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A New Name: Union REA Becomes United Power
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Friday | January 25, 2019
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This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
In the late 1980s, United Power overcame a competitive territory war and takeover bid from Public Service Company of Colorado, now Xcel Energy. The rocky battle led the cooperative to reevaluate its service and commit to trimming rates and delivering more reliable power for its members. This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Following a member vote in August 1987 to reject Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) takeover bid of Union Rural Electric Association (Union REA), the Colorado State Legislature urged the two electric utilities to settle its territory dispute in the interest of the public. The dispute had resulted in unnecessary duplication of distribution infrastructure over the years, which was costly to members and customers.
Three years later in 1990, the two utilities finalized an agreement that would exchange certain territories and establish firm territory boundaries. Union REA would begin serving Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the rural areas of Platte Valley. In return, PSCo would receive territory the new Denver International Airport was to be built on. The transfer closed the corridor separating the two areas the cooperative served along the plains.
With the territory battle behind it, the cooperative began focusing on resolving some glaring problems brought to light during the takeover attempt. Union REA’s Board made a commitment to improve rates and reliability using PSCo’s performance records as a measuring stick. With record performance levels and expectations aimed toward the future, Union REA became United Power, intending to help leave behind the unsophisticated image of the traditional cooperative.
The name change to United Power symbolized the cooperative’s commitment to its rural heritage while presenting a progressive utility to a new urban member-base.
By November 1990, United Power had begun serving all the communities acquired in the exchange except for a lone holdout, Brighton, which had voted to deny the service transfer to the cooperative.
A couple years later, United Power had developed a reputation of reliability and reducing rates. When PSCo approached the Brighton city council again in 1992, United Power members were paying 6 percent less than Brighton residents served by PSCo.
As the cooperative and PSCo worked to move the transfer forward, United Power made dedicated efforts to educate Brighton residents and answer questions concerning service, reliability and cost of power to bolster its image as a cutting-edge power supplier. United Power assured residents it would track outage and restoration times, guarantee reliability factors as strong or better than PSCo and pledged to freeze rates for two years if the transfer was approved.
In 1993, United Power finally welcomed Brighton and its residents to the cooperative family.
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Adams County District Court Proceeding Delayed
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Monday | June 12, 2023
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District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance
Adams County District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance Brighton, CO – District Judge Roberto Ramírez issued an order on June 11 that continued the jury trial between United Power, Inc. (United Power) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) that was set to begin later this month on June 26.
“It is disappointing for the members of United Power that the breach of contract trial between United Power and Tri-State has been delayed,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. Tri-State asked for a continuance after flooding the court with numerous filings in an attempt to slow the judicial process. As Judge Ramírez noted in reluctantly granting Tri-State’s request to postpone a trial date to which it had agreed to more than a year ago, “The Court agrees with United Power that the bulk of the litigated issues pending before the Court are based on filings associated with Tri-State.”
The case centers around two key issues: whether Tri-State illegally added three non-utility members in order to escape state regulation and whether Tri-State’s failure to provide United Power with a fair exit fee in a timely manner is a breach of contract that precludes Tri-State from enforcing the parties’ contract, allowing United Power the right to withdraw from Tri-State at no cost and with the potential for a substantial damages award against Tri-State.
“Sadly, Tri-State has pursued a strategy of delay in both the state courts and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),” continued Gabriel. “This pattern results in uncertainty for both organizations, raises the costs for United Power members, and delays the time in which our members can get lower cost, cleaner energy for homes and businesses.”
United Power is leaving its wholesale power supplier May 1, 2024 based on FERC requirements. “We are leaving Tri-State next year regardless of the Adams County proceedings,” Gabriel said, adding “this critical case does not go away even with our departure nor does Tri-State’s liability for our members’ substantial damages. Stalling is not to anyone’s benefit.”
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops 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.###
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Adjusted Office Hours on Wednesday, April 17
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Tuesday | April 16, 2019
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United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting.
United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting.
United Power lobbies will open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th.
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds beginning at 4:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend the meeting for dinner, director election, co-op update and door prizes.
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All Hands on Deck for the Bomb Cyclone
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Wednesday | May 15, 2019
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All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted.
The calm before a storm is often the most unsettling. A cold, breezy Wednesday morning belied a more sinister winter storm rapidly intensifying and bearing down on the Colorado’s northern Front Range. Anxious employees peered through slotted window blinds searching for early signs of the encroaching storm (dubbed a "bomb cyclone"), and linemen gathered for morning safety meetings in anticipation of a long day.
Initial signs of the storm began rolling in late morning, bringing with it a mixture of blowing rain and light snow. Within the hour, the storm transformed into a whiteout and roads disappeared underneath a layer of rapidly accumulating snow. As worsening conditions stranded travelers, highway patrol began closing major highways and warning residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Shortly after, Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency.
