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Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | October 8, 2018
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You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018.
Date of Notice: October 10, 2018
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018. The Reserve Capacity rate for Net Metering will be eliminated and the wording in the Net Metering rate tariff is updated to reflect current language for Interconnection Standards.
The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.
Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.
United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC
By: John D. Parker, Chief Executive Officer
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Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | November 20, 2017
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You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018).
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018). A cost of service study was completed and indicated a fixed charge cost increase to the Residential R1 rate class of $2.00/month. The Industrial Service Substation or Transmission ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4 rate classes will have a fixed charge increase of $500.00/month. The Grid Access Demand charge will increase for ITD3 to $3.50/kW and ITD4 will increase to $4.00/kW. The Power Cost Adjustment charge will be added into the energy charge for all effected rate classes and then zeroed out. There will be billing language clean up consistent with rate tariffs on all rate classes and Non-Standard Meter Fees will be made available to members with either behind the meter distributed generation or AMI opt-out. Also, the re-connection fee will be decreased for AMI metered accounts only.
The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.
Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.
United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC
By: John Parker, Chief Executive Officer
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November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 4, 2024
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Engaging with our members and communities is the highest privilege of running an electric cooperative. Understanding our members’ needs and goals allows us to meet — and often exceed — their expectations for providing electricity.
I had the pleasure of visiting two of our business members this past month — Meati Foods, the manufacturer of a “superfood” meat substitute made from mycelium, and several Chevron-owned sites. Although the two businesses could not be more different, they are similar in their visions for the energy future.
Their corporate visions include using electricity to improve operations and reduce their carbon footprint. This strategy aligns with Our Cooperative Roadmap. We have made significant progress in reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions — down 26% since May 1 — and further reductions are planned.
The value of reliable and resilient electric power is core to the business success of both Meati Foods and Chevron. The Rockies Business Unit of Chevron has pioneered the electrification of oil and gas sites, which eliminates the use of diesel generators. The benefits of this solution are a cost-effective alternative to operating and maintaining large generators and a smaller, cleaner, and quieter footprint. One site supervisor told me, “We love [electrification] because it is quiet, does not smell, and we can count on it to work.” Reliable power is also critical for Meati Food’s process, which turns a small handful of mycelium into the meat equivalent of 350 head of cattle in just over three days. Even brief power interruptions create challenges.
In both cases, there is a desire to develop on-site generation and storage that aligns perfectly with United Power’s vision of hyper-localized power, keeping power supply close at hand in a world where transmission congestion is increasing and costs are rising. Keeping generation and storage in our communities has the added benefit of bringing additional tax revenue and jobs. It also bolsters reliability and grid resilience.
As part of our energy transition and the expansion of our power supply portfolio, we broke ground on a unique 162 MW natural gas project in September that exemplifies our hyper-localization strategy. The Mountain Peak Power plant, developed in partnership with Kindle Energy, sits adjacent to one of our rural substations. The site borders a natural gas line and hosts one of our 11 MW battery energy storage systems. Since it all resides on the distribution system, it negates the need for costly transmission. It will help ensure reliability and resource adequacy at times when renewable generation is underproducing. Combined with the on-site battery, it provides a closed loop for power to support our system.
United Power will also open the state’s largest and the West’s longest duration battery on the distribution system in December. The 33 MW, six-hour battery will be located in Brighton. Further, New ERA funds will be used to offset the cost of solar generation produced in a disadvantaged community in Alamosa County, owned by the same company that will operate the Brighton battery facility. It marks continued progress in expanding resources close to home and means we have nearly 115 MW of critical storage, allowing us to buy low-cost energy to discharge during our peak.
On a final note, we are moving into the “shoulder” months when electric usage is typically lower. It is also when work gets done on generators, substations, and related equipment. There are times when that means we have to take outages for work to be completed safely — especially by our transmission providers. We understand these outages can be inconvenient and will work diligently to communicate when they may occur. I ask you to make sure the contact information on your account is up-to-date so that you do not miss alerts.
