Giving A Helping Hand
Monday | September 21, 2020
Because of COVID-19, this year has been anything but normal, and the foundation needs your help to continue providing for members in need.
Read more >
Title
Have You Checked Out Your Bill Pay Addresses Recently?
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Bills.jpg?itok=uq89MTti
Saturday | October 30, 2021
Do you pay your United Power using a bill pay service from your bank? Remember that you are responsible for making sure that the payment is being sent to the correct account. Bill pay is a function of your bank account, and United Power can not help you if a payment is sent to an incorrect address.
Both the utilities that serve you and the financial services industry are constantly updating processes and sometimes that includes changes in routing numbers or to addresses where bill payments are sent. If you haven’t checked your bill payment addresses recently, we recommend you take a few minutes to review those payments including your United Power bill.
Where Should Your Payment be Sent?
United Power bill payments should be sent to:
United Power
PO Box 173703
Denver, CO 80217-3703
What Can I Do If My Payment Was Sent to a Different Address?
We recommend contacting your bank to determine what happened to your payment. United Power is unable to access your bank account or assist you in changing bill pay details on your personal account. If you have fallen behind on your United Power account because of a misdirected payment, please contact us to let us know you are working with your bank to correct the issue.
Is There Another Way to Pay My United Power Bill?
United Power offers several ways to pay your bill. You can make a simple one-time payment through our Pay Now link, set up auto pay, or even explore our Pay as You Go program. Learn more about each of these options on our website, or contact one of our Member Services Representatives to help you understand and access any of these options. Of course we also accept payments in person during business hours at our Brighton Office, or you can use a payment kiosk at our Brighton, Carbon Valley, Ft. Lupton or Coal Creek Canyon kiosk locations. These self-serve kiosks are open outside of normal business hours, including weekends. Available hours for each kiosk vary, so check out their open times on our website.
Title
Helping Forge a Renewable Future
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Solar.jpg?itok=riumQVwI
Thursday | May 13, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members.
United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members. The cooperative has built a national reputation for its introduction of innovative renewable projects over the past decade, beginning with the launch of its community solar garden, Sol Partners, in May 2010.
As your cooperative, United Power continues to monitor the renewable energy landscape and recognizes the future of electrical generation will be an “all of the above” strategy of investing in a variety of generation sources. The addition of these projects, from utility scale solar farms to a state-leading battery storage facility, helps build some cost stability for members.
The addition of the Platteville Solar Farm in December brought United Power’s cumulative solar production to more than 45 megawatts. Together with the cooperative’s other renewable projects and its members’ rooftop solar systems, United Power produces nearly 85 total megawatts, accounting for 14 percent of its energy needs and enough to power more than 11,000 homes and businesses. United Power members recently topped more than 6,100 total rooftop solar systems across the cooperative’s territory.
“United Power has demonstrative success in planning for and implementing renewable projects that provide tangible benefits for our members,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President & Chief Executive Officer. “As we plan for the future, we’ll continue to prioritize projects that establish us as a leader in the energy industry and also meet our members’ expectations for us as their cooperative. What we are doing now is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and environmentally friendly electric utility.”
For more information about United Power’s renewable portfolio and other innovative energy projects, visit www.unitedpower.com.
Title
Here for the Community
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2024_DaysofService.jpg?h=45932144&itok=l9QLc_XR
Monday | November 25, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power's community support demonstrates it is "Here for Good."
United Power's Community Support Demonstrates it is "Here for Good"
United Power has undergone significant change over the past year, including its wholesale energy contract exit, as it moved to become an independent electric utility on May 1. The cooperative has announced new power purchase agreements and innovative energy projects to ensure continued reliability and system resiliency, but it has also maintained a close relationship with the diverse communities it serves across the Colorado Front Range.
