Member Choice Grants
Friday | March 13, 2020
Member Choice Grants allow our members to nominate a nonprofit organization within the cooperative's service territory to receive grant funds from United Power.
Read more >
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
Members will be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the program.
United Power members will once again be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the 2021 Member Choice Grant program.
Within our service territory, there are many nonprofits that bring value to the communities we serve. Member Choice Grants, originally introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. The grant funds will help them continue to work toward accomplishing their mission and ensures we are supporting causes our members truly care about.
This past year, our members recognized the needs of others who were trying to navigate difficult circumstances and focused their nominations on organizations that met essential needs. These organizations included food and clothing banks, mental health resources and positive recreation.
Recipients of grant awards are determined based on member nominations throughout the year. Nominations are now open, and recipients will be announced in three rounds in the cooperative’s newsletter.
For more information on Member Choice Grants and past recipients or to nominate a nonprofit that serves United Power members to receive grant funds, go to Member Choice.
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyFall2022_MemberChoice.jpg?itok=a3kXaAbk
Wednesday | September 7, 2022
Card Teaser
Nominate a local nonprofit to receive grant dollars from United Power by November 18.
Electric cooperatives are unique from for-profit electric utilities, which are governed by investor decisions that boost revenue and profits. Instead, co-ops are defined by a set of core principles, chief among them a commitment to the communities they serve. United Power is an active supporter and participant in community events and programs, but depends on knowledge from members like you to ensure it is supporting causes you care about.
The co-op launched Member Choice grants to provide a way for members to put their community knowledge into action – by nominating area nonprofits for United Power grant dollars. Nominating a local nonprofit for Member Choice grants allows you to have a voice in what organizations the cooperative is supporting.
United Power has distributed more than $10,000 to nonprofits within its service territory through Member Choice grants since its launch in 2020. The first grants were awarded to local food banks early in the pandemic. Members recognized the need for additional resources at food banks as many families lost their source of income. Members also nominated nonprofits that provided for mental health needs and outdoor recreation. The cooperative renewed Member Choice grants for three rounds in 2021. Recipients provided a variety of needs, including animal rescue and adoption, youth job force training and empowerment, and ending the cycle of homelessness.
Member Choice grants have been renewed again for 2022. Your nominations will help six worthy organizations receive a total of $12,000 in grant dollars to continue providing services to the communities they reach. To receive a Member Choice grant, nominated organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit operating within the cooperative’s service territory and serving United Power members. Ineligible nonprofits include organizations that further religious doctrine or support the interests of political parties.
United Power began accepting new Member Choice grant nominations in August. Nominations must be received by November 18 to ensure consideration for the next round of grants. Recipients will be notified at the end of November and posted in the cooperative’s December newsletter and on its website.
For the nomination form, qualification requirements, and previous winners, please go to our Member Choice Grants page.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for First Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | March 8, 2021
Card Teaser
Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
United Power is proud to announce the recipients of its first round of Member Choice Grants for 2021. Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
Member Choice Grants, which were introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. Members may nominate a local nonprofit, within the cooperative’s service territory, to receive grant funds, ensuring we are able to support causes our members truly care about. To nominate a nonprofit for the second round of grants, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society
Established in 1921, Historic Highlandlake has grown over the years into a full-fledged historical society. The society is heavily invested in preserving the history of Highlandlake and the Town of Mead through educational outreach and hands-on community events that revive early pioneer living. Housed in the original Congregational Church, the society’s grounds also display other authentic buildings that have been preserved from the town’s early days.
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine is a small nonprofit on a mission to empower individuals and families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The nonprofit’s typical outreach was halted due to the pandemic in 2020, and it shifted to addressing community needs and the increased number of people facing food insecurity. In 2020, Let Your Light Shine distributed approximately 80,000 pounds of food to its clients, and has distributed nearly 30,000 pounds already this year.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for Second Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | July 19, 2021
Card Teaser
Community Uplift Partnership, located in Commerce City, and the Soul Dog Rescue have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the second part of the year.
