Beginning next year, members will see some changes to the rebate requirements on heat pump air conditioners as well as an increase in rebate amounts. Beginning on January 1, 2018, air source heat pumps must have a SEER rating of at least 15 in order to receive a rebate. Air source heat pumps with a 15-17 SEER rating, will receive a $300 per ton rebate from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and air source heat pumps with a SEER rating above 17 will receive a $450 per ton rebate from Tri-State. Members will continue to receive an additional $100 per unit rebate on air source heat pumps from United Power, if attached to an existing ETS forced air furnace. Ground-source heat pump rebates from Tri-State are increasing from $250 to $500 per ton starting on January 1, 2018. An inspection by United Power is required to qualify for rebates and members are encouraged to call United Power’s Energy Management Team prior to making any purchases to discuss rebate requirements. Learn more about our rebates here.

By November, a third large scale solar field will be energized in United Power’s territory– the Platteville Solar Farm. This 16 megawatt (MWAC) solar project is now the largest cooperative solar farm in Colorado– surpassing our own 13 megawatt Fort Lupton Solar Farm, energized in June 2016.

Silicon Ranch Corporation, a leading developer, owner, and operator of solar energy plants, will own and operate the solar field, while United Power will purchase the energy produced over the next 20 years. The 175-acre farm is located at 19028 County Road 28, just east of Platteville. The farm features technology that allows more than 185,000 solar panels to track the sun from east to west and will produce enough low-cost, renewable power to serve 3,000 United Power members annually.

Combined with the Fort Lupton Solar Farm and the Mavericks Solar Farm, a 6.5 megawatt solar farm in Mead energized in December 2016, more than 6,700 homes and businesses in United Power’s territory will be powered by solar energy once the Platteville Solar Farm is energized.