Operations at United Power have Continued Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

It’s been more than three months since United Power closed its office locations to walk-in visitors and moved over half of the co-op’s employees to remote work locations in an effort to mitigate the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 to both members and employees. The preemptive nature of the cooperative’s office closure allowed it to continue operations at a safe distance while many other businesses were temporarily closing or stopping nonessential services. Over the past few weeks, many businesses have been able to gradually reopen in phases as virus numbers started to drop in Colorado, but United Power has continued to work hard on behalf of its members throughout this time. 

As the summer inches to a close and the beginning of a new school year approaches, uncertainty remains, especially as coronavirus cases are again on the rise across the country. United Power continues to closely monitor the situation and plan carefully for the future, remembering to put members’ needs at the forefront of decision-making processes. Here are just a few of the many essential functions the co-op has continued to provide members. 

Get Cooperative Updates on the Website

The United Power website exists as a free resource to learn more about the cooperative, its activities and opportunities available to you and your family as a member. It’s also been a tremendous resource for members to get updates about the cooperative’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Regular updates containing pertinent information detail how United Power is taking actionable approaches to the situation. Members can learn more about the United Power coronavirus response here.

In addition to timely updates about pandemic response, the website connected members to the cooperative’s first-ever virtual annual meeting and to assistance and resources for members who have been economically impacted. For members seeking the most up-to-date and relevant information from United Power, the cooperative’s website has answers to many of your questions and is also updated with new information as it becomes available. 

Shopping For A New Appliance?

Lots of time at home may have given you ample opportunity to consider whether to replace an old appliance, such as a dishwasher or refrigerator. Certain ENERGY STAR appliances qualify for exclusive member rebates through United Power. (Confused about shopping for the most energy efficient appliances? Learn more about navigating the process on Page 7.) Rebate applications must be returned within 120 days of purchase, but United Power has you covered. Our online rebate application is quick, simple and delivered directly to the cooperative’s energy management team. All you need is a little information about your new appliance and a few photos to confirm it meets ENERGY STAR requirements. 

More information about appliance rebates and qualifying products can be found on our appliance rebate page. For a full list of available rebates, go to 
our programs and rebates page. Don’t forget other energy management services are also still available, which can be found on the website. 

Growing Rapidly

United Power has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few years. The cooperative has continued to outpace nationwide growth averages and is one of the fastest growing co-ops in the country, due in large part to its location in relation to Denver. It provides power to some of the nation’s fastest growing suburban communities, as well as several fast-growing industrial corridors. In 2019, the cooperative added 5,999 new meters and is on pace for another strong year in 2020. While many business have been impacted by the current pandemic it has not slowed the growth of construction projects in the cooperative’s service territory.  

The new construction team at United Power continued to process and design applications for new service throughout the pandemic. 

Convenient Ways to Pay

Although United Power office locations remain closed at this time, members who prefer cash payments may still do so using payment kiosks in Brighton, Carbon Valley and Coal Creek. Any member, however, may also take advantage of a half dozen alternative payment methods United Power offers. Payment options include Auto Pay, ensuring your payment is made on-time every month, and Pay Now, a quick way to make a one-time payment using just your account number and a form of payment, among others. A full list of available payment and billing options is available here. 

For Account Assistance, Call Member Services

United Power’s Member Service Representatives have continued to work regularly scheduled hours for member convenience throughout the pandemic. Spending more time at home during quarantine means you’ve likely become even more aware of energy needs in your home. If you have questions about your account, are interested in available member programs and rebates or need to report an outage, representatives are available to take your call during business hours Monday – Friday at 303-637-1300. Outages can be reported via the phone line even after hours.

For further COVID-19 updates, check the United Power website regularly. 

Colorado Public Utilities Commission (the “Commission”), represented by Administrative Law Judge Robert Garvey, ruled in favor of United Power in the electric cooperative’s effort to establish a “fair, just and reasonable” buyout number from their power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission. The action in front of the Commission was brought late last year and today’s decision helps to establish a methodology for calculating just and non-discriminatory terms for United Power to withdraw as a member of Tri-State.