As a co-op, United Power regularly demonstrates its commitment to communities — one of its core guiding principles — through supporting local fairs and festivals, service organizations, business expansion, educational partnerships, and student opportunities. Sometimes the co-op’s support even extends beyond its own service territory to enrich the lives of disadvantaged communities in other parts of the country. This was another active year for the cooperative in its communities.
Giving Life to Fairs and Festivals
Local community events bring value to families living in the communities across United Power’s service territory. The cooperative is proud to be an active participant and supporter at many of these events. It continued its long-standing role as presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August, which annually brings out thousands of local residents and visitors and is recognized as one of the largest county fairs in the country. The co-op also provided support for fairs in Southeast Weld and Gilpin Counties, community heritage celebrations like the Tomato Festival & Market at Trapper Days in Fort Lupton and Miners Day in Frederick, and other events that recognize each city or town’s unique and rich history.
Now that the holiday season has begun and busy main street roads are shining with bright lights and elaborate decorations, cities are preparing for local holiday celebrations. Look for United Power in your community’s local festivities. The cooperative’s famous Rudolph the Red-Nosed Bucket Truck can frequently be found rolling in parades adorned in thousands of colorful lights and decorations.
“Here for Good” Employee Service Projects
Another vital component of our communities are the nonprofits that provide critical services to local residents. Dozens of organizations are helping meet a variety of needs for cooperative members, including mental health therapy, housing and food security, outdoor recreation, and more. More than 80 United Power employees volunteered for service projects with eight organizations across the cooperative’s service territory in October.
Some of the projects that employees completed included staining wooden structures for protection from winter weather at Barr Lake State Park and the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center; painting and updating community areas at Graceful Oaks Youth Ranch; removing old flooring for renovations at the Carbon Valley Help Center; and mud mitigation at Allegiance Ranch. Employees also sorted and organized food for redistribution at Pastor’s Pantry in Coal Creek Canyon, the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank, and Food For Hope in Thornton.
United Power presented each organization with a $500 donation in addition to the volunteer hours as a thank you for the contributions they make to our communities.
Powering Families of the Navajo Nation
Lineworkers traveled to New Mexico for a week in July and again in October to build electrical infrastructure and provide power to members of the Navajo Nation. The mutual aid initiative, Light Up Navajo, is aimed at providing access to electricity for families living in remote parts of the Navajo Nation for the very first time.
The ambitious, years-long initiative has provided electricity to nearly 8,000 homes, but thousands more still do not have access. United Power provided trucks, equipment, and experienced lineworkers for both projects. Working long hours, and often in extreme heat, they placed poles and strung line to power local homes.
Supporting Local Youth
Students in our local schools are also the future leaders of our communities. United Power recognizes the importance of supporting local education, and has annually provided thousands of dollars in scholarship awards and leadership training opportunities to outstanding high school students in its service territory.
The cooperative is also an active partner in the classroom, such as Mead’s Energy Academy. Will Thomas, Energy Systems Specialist, presented on the future of battery storage technology for Energy Academy students in September. Students also later participated in a high voltage safety demonstration and toured one of the co-op’s battery storage facilities.
United Power also hosted students from 27J’s Career and Technical Education program for a “Day in the Boots” event in October. Students were able to move through stations and learn the day-to-day responsibilities of the cooperative’s operations team. The cooperative also supports career fairs for students of all ages.
Although much of the service territory is becoming suburban, the co-op still serves large agricultural areas. Each year, United Power supports local youth in agriculture through livestock sales at county fairs.
United Power supports the local community in all these ways and many more, including charity events that benefit nonprofits or educational foundations. It is why we exist, and it is why we will remain...Here for Good.
Title
High Heat Can Lead to High Bills
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoolinginfrontofFan.jpg?h=2d828ae9&itok=jLiJUHlr
Wednesday | June 15, 2022
Card Teaser
How to stay on top of energy use before your bill arrives.
Nothing affects your energy use and your bill like extremely low or extremely high temperatures. Especially when those temperatures stay high for an extended period, as we’ve experienced over the last month.