Nominations are Now Open for the Third Round of Grant Recipients
The second-round recipients of Member Choice Grants for 2021 have been selected. United Power is proud to announce Commerce City’s Community Uplift Partnership (CUP) and Soul Dog Rescue, out of Fort Lupton, have been selected from nominations submitted by our members to receive grants this round.
The cooperative introduced Member Choice Grants in early 2020, asking members to nominate nonprofit organizations within the service territory they would like to see us help support. The grant nomination process gives members a voice and helps ensure we are supporting causes they truly care about.
United Power has received several dozen nominations for nonprofit organizations providing a variety of services for those in need within the communities we serve. To submit a nomination for round three, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Community Uplift Partnership
Young adults are some of the most vibrant people in our communities. Community Uplift Partnership (CUP) reminds them they have value beyond a paycheck, strengthens them to conquer barriers to employment opportunities that provide sustainable wages and equips them to make better decisions for the future of their families.
Soul Dog Rescue
Soul Dog Rescue is an animal rescue located in Fort Lupton with the mission to spay/neuter and protect animals. Soul Dog performs collaborative, targeted work, primarily through spay/neuter, in underserved regions in order to create sustainable change and promote cultural shifts regarding the treatment of animals.
Nominations are now open for the third round of Member Choice Grants, which will be announced in an upcoming issue of the United Newsline. Submit a nomination at www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Title
Members Prioritize Mental Health & Outdoor Recreation for Grants
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Tuesday | July 14, 2020
Card Teaser
Members focused again on relief for the community during this time, with a number of nominations for two organizations that support mental health and recreation.
United Power introduced its new Member Choice Grants program earlier this year, asking members to nominate a nonprofit organization in its service territory they would like to see the cooperative help support.
These grant nominations allow United Power to provide support for causes and organizations members truly care about. During the first round of nominations, members recognized food banks for meeting the needs of others during this time, awarding the Fort Lupton Food Bank and Carbon Valley Help Center with grants.
Members focused again on relief for the community during this time, with a number of nominations for two organizations that support mental health and recreation. United Power is happy to announce the two nonprofits receiving $1,000 Member Choice Grants.
Richard Lambert Foundation
The foundation provides care, support and essential resources for bereaved children and adults, allowing them to create a foundation for hope, healing and survival. The grant will be used to ensure mental health and grief support is accessible.
Barr Lake State Park
Barr Lake State Park is a quiet lake just northeast of Denver. There’s something for every type of outdoors person at Barr Lake, from fishing and bird watching to boating and kayaking. Grant funds will be used to support Lake Appreciation Day on July 11.
Nominations are now open for the third round of Member Choice Grants, which will be announced in the next United Newsline. To submit a nomination, fill out the form on our Member Choice page and provide a brief reason why you feel the organization should receive the grant.
Mutton Busting: Toughest Sport on Wool
Monday | July 2, 2018
For years, the Adams County Fair has provided an opportunity to channel that spirit into a popular rugrat rodeo activity – Mutton Bustin’. Mutton Bustin’ will return with the fair in August, but will introduce an exciting new change from previous event formats.
Read more >
Title
Myths of Energy Efficiency
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz
Monday | February 14, 2022
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills. To help you make more informed decisions, we tackle some common energy efficiency myths in this column.
Reducing Energy Use is Too Expensive
A common and enduring myth about energy efficiency is cost. The stigma associated with it assumes it’s too expensive and not worth it. While costly energy efficiency upgrades are possible, many immediate steps you can take are simple behavioral and habitual changes. These include turning off lights in unused rooms, unplugging or shutting down unused electronics, closing doors to empty rooms while heating/cooling systems are running, limiting use of vents in the kitchen or bathroom and remembering to close your curtains in the summer – and conversely open them in the winter – to keep sunlight from affecting the temperature inside your home.
