2021: A Year in Review
Thursday | February 10, 2022
Year after year, United Power works toward an unmatched excellence. Despite endless unpredictability over the past two years, the cooperatve has elevated its expectations.
Read more >
2022: Year in Review
Tuesday | January 10, 2023
United Power is working tirelessly to position the cooperative for future success, using our experience and expertise to prepare for emerging trends and industry changes.
Read more >
Title
2023: Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2023_Year.jpg?h=45932144&itok=rnQcTLEp
Thursday | January 11, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power had a stellar year including new power contracts, eclipsing a milestone in residential rooftop solar, and launching a website refresh.
United Power was focused on securing new power contracts this past year with the flexibility to meet its growing demand in advance of the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power provider — effective May 1, 2024. The cooperative’s leadership recognized the opportunity to stabilize rising wholesale power costs and ease its financial burden when it announced the exit in 2022 and began requesting power supply proposals from regional and national generators. In keeping with its established reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative electric utility, the co-op is partnering with nationally recognized industry leaders to reduce its carbon intensity through a carefully curated mix of generation resources, including natural gas and renewable options, and developing groundbreaking demand response systems that will cut costs when energy is most expensive.
United Power had a stellar year in addition to the new power contracts, which included eclipsing a new milestone in residential rooftop solar installations. The coooperative also launched a website refresh with enhanced focus on member engagement and data-driven navigation updates, renewed the popular Member Choice Grant program, engaged with local communities in new ways, and debuted an all-new battery pilot program for members.
New Power Supply Contracts & Groundbreaking Innovation
United Power has the largest load among Colorado’s electric distribution cooperatives, which means it will require a diverse group of suppliers to meet its energy needs as it continues to grow.
The cooperative announced a power supply contract with Denver-based Guzman Energy in July — featuring fixed wholesale pricing and securing approximately one-third of its supply needs beginning in May 2024 — and a strategic relationship with Xcel Energy in September to explore opportunities for maximizing the value of their combined portfolios. Smaller contracts with OneEnergy and Whetstone Power will add approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of renewable resources to the co-op’s energy mix.
Also announced this past year were two groundbreaking battery storage agreements with Ameresco and Whetstone Power. The cooperative will strategically install more than 100 MW of battery storage at substations located throughout its service territory to increase system resiliency and reliability, balance load, reduce costs, and more efficiently incorporate local renewables.
“The use of batteries on our distribution network is essential to a resilient and responsive power system and we are excited to move ahead with one of the most aggressive plans for such a system,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO.
Read more about United Power’s power supply.
Rooftop Solar Milestone
More United Power members are opting to generate power locally than ever before. Rooftop solar has quickly become the preferred solution for members who are looking to offset their energy usage with renewable options.
The cooperative has a residential solar penetration of nearly 11%, which ranks among the highest representations for electric utilities of all sizes and more than double the national average. Last year, United Power became one of the first cooperatives to surpass 10,000 residential solar installations. Members have added nearly 6,500 rooftop solar systems to their homes since early 2020, more than doubling the total number of systems interconnected to the United Power grid. The combined generation potential of these systems is nearly 70 MW.
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community, and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process, which has been recognized by the Colorado Solar and Storage Association.
United Power also debuted an all-new member program for those interested in pairing their solar system with battery storage. Members interested in learning more about the cooperative’s solar interconnection process and the new battery pilot program can find more details under the My Energy tab at www.unitedpower.com.
Online Experience Improvements
United Power members may have noticed a new look and feel to the website and online account portal. The cooperative launched a refreshed website design in June, focused on helping members quickly navigate to their desired location in fewer clicks and finding information faster.
United Power also rolled out an update for its online account portal, SmartHub, to improve functionality and enhance user experience. Members may sign up for a free account at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub.
Giving Back to the Community
Concern for communities is a cooperative principle United Power values and takes seriously. That is why the cooperative renewed its Member Choice Grant program for a third year and distributed $12,000 to nonprofits nominated by its members. For updates about grants and 2024 nominations, visit Member Choice.
Additionally, the cooperative identified new ways to interact with its members and support local athletics and education through a Friday Night Lights check presentation in Brighton and honoring a lineman in Carbon Valley during the fall football season.
United Power is looking forward to celebrating its 85th anniversary and the change in power suppliers this year. Join us as we recognize how the cooperative has championed community growth, helped spur economic development, supported community engagement, and will continue being more than just your local electric utility now and into the future. Just as we have since 1938, United Power will continue to be “Here for Good” in the communities we serve.
Title
3,000th Rooftop Solar Connection
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Oct2018_NL_Solar_0.png?itok=ytgQaHME
Thursday | November 1, 2018
Card Teaser
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
United Power has seen rapid growth and adoption of solar power as a renewable energy option among its members over the past few years. According to the 2017 Smart Electric Power Association (SEPA), only Xcel Energy ranks higher in connected solar among electric utilities in Colorado. United Power also ranked 5th among cooperatives nationally for connected solar.
Member-owned solar connections account for more than 3 percent of United Power’s total meters, and produce almost 30 million kWhs of energy annually.
Since powering Sol Partners, Colorado’s first community solar farm, in 2009, United Power has been at the forefront of adopting solar energy projects that both reduce carbon emissions and make economic sense.
Today, the cooperative has four utility-scale solar farms powering our members. These systems provide local solar energy
system-wide, purchased at a predictable cost – providing an environmental benefit and adding some rate stability for members.
