In the years leading up to its 75th anniversary in 2013, United Power experienced unprecedented growth for an electric cooperative, more than doubling in size. The way the cooperative serves its members has changed with the development and advancement of technology available to both provide power for and communicate with its members. This is the final piece in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.

Following the addition of Brighton to the United Power family in 1993, the cooperative entered into a period of unprecedented growth. Since adding Brighton, United Power has grown more than five times in size, remaining one of the fastest growing cooperatives in the country over the past 25 years.

Much of United Power’s growth could be attributed to Denver’s continued northeast expansion. In the 1990s, construction on Denver International Airport was completed adjacent to the cooperative’s service territory and E-470 was extended into its southern quadrant. This provided greater access to the area, which offered affordable housing options and the opportunity to grow with the communities, mimicking the growth of Northglenn and Thornton years earlier.

Knowing it would serve new electrical loads from homes and businesses moving into the area, United Power pursued an active role with communities as they planned for future growth and planned infrastructure to support that growth.

As new residents flocked northeast to Brighton and its surrounding communities and north along the I-25 corridor, the cooperative outgrew the “typical” rural electric mold. The difference gave United Power new financial clout, allowing it to become the responsive utility the members and communities it served needed.

United Power constantly surveys technical innovations that can help better provide electric service that’s safe, reliable and cost-effective. The ongoing evolution of technology has created a cooperative that looks far different today than it did just a few years ago, and United Power has adopted a strategy placing it at the forefront of innovation among cooperatives across the country.

United Power has taken proactive steps to keep power flowing while providing members with the tools necessary to monitor and control their usage. Improvements to the cooperative’s infrastructure monitoring system, Supervisory Control and Data System (SCADA), provide more information related to outages and potential problems. The newly installed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) allows members to view detailed information related to their usage trends and history through the Power Portal.

Over the past few years, United Power has also installed innovative renewable programs as the technology has become easier and cheaper to obtain and install. From powering the country’s first community solar field to the state’s largest battery storage facility, the promise of a more efficient and economical future sits on the back of the innovations in technology that have helped to move the cooperative forward.

Over the past 80 years, United Power has grown from a small rural electric cooperative serving just over 100 members to a progressive urban cooperative with more than 90,000 meters. It has overcome a competitive buyout bid from the state’s largest investor-owned electric utility, and set the bar for other cooperatives to follow as it adopts new and innovative technology. United Power is proud to celebrate 80 years of serving its members and providing safe and reliable power.

United Power is dedicated to keeping our members’ lights on. That wouldn’t be possible without the help of our skilled linemen, who work each day behind the scenes to improve our system and prevent outages before they happen. On April 18th, we will join in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day, honoring the hard work, innovation and dedication of America’s electrical lineworkers.

Linemen must be prepared to face daily situations that may be less than ideal, regularly tasked with resolving intricate and hazardous problems in unknown or perilous conditions.

During the past year, our linemen have had to help restore power to members following severe hail storms and high winds, which caught many offguard. When severe weather hits our service territory, our linemen are ready to assess the situation and begin the process of restoring power. When the skies are clear and the wind is calm, our linemen are monitoring our system and making improvements to prevent outages where possible.

Our linemen are on call 24 hours a day, ready to respond to any situation in any type of weather. So next time you lose power, rest assured a highly trained United Power crew is on the way, dedicated to getting the lights back on quickly and safely.

Without our linemen, the power that makes our member’s homes comfortable wouldn’t be possible. We invite our members to take a moment to thank our United Power linemen for the work they do. Use #ThankALineman on social media to show your support, or take a moment to drop a kind note in the mail.

United Power
Thank a Lineman
500 Cooperative Way
Brighton, CO 80603

United Power will be celebrating a special cooperative milestone at its Annual Meeting & Director Election on April 17, 2019. The Brighton-headquartered electric utility will join a short list of rural electric cooperatives celebrating 80 years of providing safe and reliable power. The meeting will include a special tribute to United Power’s history and highlight the communities it serves.

All members are invited to connect with cooperative leadership at the annual meeting, enjoy the company of fellow cooperative members and have a chance to win one of several door prizes. United Power’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds/Regional Park located at 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601.

There are four candidates vying for a position on the cooperative’s board of directors. One seat in the East, West and South districts is up for election this year. Profiles of the 2019 candidates are included in this issue of the United Newsline.

Ballot packets will be mailed out to members in late March, and include profiles of each candidate. Members may cast their ballots in person at the Annual Meeting, drop them at a United Power office or mail them postage-paid prior to the deadline in the voting envelope.

While candidates live in and represent a geographic area of our territory, they are elected “at-large,” which means members should vote for one candidate in each district. Please follow voting and signature instructions carefully to ensure you return a valid ballot.

Member registration will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Members who did not mail in their ballot or chose not to vote prior to the meeting will be issued a ballot and be able to cast their votes in the Director election. After members have cast their ballot, they can enjoy a barbecue dinner with us, visit the educational exhibit booths and be entertained by musician Dave Connelly.

The official business meeting of the members will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include reports from the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer John Parker and a report from the Board Treasurer. Election results will be announced prior to adjournment and door prize drawings will conclude the meeting. To learn more about the Annual Meeting, or the candidates running for a seat on the cooperative’s board of directors, keep reading this issue, or visit www.unitedpower.com.

Director Election Ballots to Be Mailed in March

United Power will celebrate its 80^th Anniversary at the 2019 Annual Meeting of members on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at the Adams County Fairground and Regional Park Complex. Registration and balloting open at 4:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The annual business meeting will include a barbecue dinner, director election, cooperative update, anniversary celebration, and door prizes. All United Power members are invited to attend the annual business meeting of the not-for-profit electric cooperative and cast their ballots in the 2019 Director Election.

A seat in the East, West and South director districts will be up for a three-year term in the 2019 Director Election. Nominations by written petition were due to the cooperative on Friday, Feb. 15. The candidates running in the 2019 Director Election are as follows:

District E (East):
Elizabeth Martin

District S (South):
Keith E. Alquist, II
Bradley J. Case

District W (West):
Ursula J. Morgan

United Power will host four Meet the Candidate Forums where members can learn more about each candidate.

• March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Adams County Fairgrounds
• March 19 at 7:30 a.m. at Fort Lupton Recreation Center
• March 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Coal Creek Canyon Community Center
• March 22 at 7:30 a.m. at E.L.F. Grill

In addition, profiles provided by each candidate will be included in the ballot packets mailed to all members at the end of March. Members should return their ballots via postage-paid mail prior to Apr. 15, or vote in person at the Annual Meeting on Apr. 17.  Members may also return ballots in a ballot drop-box located at each of United Power’s offices. Ballot drop boxes will close at 2 p.m. on Apr. 17.

To learn more about the candidates, for more information about the Meet the Candidate Forums, or for more information about the cooperative’s 80^th Annual Meeting please visit the Annual Meeting page.

UNITED POWER, INC.
OFFICIAL POSTING OF NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR BY PETITION

The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc., in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled April 17, 2019.  Districts E (East), S (South) and W (West) are up for three-year terms.

District E (East):
Elizabeth Martin

District S (South):
Keith Alquist, II
Bradley J. Case

District W (West):
Ursula J. Morgan

This notice is posted pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of United Power, Inc.

Posted: 2-15-19
Cooperative Website
Brighton Headquarters
Coal Creek Office
Ft. Lupton Office