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted. The storm was beginning to show its teeth.
Strong winds and heavy snow contributed to limited visibility and created a challenging situation for linemen traversing snow-packed roads and drifts measuring several feet deep to restore affected members’ power during the raging storm. Trucks were forced to limit their mobility, moving slowly and only when visibility cleared enough for them to proceed safely.
"Finding the road was sometimes like trying to find your hand in the dark," said Troubleshooter Jon Lundstrom. "There were moments we couldn’t even see beyond the hoods of our trucks, let alone know if we were actually on the road. I’m certain I drove through an empty field at least once."
Back at United Power’s headquarters, operations staff were carefully monitoring incoming outages through the cooperative’s advanced mapping system, SCADA, and relaying them to linemen in the field. Where possible, system improvements now allowed staff to effectively reclose certain breakers instead of having to dispatch crews to a location, freeing them to respond to more critical outages.
While nearly a third of all members impacted by storm-related outages were restored from the office, crews still needed to be dispatched to the majority. Despite uncertain conditions, linemen responded to each outage with as much urgency as the weather would allow.
"Our engineers have done a great job designing an infrastructure that allows us to be responsive without sending out a crew," said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. "But nothing can replace the value of having boots on the ground, especially when the weather turns ugly."
In total, more than a dozen crews with roughly 50 linemen between United Power and its contractor, Ward Electric, responded to just over 10,000 outage alerts over the course of the storm and late into the night. When final Ward crews were called in just before 4 a.m., most linemen had worked in excess of 19 hours to restore power. Just 23 accounts remained without power when crews arrived again later that morning.
According to advanced metrics obtained through the United Power operations team, of the 10,304 meters affected during the storm, only 2,000 experienced an outage lasting longer than 6 hours, and most were restored within 2 hours.
"Storms expose your weak points," said Sydow. "Some parts of our system normally hit hard during strong storms like this held up well. It’s a testament to United Power’s commitment to system and infrastructure improvements over the past couple years, the efficiency of our processes and the hard work of our linemen."
As far as storms go, March’s bomb cyclone was unlike anything Colorado has seen before, confirmed as the most intense storm in state history. Hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power during the storm as it paved its way through the northern Midwest and impacted travel across much of the country. More than 1,300 flights were cancelled and 1,100 travelers were left stranded.
"It takes a certain kind of person to look into a storm like that and say whatever it takes to get the job done," said Troubleshooter Kurt Westhoff. "We’re at our best when the weather is at its worst. It gives us motivation and adrenaline to go out there and get the power back on. It’s what we do; it’s why we got into this."
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Bomb cyclones, also known as bombogensis or explosive cyclogenesis, are naturally occurring weather phenomena producing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions. They are formed when warm air and cold air meet under the right conditions, resulting in cyclonic movement and a sudden and sharp drop in barometric pressure over a short period of time. As pressure continues to drop, the storm intensifies. Only a handful of these weather events have been recorded, and rarely over continental locations.
An Exciting Time to Invest in EVs
Wednesday | September 23, 2020
There are more options at more price points available today than there have been in any year prior. Join us on September 27 as we explore all you need to know about electric vehicles.
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Annual Meeting & Director Election Scheduled for Apr. 18
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Wednesday | February 14, 2018
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United Power will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting and Director Election on Wednesday, April 18th at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton.
United Power will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting and Director Election on Wednesday, April 18th at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton. Ballots will be mailed to all members at the end of March. Mail ballots must be received at the Survey and Ballot Systems post office box no later than Monday, April 16, 2018. Members may also drop ballots in a ballot drop-box located at each of United Power’s offices by 2 p.m. on April 18, or vote in person at the Annual Meeting starting at 4:30 p.m.
All United Power members are invited to attend the annual business meeting of the not-for-profit electric cooperative and cast their ballots in the annual director election. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
United Power will host four free Meet the Candidate events so members can learn more about each candidate. More information about dates and times can be found here. Profiles provided by each candidate and detailed voting instructions are included in the ballot packets that will be mailed to members. For more information, visit www.unitedpower.com/annualmeeting or call United Power at 303-659-0551.
Directors run in geographic districts in order to accurately represent United Power members, but they are elected to the board at-large. Members are reminded to vote for one candidate in each of the cooperative’s four director districts.
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Are You a DIY Power Generator? For Safety’s Sake Let Us Know!
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Saturday | January 7, 2017
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The drop in price of solar panels has created fertile ground for do-it-yourself power generators.
The drop in price of solar panels has created fertile ground for do-it-yourself power generators. While it’s not widespread, we have seen an increase in electric systems being installed that have not been planned and installed by a certified installation company or with the coordination of the utility.
