Electric vehicles have continued to improve and advance over the past few years, and as they have improved, so too has interest and intrique. More people now rely on EVs for their daily lives than ever before, thanks in part to continued development of vehicles, rapid adoption by consumers and growth in the local and national charging infrastructure. If you’ve been interested in learning more about purchasing an EV for yourself, there has never been a better opportunity to do so, and your cooperative is here to take that journey with you. United Power recently launched ChooseEV, a free member resource to help you learn more about EVs and how they may impact your energy usage.

ChooseEV is the hub of information on electric vehicles for United Power members. Here you can find facts about electric vehicles, benefits of ownership and tips for how to purchase your own EV. If you’re already determined to buy an EV for you or your household and are curious what models are available to meet your needs, ChooseEV provides a comprehensive list of models. It even includes a list of plug-in hybrids, in case you’re on the fence or undecided about purchasing a fully electric model. For peace of mind, you’ll also find a map of charging stations and a helpful calculator to help determine your savings potential for driving an EV. (Savings difference calculates the monthly cost to drive a gas-powered vehicle compared to electric or hybrid, but also provides members with an expected amount to anticipate seeing on their electric bills.)

As this year goes on, United Power is excited to take this journey with you as we look at new ways to serve our EV members. Stay tuned in the upcoming months for updates about the cooperative’s investment in electric vehicles.

To check out our ChooseEV resource for yourself or to research more information about your upcoming EV purchase, go to Choose EV.

United Power members living in and around Fort Lupton now have access to a new payment kiosk. The new kiosk is located inside the Bank of Colorado’s Operations Center, 605 4th St.

Payment kiosks are hassle-free and easy to use. To make a payment, bring your United Power account number and a form of payment. Kiosks accept cash, credit card or check payments. Cash and credit card payments made using the kiosk are applied to your account immediately, and accounts subject to disconnection are restored immediately upon payment.

Over the past few years, the cooperative 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 installation of payment kiosks demonstrates our commitment to providing the types of services our members want,” said Francis Ashu, Member Services Director. “Through our many convenient account management and payment options, we are able to provide the same level of quality service without costs associated with operating a storefront location.”

United Power now operates four payment kiosks, conveniently located throughout the service territory, with the addition of the Fort Lupton kiosk. The other kiosks are located at the cooperative’s office locations in Brighton, Carbon Valley and Coal Creek.

Find more information on payment kiosks and other payment options on our payments page. 

Many United Power members have spent much of the past ten months making necessary lifestyle changes to accommodate recommended precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home and distance learning have become common throughout our territory and may continue throughout the first part of the new year. With more time spent at home and more devices being used, it’s important our members consider the electrical safety implications of the current period.

Secure Wall Outlets

Over time, standard wall outlets may become loose, causing power cords to hang loose rather than hold firmly. This may not seem like a safety risk, especially if you’ve regularly used these outlets in the past. However, power cords hanging from loose outlets can cause arcing, which may lead to a fire. If your outlets are not firmly holding a plug, contact a certified electrician to make necessary repairs.

Don’t Overload Home Circuits

An additional safety concern with outlets in your home is overloading, which is when more power is requested of an outlet than it can deliver. This can be the result of either high-powered appliances or many small devices plugged into a single outlets. Overloaded outlets can trip circuit breakers or blow fuses, but it may also melt the plastic or rubber protection around power cords, exposing the wires. This poses another fire risk to households. An electrician can install additional outlets in your home to avoid the risks of overloaded circuits.

Don’t Daisy Chain Power Strips

One way people may add sockets to a wall outlet is using a power strip. Daisy chaining is the process of plugging an additional power strip into a power strip already in use, creating a “chain” of power strips, and is another way to easily overload your circuit.

The United Power Board of Directors has allocated an additional $250,000 to the cooperative’s Co-op Cares Fund for this year. The fund was created in April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was designed to provide financial assistance to members who have been directly impacted, especially by illness or job loss.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of members who are struggling to make their payments because of the lasting effects of this pandemic,” said Laurie Burkhart, the cooperative’s chief financial officer. “The Co-op Cares Fund was the result of proactive measures by the cooperative to provide temporary relief to members who were unfortunately impacted in dramatic ways. The inability to make payments can be a serious burden to carry. We hope our Board’s additional allocation to the Co-op Cares Fund provides some measure of relief to our members.”

The cooperative was able to finance the Co-op Cares Fund by allocating funds from unclaimed capital credits, which are capital credits that were not claimed by former United Power members after several attempts to notify them over a period of years. This past year, the Board allocated $300,000 in unclaimed credits to the Co-op Cares Fund. An initial allocation of $250,000 was made in April, and an additional $50,000 was added later in the year after it was clear more assistance was needed for impacted members.