A great thank you to your Board of Directors for their vision and support, and to the amazing women and men of United Power, whom I have the honor to serve. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with your questions, comments and concerns.
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November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 1, 2021
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
At the turn of the past century (1900, not 2000) there were as many electric vehicles as gas powered cars. The EVs of the day were more expensive, but quieter, cleaner and easier to start and drive. Now, 120 years later, EVs are becoming increasingly popular, with nearly 4,000 United Power members driving one, and the numbers are growing.
With an electric grid in its infancy and before the creation of rural electric cooperatives, most of America outside of its cities would not be fully electrified for another 25 years. Gasoline became an essential commodity. Although it was dirty, noisy and somewhat flammable, it was also portable and easy to move across great distances in bulk, allowing for rapid expansion.
I had the opportunity to drive many of the early EVs on the market during my time at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 20 years ago – the ill-fated EV1, an all-electric RAV4, a converted S-10 pickup and an experimental Honda. They all shared similar benefits to today’s EVs: rapid acceleration, amazing handling – due to the weight of the batteries – and were eerily quiet. I also clearly recall taking the pickup to my daughter’s school for a show and tell, driving across the San Mateo bridge to my home in Pleasanton, Cali. and nervously watching the battery meter drifting toward zero.
My, how has the world changed. An expanding electric grid has made electricity the commodity, EV battery life is now up to 300 miles or more and we have 49 publicly available “Level 2” chargers and seven DC Fast Chargers (two owned by United Power) in our service territory. The network is rapidly expanding across Colorado and the U.S. Now, with most charging taking place at home, United Power will soon begin offering a leasing program for home chargers to our members.
I have been driving an electric vehicle almost daily for the past seven months and have learned much in that time. The Tesla Model 3 I drive is a pleasure and nothing short of a modern engineering miracle – an iPhone on wheels. But it is different in other ways too, some of which take getting used to versus traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
First and foremost, more planning is involved for long trips. I made a journey to Wyoming for a Tri-State meeting, a distance of about 250 miles. Although the car would have made it on a single charge there were no fast chargers available at my destination. So, my car instructed me to stop at Laramie for a 15-minute charge coming and going. This means not pushing on to the next gas/charging station since that might be miles away. Secondly, since most people charge at home and “filling up” at 120 volts takes a long time, United Power’s upcoming Level 2 leasing program targets the length of time it takes to charge while adding sophistication to the timing of the charge for better bill management.
There are four key questions to ask as you consider an EV for your next ride:
Does it meet my needs? My other vehicle is a 4WD Ford- F-250 with a 7.3-liter gas engine since towing my camper, heading to the woods for hunting or even making it up to my house on the mountain at 9,000 feet in the winter would be a challenge.
Do I like it? As with any automobile purchase, our cars reflect our personal tastes. Early EVs were, well, not exactly “attractive” to most of us. The “geek look” worked for some, but not all.
Can I afford it? The total cost of an EV is much less expensive than an ICE with no tune-ups or oil changes and fewer mechanical things to go wrong. There are roughly 30% fewer parts in an EV. However, some of the initial costs may be higher.
How can I fuel it? For apartment dwellers or renters, charging at home might be a challenge. For homeowners, it might require an additional 240-volt service on your electric panel. The great news is that the availability of public charging is dramatically increasing.
As your electric cooperative we are here to help answer your questions. You can find information online at ChooseEV or by calling 720-685-5644.
Come join the EV revolution!
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October is Co-op Month
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Monday | October 1, 2018
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This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month. More than 1,000 electric cooperatives serve rural communities in America. Rural electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country that the larger, investor-owned companies had no interest in serving due to the increased costs incurred from less densely populated areas.
The demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles and new technology is at an all-time high. As your electric provider, United Power is focused on utilizing the latest technology to bring you safe and reliable power.
While technological improvements allow us to provide energy more efficiently and renewable options become more feasible in our industry, one thing about us remains unchanged. As your cooperative, we operate under a set of principles that guide how we interact and engage with our members and the communities we serve.