United Power will be actively looking for these systems and requiring that the installations meet all required permitting processes. To keep everyone safe, the cooperative is even prepared to disconnect service to members who are operating a system without proper permitting until all requirements are met. This is necessary to help keep all our members and our employees safe. While it looks simple to throw some panels up on the roof and hook them up, there are a lot of risks involved with the process – let’s look at some of them:
Installation of a solar photovoltaic system is like any other electric installation in your home – it can be dangerous if not installed correctly. Make a mistake and you can suffer an injury – nasty things like burns, falls and electric shocks. There is also the risk of a fire if the unit is poorly installed. Like any electrical work in your home, your homeowners insurance will want to know that the unit it properly installed before paying any claim for damage. Also, if the utility doesn’t know you’ve put the system in it poses a real risk to lineworkers during maintenance work or during outage restoration. Not having an appropriate inverter would make your system into a mini power plant, that wouldn’t shut down during a power outage. Your system could feed energy back onto a line and injure or kill a worker if the utility doesn’t know it’s in operation.Solar installations are subject to federal, state and local permit requirements, along with an interconnect agreement with the utility. Just as you would need permits to complete work on a basement finish or bathroom remodel, a solar system requires multiple permits. The permitting process makes certain your system is installed correctly, meeting all the electrical and/or plumbing requirements for the state and local municipalities. Electricity production is a regulated industry, so you’re not legally allowed to connect your system to an existing grid without appropriate inspections. The interconnection agreement with the utility helps to clarify your relationship with the utility – it makes you eligible to apply for rebates and allows you to take advantage of United Power’s net metering program.
If you have a generating system that you installed without securing the necessary permits, or are operating without an interconnection agreement with United Power, we are looking for you. Give us a call at 303-659-0551 to find out how we can help you get your system in compliance, and help you avoid injuring or killing one of our United Power line workers or someone in your neighborhood.
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Are you Prepared for the Next Winter Storm?
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Wednesday | April 10, 2019
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When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Winter storm severity can vary depending on where you live, but United Power cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared.
When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Winter storm severity can vary depending on where you live, but United Power cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared.
Heavy snow and wind can lead to downed power lines, leaving co-op members without power. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. During a power outage, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power.
There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself:
Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using.
Stay fed – The CDC recommends having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked handy. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage.
Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down or equipment is damaged. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines or debris in lines, always assume the lines are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible, and report the situation to our dispatchers by calling 303-637-1350 if possible.
Winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, and planning ahead can often be the difference between life and death. United Power is ready for what Mother Nature has in store, and we want you to be ready, too. For more winter safety tips, visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.
In the event of an outage, please know that our crews are working as quickly as is safely possible to restore your power.
If Your Power is Off
Verify that your entire house is out and that you haven’t just blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker.
If your power remains out for longer than a few minutes, or to report an electrical safety hazard, please call United Power’s Outage Line at 303-637-1350 or login to SmartHub. If the outage is widespread, our phone lines may be busy when you call.
When you call to report an outage, please provide as many details as possible. If you heard a loud bang, or your power is out but your neighbors have power, let us know. The information you supply will help us in our efforts to promptly restore electricity.
Ask the Expert: Electric Vehicle Q&A
Friday | September 25, 2020
Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan addresses some of the most common concerns and hesitations United Power members may be feeling about the possibility of purchasing an electric vehicle.
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August Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Tuesday | September 2, 2025
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
There has been a lot of talk recently about “saving” certain forms of electric generation, stopping other types, and investing significant resources in technologies that are not ready for prime time. There have also been announcements about building thousands of miles of new transmission line.
When it comes to choices in generation, “all of the above” really needs to be “ALL of the above” if we are going to support electrification across the West and certainly for United Power.
We recognize that diversity of resources is key to effectively running the cooperative, and we are taking action to ensure a safe, reliable, and affordable electric supply.
United Power partnered with Kindle Energy to open Mountain Peak Power in July. It is the newest and most efficient natural gas plant in Colorado. The 162 MW facility in Weld County provides critical electric capacity and is conveniently located near one of our substations that also has an 11 MW battery energy storage system. This project is a great example of our hyper-localization strategy and highlights the vision we laid out in Our Cooperative Roadmap. The plant was permitted in 10 months and constructed in 10 months. The same project today would take at least four years to obtain the needed equipment at 50% greater cost.
We are also in the final stages of negotiations for an additional 200 MW of solar, bolstered by 150 MW of battery storage, to replace other expiring thermal generation contracts. These will come online in 2027. The solar facility will be among the largest in Colorado, increasing the carbon-free generation resources in our portfolio to nearly 64% and representing a continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since leaving our former wholesale power supplier in May 2024.