Heating and cooling are the largest contributors to your energy use, so when the temperature drastically rises, usage and bills go up. Your home’s age, how many people live there, and how cool you keep your home all play a part.
So, what can you do? United Power offers a variety of tools and programs to help you manage your budget and be more energy-efficient.
Monitor Your Daily Usage
Through the United Power mobile app and the Power Portal, you can watch for trends in your usage to see how much energy you’ve used before your bill arrives.
Make Your Smart Thermostat Work
Enroll your Nest or Honeywell smart thermostat in our Smart Rewards program and you’ll help us curb energy during peak times. This saves the cooperative from purchasing expensive peak power, reduces your energy use, and we pay you $25 at the end of the summer for participating.
Enroll in Pay As You Go
Never receive a bill after the fact. With Pay As You Go, you pay for electricity the same way you pay for gas or groceries, keeping you well informed of how much energy you’re using and what it is costing daily.
Energy-Saving Tips
Check out these energy-saving tips to help lower your bill:
Keep your thermostat setting as high as you can. Every degree below 78 can increase your bill three percent or more.
Have your air conditioner serviced regularly and don’t forget to change the filters. Dirty filters reduce air flow and cause your system to work harder, which can increase your cooling costs and lead to costly repairs.
Plug those leaks! Use weather stripping, caulk or foam insulation to fill in the leaks around windows, doors, or under your sinks where the pipes go into the wall.
Block the sun! During the day, close your blinds or curtains, especially on windows that face the sun to avoid extra heat gain.
Title
Hodge, Whitmore Honored
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_11_03_HodgeWhitmoreHonored.jpg?itok=e4KUm7oR
Friday | November 3, 2017
Card Teaser
Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October.
Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October. Commissioner Hodge was also inducted into the Pro 15 Legislative Hall of Fame.
Hodge, a United Power member, graduated from high school in Idalia, Colo., and prior to serving as an Adams County Commissioner, she served in the Colorado State Legislature in both the House and Senate. Whitmore graduated from high school in Haxtun, Colo. and has been with United Power for 31 years. He has served the community on the Thornton City Council, Brighton Economic Development Council, MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce Board and Government Affairs Committee, Northeastern Junior College Alumni Association and the Colorado 4-H and Colorado FFA Foundations.
The Alumni of the Plains award was established eleven years ago to recognize individuals who graduated from a high school in one of the 15 counties in Northeast Colorado, and who have excelled in their profession. Progressive 15 (Pro 15) is the collective voice of 15 counties in Northeast Colorado—advocating for legislation and policy that impact the economic vitality of the region.
Title
Home Appliances: 6 Ways to Save
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/appliances6.jpg?itok=k5aHFCbp
Friday | February 25, 2022
Card Teaser
Take some easy steps to save on the operation of your appliances, or boost your savings with a new appliance rebate from your co-op.
Our appliances make life easier and help tackle the manual tasks of housework, but there’s a cost to this convenience. Many newer models are designed to be energy efficient, but why not take measures that will help you save even more energy and money?
Run a full load. Wash clothes and dishes with a full load only; partial loads waste energy and water. Load your dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fill the racks completely to maximize water and energy use but allow for adequate water circulation to ensure clean dishes.
Stay cool and fresh. Set refrigerator and freezer thermostats at the recommended temperature settings: 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator, and 5°F for the freezer. It will help optimize energy savings while keeping foods fresh.
Stock the fridge. A fully stocked unit uses less energy because there is less air to cool. Avoid overfilling; too many items packed together closely will reduce air circulation.
Keep your dryer dry. Clean the lint filter after each dryer load; this will increase air circulation and improve dryer efficiency. Inspect your dryer vent periodically to ensure that it's not blocked.
Air your clean laundry. When doing laundry, why not air-dry your clothes? It will reduce energy costs, and it may help to keep clothes looking new.
