Beginning this fall, United Power residential members will begin to see a new line of information on their bill – the ‘Demand Charge.’  For the remainder of 2018, members will see a number of kW multiplied by a zero dollar amount.  This number represents the highest level of ‘demand’ that your electric consumption creates on our system, and there is currently no cost assigned to that demand.  

While it is simply a way for you to begin understanding how you impact the electric grid today, it will eventually become a way for members to 
control and impact their own electric bills in the coming years.

What’s in your rate?

Today your rate incorporates many different costs – the cost of fuels to generate electricity, the cost to deliver the energy to your home, the cost to the electric cooperative to maintain and repair the system, even the cost of billing is included in the rates you pay. Residential members have been paying a blended bill for a long time, because most members use power in a very similar way. However, we now have access to more information about how individual members use power. We have information about every member’s energy consumption in 15 minute increments, and we can actually determine how individual households are impacting our system. This additional information allows us to break apart the various components of your electric bill and charge you more precisely for the two largest components of your bill: your impact on the electric system, or your ‘demand’ on the system, and amount of power you consume – your energy use. 

So, what is ‘demand’?

The demand charge that United Power will show on your bill is the highest amount of electricity used during a 15 minute period in that billing month. 

Here’s a simple demonstration:

Both Mary and Joe use the same amount of energy, but Joe’s demand is higher since he is using his appliances simultaneously. Mary has a lower demand because she’s staggering the use of her appliances.  

It costs more for the cooperative to serve Joe’s home than it does to serve Mary’s because we need to have the ability to produce and deliver the energy for both appliances at the same time.  We may have to plan to have additional electric generation plants or increase system resources to meet Joe’s higher demand and that comes at a cost to the entire co-op.  Under the new demand rate, if Joe continues to use power the same way his bill will be higher than in the past and Mary will see a savings. While these changes tend to be small for most households, the new rate structure will more closely represent the actual cost to provide that power.

Now is the time to study the demand number printed on your bill and determine how you impact our electric system. In 2019, our members will begin to see a cost attached to the demand portion of the bill, and a corresponding reduction in the cost of energy. While this new rate structure will provide a fairer bill for each of our members, it’s important that you understand how your behavior affects your demand. To help you understand demand, we will be providing a series of articles in upcoming issues of United Newsline and on our website.

It's Your Money, and Here's How it Works

Capital credits are just one of the ways United Power is different from other utilities. We’re different because we’re owned by you, our members. As we’re heading into our retirement cycle, here’s a brief synopsis of how capital credits work.

Step One: Membership

If you receive power from United Power, you are not just another customer. You are a member. Members have unique privileges, one of which is the principle of economic participation. A portion of each electric bill goes toward the cooperative’s operation and infrastructure, making you a part owner. 

Members may also vote annually in board elections or run for a board seat to make their voices heard. By actively engaging and participating with the cooperative, you will always have a voice in our operation. 

Step Two: Allocation

Every spring, United Power looks at the prior year and allots any funds remaining after all expenses are paid into a budget item called “patronage capital.” These designated funds are then “allocated” to members, based on the prior year’s electric consumption – the more power you use, the larger your allocation. 

The allocation is not a check, but a bookkeeping of the amount of money you have invested into the cooperative’s electric system based on your electric consumption. This allocation amount is reflected as an actual dollar amount on your bill in May each year. 

Step Three: Retirement

Every year our board decides if a capital credit “retirement” is feasible. If they decide to retire capital credits the money is paid out or “retired” from each member’s account, based on their past electric use and length of service. At United Power, anyone who receives a retirement of $10 or more receives a check, and any amount under $10 is returned as a credit on members’ bills.    

Look for more information about this year’s capital credit retirement in our August issue, and we’ll tell you how to enter to win a prize just for telling us how you’re going to use your capital credit refund!

When the drone (unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs) craze took off nearly a decade ago, it was impossible for experts to predict how rapidly impactful the revolutionary technology would become. As sales began to dwarf estimates, professional drone pilots found new and innovative ways to utilize the technology economically, often as a safe and cost-effective alternative to manned aerial operations or underground imaging. 

In 2016, United Power recognized it needed to brainstorm new ways to inspect its infrastructure in a quicker, safer and more efficient manner. 

On a daily basis, electrical poles and cross arms are exposed to various weather conditions, which can cause accelerated decay over time. United Power’s linemen put their lives on the line to regularly ensure lines and poles delivering power to families around the service territory are in the best shape. Even in the best conditions, however, the effort necessary to inspect thousands of poles across thousands of miles of line is immense, if not impossible. 