“The Co-op Cares Fund has been an important pillar in our strategy to provide support to our members during this difficult time, and complements the many other ways United Power is helping our members weather this situation,” said interim CEO Bryant Robbins in a December press release announcing the additional allocation. “Through this program, United Power has provided $550,000 in direct assistance to our members who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. We are proud to have already provided assistance to more than 1,500 members.”

In addition to the Co-op Cares Fund, United Power has various means of helping members stay on top of their electric bills, including payment arrangements, extensions, prepay, budget billing and assistance from local agencies. United Power encourages members to contact Member Services so we can connect them with the most appropriate assistance program for their situation.

“United Power has several ways to help members when they are having difficulty paying their electric bills,” stated Robbins. “All we are asking our members to do is pick up the phone and call us if they are having difficulty paying their bill. We can’t help you if we don’t know you are struggling.”

The Co-op Cares Fund will be available for assistance through the end of 2021, or when the fund is depleted. United Power members who are impacted by the current emergency or any other situation can reach our Member Services department at 303-637-1300.

This past year may have challenged many of our members to find ways to use energy more efficiently with many families staying home for both work and school during the pandemic. While the end may be in sight, members should remain vigilant about using energy efficiently to help keep bills low and manageable. United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage throughout the pandemic and after it is over.

Rates that Work for You

With families spending more time at home over the past year, our members may have become increasingly aware of how they use energy. As we roll into the new year, now is a good time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family.

United Power expanded its menu of residential rates over the past couple years so we now offer several rates designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables our members to review their energy use habits and select one that most closely fits their usage patterns. For example, if you’ve effectively managed to switch your usage to off-peak hours, perhaps the Peak Time of Day rate, which does not charge for demand during those hours, would be the best option for your household. The cooperative’s Board of Directors also approved a budget this past year that allowed rates to remain unchanged in 2021, which may come as a relief for many United Power members.

For more information on United Power’s residential rates, you can flip to page 6 or go to our Rates page. To have a dedicated Energy Management Specialist review your usage and recommend a rate option, call 303- 637-1300.

Take Advantage of Free Member Resources

United Power has rolled out several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. While our online account portal provides information related to your energy usage, the Power Portal is a member tool that goes deeper into your usage patterns. With the Power Portal, you can access your complete energy consumption portfolio in 15-minute intervals throughout the day to get a clear look at how you use your energy. You can then compare days or months to determine what behaviors are driving your usage and make small or large changes to save you over time and help keep bills manageable. You can find out more about the Power Portal here.

In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members.

The ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter

Nearly half of our energy use comes from keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature year-round, making it the most expensive part of our electric bills. A simple adjustment to your thermostat may be all it takes to realize quick savings on heating and cooling your home, and it’s unlikely you’ll even notice the slight change in temperature. The Department of Energy estimates a savings of approximately 1 percent per degree adjustment per 8 hours. Adjusting the temperature to a greater degree when you’re away from home may result in savings up to 10 percent annually. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. Many smart thermostats can also learn your schedule, analyze weather and adjust automatically.

Have you ever considered your water heater as a potential user of excess energy? Turns out, keeping your water warmer than necessary can also cause small spikes in energy use. Consider turning down the temperature to the warm setting (120°F) to save a little extra.

Watch for Vampire Loads

The way many families use energy makes it difficult to notice the small things that use energy, but those small uses can quickly add up. Over time, small loads may lead to noticeable changes on your electric bills. This is increasingly the case as more members make the switch to chargeable devices and electronics that use energy even when they appear to be off. These are known as “vampire loads.” Gaming systems or TVs set to standby or chargers left plugged in when not in use are examples of small things that can contribute to these loads, which account for approximately 10 percent of the average household’s energy use. Many devices are now available that can control the flow of energy to devices that might cause these loads, such as smart power strips or plugs that can be turned off or on either manually or remotely (some via WiFi and others Bluetooth).

Talk to a United Power Energy Management Specialist

A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to advise and assist you with your energy concerns. An Energy Management Specialist can walk through your concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings.

Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Turn off power strips to televisions, gaming systems and other electronics, including chargers, that are not in use. Take shorter showers. Consolidate loads of laundry and dishes to make the best use of hot water. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Work with them to start a conversation about saving energy, and you’ll see the savings every month. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.

United Power members will once again be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the 2021 Member Choice Grant program.

Within our service territory, there are many nonprofits that bring value to the communities we serve. Member Choice Grants, originally introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. The grant funds will help them continue to work toward accomplishing their mission and ensures we are supporting causes our members truly care about.

This past year, our members recognized the needs of others who were trying to navigate difficult circumstances and focused their nominations on organizations that met essential needs. These organizations included food and clothing banks, mental health resources and positive recreation.

Recipients of grant awards are determined based on member nominations throughout the year. Nominations are now open, and recipients will be announced in three rounds in the cooperative’s newsletter.

For more information on Member Choice Grants and past recipients or to nominate a nonprofit that serves United Power members to receive grant funds, go to Member Choice.