Get cooking efficiently. Use your microwave or toaster oven rather than the stovetop or oven. These smaller appliances often heat food more quickly, while using less energy. If you do use the stovetop, match the pan size to the burner size, and cover pots and pans.
Boost your Savings with an Energy Smart Rebate
Looking to upgrade to more efficient appliances? Replace older appliances with new ENERGY STAR®-certified efficient models. These products are the best of the best, delivering cutting-edge energy efficiency along with the latest in technological innovation.
United Power members can boost their savings with rebates on a variety of ENERGY STAR® and select efficient electric appliances. View the complete menu of Energy Smart Rebates to reduce the cost your new appliance purchase.
How to Modernize the Electric Grid: Rethinking Our Vision
Monday | August 2, 2021
Modernization of the electric grid should not be the singular focus of spending in the United States, rather we should also be targeting our efforts and dollars at specific projects that will make the most immediate impacts.
Read more >
Title
Industry Standard in System Reliability
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Nov2021_NL_SystemReliability.jpg?h=45932144&itok=twbW3RYA
Monday | February 14, 2022
Card Teaser
Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers.
United Power Consistently, Significantly Better than National Average
United Power understands the most important thing its members want is consistently reliable power. Being able to deliver uninterrupted power is prominently weighed in how the cooperative defines success each year. Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers. Already an industry leader in automated field devices and other innovative projects, the cooperative is also trending well below the national average in utility outage times, setting yet another standard for others to emulate.
The national average for outage duration among electric utilities in the United States has consistently hovered around 120 minutes per meter. This means the average electric consumer can expect to experience approximately two hours of outage time at their home over the course of a year. When United Power’s operations team instituted a new data-driven maintenance plan in 2017, its average outage times resembled the national averages. In the four years following the plan’s launch, the cooperative’s outage times per meter have dropped below 70 minutes.
The new maintenance practice focuses on analyzing data collected across thousands of miles of line to isolate the worst performing segments. With these segments identified, targeted maintenance projects can be scheduled to improve their performance.
“When you target maintenance efforts at the worst performing parts of the system it improves reliability for members served off of it,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power’s Chief Operating Officer. “Maintenance is an ongoing process, but as long as we continue analyzing the data, isolating problem sections and targeting our maintenance efforts to improve them, it improves the whole system’s reliability and resilience.”
Devices on the system, such as enhanced technology in substations and advanced metering equipment, collect data and transfer it back to system operators. In the event of an outage, these devices can capture important information, such as time, location and sequence-of-events. Armed with this, lineworkers in the field can use the information to restore power to members more quickly, which also contributes to decreased outage times. Without this information, not only would identifying problematic areas be difficult, or even impossible, it would also create additional delays in power restoration as lineworkers inspect miles of line to find the cause.
Some system improvements have served dual functions. United Power recently published its comprehensive fire mitigation plan, which includes new standards and program initiatives primarily focused on areas of the territory that are particularly at risk of wildfires, such as Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyons. In December, storms blew through the territory with wind speeds in excess of 115 mph, including the storm that ultimately fueled the Marshall Fire. The cooperative activated its fire mitigation protocols during these windstorms, and due to proactive upgrades only experienced a few small outages.
“Our maintenance and system improvement efforts are already paying off for our members,” said Robbins. “Implementing this new maintenance plan has been effective and is proving its value. It’s hard to estimate how many outages you’ve prevented when you don’t have them, but our proactive efforts have gone a long way in helping prevent and/or quickly resolving outages.”
Regardless of the size or length of outage, United Power is continually investigating what causes them and how it can implement new practices to decrease their impact to members and duration. From system redundancies allowing the cooperative to restore power from a secondary location while repairs are being made to deploying an industry-leading number of automated devices, improving system reliability is one of United Power’s core goals.
Giving A Helping Hand
Monday | September 21, 2020
Because of COVID-19, this year has been anything but normal, and the foundation needs your help to continue providing for members in need.