The idea to incorporate drone technology was first suggested by Mike Robinson, a Safety Specialist with the cooperative, who had been an early adopter of using drones during inspection. 

United Power partnered with Colorado Aerial Imaging, a veteran-owned drone maintenance business with experience in electric line inspection, and began a trial implementation in the Mountain Territory. 

Mountain Territory

Coal Creek is a 215-square mile noncontiguous parcel of land served by United Power. Extending from Golden to the Continental Divide, the Mountain Territory is sparsely populated, requiring lots of line carrying a higher voltage. The higher voltage lines, rugged terrain and severe weather made the Mountain Territory an easy place to begin initial implementation for the drone maintenance program.

With poles perched on cliff sides, in dense forests and at high elevations, inspection is a risky endeavor for linemen in Coal Creek. The time-consuming process also takes a backseat to restoring power during an outage, which can be exacerbated during storms and winter weather. UAVs provide quicker access to hard to reach poles and limit exposure to risk.

“The process of identifying and correcting an issue on a pole in a place like Coal Creek can require multiple hours to complete,” said Chief Operating Officer Bryant Robbins. “If another problem occurs during inspection, the linemen have no choice but to abandon it and return to it later.” 

For linemen in Coal Creek, hiking in and out of an area multiple times to repair poles is not uncommon, but the task is no less daunting in United Power’s larger Plains Territory.

Plains Territory

Colorado Aerial Imaging recently completed its first phase in the Plains Territory near Brighton, with two more phases scheduled for the upcoming months. While the service territory is more favorable for weather and terrain, it still comes with challenges. 

“We try to remain respectful of people’s concerns about privacy and security,” said Don McDaniel, Engineering Director for United Power. “It’s more densely populated, and more of our poles are located on or near private property.”

Since drones eliminate the need for linemen to approach poles during inspection, there’s limited impact to members — no property intrusion or interrupted service — and a sense of respect for their privacy. 

Though linemen on the plains don’t have to hike to and from poles through dense foliage and up steep inclines, the time necessary to inspect poles would be exorbitant. Crews rarely have the ability to devote large parts of their day to inspection across the service territory. 

“We serve some of the fastest growing areas in the Northern Front Range,” said McDaniel. “We have a lot of requests for new service from residential communities and businesses moving in, and not enough linemen to dedicate solely to inspecting poles, as much as we’d like to be able to.”

Other Benefits

“While examining and analyzing pole damages for an area in Coal Creek, we noticed rot along the top of a cross arm,” said Greg Bergin, co-owner of Colorado Aerial Imaging. “From where we were standing, the pole looked to be in fairly healthy condition.”

Because drones are not limited to the area around the pole, they are able to capture images from angles linemen wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. 

“Without physically climbing the pole and inspecting every part of it for damage, we wouldn’t have noticed this damage without the use of drones,” said lineman Adam Dillion. “Some poles may look fine, even from our best vantage points, but the pictures from above tell another story.”

Aerial images obtained from drones are visual, thermal and geotagged, providing a broader, wider and higher view of each pole and piece of equipment. There’s an inherent redundancy built into the program to ensure accurate inspections. 

“Before we ever send out a crew, we are able to determine what tools and materials we’ll need, how many men are required and whether we’ll need to be on someone’s property,” said Dillon. 

To date, Colorado Aerial Imaging has inspected more than 30 miles of line and nearly 800 poles. 

“What may take a line crew more than a day to complete a drone is able to do in less than an hour,” Robbins said. “Our drone program has been a cost-effective way to stay proactive, instead of reactive, to the potential for outages on our lines. The amount of time and risk this program has saved us, and will continue to save us, is incalculable.”
 

United Power proudly announces the 2018 scholarship recipients. Sixteen scholarships were granted for a total of $18,500. United Power awards the scholarships each year to outstanding students served by the cooperative. The United Power Scholarship Committee gives these awards based on grades, test scores, extracurricular participation and a short essay. Applications are made available at the end of each year. Visit www.unitedpower.com for more information.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship – $1,000 Award
Jacqueline Chavez Sandoval
Weld Central High School’s senior class president has built a stellar academic resume as she heads to CU Denver in the fall. Jacqueline is vice president of the National Honor Society, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, participates in drama club, band and dance and serves regularly at her local food bank. She plans to pursue a medical degree in pediatrics to help children in a field she loves.

Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarship – $1,000 Award
Sydney Bowman
Sydney, a senior at Brighton High School, has a strong academic record and a background in agriculture, and hopes to use that experience as she pursues a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition. She has run her own cattle company since 2010, and her accolades include: Adams County Junior Livestock Superintendent, Brighton FFA Chapter Executive Committee Chair and Adams County 4-H Member’s Council President, among many others.

Lois Lesser Education Scholarship – $1,000 Award
Fabienne Kelm
Eagle Ridge Academy senior Fabienne Kelm has a passion for teaching, and will major in secondary education at Metro State University in the fall. Fabienne is treasurer of the Interact Club, which develops leadership skills while discovering the power of “Service Above Self,” a member of the National Honor Society, and has been active with the school’s student council and drama club.

Bill Berens Memorial Scholarship – $1,000 Award
Brock Gagna
Brock Gagna, also a senior at Brighton High School, has big dreams, beginning with his pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines. As class valedictorian and National Honor Society president, Brock has a variety of academic honors on his resume, but also spends his time giving back to the community through tutoring elementary students and volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies.

United Power Youth Leadership Scholarship – $1,500 Award
Abigail Alvarez
Abigail has taken proactive steps toward reaching her goal of becoming a lawyer by age 22 since she was a freshman at Eagle Ridge Academy. In the fall, she’ll take the next step at CU Denver, armed with her high school diploma and an associate degree in criminal justice. Over the past four years, she’s been actively involved with the Adams County and Brighton Teen Courts and her church while earning a variety of academic honors.

United Power Colorado College Scholarship – $2,000 Award
Anna Estrada
Anna will graduate from both Weld Central High School and Aims Community College (as a state certified nursing assistant) in May before enrolling at CU Denver in the fall. She plans to pursue a degree in biology before continuing her education to become a physician assistant. While at Weld Central High School, Anna has been actively involved with the National Honor Society and lettered in concert band.

United Power Colorado College Scholarship – $2,000 Award
Emily Fitzjohn
High school has been a busy experience for Erie senior Emily Fitzjohn, who has participated in a variety of school clubs and organizations while staying active in and around her community. Her involvement includes National Honor Society, student council, drama club, Teens-with-Wings and the Longmont Humane Society. In the fall, Emily will attend Colorado State University in hopes of becoming a wildlife biologist.

United Power Book Awards – $1,000 Scholarships

Brighton High School: Josie Pomrenke
Josie Pomrenke is team captain for Brighton's swim team and enjoys serving in her community. In the fall, she will attend the University of Wyoming and pursue a career in medicine. She views it as her way of giving back to small, rural communities.

Prairie View High School: Rose Mendoza
Rose Mendoza is set to pursue a career in the demanding field of nuclear engineering, and will begin her path toward that goal at Oregon State University in the fall. Rose has been a part of the Technology Student Association, National Honor Society and the STARS mentor program.

Eagle Ridge Academy: Madison Mellin
Senior class president Madison Mellin has been actively involved in her school, participating in National Honor Society, student council, dance and drama. She will continue her education at Colorado State University, majoring in either journalism or business, with a minor in dance.

Frederick High School: Erica Kolanowski
Erica Kolanowski has a passion for the arts, and plans to major in art animation and graphic design at either CU Denver or Pomona College. A decorated visual artist, Erica hopes to one day join DreamWorks or Pixar Animation Studios and become and advocate for the arts.

Ft. Lupton High School: Yeilin Benitez
Yeilin Benitez plans to pursue a biomedical engineering degree at Colorado State University in the fall, and hopes to contribute to the advancement or improvement of medicine. Yeilin has participated in the Upward Bound, National Honor Society and Spanish Club, among other activities.

Mead High School: Derek Edwards
Derek Edwards hopes to mirror his desired major in petroleum engineering with a university that provides an opportunity to succeed athletically at the next level. He was a 2017 First-Team All-State selection in football and earned Academic All-State honors five times.

Weld Central High School: Silvia Sanchez
Silvia Sanchez plans to continue her education at CU Denver, pursuing a career in pediatrics. At graduation, she'll have earned an associate degree and nurse aid certification. Silvia volunteers at Platte Valley Hospital, church, and serves on student council and National Honor Society.

At-Large Book Scholarship: Cyndie O'Brien
Cydnie O'Brien hopes to become a leader in the field of forensic chemistry and help improve the justice system following her graduation from the University of Northern Colorado. The Erie High School senior has been active in student government, National Honor Society and choir.

At-Large Book Scholarship: Sean Glaister
In addition to his academic success, Legacy High senior Sean Glaister has helped shape his school through developing and/or chairing multiple service organizations. Sean plans to pursue biomedical engineering at one of several prestigious universities he's applied to.