Our Vision in a Rapidly Evolving Energy Industry

The electric utility industry is undergoing a significant refocus on everything from technology to power supply. The delivery model of today will look vastly different in the next decade. Grid technology is improving, energy markets are evolving, and member demands and expectations are changing. United Power must be prepared to adapt quickly and respond proactively to shifts in an ever-changing environment. We recognize the wealth of opportunities - and challenges - that come with these changes. 

Our mission as your local electric cooperative is to safely and responsibly deliver reliable electricity and excellent service to our members. To continue delivering on that promise, we must identify the range of potential futures that we need to prepare for, harness our strengths, recognize where growth and investments are required, and develop innovative approaches to proactively address challenges. 

It is, therefore, critical United Power ensures all the pieces work together to optimize financial investments, operating efficiencies, and resources. The intent of our cooperative roadmap is to document organizational objectives to create an alignment from the Board of Directors to every employee and, in turn, our members.

Empower and Engage with Members and Communities

Electric cooperatives are owned by the members they serve, which means the members are not just consumers but stakeholders in the cooperative’s success.

Read More

Provide Flexible, Affordable, Responsible Power and Services

As the needs of the distribution system have increased, so has the need for United Power to evolve and optimize the supply of power and services to its members.

Read More

Continuously Optimize the Electric Distribution System

The optimization of the electric distribution system is paramount as the cooperative confronts increasing demands and complexities driven by rapid electrification, the integration of DERs, and the evolving expectations of members.

Read More

Achieve and Maintain Business Agility and Resilience

Business agility and resilience are key investments of United Power’s strategic and operational plan.

Read More

Guiding Principles

The following guiding principles were used to develop this roadmap. They are the lenses through which United Power evaluates options, particularly when there are trade-offs.

Safety

United Power prioritizes safety in every decision and action. By fostering a culture of transparency, trust, and teamwork, the cooperative ensures that safety is reflected in every aspect of its operations to protect employees, members, and communities.

Reliability

United Power strives to deliver high quality, uninterrupted service to members through the design, operation, protection, and maintenance of a robust and resilient electric distribution system.

Affordability

United Power is committed to securing fair and competitive wholesale rates, managing costs, and responsibly allocating those costs across the membership with stable and transparent rate options.

Flexibility

United Power demonstrates maximum agility and adaptiveness through forward-looking plans, versatile and innovative programs and business models, and diverse power supply options as the cooperative responds to changes in its environment and the needs of members and communities.

Responsibility

United Power acts ethically, sustainably, and in the best interest of its members and communities as the cooperative manages operations and secures resources.

Recent Roadmap Posts

Title
United Power Hosts Member Forum to Discuss Power Supply
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/TransmissionSolar.jpg?itok=vn6mc-kQ
Monday | June 13, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power held a member forum on June 7 to discuss the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power contract.

United Power held a member forum on June 7 to discuss the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power contract and highlight opportunities to purchase low cost, high reliability power that is produced in an environmentally responsible manner. In April, the cooperative filed a nonconditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, reaffirming its decision to leave its wholesale power supplier. The withdrawal is effective May 1, 2024. 

Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dean Hubbuck, the cooperative’s Chief Energy Resources Officer, discussed the exit process, goals of the transition, and impact to members with both in person and virtual attendees. Gabriel reassured members the shift in power suppliers would not affect their status as members of the cooperative and the exit was ultimately about controlling costs and potentially lowering rates. 

“We’re working diligently so that we can save money,” Gabriel said. “If we can control costs and if we can manage to get better pricing out in the market, we are able then to lower rates. I think that’s something that’s critical as a member-owned cooperative.”

Hubbuck provided a high-level overview of various steps the cooperative has taken to negotiate a fair and equitable contract termination fee through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including several recent decisions in favor of United Power, and its recent request for proposal (RFP) for new power supply. 

“We are expecting a healthy response to our RFP, which is due in the early part of August,” Hubbuck said. “We’ll spend about two months evaluating proposals before selecting a handful of suppliers to work with directly. We hope to select a supplier, or group of suppliers, and begin contract negotiations early next year.” 