Read more >
Title
Have You Checked Out Your Bill Pay Addresses Recently?
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Bills.jpg?itok=uq89MTti
Saturday | October 30, 2021
Do you pay your United Power using a bill pay service from your bank? Remember that you are responsible for making sure that the payment is being sent to the correct account. Bill pay is a function of your bank account, and United Power can not help you if a payment is sent to an incorrect address.
Both the utilities that serve you and the financial services industry are constantly updating processes and sometimes that includes changes in routing numbers or to addresses where bill payments are sent. If you haven’t checked your bill payment addresses recently, we recommend you take a few minutes to review those payments including your United Power bill.
Where Should Your Payment be Sent?
United Power bill payments should be sent to:
United Power
PO Box 173703
Denver, CO 80217-3703
What Can I Do If My Payment Was Sent to a Different Address?
We recommend contacting your bank to determine what happened to your payment. United Power is unable to access your bank account or assist you in changing bill pay details on your personal account. If you have fallen behind on your United Power account because of a misdirected payment, please contact us to let us know you are working with your bank to correct the issue.
Is There Another Way to Pay My United Power Bill?
United Power offers several ways to pay your bill. You can make a simple one-time payment through our Pay Now link, set up auto pay, or even explore our Pay as You Go program. Learn more about each of these options on our website, or contact one of our Member Services Representatives to help you understand and access any of these options. Of course we also accept payments in person during business hours at our Brighton Office, or you can use a payment kiosk at our Brighton, Carbon Valley, Ft. Lupton or Coal Creek Canyon kiosk locations. These self-serve kiosks are open outside of normal business hours, including weekends. Available hours for each kiosk vary, so check out their open times on our website.
Title
Helping Forge a Renewable Future
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Solar.jpg?itok=riumQVwI
Thursday | May 13, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members.
United Power has long been invested in pursuing renewable projects that make economic sense for both the cooperative and its members. The cooperative has built a national reputation for its introduction of innovative renewable projects over the past decade, beginning with the launch of its community solar garden, Sol Partners, in May 2010.
As your cooperative, United Power continues to monitor the renewable energy landscape and recognizes the future of electrical generation will be an “all of the above” strategy of investing in a variety of generation sources. The addition of these projects, from utility scale solar farms to a state-leading battery storage facility, helps build some cost stability for members.
The addition of the Platteville Solar Farm in December brought United Power’s cumulative solar production to more than 45 megawatts. Together with the cooperative’s other renewable projects and its members’ rooftop solar systems, United Power produces nearly 85 total megawatts, accounting for 14 percent of its energy needs and enough to power more than 11,000 homes and businesses. United Power members recently topped more than 6,100 total rooftop solar systems across the cooperative’s territory.
“United Power has demonstrative success in planning for and implementing renewable projects that provide tangible benefits for our members,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President & Chief Executive Officer. “As we plan for the future, we’ll continue to prioritize projects that establish us as a leader in the energy industry and also meet our members’ expectations for us as their cooperative. What we are doing now is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and environmentally friendly electric utility.”
For more information about United Power’s renewable portfolio and other innovative energy projects, visit www.unitedpower.com.
Title
Here for the Community
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2024_DaysofService.jpg?h=45932144&itok=l9QLc_XR
Monday | November 25, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power's community support demonstrates it is "Here for Good."
United Power's Community Support Demonstrates it is "Here for Good"
United Power has undergone significant change over the past year, including its wholesale energy contract exit, as it moved to become an independent electric utility on May 1. The cooperative has announced new power purchase agreements and innovative energy projects to ensure continued reliability and system resiliency, but it has also maintained a close relationship with the diverse communities it serves across the Colorado Front Range.
As a co-op, United Power regularly demonstrates its commitment to communities — one of its core guiding principles — through supporting local fairs and festivals, service organizations, business expansion, educational partnerships, and student opportunities. Sometimes the co-op’s support even extends beyond its own service territory to enrich the lives of disadvantaged communities in other parts of the country. This was another active year for the cooperative in its communities.
