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Power Supply Questions
Do you have questions about the upcoming transition to new power suppliers will impact you and your service with United Power? Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.
Questions & Comments
Latest News & Updates
Tri-State Generation and Transmission, United Power’s power supplier, announced a plan to reduce rates by 8% over the next three years, as well as allow for partial requirements contracts with certain requirements. The improvements are part of the power supplier’s goals to meet the guidelines of their Responsible Energy Plan. United Power’s interim CEO, Bryant Robbins issued the following statement in response to the components of the proposed plan:
“United Power is very supportive of Tri-State’s efforts to lower rates. We think this is a great step in the right direction for the future of Tri-State and congratulate their efforts in trying to make this happen. Unfortunately for United Power, we serve an area in which our competitors’ rates are as much 25% to 35% less than ours. We are going to need much more than the proposed 8% reduction in Wholesale Power to be competitive,” stated interim CEO, Bryant Robbins.
“Based upon our preliminary analysis, we don’t think the Partial Requirements/added flexibility has a positive impact on our needs. The approved plan is not what we proposed a couple of years ago and just doesn’t appear to viable to United Power and its membership,” added Robbins. “However, we hope it does meet the needs of the other [Tri-State] cooperatives.”
“United Power will continue to pursue a just, reasonable, and non-discriminatory exit charge,” Robbins concluded. “Once received, our Board can then determine the appropriate direction and future of our Power Supply that is in the best interest of our membership. We also remain available to Tri-State for discussions to potentially resolve the issues.”
United Power is continuing to work on this. Read more on our Power Supply page.
Lawsuit Alleges Tri-State G&T Conspired to Mislead Cooperatives
United Power’s Complaint Against Wholesale Power Supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Can Proceed Following Ruling by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Brighton, CO – A ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Friday was a mixed bag for Tri-State Generation and Transmission, but a potential win for United Power and its members. The ruling stated that a complaint filed by United Power at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) can proceed. The complaint, filed in November of 2019, asks the PUC to help determine “reasonable and non-discriminatory exit charges” for United Power to leave its contract with Tri-State. In addition, FERC concluded that Tri-State has been FERC regulated since September 3, 2019 when Tri-State added their first non-utility member. However, the ruling also stated, should the Colorado PUC or its courts find the addition of this non-utility member a violation of State law, FERC could reconsider this ruling.
“United Power has been very methodical in our approach to determining our course forward in regard to wholesale power,” stated Dean Hubbuck, Chief Energy Resource Officer. “We are weighing the cost and mix of power we receive from Tri-State with other options in the energy marketplace, and we need the PUC to provide an accurate and fair exit charge so we can make good decisions for our Cooperative’s future on behalf of our membership.”
United Power is Tri-State’s largest wholesale power purchaser, comprising approximately 16% of their total energy sales. Under the current Tri-State contract, United Power has struggled to exercise more control over their costs of wholesale power, and the limits in place for the integration of more renewable energy resources. In filing the complaint with the PUC, United Power is hoping to finally determine an accurate and reasonable cost to exit their power contract, should they choose to do so.
“From the beginning, United Power has tried to partner with Tri-State by providing several suggested paths for these discussions to continue in a productive manner. However, we have not been able to agree on a method suitable to both parties,” stated Bryant Robbins, CEO. “Simply put, United Power wants to lower costs to our members and integrate more local renewable resources into our power mix. One option to achieve this goal is through exiting our contract with Tri-State. We hope a ruling by the PUC will help us clarify the costs and provide an exit pricing methodology that is both clear and fair to our membership and the membership of Tri-State.”
Considering the FERC ruling, on March 23, 2020, United Power filed a request for a status conference with the PUC and plans to move forward in obtaining the information requested.
“As a cooperative we have a duty to advocate on behalf of our local membership,” stated Robbins. “We will continue to work through the PUC to get an accurate and fair exit price so we can better understand our path forward.”
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to nearly 95,000 meters at homes, business, and farms in Colorado's north central front range. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.
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Locally Owned by Those We Serve
United Power, a member-owned utility founded in 1938, provides electric service to more than 95,000 meters, or 250,000 residential, agricultural and business consumers along Colorado’s northern Front Range. The not-for-profit electric cooperative is guided by a member-elected board of directors comprised of eleven directors who serve three-year terms.
Surrounding Denver on three sides, United Power serves 900 square miles along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies. Our service territory wraps around the north and west borders of Denver International Airport and includes the north metropolitan development corridors of Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470.
Cooperative businesses, like United Power, are special because they are owned by the consumers they serve, and they are guided by a set of seven principles that reflect the best interests of those consumers.
All cooperative businesses adhere to these seven guiding principles:
- Voluntary and Open Membership.
- Democratic Member Control.
- Members’ Economic Participation.
- Autonomy and Independence.
- Education, Training, and Information.
- Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
- Concern for Community.
United Power purchases wholesale electricity from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Tri-State is the supplier of electricity to United Power and 41 other customer-owned utilities in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Nebraska.
Currently, wholesale power from Tri-State constitutes more than 77% of our total costs paid by our members. Since 2018 United Power has been actively seeking to reduce our costs for wholesale power, and to have more control over the generation mix of that power.
Our members deserve cleaner, more affordable power. United Power is committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable electric power, and as a cooperative, we’re always looking out for our member-owners.
United Power has been a leader in innovative and renewable energy projects. From developing the state’s first cooperative solar farm, to several large-scale solar projects, and to operating the state’s largest battery storage facility, we have been driven by what is financially and environmentally best for our members.
We are limited by our Tri-State contract to incorporate any additional renewable energy. United Power has been consistently at the table asking for solutions that give our members what they want. We know our members want more local, renewable power serving their homes and businesses.