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United Power to Host 2023 Annual Meeting on April 12
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Friday | April 7, 2023
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United Power members are invited to attend the cooperative’s 2023 Annual Meeting. Balloting in this year’s Director Election will close on April 11 for mail and electronic votes.

Deadline to Vote in Director Election Approaching

Brighton, CO – United Power members are invited to attend the cooperative’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Members on April 12. Balloting in this year’s Director Election will close on April 11 for mail and electronic votes. Ballot boxes at United Power offices close at noon on April 12. The last opportunity to vote is in person on April 12 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. before the annual meeting begins. Members will also have the option to watch the meeting via livestream on the cooperative’s website. 

Participating members will hear from cooperative leadership about the ways United Power continued to serve them over the prior year, including updates on power supply decisions, an overview on the co-op’s record-setting year in reliability, and a recap on the cooperative’s strong financial position. Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will also present on the future of the electric industry and the emergence of a shared energy economy, as well as how United Power is already embracing these changes. Members who are present at the meeting will receive an attendance gift and be entered to win one of several door prizes. Director Election results will be announced at the conclusion of the annual meeting. 

Voting in the annual Director Election allows members to have a voice in the cooperative’s future. Four positions on United Power’s Board are up for election this year – one seat in the Mountain, South, West, and East Districts. The director candidates are Tamra “Tami” Waltemath in the Mountain District; Jamie Klein, Ken Kreutzer, Katherine “Kathy” Mills, and James Vigesaa in the South District; Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek and Thomas “Tom” Hogan in the West District; and Steven “Steve” Douglas and Robert “Rob” Masden in the East District. Candidate statements are available online. 

Balloting in this year’s election opened on March 13. Online and mail ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 11 or they can be dropped in a ballot box at one of United Power’s office locations by noon on April 12. Members may vote in person at the annual meeting. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure United Power’s Board adequately represents members throughout the service territory and provides accessibility to cooperative leadership.

The 2023 Annual Meeting of Members will be held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Rd. in Brighton. Registration for the meeting opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. The virtual stream will begin at 6:30 p.m. at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric cooperatives in the nation, and in June 2021 joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops, reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

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On Saturday, United Power recognized Cory and Jaime Wagner of Keenesburg for connecting the utility’...

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Beware of Rooftop Solar Sales Scams
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Wednesday | January 18, 2023
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Members have recently reported salespeople claiming to represent the co-op and are using misleading promises to persuade members into costly decisions about solar panels.

United Power Does Not Contract or Partner with Any Solar Vendors

United Power is proud to be ranked among the top electric utilities across the country in member-owned rooftop solar installations. We are rapidly approaching our 10,000th net metering agreement. While we empower our members to pursue solar if it suits their energy needs and lifestyle, we do not contract or partner with any company that sells solar panels. Some members have recently reported door-to-door salespeople who are claiming to represent the cooperative and are using intentionally misleading promises to persuade members into making costly decisions about installing solar panels. To help our members separate fact from fiction, we have refuted a couple of the most common solar scams here. 

Claim: Going Solar Will Eliminate Your Bill

One of the most common promises solar salespeople make is that after purchasing a solar system, you will no longer receive a bill from your electric utility. This is not true. To take full advantage of “banking” your excess generation, and if you need a continuous source of power when the sun is not shining, you will likely want to maintain a connection to the United Power grid. All United Power members pay a fixed monthly charge, which covers a portion of the costs for grid connection including billing, collections, member services, and metering. Your bill may also include local taxes and franchise fees, which vary based on where you live.

You should also consider the cost of a new solar system. According to Consumer Affairs, Colorado residents can expect to spend nearly $14,000 on a 6-kW system — even after tax incentives. If you finance a system, your monthly solar payment could come with a higher price tag than you would pay for electricity alone.

Claim: United Power Keeps Raising Rates 

Salespeople have told members that we continue to raise rates, and that they have been paying more because of it. Residential rates for United Power members have remained steady for more than three years.

Any increases that members may have noticed on their monthly billing statements are likely due to recent weather trends or being home more frequently resulting in increased electric usage, not higher rates. If you want to learn more about your energy usage trends and pinpoint what is driving your electric costs, contact United Power’s Energy Management team at 303-637-1300.

United Power has a guide on our website for members who are considering solar. Visit our Going Solar guide to learn more about the benefits of your solar connection to the local electric grid. Please be extremely cautious of any door-to-door salesperson claiming to sell solar panels on United Power’s behalf, especially if they come with grand promises that seem too good to be true. 

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