Giving Life to Fairs and Festivals
Local community events bring value to families living in the communities across United Power’s service territory. The cooperative is proud to be an active participant and supporter at many of these events. It continued its long-standing role as presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August, which annually brings out thousands of local residents and visitors and is recognized as one of the largest county fairs in the country. The co-op also provided support for fairs in Southeast Weld and Gilpin Counties, community heritage celebrations like the Tomato Festival & Market at Trapper Days in Fort Lupton and Miners Day in Frederick, and other events that recognize each city or town’s unique and rich history.
Now that the holiday season has begun and busy main street roads are shining with bright lights and elaborate decorations, cities are preparing for local holiday celebrations. Look for United Power in your community’s local festivities. The cooperative’s famous Rudolph the Red-Nosed Bucket Truck can frequently be found rolling in parades adorned in thousands of colorful lights and decorations.
“Here for Good” Employee Service Projects
Another vital component of our communities are the nonprofits that provide critical services to local residents. Dozens of organizations are helping meet a variety of needs for cooperative members, including mental health therapy, housing and food security, outdoor recreation, and more. More than 80 United Power employees volunteered for service projects with eight organizations across the cooperative’s service territory in October.
Some of the projects that employees completed included staining wooden structures for protection from winter weather at Barr Lake State Park and the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center; painting and updating community areas at Graceful Oaks Youth Ranch; removing old flooring for renovations at the Carbon Valley Help Center; and mud mitigation at Allegiance Ranch. Employees also sorted and organized food for redistribution at Pastor’s Pantry in Coal Creek Canyon, the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank, and Food For Hope in Thornton.
United Power presented each organization with a $500 donation in addition to the volunteer hours as a thank you for the contributions they make to our communities.
Powering Families of the Navajo Nation
Lineworkers traveled to New Mexico for a week in July and again in October to build electrical infrastructure and provide power to members of the Navajo Nation. The mutual aid initiative, Light Up Navajo, is aimed at providing access to electricity for families living in remote parts of the Navajo Nation for the very first time.
The ambitious, years-long initiative has provided electricity to nearly 8,000 homes, but thousands more still do not have access. United Power provided trucks, equipment, and experienced lineworkers for both projects. Working long hours, and often in extreme heat, they placed poles and strung line to power local homes.
Supporting Local Youth
Students in our local schools are also the future leaders of our communities. United Power recognizes the importance of supporting local education, and has annually provided thousands of dollars in scholarship awards and leadership training opportunities to outstanding high school students in its service territory.
The cooperative is also an active partner in the classroom, such as Mead’s Energy Academy. Will Thomas, Energy Systems Specialist, presented on the future of battery storage technology for Energy Academy students in September. Students also later participated in a high voltage safety demonstration and toured one of the co-op’s battery storage facilities.
United Power also hosted students from 27J’s Career and Technical Education program for a “Day in the Boots” event in October. Students were able to move through stations and learn the day-to-day responsibilities of the cooperative’s operations team. The cooperative also supports career fairs for students of all ages.
Although much of the service territory is becoming suburban, the co-op still serves large agricultural areas. Each year, United Power supports local youth in agriculture through livestock sales at county fairs.
United Power supports the local community in all these ways and many more, including charity events that benefit nonprofits or educational foundations. It is why we exist, and it is why we will remain...Here for Good.
Title
High Heat Can Lead to High Bills
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CoolinginfrontofFan.jpg?h=2d828ae9&itok=jLiJUHlr
Wednesday | June 15, 2022
Card Teaser
How to stay on top of energy use before your bill arrives.
Nothing affects your energy use and your bill like extremely low or extremely high temperatures. Especially when those temperatures stay high for an extended period, as we’ve experienced over the last month.