The cooperative pioneered the use of distributed batteries with 115 MW spread across our system at nine substations, ranging in size up to 33 MW. Our engineering team has developed a unique way to automatically manage how we charge and deploy stored energy. These batteries are not only utilized to store energy but also provide critical contingency reserves that save United Power approximately $300,000 per month.
Recently, United Power joined forces with three other public power utilities — CORE Electric Cooperative, Platte River Power Authority, and Colorado Springs Utilities — to explore creating a regional transmission project, nicknamed Lariat Loop, that will better serve their member-customers. This collaboration aims to reduce electric transmission congestion, enhance system reliability, and expand access to renewable energy sources, all while supporting the State of Colorado’s ambitions carbon reduction goals.
Our members are directly involved in the “all of the above” electricity strategy. There are nearly 13,000 solar rooftops in our service territory. We will have a new distributed energy resource management system available in January that will allow additional interaction with our members’ resources such as thermostats and electric vehicles. We are rapidly moving to expand our distribution system operations plan, allowing resources from our larger members, such as oil and gas, to be bid into the Southwest Power Pool market coming in April 2026.
The bottom line is quite simple. While we support expanding transmission and investing in future technologies, and applaud efforts to bring a wide range of generation to the West, we must be realistic about what can be done today to support our growing member base. United Power lives the “all of the above” mantra every day. We buy wind. We buy solar. We buy natural gas. We buy hydropower. And yes, at times we even buy coal. Our focus remains on providing the most reliable and responsible resources we can in our commitment to you, our members.
As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns. I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your continued support.
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August Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Thursday | August 29, 2024
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Fall is rapidly upon us, and we have successfully managed our first summer as an independent electric cooperative. It has been a hot summer and despite naysayers, the amazingly dedicated women and men of United Power have led us through this significant transition.
United Power’s loads continue to grow. Combining new sources of power and innovative technology, we have managed the system in a new and exciting way. As of May 1, we immediately reduced our carbon intensity by 26%, all while setting new peak loads, month over month. Our investment in nearly 80 MW of battery energy storage systems paid for itself just two weeks after the official ribbon cutting in July. On Aug. 2, we hit an all-time historical peak of nearly 650 MW. The true load had we not deployed battery storage — and initiated demand response — would have been 719 MW! This is up from the 2023 peak of 634 MW. The batteries meant we were able to buy lower cost and lower carbon power at night and use it during peak hours from 4–8 p.m. instead of purchasing expensive fossil fuel alternatives.
There is tremendous value in having a diverse portfolio of generation and large-scale storage resources. As United Power members, you do not have to wait until the end of the decade for the energy transition, as other cooperatives are doing. We are living it now with a wide range of power suppliers — 26 at last count — bringing a lower carbon and more flexible energy supply. Hydropower, wind, solar, storage, and gas allow us to have a balanced energy portfolio.
An increasing number of our members are adding solar, storage, and electric vehicles to their lives, and we support these efforts, happily providing critical analytical tools to make sure these decisions are being made with the best and most neutral information possible. United Power fully supports an “all of the above” strategy whether we provide the resource or not. One of United Power’s critical goals, as outlined in Our Cooperative Roadmap, is to continually optimize our electric system enabling all technologies to operate seamlessly. For help in these and other energy savings opportunities, click here.
In addition to the change in power suppliers, United Power is adding intelligence to how we operate and monitor the grid through advanced systems, including:
A new outage management system, giving us visibility and insight into our operations,
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI),
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), the system our operators use to monitor real time performance,
and a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS).
These tools are all part of our drive to become a Distribution System Operator as we prepare for the evolving energy enterprise. In recognition of our commitment to innovation, knowledge sharing, and moving the industry forward, United Power was just honored with the Survalent Industry Innovation Award.
I am particularly excited about several developments that support our members and critical community resources thanks to the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and Empower Rural America (New ERA) Program.
Golden Aluminum is receiving $22.5 million to convert some of their equipment from natural gas to electric power.
We are also in the final stages of seeking a large New ERA grant that can help in our transition to lower carbon resources.
All of these exciting changes happen thanks to the dedication of our employees and support from your Board of Directors. As always, I welcome your questions, comments and concerns.
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A New Name: Union REA Becomes United Power
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Friday | January 25, 2019
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This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
In the late 1980s, United Power overcame a competitive territory war and takeover bid from Public Service Company of Colorado, now Xcel Energy. The rocky battle led the cooperative to reevaluate its service and commit to trimming rates and delivering more reliable power for its members. This is the second in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Following a member vote in August 1987 to reject Public Service Company of Colorado’s (PSCo) takeover bid of Union Rural Electric Association (Union REA), the Colorado State Legislature urged the two electric utilities to settle its territory dispute in the interest of the public. The dispute had resulted in unnecessary duplication of distribution infrastructure over the years, which was costly to members and customers.