2021: A Year in Review
Thursday | February 10, 2022
Year after year, United Power works toward an unmatched excellence. Despite endless unpredictability over the past two years, the cooperatve has elevated its expectations.
Read more >
2022: Year in Review
Tuesday | January 10, 2023
United Power is working tirelessly to position the cooperative for future success, using our experience and expertise to prepare for emerging trends and industry changes.
Read more >
Title
2023: Year in Review
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2023_Year.jpg?h=45932144&itok=rnQcTLEp
Thursday | January 11, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power had a stellar year including new power contracts, eclipsing a milestone in residential rooftop solar, and launching a website refresh.
United Power was focused on securing new power contracts this past year with the flexibility to meet its growing demand in advance of the upcoming exit from its current wholesale power provider — effective May 1, 2024. The cooperative’s leadership recognized the opportunity to stabilize rising wholesale power costs and ease its financial burden when it announced the exit in 2022 and began requesting power supply proposals from regional and national generators. In keeping with its established reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative electric utility, the co-op is partnering with nationally recognized industry leaders to reduce its carbon intensity through a carefully curated mix of generation resources, including natural gas and renewable options, and developing groundbreaking demand response systems that will cut costs when energy is most expensive.
United Power had a stellar year in addition to the new power contracts, which included eclipsing a new milestone in residential rooftop solar installations. The coooperative also launched a website refresh with enhanced focus on member engagement and data-driven navigation updates, renewed the popular Member Choice Grant program, engaged with local communities in new ways, and debuted an all-new battery pilot program for members.
New Power Supply Contracts & Groundbreaking Innovation
United Power has the largest load among Colorado’s electric distribution cooperatives, which means it will require a diverse group of suppliers to meet its energy needs as it continues to grow.
The cooperative announced a power supply contract with Denver-based Guzman Energy in July — featuring fixed wholesale pricing and securing approximately one-third of its supply needs beginning in May 2024 — and a strategic relationship with Xcel Energy in September to explore opportunities for maximizing the value of their combined portfolios. Smaller contracts with OneEnergy and Whetstone Power will add approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of renewable resources to the co-op’s energy mix.
Also announced this past year were two groundbreaking battery storage agreements with Ameresco and Whetstone Power. The cooperative will strategically install more than 100 MW of battery storage at substations located throughout its service territory to increase system resiliency and reliability, balance load, reduce costs, and more efficiently incorporate local renewables.
“The use of batteries on our distribution network is essential to a resilient and responsive power system and we are excited to move ahead with one of the most aggressive plans for such a system,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO.
Read more about United Power’s power supply.
Rooftop Solar Milestone
More United Power members are opting to generate power locally than ever before. Rooftop solar has quickly become the preferred solution for members who are looking to offset their energy usage with renewable options.
The cooperative has a residential solar penetration of nearly 11%, which ranks among the highest representations for electric utilities of all sizes and more than double the national average. Last year, United Power became one of the first cooperatives to surpass 10,000 residential solar installations. Members have added nearly 6,500 rooftop solar systems to their homes since early 2020, more than doubling the total number of systems interconnected to the United Power grid. The combined generation potential of these systems is nearly 70 MW.
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community, and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process, which has been recognized by the Colorado Solar and Storage Association.
United Power also debuted an all-new member program for those interested in pairing their solar system with battery storage. Members interested in learning more about the cooperative’s solar interconnection process and the new battery pilot program can find more details under the My Energy tab at www.unitedpower.com.
Online Experience Improvements
United Power members may have noticed a new look and feel to the website and online account portal. The cooperative launched a refreshed website design in June, focused on helping members quickly navigate to their desired location in fewer clicks and finding information faster.
United Power also rolled out an update for its online account portal, SmartHub, to improve functionality and enhance user experience. Members may sign up for a free account at www.unitedpower.com/smarthub.
Giving Back to the Community
Concern for communities is a cooperative principle United Power values and takes seriously. That is why the cooperative renewed its Member Choice Grant program for a third year and distributed $12,000 to nonprofits nominated by its members. For updates about grants and 2024 nominations, visit Member Choice.
Additionally, the cooperative identified new ways to interact with its members and support local athletics and education through a Friday Night Lights check presentation in Brighton and honoring a lineman in Carbon Valley during the fall football season.
United Power is looking forward to celebrating its 85th anniversary and the change in power suppliers this year. Join us as we recognize how the cooperative has championed community growth, helped spur economic development, supported community engagement, and will continue being more than just your local electric utility now and into the future. Just as we have since 1938, United Power will continue to be “Here for Good” in the communities we serve.
Title
3,000th Rooftop Solar Connection
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Oct2018_NL_Solar_0.png?itok=ytgQaHME
Thursday | November 1, 2018
Card Teaser
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
In October, United Power connected its 3,000th member-owned rooftop solar installation, celebrating a significant milestone for the cooperative.
United Power has seen rapid growth and adoption of solar power as a renewable energy option among its members over the past few years. According to the 2017 Smart Electric Power Association (SEPA), only Xcel Energy ranks higher in connected solar among electric utilities in Colorado. United Power also ranked 5th among cooperatives nationally for connected solar.
Member-owned solar connections account for more than 3 percent of United Power’s total meters, and produce almost 30 million kWhs of energy annually.
Since powering Sol Partners, Colorado’s first community solar farm, in 2009, United Power has been at the forefront of adopting solar energy projects that both reduce carbon emissions and make economic sense.
Today, the cooperative has four utility-scale solar farms powering our members. These systems provide local solar energy
system-wide, purchased at a predictable cost – providing an environmental benefit and adding some rate stability for members.
