Greater Visibility for Increased Safety

While you’re out and about you may soon notice a new look on United Power’s trucks. Here at United Power, we think a lot about the safety of our employees, and of our members. We are always looking for ways to keep our employees safer in the field and on the job. One of our initiatives to increase safety is better visibility—both for our employees and our vehicles.

For our field employees, we recently traded in our blue uniform shirts for more highly visible yellow shirts with reflective stripes. For our trucks, you’ll soon see a bigger, bolder look making them more visible out on the road.

The new design includes a larger and more prominent United Power logo, so members can more clearly see us when we are working in their communities, or on their property. Incorporated into the design is a reflective vinyl material which will help make our trucks more visible. This will help to protect our workers who often are called out to work at night and during storms where visibility conditions are poor. We want you to know when you’re working with United Power and to know when we’re in your community—and we want to ensure the safety of our employees who are working hard for you

United Power will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting and Director Election on Wednesday, April 18th at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton. Ballots will be mailed to all members at the end of March. Mail ballots must be received at the Survey and Ballot Systems post office box no later than Monday, April 16, 2018. Members may also drop ballots in a ballot drop-box located at each of United Power’s offices by 2 p.m. on April 18, or vote in person at the Annual Meeting starting at 4:30 p.m.

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 annual director election. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

United Power will host four free Meet the Candidate events so members can learn more about each candidate. More information about dates and times can be found here. Profiles provided by each candidate and detailed voting instructions are included in the ballot packets that will be mailed to members. For more information, visit www.unitedpower.com/annualmeeting or call United Power at 303-659-0551.

Directors run in geographic districts in order to accurately represent United Power members, but they are elected to the board at-large. Members are reminded to vote for one candidate in each of the cooperative’s four director districts.

United Power is enlisting the help of local children to create electrical safety posters that will be displayed for National Electrical Safety Month in May. Kids in grades kindergarten through fifth are invited to submit their creative ideas that incorporate electrical safety concepts or safety tips for the community.

Winning posters will be used in May to commemorate National Electrical Safety Month—an annual, nationwide campaign to raise awareness about electrical hazards. Six winning designs will be selected, one from each grade. Winning posters will be displayed throughout the United Power service territory—in print, online and on select bus benches. The winner from each grade will also be awarded a $50 cash prize.

The deadline for Electrical Safety Poster Contest entries is Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Posters must be submitted on the official coloring contest entry form, which is available at any United Power office, our website, and will be included in the February & March United Newsline, United Power’s monthly newsletter mailed directly to members. United Power employees will judge posters based on creativity and illustration of a key electrical safety concept.  Winners will be announced by Friday, March 30, 2018.

Contest Details

• Child must be a dependent of a United Power member.
• Winners will receive $50 cash awards.
• Six winners will be chosen. One from each grade K-5.
• Winning posters will appear online, in print and on bus benches for the month May.
• Entries must be submitted on the official contest entry form.
• DEADLINE: MARCH 21, 2018

Electrical Safety Tips

• Stay away from powerlines & electrical equipment.
• Use care when plugging & unplugging.
• Never mix electricity & water.
• Never stick toys or other objects into electrical outlets.
• Don’t overload outlets.
• Ask an adult for help ‑ you can never be too safe!

Attend a Meet the Candidate Forum to learn more about each of the candidates vying to serve on the Board of Directors in the 2018 Director Election to be held on April 18th. The following events are free to members. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are not required.

Monday, March 19, 2018 | 6:30 p.m.
Adams County Fairgrounds – Waymire Dome
9755 Henderson Road Brighton, CO 80601

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 | 7:30 a.m.
Fort Lupton Recreation Center
203 S. Harrison Ave. Fort Lupton, CO 80621

Thursday, March 22, 2018 | 7:30 a.m.
Coal Creek Canyon Community Center
31528 Highway 72 Golden, CO 80403

Friday, March 23, 2018 | 7:30 a.m.
E.L.F. Grill
102 8th Street Dacono, CO 80514

Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?” You may have wondered, “What is a planned outage?” and “Why does my electric utility need to perform one?” Occasionally, the equipment we use to bring power to your home needs to be replaced, repaired, or updated. When this happens, as a way to keep our crews and you safe, we plan an interruption to electric service.

We do our best to plan these outages during times when members will be the least inconvenienced. We also try to avoid planning these outages during winter or summer months. We understand these are peak times of the year when you depend on running your heating and cooling units the most.

While they may sound slightly inconvenient, planned outages are actually beneficial to you. Regular system upgrades are necessary for optimal performance, and they increase reliability. Repairing and upgrading our equipment is also critical to maintaining public safety. If older lines need to be replaced, we plan for it, repair or replace it, and that keeps everyone safe.

Planned outages also allow us to keep you informed of when and how long you will be without power. In most cases, we will notify you in advance, by telephone, before an outage, so you can be prepared.

We will also keep you aware of when line crews will be working in your area. Here at United Power, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and to keep our system running smoothly. So the next time you hear about a planned outage, know that it is one of the best ways we can provide you with quality electric service.

You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018). A cost of service study was completed and indicated a fixed charge cost increase to the Residential R1 rate class of $2.00/month. The Industrial Service Substation or Transmission ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4 rate classes will have a fixed charge increase of $500.00/month. The Grid Access Demand charge will increase for ITD3 to $3.50/kW and ITD4 will increase to $4.00/kW. The Power Cost Adjustment charge will be added into the energy charge for all effected rate classes and then zeroed out. There will be billing language clean up consistent with rate tariffs on all rate classes and Non-Standard Meter Fees will be made available to members with either behind the meter distributed generation or AMI opt-out. Also, the re-connection fee will be decreased for AMI metered accounts only.

The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.

Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.

An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint.  An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.

Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.  A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.

United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints.  If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing.  The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect.  Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.

UNITED POWER, INC

By: John Parker, Chief Executive Officer

Brighton, CO – United Power announced that Laurie Rydwell has been selected to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer for the electric cooperative. The position has been vacant since the promotion of John Parker to CEO in July.

“We are excited to bring such a qualified candidate to our cooperative in this key leadership position,” stated John Parker, United Power CEO. “Laurie brings both experience and expertise to our cooperative. Her background in utilities, coupled with her strong technical background in finances will be a valuable addition to United Power.”

Rydwell most recently worked as Controller at Summit Utilities in Littleton, Colorado. Summit Utilities is a privately-held holding company that owns and operates several natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries. Prior to her work with Summit, Rydwell held several positions at Xcel Energy in Denver, managing the accounting operations for revenue, transmission, commercial, and settlements during her tenure.  A native of Anchorage, Alaska, her history there included work as a controller for both energy and investment firms, and work as a Chief Financial Officer for an asset management firm in Anchorage.  Rydwell is a graduate of the University of Alaska, with a degree in Business Administration, and is a certified public accountant in both Alaska and Colorado.