“United Power has continued to pursue this action on behalf of our members,” stated Bryant Robbins, acting CEO. “It’s our goal to provide reliable power to every family and business we serve, and to provide that power at a cost that makes sense. We carefully considered our obligations to Tri-State and developed what we believed was a fair exit cost. Should this exit charge be affirmed by the Commission, it will be up to our Board of Directors to decide if this is in the best interest of our membership.”

For nearly two years, United Power sought a fair “exit charge” from Tri-State. During the hearing, United Power presented a methodology based on their proportionate share of Tri-State’s debt which produced an exit charge of approximately $235 million, comparable to payments made by other cooperatives who have exited Tri-State. Instead of working toward a reasonable exit charge, Tri-State tried to block United Power from leaving by proposing to charge it $1.25 billion, a discriminatory amount that would have resulted in an unfair windfall to Tri-State’s remaining members.

“Access to today’s energy marketplace requires a utility to be nimble and responsive to both the energy mix and the cost to the members at the end of the line,” stated Dean Hubbuck, Chief Energy Resource Officer. “This is a momentous decision in United Power’s effort to have more control over our power mix while keeping costs down.”
“We are hopeful that the Commission affirms this decision and, while we are elated, we recognize this is just the next step in a long process,” stated Robbins. “On behalf of United Power and our Board of Directors, I want to thank Judge Garvey and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission staff for their diligence and efforts in considering this matter. We appreciate their willingness to lend their expertise and oversight to this critical matter.”
 

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The past few months have been unprecedented in the history of the cooperative and the history of our country. As the coronavirus pandemic slowly began spreading across the country, United Power quickly realized its potential economic impact on members and suspended disconnections for nonpayment earlier than many other state utility providers.

Since the start of the pandemic, United Power has worked to support families and businesses throughout the communities it serves. Suspending disconnections due to nonpayment was among the many steps the cooperative took to reduce stress on members and provide some certainty during an uncertain time. 

Much of the state has begun a slow phase-in of various services as it enters a period of recovery. United Power has also started making plans to resume normal business functions. On July 1, the cooperative will resume disconnections for accounts with past due balances. 

Cooperatives like United Power are not-for-profit and have no shareholders, routinely returning excess revenues to members. This structure, and the desire to keep energy costs low, means co-ops have limited reserve margins to sustain high rates of nonpayment. 

As Colorado slowly phases in general business activities, we understand some members may continue having trouble paying electric bills on time. United Power wants to help its members avoid any interruption in service. If you have missed payments and a past-due balance, please contact us to discuss payment options and energy management plans. If you’re still unable to pay your bill, please contact a Member Services Representative at 303-637-1300 as soon as possible to discuss your options. 

Payment Assistance
 

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Power Operation Round-Up Foundation has responded to the needs of many nonprofits in the cooperative’s service territory. With many individuals and families economically impacted due to workplace shutdowns, the board has given above and beyond its normal contributions to area food banks to help meet the needs of those impacted in various corners of the territory.

The Operation Round-Up board recently announced a $3,000 donation to Pastor’s Pantry, which operates out of Whispering Pines Church in the Coal Creek Canyon. Founded in 2001, Pastor’s Pantry is an available resource for anyone in need in the canyon, and provides both food and essential items, such as toiletries and paper products.

While the food bank has remained open, donations from food sources decreased as a result of diminishing overstock at places like King Soopers. The Round-Up donation will be used to restock shelves with essential items.

Pastor’s Pantry is open every Thursday from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment for emergency needs. Individual donations are also being accepted via a donation box outside the church, 73 Gross Dam Road.

In May, the foundation committed $20,000 to food banks in the cooperative’s territory.

Operation Round-Up is funded by members who voluntarily elect to have their bills rounded up to the next whole dollar, on average just $6 per year. Members may enroll in the program by going to www.unitedpower.com/round-up