Heating and cooling are the largest contributors to your energy use, so when the temperature drastically rises, usage and bills go up. Your home’s age, how many people live there, and how cool you keep your home all play a part.
So, what can you do? United Power offers a variety of tools and programs to help you manage your budget and be more energy-efficient.
Monitor Your Daily Usage
Through the United Power mobile app and the Power Portal, you can watch for trends in your usage to see how much energy you’ve used before your bill arrives.
Make Your Smart Thermostat Work
Enroll your Nest or Honeywell smart thermostat in our Smart Rewards program and you’ll help us curb energy during peak times. This saves the cooperative from purchasing expensive peak power, reduces your energy use, and we pay you $25 at the end of the summer for participating.
Enroll in Pay As You Go
Never receive a bill after the fact. With Pay As You Go, you pay for electricity the same way you pay for gas or groceries, keeping you well informed of how much energy you’re using and what it is costing daily.
Energy-Saving Tips
Check out these energy-saving tips to help lower your bill:
Keep your thermostat setting as high as you can. Every degree below 78 can increase your bill three percent or more.
Have your air conditioner serviced regularly and don’t forget to change the filters. Dirty filters reduce air flow and cause your system to work harder, which can increase your cooling costs and lead to costly repairs.
Plug those leaks! Use weather stripping, caulk or foam insulation to fill in the leaks around windows, doors, or under your sinks where the pipes go into the wall.
Block the sun! During the day, close your blinds or curtains, especially on windows that face the sun to avoid extra heat gain.
Title
Hodge, Whitmore Honored
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2017_11_03_HodgeWhitmoreHonored.jpg?itok=e4KUm7oR
Friday | November 3, 2017
Card Teaser
Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October.
Mary Hodge, Adams County Commissioner, and Troy Whitmore, United Power Public Affairs Officer received the distinguished Alumni of the Plains award from Pro 15 at their annual Fall Conference held in October. Commissioner Hodge was also inducted into the Pro 15 Legislative Hall of Fame.
Hodge, a United Power member, graduated from high school in Idalia, Colo., and prior to serving as an Adams County Commissioner, she served in the Colorado State Legislature in both the House and Senate. Whitmore graduated from high school in Haxtun, Colo. and has been with United Power for 31 years. He has served the community on the Thornton City Council, Brighton Economic Development Council, MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce Board and Government Affairs Committee, Northeastern Junior College Alumni Association and the Colorado 4-H and Colorado FFA Foundations.
The Alumni of the Plains award was established eleven years ago to recognize individuals who graduated from a high school in one of the 15 counties in Northeast Colorado, and who have excelled in their profession. Progressive 15 (Pro 15) is the collective voice of 15 counties in Northeast Colorado—advocating for legislation and policy that impact the economic vitality of the region.
Title
Home Appliances: 6 Ways to Save
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/appliances6.jpg?itok=k5aHFCbp
Friday | February 25, 2022
Card Teaser
Take some easy steps to save on the operation of your appliances, or boost your savings with a new appliance rebate from your co-op.
Our appliances make life easier and help tackle the manual tasks of housework, but there’s a cost to this convenience. Many newer models are designed to be energy efficient, but why not take measures that will help you save even more energy and money?
Run a full load. Wash clothes and dishes with a full load only; partial loads waste energy and water. Load your dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fill the racks completely to maximize water and energy use but allow for adequate water circulation to ensure clean dishes.
Stay cool and fresh. Set refrigerator and freezer thermostats at the recommended temperature settings: 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator, and 5°F for the freezer. It will help optimize energy savings while keeping foods fresh.
Stock the fridge. A fully stocked unit uses less energy because there is less air to cool. Avoid overfilling; too many items packed together closely will reduce air circulation.
Keep your dryer dry. Clean the lint filter after each dryer load; this will increase air circulation and improve dryer efficiency. Inspect your dryer vent periodically to ensure that it's not blocked.