Setting Thermostat Higher Heats Home Faster
No matter what temperature you set your thermostat, your furnace will work equally as hard and fast to meet that goal. The only difference achieved by setting the temperature to a higher degree is that the system will work for a longer period of time, therefore using more energy. The same applies to air conditioners when set to a lower temperature than necessary. Although blasting your heater or air conditioning does not heat or cool your home more quickly, adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees, depending on the season, can help you save energy.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Energy
Shutting vents in empty or unused rooms may seem logical to save energy. Heating or cooling an empty space does appear to waste energy. However, your system cannot detect closed vents and will continue trying to push air to them. When the air cannot escape, it reverses and can cause damage to your system. Instead of closing vents, practice closing doors to rooms that are not in use. When doors are open, it allows the hot or cold air from inside the room to escape and the air from outside the room to enter, which can force your system to work harder to maintain thermostat settings. Closed doors prevent air from entering or exiting so the system can properly heat or cool the room and maintain it more easily.
Using energy more efficiently isn’t as difficult as you may believe. Small behavioral changes make a big difference. To review more ways to save, check out our website at www.unitedpower.com/energy-tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
How to Monitor Your Energy Usage
United Power members looking for ways to use energy more efficiently this year and save on their energy bills can utilize free resources available exclusively to the cooperative’s members.
View Usage With Power Portal
Power Portal was launched as an ancillary feature of the cooperative’s online account tool for members to view advanced data on their energy use over the course of days, weeks, months and more. The software breaks your energy usage down into 15-minute segments to provide you with a detailed picture of what activities or habits are controlling your energy usage. Members can even use the tool to evaluate on- and off-peak energy usage.
Armed with the ability to diagnose behaviors that lead to excess energy usage, members can begin taking real steps toward using energy more efficiently. Members can even use this tool to gauge the effectiveness of energy efficient updates to their home.
For more information, go to the Power Portal page.
Demand Calculator
Adding or upgrading an appliance in your home? United Power recently debuted its new demand calculator, which allows members to toggle different appliances on and off to see what demand they could require in your home. To use the calculator or learn more about the demand rate, go to the Understanding Demand page.
Myths of Energy Efficiency
Friday | February 5, 2021
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
Read more >
Member Choice Grants
Friday | March 13, 2020
Member Choice Grants allow our members to nominate a nonprofit organization within the cooperative's service territory to receive grant funds from United Power.
Read more >
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
Members will be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the program.
United Power members will once again be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the 2021 Member Choice Grant program.
Within our service territory, there are many nonprofits that bring value to the communities we serve. Member Choice Grants, originally introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. The grant funds will help them continue to work toward accomplishing their mission and ensures we are supporting causes our members truly care about.
This past year, our members recognized the needs of others who were trying to navigate difficult circumstances and focused their nominations on organizations that met essential needs. These organizations included food and clothing banks, mental health resources and positive recreation.
Recipients of grant awards are determined based on member nominations throughout the year. Nominations are now open, and recipients will be announced in three rounds in the cooperative’s newsletter.
For more information on Member Choice Grants and past recipients or to nominate a nonprofit that serves United Power members to receive grant funds, go to Member Choice.
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyFall2022_MemberChoice.jpg?itok=a3kXaAbk
Wednesday | September 7, 2022
Card Teaser
Nominate a local nonprofit to receive grant dollars from United Power by November 18.
Electric cooperatives are unique from for-profit electric utilities, which are governed by investor decisions that boost revenue and profits. Instead, co-ops are defined by a set of core principles, chief among them a commitment to the communities they serve. United Power is an active supporter and participant in community events and programs, but depends on knowledge from members like you to ensure it is supporting causes you care about.
The co-op launched Member Choice grants to provide a way for members to put their community knowledge into action – by nominating area nonprofits for United Power grant dollars. Nominating a local nonprofit for Member Choice grants allows you to have a voice in what organizations the cooperative is supporting.
United Power has distributed more than $10,000 to nonprofits within its service territory through Member Choice grants since its launch in 2020. The first grants were awarded to local food banks early in the pandemic. Members recognized the need for additional resources at food banks as many families lost their source of income. Members also nominated nonprofits that provided for mental health needs and outdoor recreation. The cooperative renewed Member Choice grants for three rounds in 2021. Recipients provided a variety of needs, including animal rescue and adoption, youth job force training and empowerment, and ending the cycle of homelessness.
