Tri-State Generation and Transmission, United Power’s power supplier, announced a plan to reduce rates by 8% over the next three years, as well as allow for partial requirements contracts with certain requirements.  The improvements are part of the power supplier’s goals to meet the guidelines of their Responsible Energy Plan.  United Power’s interim CEO, Bryant Robbins issued the following statement in response to the components of the proposed plan:

“United Power is very supportive of Tri-State’s efforts to lower rates. We think this is a great step in the right direction for the future of Tri-State and congratulate their efforts in trying to make this happen. Unfortunately for United Power, we serve an area in which our competitors’ rates are as much 25% to 35% less than ours. We are going to need much more than the proposed 8% reduction in Wholesale Power to be competitive,” stated interim CEO, Bryant Robbins.

“Based upon our preliminary analysis, we don’t think the Partial Requirements/added flexibility has a positive impact on our needs. The approved plan is not what we proposed a couple of years ago and just doesn’t appear to viable to United Power and its membership,” added Robbins. “However, we hope it does meet the needs of the other [Tri-State] cooperatives.”

“United Power will continue to pursue a just, reasonable, and non-discriminatory exit charge,” Robbins concluded. “Once received, our Board can then determine the appropriate direction and future of our Power Supply that is in the best interest of our membership. We also remain available to Tri-State for discussions to potentially resolve the issues.”

United Power is continuing to work on this. Read more on our Power Supply page. 

Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan addresses some of the most common concerns and hesitations United Power members may be feeling about the possibility of purchasing an electric vehicle:

Can an electric vehicle meet my range needs?

With ranges north of 250 miles, electric vehicles today are more than sufficient to manage the average driver’s daily commute.

Use your trip odometer to monitor a typical day’s commuting. You can more than likely go the whole day without a charge, and charging stations are becoming more accessible if you need a refill.

Where am I suppose to charge my electric vehicle?

Most people can recharge enough using an outlet in their garage overnight, but charging infrastructure is also growing rapidly.

Your home is already equipped to charge your EV overnight—just like you would charge your cell phone. For most vehicles, an electrician can make a simple upgrade to the outlets in your garage to decrease charge times without purchasing any special charging equipment.

What will it do to my electric bill?

Not as much as you might think. And between saving on gas and maintenance, your electric vehicle will be much cheaper to operate.

Li-on batteries are more contained than regular vehicles where the danger is often fires started by spilled fluids.

But aren’t electric vehicles more expensive?

Electric vehicles are a bit more expensive, but with rebates and incentives, they are just as affordable. And don’t forget your other savings.

Several Federal and State tax credits are available for Colorado drivers.

So electric vehicles are affordable, but are they safe?

Electric vehicles often come standard with enhanced safety features that are only available on higher trims or packages of other vehicles. 

Use the Savings Calculator on our ChooseEV page to estimate your gas savings, then check out United Power’s Time of Day rate to see how much you can save by charging overnight.

What once seemed like a hopeful concept for the future has become a reality. Today, you’re more likely to see multiple electric vehicles while you’re driving to work or the grocery store than not, and it’s becoming more common for gas stations and public spaces to install charging stations to accommodate electric vehicle drivers. You probably support a business with an electric vehicle fleet or know someone who has invested in either an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid.

“It’s safe to say electric vehicle adoption has far outpaced our expectations,” said Tyler Bain, a United Power electrical engineer and longtime EV driver. “A sizeable number of EV drivers live in United Power’s service territory, and there’s still a lot of opportunity for growth – for both us and potential EV drivers.”

Why has there been so much recent growth in electric vehicles? Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan explains it has a lot to do with understanding and education. Many potential buyers face concerns and hesitations about integrating an electric vehicle into their daily lives.

“There’s a perception that electric vehicles aren’t capable of meeting the average person’s needs,” Zeid says. “Every main concern can be boiled down to that root perception, which is an incorrect one. With a little information, we can turn hesitation into excitement. Electric vehicles have all the benefits of any other vehicle without much of the cost.”

Range anxiety, for example, is one of the hardest barriers for people to overcome, Zeid says. He recommends using your vehicle’s trip odometer to calculate how far you commute in a given day, either to and from work or for various other errands. People usually drive far less than they estimate, and that can demonstrate how range anxiety is typically more psychological than reality.

The growth also has to do with pricing and availability. There are more options at more price points available today than there have been in any year prior. Many major car brands have announced new and upcoming electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Some will even come as a trim option on already popular models for a small premium, which can be more than offset by current state and federal rebates and incentives.