Three years later in 1990, the two utilities finalized an agreement that would exchange certain territories and establish firm territory boundaries. Union REA would begin serving Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg and the rural areas of Platte Valley. In return, PSCo would receive territory the new Denver International Airport was to be built on. The transfer closed the corridor separating the two areas the cooperative served along the plains.
With the territory battle behind it, the cooperative began focusing on resolving some glaring problems brought to light during the takeover attempt. Union REA’s Board made a commitment to improve rates and reliability using PSCo’s performance records as a measuring stick. With record performance levels and expectations aimed toward the future, Union REA became United Power, intending to help leave behind the unsophisticated image of the traditional cooperative.
The name change to United Power symbolized the cooperative’s commitment to its rural heritage while presenting a progressive utility to a new urban member-base.
By November 1990, United Power had begun serving all the communities acquired in the exchange except for a lone holdout, Brighton, which had voted to deny the service transfer to the cooperative.
A couple years later, United Power had developed a reputation of reliability and reducing rates. When PSCo approached the Brighton city council again in 1992, United Power members were paying 6 percent less than Brighton residents served by PSCo.
As the cooperative and PSCo worked to move the transfer forward, United Power made dedicated efforts to educate Brighton residents and answer questions concerning service, reliability and cost of power to bolster its image as a cutting-edge power supplier. United Power assured residents it would track outage and restoration times, guarantee reliability factors as strong or better than PSCo and pledged to freeze rates for two years if the transfer was approved.
In 1993, United Power finally welcomed Brighton and its residents to the cooperative family.
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Adams County District Court Proceeding Delayed
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Monday | June 12, 2023
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District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance
Adams County District Court grants Tri-State’s motion for continuance Brighton, CO – District Judge Roberto Ramírez issued an order on June 11 that continued the jury trial between United Power, Inc. (United Power) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State) that was set to begin later this month on June 26.
“It is disappointing for the members of United Power that the breach of contract trial between United Power and Tri-State has been delayed,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. Tri-State asked for a continuance after flooding the court with numerous filings in an attempt to slow the judicial process. As Judge Ramírez noted in reluctantly granting Tri-State’s request to postpone a trial date to which it had agreed to more than a year ago, “The Court agrees with United Power that the bulk of the litigated issues pending before the Court are based on filings associated with Tri-State.”
The case centers around two key issues: whether Tri-State illegally added three non-utility members in order to escape state regulation and whether Tri-State’s failure to provide United Power with a fair exit fee in a timely manner is a breach of contract that precludes Tri-State from enforcing the parties’ contract, allowing United Power the right to withdraw from Tri-State at no cost and with the potential for a substantial damages award against Tri-State.
“Sadly, Tri-State has pursued a strategy of delay in both the state courts and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),” continued Gabriel. “This pattern results in uncertainty for both organizations, raises the costs for United Power members, and delays the time in which our members can get lower cost, cleaner energy for homes and businesses.”
United Power is leaving its wholesale power supplier May 1, 2024 based on FERC requirements. “We are leaving Tri-State next year regardless of the Adams County proceedings,” Gabriel said, adding “this critical case does not go away even with our departure nor does Tri-State’s liability for our members’ substantial damages. Stalling is not to anyone’s benefit.”
About United PowerUnited 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 co-ops 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.###
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Adjusted Office Hours on Wednesday, April 17
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Tuesday | April 16, 2019
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United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting.
United Power offices will have modified business hours on Wednesday, April 17 as employees prepare and set up for our Annual Meeting.
United Power lobbies will open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th.
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds beginning at 4:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend the meeting for dinner, director election, co-op update and door prizes.
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All Hands on Deck for the Bomb Cyclone
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Wednesday | May 15, 2019
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All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted.
The calm before a storm is often the most unsettling. A cold, breezy Wednesday morning belied a more sinister winter storm rapidly intensifying and bearing down on the Colorado’s northern Front Range. Anxious employees peered through slotted window blinds searching for early signs of the encroaching storm (dubbed a "bomb cyclone"), and linemen gathered for morning safety meetings in anticipation of a long day.
Initial signs of the storm began rolling in late morning, bringing with it a mixture of blowing rain and light snow. Within the hour, the storm transformed into a whiteout and roads disappeared underneath a layer of rapidly accumulating snow. As worsening conditions stranded travelers, highway patrol began closing major highways and warning residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Shortly after, Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency.
All United Power line crews were mobilized early in the morning and placed on standby in order to respond quickly once the storm moved in. The first outage alerts were triggered before noon, and before long several thousand members had been impacted. The storm was beginning to show its teeth.