Member Choice grants have been renewed again for 2022. Your nominations will help six worthy organizations receive a total of $12,000 in grant dollars to continue providing services to the communities they reach. To receive a Member Choice grant, nominated organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit operating within the cooperative’s service territory and serving United Power members. Ineligible nonprofits include organizations that further religious doctrine or support the interests of political parties.
United Power began accepting new Member Choice grant nominations in August. Nominations must be received by November 18 to ensure consideration for the next round of grants. Recipients will be notified at the end of November and posted in the cooperative’s December newsletter and on its website.
For the nomination form, qualification requirements, and previous winners, please go to our Member Choice Grants page.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for First Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | March 8, 2021
Card Teaser
Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
United Power is proud to announce the recipients of its first round of Member Choice Grants for 2021. Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
Member Choice Grants, which were introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. Members may nominate a local nonprofit, within the cooperative’s service territory, to receive grant funds, ensuring we are able to support causes our members truly care about. To nominate a nonprofit for the second round of grants, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society
Established in 1921, Historic Highlandlake has grown over the years into a full-fledged historical society. The society is heavily invested in preserving the history of Highlandlake and the Town of Mead through educational outreach and hands-on community events that revive early pioneer living. Housed in the original Congregational Church, the society’s grounds also display other authentic buildings that have been preserved from the town’s early days.
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine is a small nonprofit on a mission to empower individuals and families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The nonprofit’s typical outreach was halted due to the pandemic in 2020, and it shifted to addressing community needs and the increased number of people facing food insecurity. In 2020, Let Your Light Shine distributed approximately 80,000 pounds of food to its clients, and has distributed nearly 30,000 pounds already this year.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for Second Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | July 19, 2021
Card Teaser
Community Uplift Partnership, located in Commerce City, and the Soul Dog Rescue have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the second part of the year.
Nominations are Now Open for the Third Round of Grant Recipients
The second-round recipients of Member Choice Grants for 2021 have been selected. United Power is proud to announce Commerce City’s Community Uplift Partnership (CUP) and Soul Dog Rescue, out of Fort Lupton, have been selected from nominations submitted by our members to receive grants this round.
The cooperative introduced Member Choice Grants in early 2020, asking members to nominate nonprofit organizations within the service territory they would like to see us help support. The grant nomination process gives members a voice and helps ensure we are supporting causes they truly care about.
United Power has received several dozen nominations for nonprofit organizations providing a variety of services for those in need within the communities we serve. To submit a nomination for round three, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Community Uplift Partnership
Young adults are some of the most vibrant people in our communities. Community Uplift Partnership (CUP) reminds them they have value beyond a paycheck, strengthens them to conquer barriers to employment opportunities that provide sustainable wages and equips them to make better decisions for the future of their families.
Soul Dog Rescue
Soul Dog Rescue is an animal rescue located in Fort Lupton with the mission to spay/neuter and protect animals. Soul Dog performs collaborative, targeted work, primarily through spay/neuter, in underserved regions in order to create sustainable change and promote cultural shifts regarding the treatment of animals.
Nominations are now open for the third round of Member Choice Grants, which will be announced in an upcoming issue of the United Newsline. Submit a nomination at www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Title
Members Prioritize Mental Health & Outdoor Recreation for Grants
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Tuesday | July 14, 2020
Card Teaser
Members focused again on relief for the community during this time, with a number of nominations for two organizations that support mental health and recreation.
United Power introduced its new Member Choice Grants program earlier this year, asking members to nominate a nonprofit organization in its service territory they would like to see the cooperative help support.
These grant nominations allow United Power to provide support for causes and organizations members truly care about. During the first round of nominations, members recognized food banks for meeting the needs of others during this time, awarding the Fort Lupton Food Bank and Carbon Valley Help Center with grants.