Air your clean laundry. When doing laundry, why not air-dry your clothes? It will reduce energy costs, and it may help to keep clothes looking new.
Get cooking efficiently. Use your microwave or toaster oven rather than the stovetop or oven. These smaller appliances often heat food more quickly, while using less energy. If you do use the stovetop, match the pan size to the burner size, and cover pots and pans.
Boost your Savings with an Energy Smart Rebate
Looking to upgrade to more efficient appliances? Replace older appliances with new ENERGY STAR®-certified efficient models. These products are the best of the best, delivering cutting-edge energy efficiency along with the latest in technological innovation.
United Power members can boost their savings with rebates on a variety of ENERGY STAR® and select efficient electric appliances. View the complete menu of Energy Smart Rebates to reduce the cost your new appliance purchase.
How to Modernize the Electric Grid: Rethinking Our Vision
Monday | August 2, 2021
Modernization of the electric grid should not be the singular focus of spending in the United States, rather we should also be targeting our efforts and dollars at specific projects that will make the most immediate impacts.
Read more >
Title
Industry Standard in System Reliability
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Monday | February 14, 2022
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Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers.
United Power Consistently, Significantly Better than National Average
United Power understands the most important thing its members want is consistently reliable power. Being able to deliver uninterrupted power is prominently weighed in how the cooperative defines success each year. Since altering its maintenance practices a few years ago, United Power’s reliability has significantly improved, as have its outage numbers. Already an industry leader in automated field devices and other innovative projects, the cooperative is also trending well below the national average in utility outage times, setting yet another standard for others to emulate.
The national average for outage duration among electric utilities in the United States has consistently hovered around 120 minutes per meter. This means the average electric consumer can expect to experience approximately two hours of outage time at their home over the course of a year. When United Power’s operations team instituted a new data-driven maintenance plan in 2017, its average outage times resembled the national averages. In the four years following the plan’s launch, the cooperative’s outage times per meter have dropped below 70 minutes.
The new maintenance practice focuses on analyzing data collected across thousands of miles of line to isolate the worst performing segments. With these segments identified, targeted maintenance projects can be scheduled to improve their performance.
“When you target maintenance efforts at the worst performing parts of the system it improves reliability for members served off of it,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power’s Chief Operating Officer. “Maintenance is an ongoing process, but as long as we continue analyzing the data, isolating problem sections and targeting our maintenance efforts to improve them, it improves the whole system’s reliability and resilience.”
Devices on the system, such as enhanced technology in substations and advanced metering equipment, collect data and transfer it back to system operators. In the event of an outage, these devices can capture important information, such as time, location and sequence-of-events. Armed with this, lineworkers in the field can use the information to restore power to members more quickly, which also contributes to decreased outage times. Without this information, not only would identifying problematic areas be difficult, or even impossible, it would also create additional delays in power restoration as lineworkers inspect miles of line to find the cause.
Some system improvements have served dual functions. United Power recently published its comprehensive fire mitigation plan, which includes new standards and program initiatives primarily focused on areas of the territory that are particularly at risk of wildfires, such as Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyons. In December, storms blew through the territory with wind speeds in excess of 115 mph, including the storm that ultimately fueled the Marshall Fire. The cooperative activated its fire mitigation protocols during these windstorms, and due to proactive upgrades only experienced a few small outages.
“Our maintenance and system improvement efforts are already paying off for our members,” said Robbins. “Implementing this new maintenance plan has been effective and is proving its value. It’s hard to estimate how many outages you’ve prevented when you don’t have them, but our proactive efforts have gone a long way in helping prevent and/or quickly resolving outages.”
Regardless of the size or length of outage, United Power is continually investigating what causes them and how it can implement new practices to decrease their impact to members and duration. From system redundancies allowing the cooperative to restore power from a secondary location while repairs are being made to deploying an industry-leading number of automated devices, improving system reliability is one of United Power’s core goals.
