial cost of investment is dropping. Vehicles powered by electricity are also quiet, more capable and, depending on who you ask, more fun. 

Smart meters allow the cooperative to provide members with aggregate data about their energy use in 15-minute segments using Power Portal, a free tool available to all members. This data, like other smart devices, provides a detailed review of behaviors that have the greatest impact on their energy use. Using this data, members can make small changes to realize instant energy savings. 

Devices that are able to provide consumers with energy use data or learn our habits to optimize energy use in a way that fits our lifestyles ultimately means increased savings, more freedom and less anxiety about your energy bill. 

Reduces Environmental Impact

The first two criteria reflect how beneficial electrification has a positive effect on consumers, but electricity has to be produced before it can be used. As more coal plants are retired, they are being replaced with renewable alternatives like wind or solar, and the technology used to capture renewable energy generated from these sources is also advancing. These advancements allow us to take greater advantage of renewable resources. 

United Power has brought on more than 40 megawatts of solar energy since 2012 and has also debuted alternative renewable projects, like its methane capture project at the Erie landfill. Capturing methane produced in landfills and using it to generate electricity helps reduce its effect on climate change. 

Increases Grid Resiliency

Research at Darmouth College earlier this year found electric grids with more renewables were more robust and reliable. As United Power has grown, it has added additional renewable projects to its system. 

Load control methods, especially ones that shift energy use away from peak demand periods, have also shown to increase grid resiliency. United Power offers a Time of Day rate that encourages members to shift usage to off-peak periods and its Rush Hour Rewards provides incentives to let the cooperative adjust energy usage on hot days during peak periods. Upcoming cooperative programs will also utilize load control incentives to shift at-home EV charging to off-peak hours. 

United Power has demonstrated its leadership in beneficial electrification through a commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives that save money and improve lives for both it and its members. 

Do you pay your United Power using a bill pay service from your bank? Remember that you are responsible for making sure that the payment is being sent to the correct account. Bill pay is a function of your bank account, and United Power can not help you if a payment is sent to an incorrect address.

Both the utilities that serve you and the financial services industry are constantly updating processes and sometimes that includes changes in routing numbers or to addresses where bill payments are sent. If you haven’t checked your bill payment addresses recently, we recommend you take a few minutes to review those payments including your United Power bill.

Where Should Your Payment be Sent?

United Power bill payments should be sent to:

United Power
PO Box 173703
Denver, CO 80217-3703

What Can I Do If My Payment Was Sent to a Different Address?

We recommend contacting your bank to determine what happened to your payment. United Power is unable to access your bank account or assist you in changing bill pay details on your personal account.  If you have fallen behind on your United Power account because of a misdirected payment, please contact us to let us know you are working with your bank to correct the issue.

Is There Another Way to Pay My United Power Bill?

United Power offers several ways to pay your bill. You can make a simple one-time payment through our Pay Now link, set up auto pay, or even explore our Pay as You Go program. Learn more about each of these options on our website, or contact one of our Member Services Representatives to help you understand and access any of these options.  Of course we also accept payments in person during business hours at our Brighton Office, or you can use a payment kiosk at our Brighton, Carbon Valley, Ft. Lupton or Coal Creek Canyon kiosk locations. These self-serve kiosks are open outside of normal business hours, including weekends. Available hours for each kiosk vary, so check out their open times on our website.

Project Also Provides Alternate Energy Option for Emergency Management

Brighton, CO - United Power, partnering with the Gilpin County Office of Emergency Management, placed a 625-kw diesel generator on the Gilpin County School District campus. The generator was installed as a safety enhancement to serve both the school and community members in the mountain territory.

“United Power is excited to partner with Gilpin County on this key project for community members adjacent to the school district campus,” stated Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “Completing the project prior to the winter season should provide security and peace of mind to the residents in the area and provide a much-needed resource in the event of an extended power interruption.”

In the event of power outage, Gilpin County is required to notify parents and send students home because the school district doesn’t have a back-up power option. The installation of the generator alleviates concerns for school administration officials and parents of students. Additionally, the generator can provide a longer window of service with abbreviated services at the school, allowing Emergency Management to activate the site as an emergency warming center during an extended power outage in the area.

United Power upgraded existing infrastructure to ensure the generator can provide power to the entire school campus, including school buildings, gym facilities, the bus barn, water storage and delivery systems, pumping stations and the Eagles’ Nest Daycare Center. The generator operates on Tier 4 Diesel, with is an ultra-clean, low sulfur fuel and incorporates advanced emission reduction technologies, which exceeds state requirements for emission levels.

The cooperative will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new generator on Friday, November 5 at 10 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and learn more about this addition and the enhanced safety benefits it will offer to the residents. Please click here to RSVP. 

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 cooperatives in the nation, and in June 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, dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options and reforming the traditional Generation and Transmission (G&T) business model. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.