Join United Power from September 26 — October 4 for National Drive EV Week as the cooperative and Zeid walk you through the finer points of EV ownership and much more. Follow our journey and find out more at Drive EV Week.

Benefits of Driving Electric Vehicles Celebrated at United Power’s National Drive Electric Week Event
A free virtual event to learn more about electric vehicles and to ask an EV expert all your questions

Brighton, Colo. – Electric vehicle drivers, supporters, and intrigued United Power members are invited to attend United Power’s “United We Drive EV” webinar on Sun., Sept. 27th from 2-3 p.m.

During the live webinar, United Power will take members on a safe, virtual test drive of an electric vehicle. EV Outreach & Education expert, Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan will be on hand to walk you through the finer points of EV ownership, and United Power representatives will discuss how to make the most of an EV with United Power’s rates. Learn more and register for the free event at Drive EV Week.

“With more electric cars than ever before on the market and a larger, more accessible charging infrastructure, owning and driving an EV is within reach for more drivers,” said Joel Danforth, United Power New Business Director. “We want to help our members looking to make the transition to electric vehicles by providing trusted information, and information about rates and programs that make driving an EV even more attractive.”

Today, you’re more likely to see multiple electric vehicles while you’re driving to work or the grocery store than not, and it’s becoming more common for gas stations and public spaces to install charging stations to accommodate electric vehicle drivers. You probably support a business with an electric vehicle fleet or know someone who has invested in either an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid.

“There’s a perception that electric vehicles aren’t capable of meeting the average person’s needs,” Zeid says. “Every main concern can be boiled down to that root perception. With a little information, we can turn hesitation into excitement. Electric vehicles have all the benefits of any other vehicle without much of the cost.”

United Power’s event is one of almost 300 across the country where electric vehicle owners, government and community leaders are celebrating the clean-air benefits and cost-savings of electric cars by holding Drive EV Week educational and informational events.

For more information about United Power’s “United We Drive EV” event, visit: unitedpower.com/DriveEVWeek.

For a complete list of National Drive Electric Week events, visit: DriveElectricWeek.org

###

About United Power: United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to nearly 95,000 meters at homes, business, and farms in Colorado's north central front range. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop

About Plug In America: Plug In America is the nation’s leading independent consumer voice for accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of technical advisory services. Our expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering ride-and-drive events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures. We drive electric. You can too. pluginamerica.org

About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization with more than 2.4 million members and supporters and chapters in all 50 states. The Sierra Club’s national electric vehicles initiative advocates for a switch to EVs as one important way to reduce emissions and cut oil consumption. Sierra Club is proud to have been one of the three national groups organizing National Drive Electric Week since its inception in 2011. www.sierraclub.org/EVGuide.

About the Electric Auto Association: The Electric Auto Association, formed in 1967, is a nonprofit educational organization with 75 chapters worldwide that promotes the advancement and widespread adoption of electric vehicles. www.electricauto.org.

After several years operating a storefront in Fort Lupton, United Power is closing its office located on Dexter Street in the Fort Lupton Safeway shopping center. All United Power lobbies have been closed to the public since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the Fort Lupton office will not reopen. When conditions allow and offices reopen to the public, members who wish to conduct business in person will be able to visit our Brighton office, located just nine miles from Fort Lupton. The cooperative is also planning to open a self-serve payment kiosk in Fort Lupton to ensure members still have a local payment station that accepts cash, check, and card.

“The way our members want to conduct business with us is evolving. Before the pandemic, we were noticing a decline in the number of members visiting us in person. The pandemic stopped all in-person services, and our members quickly adapted to using remote tools to manage their accounts,” said Francis Ashu, Member Services Director. “Now more of our members are consistently interacting with us over the phone or online and leveraging self-serve payment options instead of visiting our front counters. Through these options, members have easy and safe access to account information from the comfort of their home, and we are able to provide the same level of quality service without the costs associated with operating a storefront location.”

Over the last few years, United Power has seen a steady increase in demand from members who prefer to use self-serve and digital account and payment options, and a corresponding reduction in visits to our offices. The co-op has responded by offering more ways for members to access their accounts and make quick and secure payments without visiting an office. Members can easily review account information and make payments through our online portal, mobile app and pay by phone features. Self-serve payment kiosks that accept cash, check and card payments are available in our Carbon Valley, Coal Creek and Brighton office with expanded hours beyond the business day. Since the pandemic related closures, our online, over the phone and self-serve support options have allowed United Power to continue to serve our members at a safe distance.

