Training Yard Offers New Possibilities for Linemen Training

If you’ve driven by United Power’s headquarters off I-76 in Brighton, you may have noticed the series of poles and wires going up along the eastern edge of its property. Earlier this year, the cooperative began construction on its new, state-of-the-art outdoor linemen training facility. 

Once completed, the new training yard will feature multiple phases for linemen to practice and prepare for real scenarios they may encounter in the field. The two most prominent phases visible at the moment are the high poles, situated throughout the training yard, and the short poles, along the southern side of the yard. 

While high poles are standard place on utility training yards and in linemen schools, short poles are an innovative idea brought to the cooperative all the way from Las Vegas through journeyman lineman Jeff Soole. These allow linemen to practice regular maintenance and upgrades while instructors are able to watch from below. 

“It’s a training tool with endless possibilities,” said Operations Superintendent Mike Lanckriet. “It can be what we need it to be whenever we need it. It has the ability to constantly evolve depending on what we need to train for.” 

Before construction of the training yard, linemen often had to learn by watching more experienced linemen in the field. However, even experienced linemen may encounter rare or unknown situations. The training yard allows them to train for both rare and routine tasks. 

In addition to training current linemen on various tasks and responsibilities, it has already proven useful in helping attract more qualified and capable linemen to join the Operations team.

“It’s not going to be as large as a training yard at a line school, but once it’s completed it will be comparable,” Lanckriet said. 

United Power is one of the state’s first cooperatives to begin construction on a training yard and phase in an innovative training regimen for its linemen. 
 

United Power members have reported receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be representatives of the cooperative and demanding payment for past due account balances. In an effort to protect its members, United Power proactively warns about the potential for phone scams.

The cooperative never calls members in person to collect overdue payments on account balances. Notice of delinquency or disconnection is sent via mail and followed up with an automated phone message instructing members to initiate payment at the closest United Power office, online or through the SmartHub app on their phone. The cooperative will also never require or demand prepaid debit or MoneyPak as the only forms of payment.

Some scammers use sophisticated software to disguise their phone number so that it appears to be coming from a recognized United Power service line. This is known as “caller ID spoofing.” Others instruct members to call a 1-800 number, which may also use United Power messaging. The cooperative does not maintain a 1-800 number, and warns members not to be fooled by false messaging from scammers.

To keep up with the current status of your electric account, reference your monthly statement, check your account via SmartHub (available free to members as a smart phone app, as well) or call United Power’s Member Services Department at 303-637-1300. If you are ever in doubt about a potential scam call, hang up and call United Power at 303-659-0551.

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.

May is National Electrical Safety Month

Were you aware tree limbs may become a safety hazard when in contact with power lines? Did you know attempting to trim a tree in contact with a power line puts you in danger of electrocution? Have you ever been uncertain about when and where to trim your trees located near power lines? 

The warm weather of spring often arrives with May, which is also recognized as National Electrical Safety Month. As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety. United Power wants to make sure you know the answers to your questions so you can safely tackle your spring yard work. 

(For quick reference about who’s responsible for maintaining trees near power lines, please read “Who’s Responsible” below.) 

When you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary power line, immediately contact United Power. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines. 

Observe the Ten-Foot Rule to safely trim trees on your property located near power lines. This means anything inside that radius may put you at risk. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines when notified in advance of any tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may fall unexpectedly and risk taking down power lines and causing potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer. 

When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to send out a troubleshooter or one of our tree contractors to assess the situation and keep you safe. 

Who's Responsible

United Power has an aggressive tree trimming program to reduce the number of tree related outages. However, in some cases, the homeowner may be responsible for keeping a line to their home clear of trees. Here is how it works:

• United Power is responsible for trimming around primary lines. These are lines running from pole to pole. United Power maintains these lines because they are higher voltage and require special handling from a qualified tree trimming crew.
• Members are responsible for obstructions in secondary lines. These are typically single lines stretching from our pole to a member’s home - often seen in backyards, crossing from the main electric line to the home.