Strong winds and heavy snow contributed to limited visibility and created a challenging situation for linemen traversing snow-packed roads and drifts measuring several feet deep to restore affected members’ power during the raging storm. Trucks were forced to limit their mobility, moving slowly and only when visibility cleared enough for them to proceed safely.
"Finding the road was sometimes like trying to find your hand in the dark," said Troubleshooter Jon Lundstrom. "There were moments we couldn’t even see beyond the hoods of our trucks, let alone know if we were actually on the road. I’m certain I drove through an empty field at least once."
Back at United Power’s headquarters, operations staff were carefully monitoring incoming outages through the cooperative’s advanced mapping system, SCADA, and relaying them to linemen in the field. Where possible, system improvements now allowed staff to effectively reclose certain breakers instead of having to dispatch crews to a location, freeing them to respond to more critical outages.
While nearly a third of all members impacted by storm-related outages were restored from the office, crews still needed to be dispatched to the majority. Despite uncertain conditions, linemen responded to each outage with as much urgency as the weather would allow.
"Our engineers have done a great job designing an infrastructure that allows us to be responsive without sending out a crew," said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. "But nothing can replace the value of having boots on the ground, especially when the weather turns ugly."
In total, more than a dozen crews with roughly 50 linemen between United Power and its contractor, Ward Electric, responded to just over 10,000 outage alerts over the course of the storm and late into the night. When final Ward crews were called in just before 4 a.m., most linemen had worked in excess of 19 hours to restore power. Just 23 accounts remained without power when crews arrived again later that morning.
According to advanced metrics obtained through the United Power operations team, of the 10,304 meters affected during the storm, only 2,000 experienced an outage lasting longer than 6 hours, and most were restored within 2 hours.
"Storms expose your weak points," said Sydow. "Some parts of our system normally hit hard during strong storms like this held up well. It’s a testament to United Power’s commitment to system and infrastructure improvements over the past couple years, the efficiency of our processes and the hard work of our linemen."
As far as storms go, March’s bomb cyclone was unlike anything Colorado has seen before, confirmed as the most intense storm in state history. Hundreds of thousands of residents were left without power during the storm as it paved its way through the northern Midwest and impacted travel across much of the country. More than 1,300 flights were cancelled and 1,100 travelers were left stranded.
"It takes a certain kind of person to look into a storm like that and say whatever it takes to get the job done," said Troubleshooter Kurt Westhoff. "We’re at our best when the weather is at its worst. It gives us motivation and adrenaline to go out there and get the power back on. It’s what we do; it’s why we got into this."
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Bomb cyclones, also known as bombogensis or explosive cyclogenesis, are naturally occurring weather phenomena producing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions. They are formed when warm air and cold air meet under the right conditions, resulting in cyclonic movement and a sudden and sharp drop in barometric pressure over a short period of time. As pressure continues to drop, the storm intensifies. Only a handful of these weather events have been recorded, and rarely over continental locations.
An Exciting Time to Invest in EVs
Wednesday | September 23, 2020
There are more options at more price points available today than there have been in any year prior. Join us on September 27 as we explore all you need to know about electric vehicles.
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Annual Meeting & Director Election Scheduled for Apr. 18
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Wednesday | February 14, 2018
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United Power will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting and Director Election on Wednesday, April 18th at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton.
United Power will hold its 2018 Annual Meeting and Director Election on Wednesday, April 18th at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton. Ballots will be mailed to all members at the end of March. Mail ballots must be received at the Survey and Ballot Systems post office box no later than Monday, April 16, 2018. Members may also drop ballots in a ballot drop-box located at each of United Power’s offices by 2 p.m. on April 18, or vote in person at the Annual Meeting starting at 4:30 p.m.
All United Power members are invited to attend the annual business meeting of the not-for-profit electric cooperative and cast their ballots in the annual director election. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
United Power will host four free Meet the Candidate events so members can learn more about each candidate. More information about dates and times can be found here. Profiles provided by each candidate and detailed voting instructions are included in the ballot packets that will be mailed to members. For more information, visit www.unitedpower.com/annualmeeting or call United Power at 303-659-0551.
Directors run in geographic districts in order to accurately represent United Power members, but they are elected to the board at-large. Members are reminded to vote for one candidate in each of the cooperative’s four director districts.
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Are You a DIY Power Generator? For Safety’s Sake Let Us Know!
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Saturday | January 7, 2017
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The drop in price of solar panels has created fertile ground for do-it-yourself power generators.
The drop in price of solar panels has created fertile ground for do-it-yourself power generators. While it’s not widespread, we have seen an increase in electric systems being installed that have not been planned and installed by a certified installation company or with the coordination of the utility.
