If you’re holding on to older household appliances, now may be a good time to consider swapping them out for newer, more energy efficient models. Old appliances are among the biggest consumers of energy in your home, but as technology evolves, so does energy efficiency. A new energy efficient appliance can be operated using as much as 75 percent less energy than outdated appliances. 

Old refrigerators are the biggest culprit of excessive energy usage among daily household appliances. While older refrigerators can cost upwards of $16/month to use, a new model may cost as little as $4/month. Newer, high-definition LED TVs also use a fraction of the electricity older liquid-crystal displays (LCD) and plasma screens do. And don’t forget about other appliances and electronics you use daily.

Not only can new appliances save big on energy use, but they may also qualify for exclusive rebates from United Power and our wholesale power provider, Tri-State G&T. Select ENERGY STAR appliances are eligible for rebates, but must be requested within 120 days of purchase. For more information about United Power rebates, contact the energy management team at 
303-659-0551 or go to www.unitedpower.com/rebates. 

Tips for Purchasing New Appliances

With all the new information available about energy efficiency, it may be a little confusing to know what exactly to look for when shopping for new appliances and household electronics. Here are a few tips to help you out:

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR-qualified products exceed the federal minimum standards for efficiency and quality, meaning they’ll use less energy over their lifetimes than other models.
• Carefully review the EnergyGuide label. This yellow label provides information about how much energy an appliance uses compared to similar models.
• Consider the purchase price and cost to operate. These prices are important because you may be paying for the appliances energy use over the next 10-20 years, depending on when you choose to replace it again. 
• Compare prices. Keep in mind, many retailers will match a lower price offered by competitors. Keep looking until you find the right appliance for the right price.

United Power welcomed approximately 2,400 new members on Jan. 17th as the co-op became the sole electric provider to the Town of Frederick. These new members come into the cooperative after a deal was reached last year for United Power to acquire the Town’s municipal electric utility.

After failed negotiations over territorial disputes and pending litigation over the Town’s taking of service rights, an agreement was reached last year between the Town and United Power for United Power to purchase the facilities and acquire the customers of the Town’s municipal electric utility, Frederick Power & Light. Citizens of the Town of Frederick voted to affirm the agreement at a special election last summer.

The addition of these new members pushes United Power’s total services to nearly 90,000 meters, ends all disputes over service rights, and strengthens United Power’s electric delivery system in this rapidly growing region.

“We are excited about bringing the entire Town of Frederick into the United Power membership,” stated John Parker, United Power CEO, after the election was affirmed in June. “We want to express our thanks to the citizens of Frederick for their support in this process, and we will be working hard to make this transition a seamless process for them.”

United Power has been working with the Town to ensure these new members are well informed of the transition details. Members will receive multiple communications from United Power. A series of mailers will be sent to members with important electric account details. In addition, a special welcome page has been posted on the cooperative’s website to ensure these new members have the information they need to take full advantage of the many programs and benefits available to them now that they are cooperative members.