United Power member services representatives and other office personnel have also been working remotely while handling support inquiries. When employees return to the office, member services representatives from the Fort Lupton location will transfer to the Brighton Headquarters, and eventually in-person service will resume from the Brighton Headquarters lobby. The Brighton, Coal Creek and Carbon Valley offices house a consolidated mix of line crews, vehicle maintenance, member services, engineering and new construction teams. Whereas, the Fort Lupton office has been a member services-only storefront. Consolidating employee teams to these primary office locations will improve efficiency and save money for the cooperative and our members.

“The co-op has a long history of partnership with the town of Fort Lupton and the town has always welcomed our storefront location. We thank you for your hospitality over the years,” said Bryant Robbins, Acting Chief Executive Officer. “Be assured that this office closure doesn’t diminish our commitment to serving the Fort Lupton community—we remain as dedicated as ever to providing you with co-op power and supporting the community you call home.”

United Power remains committed to serving the Fort Lupton area with more than just electricity. Our crews continue to be dispatched from our Carbon Valley Service Center and our Brighton Headquarters for outages, and you will still see us working in the area to conduct system maintenance. You’ll still see our employees involved in the community, and our name on banners at ball parks and as a supporter of local organizations and community events. As your electric cooperative, we’re here to power what matters, no matter where you live in the service territory.

Wildfires have devastated parts of Colorado this year, with several blazing across the state in August. Near Grand Junction, the Pine Gulch Fire is the largest on record for the state and another near Glenwood Springs had threatened to join the list. Near Fort Collins, a third fire has even threatened parts of Poudre Valley REA’s electrical infrastructure. Although not attributed to any utility electrical system, these fires demonstrate the importance of having a developed fire mitigation plan in place for utilities like United Power, who reviews and updates its plan annually. 

As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention. United Power’s goal is the safety of its members and the protection of the communities they live in. 
United Power made preparations to enhance its existing fire mitigation plan in early 2013 with a change in facility design and placement, making them more accessible and clear of potential hazards. The implementation also included an expansive vegetation management policy to keep infrastructure clear of hazards that could be easily ignited in the event of a system failure (such as a fault or equipment malfunction leading to an outage). 

“As we reviewed our system design, we began to recognize the opportunity for better design methodology and the use of advanced technology to prepare for the unexpected,” said acting chief executive officer Bryant Robbins. “One of the things we heavily targeted was the prevention of wildfire risk on our system.” 

Members in Coal Creek Canyon, and those driving through, may have noticed crews installing new line in parts of the canyon. This new line is an insulated conductor known as Hendrix cable, which provides a high level of protection when contact is made, such as a tree falling into the line. The strength of the line along with the covered protection goes a long way in preventing fires caused by electrical equipment in the mountain service territory. The new line has been one of the more high profile and visible elements of the cooperative’s fire mitigation plan, but the team at United Power went much further in developing system improvements to mitigate the wildfire risk to members. 

Always looking for an opportunity to develop a better system, United Power became an early adopter of drone maintenance inspections and an industry leader in both system automation and the deployment of smart devices. 

“These technologies are among the most innovative forms of outage management currently available to utilities,” said Engineering Director Robert Maxwell. “Their design also allows them to stop the flow of electricity to faults that could develop into fires without this technology. We’re far ahead of the curve in utilizing the latest technology when compared not just to other cooperatives but also larger electric utilities.” 

Drones are able to quickly survey miles of line in a rapid period of time, freeing line crews to focus on preventable outages, which has been especially useful in the mountains where the terrain can often make pole inspections time consuming and difficult. The number of man hours saved and outages prevented from this innovative inspection format is incalculable.

Automated field devices further allow the system to identify and isolate problems to restore power quickly while minimizing the number of members affected and smart devices are able to immediately report problems back to the cooperative’s system operations. These improvements, along with the installation of advanced trip savers and fault detectors, help improve outage response and mitigate the potential for fires.

Although the current pandemic has interfered with many facets of our daily lives, United Power has continued to make progress implementing new technology onto its system to further mitigate the threat of wildfires. As the past month has shown throughout the state, a strategic fire mitigation plan is essential in Colorado. 

“Wildfire preparedness is a priority for United Power, and we’ve been able to blend our efforts to mitigate fire dangers with our efforts to prevent outages,” said Robbins. “As our numbers continue to improve, we’ll also continue looking for the best opportunities to better serve our members, both safely and affordably.”

For more information about United Power’s fire mitigation improvements, go to Fire Mitigation.