United Power will be actively looking for these systems and requiring that the installations meet all required permitting processes. To keep everyone safe, the cooperative is even prepared to disconnect service to members who are operating a system without proper permitting until all requirements are met. This is necessary to help keep all our members and our employees safe. While it looks simple to throw some panels up on the roof and hook them up, there are a lot of risks involved with the process – let’s look at some of them:
Installation of a solar photovoltaic system is like any other electric installation in your home – it can be dangerous if not installed correctly. Make a mistake and you can suffer an injury – nasty things like burns, falls and electric shocks. There is also the risk of a fire if the unit is poorly installed. Like any electrical work in your home, your homeowners insurance will want to know that the unit it properly installed before paying any claim for damage. Also, if the utility doesn’t know you’ve put the system in it poses a real risk to lineworkers during maintenance work or during outage restoration. Not having an appropriate inverter would make your system into a mini power plant, that wouldn’t shut down during a power outage. Your system could feed energy back onto a line and injure or kill a worker if the utility doesn’t know it’s in operation.Solar installations are subject to federal, state and local permit requirements, along with an interconnect agreement with the utility. Just as you would need permits to complete work on a basement finish or bathroom remodel, a solar system requires multiple permits. The permitting process makes certain your system is installed correctly, meeting all the electrical and/or plumbing requirements for the state and local municipalities. Electricity production is a regulated industry, so you’re not legally allowed to connect your system to an existing grid without appropriate inspections. The interconnection agreement with the utility helps to clarify your relationship with the utility – it makes you eligible to apply for rebates and allows you to take advantage of United Power’s net metering program.
If you have a generating system that you installed without securing the necessary permits, or are operating without an interconnection agreement with United Power, we are looking for you. Give us a call at 303-659-0551 to find out how we can help you get your system in compliance, and help you avoid injuring or killing one of our United Power line workers or someone in your neighborhood.
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Are you Prepared for the Next Winter Storm?
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Wednesday | April 10, 2019
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When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Winter storm severity can vary depending on where you live, but United Power cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared.
When winter temperatures drop and storms hit, it can be challenging to stay safe and warm. Winter storm severity can vary depending on where you live, but United Power cares about your safety, and we want you to be prepared.
Heavy snow and wind can lead to downed power lines, leaving co-op members without power. During extremely low temperatures, this can be dangerous. During a power outage, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power.
There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself:
Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove during a power outage. These are great options to keep you and your loved ones warm, but exercise caution when using, and never leave the heating source unattended. If you are using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should always be properly ventilated. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using.
Stay fed – The CDC recommends having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked handy. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Five gallons of water per person should also be available in the event of an extended power outage.
Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down or equipment is damaged. It is best not to travel during winter storms, but if you must, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. If you encounter downed lines or debris in lines, always assume the lines are live. Stay as far away from the downed lines as possible, and report the situation to our dispatchers by calling 303-637-1350 if possible.
Winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous, and planning ahead can often be the difference between life and death. United Power is ready for what Mother Nature has in store, and we want you to be ready, too. For more winter safety tips, visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather.
In the event of an outage, please know that our crews are working as quickly as is safely possible to restore your power.
If Your Power is Off
Verify that your entire house is out and that you haven’t just blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker.
If your power remains out for longer than a few minutes, or to report an electrical safety hazard, please call United Power’s Outage Line at 303-637-1350 or login to SmartHub. If the outage is widespread, our phone lines may be busy when you call.
When you call to report an outage, please provide as many details as possible. If you heard a loud bang, or your power is out but your neighbors have power, let us know. The information you supply will help us in our efforts to promptly restore electricity.
Ask the Expert: Electric Vehicle Q&A
Friday | September 25, 2020
Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan addresses some of the most common concerns and hesitations United Power members may be feeling about the possibility of purchasing an electric vehicle.
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August Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Tuesday | September 2, 2025
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
There has been a lot of talk recently about “saving” certain forms of electric generation, stopping other types, and investing significant resources in technologies that are not ready for prime time. There have also been announcements about building thousands of miles of new transmission line.
When it comes to choices in generation, “all of the above” really needs to be “ALL of the above” if we are going to support electrification across the West and certainly for United Power.
We recognize that diversity of resources is key to effectively running the cooperative, and we are taking action to ensure a safe, reliable, and affordable electric supply.
United Power partnered with Kindle Energy to open Mountain Peak Power in July. It is the newest and most efficient natural gas plant in Colorado. The 162 MW facility in Weld County provides critical electric capacity and is conveniently located near one of our substations that also has an 11 MW battery energy storage system. This project is a great example of our hyper-localization strategy and highlights the vision we laid out in Our Cooperative Roadmap. The plant was permitted in 10 months and constructed in 10 months. The same project today would take at least four years to obtain the needed equipment at 50% greater cost.