Members focused again on relief for the community during this time, with a number of nominations for two organizations that support mental health and recreation. United Power is happy to announce the two nonprofits receiving $1,000 Member Choice Grants.
Richard Lambert Foundation
The foundation provides care, support and essential resources for bereaved children and adults, allowing them to create a foundation for hope, healing and survival. The grant will be used to ensure mental health and grief support is accessible.
Barr Lake State Park
Barr Lake State Park is a quiet lake just northeast of Denver. There’s something for every type of outdoors person at Barr Lake, from fishing and bird watching to boating and kayaking. Grant funds will be used to support Lake Appreciation Day on July 11.
Nominations are now open for the third round of Member Choice Grants, which will be announced in the next United Newsline. To submit a nomination, fill out the form on our Member Choice page and provide a brief reason why you feel the organization should receive the grant.
Mutton Busting: Toughest Sport on Wool
Monday | July 2, 2018
For years, the Adams County Fair has provided an opportunity to channel that spirit into a popular rugrat rodeo activity – Mutton Bustin’. Mutton Bustin’ will return with the fair in August, but will introduce an exciting new change from previous event formats.
Read more >
Title
Myths of Energy Efficiency
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz
Monday | February 14, 2022
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills. To help you make more informed decisions, we tackle some common energy efficiency myths in this column.
Reducing Energy Use is Too Expensive
A common and enduring myth about energy efficiency is cost. The stigma associated with it assumes it’s too expensive and not worth it. While costly energy efficiency upgrades are possible, many immediate steps you can take are simple behavioral and habitual changes. These include turning off lights in unused rooms, unplugging or shutting down unused electronics, closing doors to empty rooms while heating/cooling systems are running, limiting use of vents in the kitchen or bathroom and remembering to close your curtains in the summer – and conversely open them in the winter – to keep sunlight from affecting the temperature inside your home.
Setting Thermostat Higher Heats Home Faster
No matter what temperature you set your thermostat, your furnace will work equally as hard and fast to meet that goal. The only difference achieved by setting the temperature to a higher degree is that the system will work for a longer period of time, therefore using more energy. The same applies to air conditioners when set to a lower temperature than necessary. Although blasting your heater or air conditioning does not heat or cool your home more quickly, adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees, depending on the season, can help you save energy.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Energy
Shutting vents in empty or unused rooms may seem logical to save energy. Heating or cooling an empty space does appear to waste energy. However, your system cannot detect closed vents and will continue trying to push air to them. When the air cannot escape, it reverses and can cause damage to your system. Instead of closing vents, practice closing doors to rooms that are not in use. When doors are open, it allows the hot or cold air from inside the room to escape and the air from outside the room to enter, which can force your system to work harder to maintain thermostat settings. Closed doors prevent air from entering or exiting so the system can properly heat or cool the room and maintain it more easily.
Using energy more efficiently isn’t as difficult as you may believe. Small behavioral changes make a big difference. To review more ways to save, check out our website at www.unitedpower.com/energy-tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
How to Monitor Your Energy Usage
United Power members looking for ways to use energy more efficiently this year and save on their energy bills can utilize free resources available exclusively to the cooperative’s members.
View Usage With Power Portal
Power Portal was launched as an ancillary feature of the cooperative’s online account tool for members to view advanced data on their energy use over the course of days, weeks, months and more. The software breaks your energy usage down into 15-minute segments to provide you with a detailed picture of what activities or habits are controlling your energy usage. Members can even use the tool to evaluate on- and off-peak energy usage.
Armed with the ability to diagnose behaviors that lead to excess energy usage, members can begin taking real steps toward using energy more efficiently. Members can even use this tool to gauge the effectiveness of energy efficient updates to their home.
For more information, go to the Power Portal page.
Demand Calculator
Adding or upgrading an appliance in your home? United Power recently debuted its new demand calculator, which allows members to toggle different appliances on and off to see what demand they could require in your home. To use the calculator or learn more about the demand rate, go to the Understanding Demand page.
Myths of Energy Efficiency
Friday | February 5, 2021
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
Read more >