At their core, cooperatives care for their communities. From educating and empowering youth through safety demonstrations, scholarship opportunities or leadership training to sponsoring local fairs, festivals and parades, you’ll regularly find United Power actively involved in and around the communities we serve.
So far this year, United Power has attended more than 30 fairs and festivals, provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships to high school seniors and sent five area youth on leadership training trips.
Preparing for the future also means supporting community growth and development. United Power’s employees work as partners in the cities and towns we serve, helping each community reach its vision for the future. Employees are encouraged to have active roles within their communities through involvement in local organizations and charities, sitting on boards and councils and supporting local schools.
Employees sit on the board of school foundations, non-profits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils, leadership councils and more. Their presence helps strengthen not only the communities, but our relationship to them.
While leadership within United Power has a strategic vision for the future, our members may see opportunities they’d like to share with us. As a member, you have a voice in the cooperative. Cooperatives have democratically elected leadership. Members are eligible to run for Board seats and vote in annual elections.
United Power isn’t alone in caring for communities. These are principles found within cooperatives throughout the country and in every industry. More than 350 million members benefit from the cooperative difference. Cooperatives generate jobs, keep profits local and pay taxes to help support community services. Their community involvement ensures everyone has an opportunity to benefit from cooperative principles.
We understand what really prepares us for the future is you, our members. United Power is proud to be a part of America’s cooperative network, and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Tuesday | October 1, 2024
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Members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions cooperatives make in our lives.
Members Invited to Celebrate Cooperative Contributions
Cooperatives are businesses wholly owned by the members they serve and designed to meet a community’s needs. They exist across a multitude of markets and industries, including food and agriculture, finance and banking, consumer retail, insurance, healthcare, and more. Electric distribution cooperatives like United Power were formed more than 85 years ago when farmers and business owners in rural areas of the country observed a need and found a way to meet it. Together, more than 900 electric cooperatives provide power to approximately 75% of the country’s landmass and make up more than 40% of the nation’s electric grid.
This October, members are invited to join in recognizing National Co-op Month, a celebration of the contributions cooperatives make in our lives. What sets co-ops apart from their for-profit and investor-owned counterparts is the emphasis on serving members and empowering communities. United Power is deeply invested in providing resources to help each community on its lines establish their own unique visions for the future.
As the communities United Power serves have grown, so too has the cooperative and its commitment to supporting those communities. The co-op has an active and visible presence in the cities and towns it serves. Employees live, work, play, and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chamber boards, at nonprofit fundraisers, and at fairs and festivals across the fast-growing communities in United Power’s 900–square–mile service territory. United Power puts money back into the community every year in the form of sponsorships, scholarships, and youth leadership development.
The cooperative announced an increase of nearly $10,000 in scholarship awards in the spring and introduced two new lineworker scholarships of $7,500 each. In the summer, six local high school students were selected to represent the cooperative on youth leadership trips to Washington, D.C. and Steamboat Springs. In August, the cooperative was the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair, one of the largest county fairs in the country, in addition to supporting community celebrations in Fort Lupton, Frederick, Mead, Keenesburg, Gilpin County, and many more.
While United Power exists to provide safe and reliable power, the cooperative is more than just your local energy provider. The co-op is Here for Good, supporting the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Friday | September 16, 2022
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Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Commitment to Community Continues to Guide Cooperative Through Industry Changes
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and their members. Cooperatives provide many of the same products and services you can get from for-profit businesses, but for uniquely different reasons. They were established as an extension of the local community to spur growth and development while also providing critical services necessary for a thriving city. It was the foundational commitment to community that fueled our founders to establish United Power and deliver the life-changing benefits of power to small rural areas northeast of Denver when larger investor-owned utilities would not. It guided our strategy in our infancy and continues to guide us as the electric industry enters an unprecedented period of change.