United Power has attempted to negotiate contract modifications with its wholesale power supplier, including an option for partial requirements, but has been met with resistance. The current contract no longer makes economic sense for the cooperative or its members. It limits local generation and member flexibility while rates are well above market price. 

“Historically, our wholesale power contract was entered into because, at that time, our most pressing issue was to secure a reliable source of power when very few viable options were available,” said Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman. “Our situation has substantially changed, with more affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable power supply options now available. We believe we should deliver electricity that is more reflective of the current market price, ultimately helping our members save."

More information about United Power’s contract negotiations and transition to new power suppliers is available on the Power Supply page. Members who were unable to attend the Power Supply Forum can watch it here

Title
FERC Rules in Favor of United Power
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2019_NL_Rates.png?h=45932144&itok=KW7a9GOa
Friday | May 27, 2022
Card Teaser
FERC this week issued four initial decisions as part of the rate settlement proceedings between United Power and its wholesale power supplier Tri-State.

Brighton, Colo. - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week issued four initial decisions as part of the rate settlement proceedings between United Power, an electric cooperative headquartered in Brighton, Colo., and its wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State). 

On May 26, FERC Administrative Law Judge Scott Hempling handed down decisions in the cooperative’s favor on three of four issues and ordered Tri-State to give United Power significant refunds concerning energy storage resources (i.e., battery storage). 

As one of the settling parties, United Power agreed to the rate settlement at FERC after four key issues were reserved and set for hearing this spring: transmission and delivery system cost unbundling, direct assignment of non-networked delivery facilities (cost causation), energy storage resources, and the discriminatory nature of Tri-State’s Board Policy 119 (BP 119) regarding community solar programs.

“These rulings are significant as they will provide long term benefits to all Tri-State cooperative and their members, in identifying and controlling system costs and assuring the costs are allocated to those who benefit,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive Officer. “The decision will also impact Tri-State’s claims in the contract termination payment methodology currently awaiting FERC decision, and guide the future work of Tri-State’s rate design committee as the ruling dictates rate structure, ultimately mandating more transparency to all Tri-State members.”

Under the rulings in favor of United Power, FERC determined that Tri-State must unbundle its rates into generation, transmission, and each of the six ancillary services, assuring that the costs of each element are properly identified and disclosed. The FERC judge also determined that Tri-State’s 2023 come-back filing must explain the integration status of each element using appropriate accounting and engineering data, allocating the associated costs accordingly so that facilities used to deliver electric power are properly identified and the costs allocated to those who use them known as “cost causation.” Further, it was found that Tri-State’s special policy for certain community solar programs (BP 119) is unduly discriminatory. This results from a cost-benefit ratio that varies widely depending on a member’s size. Judge Hempling characterized this mismatch of costs and benefits under BP 119 as “textbook undue discrimination.”

A split decision was issued regarding energy storage resources. It was found that Tri-State improperly charged United Power and must provide refunds from September 2019 forward. Judge Hempling specifically ruled that Tri-State cannot use board policies to manipulate the contract and filed rate terms. He also ruled that Tri-State’s inconsistent treatment of energy storage resources is unduly discriminatory, but resolution of that issue was outside the scope of the proceeding. 

“The reserved issues before FERC are ahead of the rate settlement case being heard in Washington, D.C., and final rulings on these issues bring United Power closer to our contract termination payment determination,” said Gabriel. “We are pleased with the fair outcomes of these rulings by FERC and look forward to the day when United Power has more control of the power supply mix serving our members.”

United Power filed a non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from Tri-State, effective May 1, 2024, and simultaneously issued a request for proposals for up to 600 MW of wholesale electric supply. A ruling from the presiding FERC judge on exit fees for Tri-State members is expected by the end of the summer, with a final decision expected in 2023.

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 and 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.

###
 

United Power filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) on April 29. The latest filing moves the cooperative’s previously announced departure date to May 1, 2024.
Transitional Energy & United Power announce a groundbreaking pilot to leverage energy from oil and gas wells to generate dispatchable power.

td { border: 0; }