We are also in the final stages of negotiations for an additional 200 MW of solar, bolstered by 150 MW of battery storage, to replace other expiring thermal generation contracts. These will come online in 2027. The solar facility will be among the largest in Colorado, increasing the carbon-free generation resources in our portfolio to nearly 64% and representing a continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since leaving our former wholesale power supplier in May 2024.
The cooperative pioneered the use of distributed batteries with 115 MW spread across our system at nine substations, ranging in size up to 33 MW. Our engineering team has developed a unique way to automatically manage how we charge and deploy stored energy. These batteries are not only utilized to store energy but also provide critical contingency reserves that save United Power approximately $300,000 per month.
Recently, United Power joined forces with three other public power utilities — CORE Electric Cooperative, Platte River Power Authority, and Colorado Springs Utilities — to explore creating a regional transmission project, nicknamed Lariat Loop, that will better serve their member-customers. This collaboration aims to reduce electric transmission congestion, enhance system reliability, and expand access to renewable energy sources, all while supporting the State of Colorado’s ambitions carbon reduction goals.
Our members are directly involved in the “all of the above” electricity strategy. There are nearly 13,000 solar rooftops in our service territory. We will have a new distributed energy resource management system available in January that will allow additional interaction with our members’ resources such as thermostats and electric vehicles. We are rapidly moving to expand our distribution system operations plan, allowing resources from our larger members, such as oil and gas, to be bid into the Southwest Power Pool market coming in April 2026.
The bottom line is quite simple. While we support expanding transmission and investing in future technologies, and applaud efforts to bring a wide range of generation to the West, we must be realistic about what can be done today to support our growing member base. United Power lives the “all of the above” mantra every day. We buy wind. We buy solar. We buy natural gas. We buy hydropower. And yes, at times we even buy coal. Our focus remains on providing the most reliable and responsible resources we can in our commitment to you, our members.
As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns. I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your continued support.
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August Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Thursday | August 29, 2024
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Fall is rapidly upon us, and we have successfully managed our first summer as an independent electric cooperative. It has been a hot summer and despite naysayers, the amazingly dedicated women and men of United Power have led us through this significant transition.
United Power’s loads continue to grow. Combining new sources of power and innovative technology, we have managed the system in a new and exciting way. As of May 1, we immediately reduced our carbon intensity by 26%, all while setting new peak loads, month over month. Our investment in nearly 80 MW of battery energy storage systems paid for itself just two weeks after the official ribbon cutting in July. On Aug. 2, we hit an all-time historical peak of nearly 650 MW. The true load had we not deployed battery storage — and initiated demand response — would have been 719 MW! This is up from the 2023 peak of 634 MW. The batteries meant we were able to buy lower cost and lower carbon power at night and use it during peak hours from 4–8 p.m. instead of purchasing expensive fossil fuel alternatives.
There is tremendous value in having a diverse portfolio of generation and large-scale storage resources. As United Power members, you do not have to wait until the end of the decade for the energy transition, as other cooperatives are doing. We are living it now with a wide range of power suppliers — 26 at last count — bringing a lower carbon and more flexible energy supply. Hydropower, wind, solar, storage, and gas allow us to have a balanced energy portfolio.
An increasing number of our members are adding solar, storage, and electric vehicles to their lives, and we support these efforts, happily providing critical analytical tools to make sure these decisions are being made with the best and most neutral information possible. United Power fully supports an “all of the above” strategy whether we provide the resource or not. One of United Power’s critical goals, as outlined in Our Cooperative Roadmap, is to continually optimize our electric system enabling all technologies to operate seamlessly. For help in these and other energy savings opportunities, click here.
In addition to the change in power suppliers, United Power is adding intelligence to how we operate and monitor the grid through advanced systems, including:
A new outage management system, giving us visibility and insight into our operations,
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI),
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), the system our operators use to monitor real time performance,
and a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS).
These tools are all part of our drive to become a Distribution System Operator as we prepare for the evolving energy enterprise. In recognition of our commitment to innovation, knowledge sharing, and moving the industry forward, United Power was just honored with the Survalent Industry Innovation Award.
I am particularly excited about several developments that support our members and critical community resources thanks to the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and Empower Rural America (New ERA) Program.
Golden Aluminum is receiving $22.5 million to convert some of their equipment from natural gas to electric power.
We are also in the final stages of seeking a large New ERA grant that can help in our transition to lower carbon resources.
All of these exciting changes happen thanks to the dedication of our employees and support from your Board of Directors. As always, I welcome your questions, comments and concerns.