This was never more evident than when we debuted Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap)earlier this year. The Roadmap is a detailed action plan to respond to industry changes and modifications in energy usage as electrification becomes an even more essential societal fixture. It identifies four distinct but dependent priority areas the cooperative is addressing to maximize member benefit as technology evolves and the energy fuel mix shifts to more renewable resources. This includes the decision to exit our wholesale power supply contract, which becomes effective in May 2024, and will allow United Power to offer members more competitive rate options. More information on the Roadmap here.
United Power has launched new program initiatives this year to acknowledge the changing energy needs of both the cooperative and our members. The redesigned summer cooling program, Smart Rewards, allows members to earn money back for enrolling in a demand response and control plan that helps us control costs which are then passed back on to the member. The cooperative also launched an all-new electric vehicle pilot program, United EV, which provides at-home charging solutions and wiring rebates for a small monthly fee. This includes the installation of a level 2 charger and all unit maintenance for the duration of your enrollment. For more information on United EV, click here.
Although the cooperative continues to roll out new member programs, it hasn’t strayed from its roots as a proud supporter of local communities. United Power distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors this year and sent two qualifying students for a weeklong leadership training experience in Washington D.C., known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. We were also the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August and have sponsored well over two dozen other community fairs, festivals, parades, and other local events. We are committed to providing educational opportunities, like our safety trailer demonstration, and have many employees serving on local boards and councils.
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Monday | October 4, 2021
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United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops.
United Power is an Essential Partner in Local Communities
Cooperatives are more than a local business. Not only do they provide the same products and services as their for-profit counterparts, they also go beyond the business, placing great emphasis on community involvement and the flourishing of its members. Without the members we serve, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and members. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops. Electric co-ops provide power to nearly 60% of the country’s landmass, maintain more than 40% of its distribution grid — approximately 3 million miles of line — and serve more than 40 million members across 2,500 counties in 47 states.
Birthed out of the hard work of our members more than 80 years ago, electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned utilities had no interest in serving. When co-ops were formed to deliver power to these rural communities, they also made a commitment to serve and strengthen the communities within their service territory through investment in the economy, supporting local nonprofits and developing future leaders.
United Power works closely with its communities to support them directly and indirectly. It maintains close relationships with locally owned and operated businesses. Employees serve on the boards of local nonprofits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils and more.
The cooperative’s commitment to its communities and members was on full display over the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. From temporary suspension of disconnects to contributing $550,000 to the Co-op Cares Fund to provide direct support to members affected throughout the pandemic, United Power put its words into demonstrable action. It established the Member Choice Grants program to help the cooperative direct support to areas members care about and Operation Round-Up, a voluntary member-funded organization supported by the cooperative, went above and beyond to provide additional assistance to area nonprofits where it was needed.
United Power also continued to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to area seniors pursuing a post-secondary education and sponsored dozens of virtual community events while in-person events were not possible. When community events did return this summer, the cooperative played a vital role in making them happen, including fairs, festivals and local movie nights and celebrations.
While some electric cooperatives remain small and rural, others have outgrown their rural roots. As communities have grown from rural farming communities to suburban commuter communities or even urban centers, so has United Power’s commitment to those communities. No matter where you live or how you use electricity, you can count on United Power to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy and to make serving you its priority.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Tuesday | October 1, 2019
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There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States. Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities.
United Power is More Than Your Electric Provider. We’re Part of Your Community.
What sets cooperatives apart from our for-profit counterparts is our emphasis on the communities and members we serve. When United Power celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year, the story was not about us, but each of you and the strength of the communities that make up who we are. Without you, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join with us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives play in their communities. There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives.
Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned companies had no interest in serving. Electric cooperatives were birthed out of the hard work of our members who recognized a need and set out to find a way to meet it. We were formed by our community, for our community.
As our communities have grown, so have we. So too has our commitment to you. United Power is an active presence in the cities and towns we serve. Our employees live, work, play and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chambers of commerce boards, at nonprofits fundraisers, youth sporting events and fairs and festivals across the nearly 900 square miles we serve.
Your cooperative puts money back into the community in the form of sponsorships, scholarships and youth leadership development. In August, United Power partnered with the Touchstone Energy balloon program to highlight two local nonprofits, Foster Source and Food For Hope, and present them with check donations to continue their incredible work in our community.
Operation Round-Up, a foundation that wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our members, provides thousands of dollars to service organizations each year. Over its 20-year history, the foundation has distributed more than $1.5 million to organizations that provide for the necessities and urgent needs of residents in our territory. Operation Round-Up is truly an example of member-driven commitment to giving back.
In May, the board of directors approved a $5.5 million capital credit refund. Those refunds don’t just go back to individual families within our territory. They are also distributed to schools districts and local governments.
This year, United Power has also re-emphasized its commitment to its members with the addition of Meghan Dewey as its Member Engagement Officer. In this newly created position, Dewey is responsible for developing and implementing United Power’s member engagement strategy. Read more about Meghan here.
Ultimately, though, the larger community benefits from these programs because of our members, who empower us through your membership, participation and support.
Members can play an even larger role in setting the direction of the cooperative. Our democratically elected board of directors are members, just like you. Each year, members vote for board members in our director election at our Annual Meeting in April, and any member may be eligible to run for a seat. Our board and leadership team also hold occasional listening sessions to hear the concerns of our membership to make sure our policies reflects your needs.
While United Power exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we hope you think of us as more than your energy provider, but as a local business that supports the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members – by the community, for the community.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Thursday | October 5, 2017
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United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to over 200,000 people in our six-county service area along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies,” said John Parker, CEO. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated. Revenue generated by United Power goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. In addition to providing the vital power co-op members depend on, United Power supports our communities directly and indirectly. We provide educational opportunities for youth in our territory, visiting classrooms teaching students about electrical safety or talking to them about job opportunities.
We also educate our communities and members about the dangers of contact with electricity through our safety demonstration trailer. Not only does our presentation team, made up of knowledgeable linemen, teach people how to be safe around electricity, but they also inform people about the complex and dangerous tasks our linemen face each day and explain the importance of safety equipment, including personal protective equipment, rubber gloves, hard hats and cover ups.
United Power provides college scholarships and sponsors student representatives to youth camps in Colorado and Washington D.C. We are sponsors of dozens of community events including fairs, festivals and school fundraisers. United Power employees are active members of local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils and nonprofit organizations serving our membership.
United Power is proud to be part of America’s cooperative network and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
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Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
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Friday | January 10, 2020
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Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Nothing has the charm of an older home on a family farm or a cute cottage in a historic district. But cosmetic and structural upgrade needs are often packaged with the cozy charm. Upgrades to your home may include a fresh coat of paint or installing new fixtures, but have you considered the unseen needs, such as wiring behind a switch plate or outlet? Do you know the hidden dangers of aged wiring? Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Type of Wiring
Modern wire used in homes is either copper (for conductivity) or aluminum (for cost effectiveness) and covered in a plastic or rubber insulation. Older homes, usually built before the 1940s, may use an outdated wiring method known as “knob-and-tube,” a two-wire system with no ground. Over time, corrosion can cause insulation to wear away, exposing wires to combustible materials and leading to loose connections, increasing fire risk in a home. This can be a concern in older homes regardless of wiring method. If your home has aluminum wiring, use only aluminum approved switches, outlets and other accessories.
Plugs Falling Out of Outlets Easily
Over time, the contacts in a plug can begin to fail. When contacts loosen, they aren’t able to securely grip your plug. That missed connection can cause electrical arcing, a major risk for house fires. The good news is it’s an easy fix. Consult an electrician for directions.
Not Enough Outlets
The increasing use of chargers for electronic devices, including phones, tablets and gaming devices, means outlets are in high demand. A lack of outlets can result in the overuse of power strips, which could overload an outlet. Overloading can cause heat, leading to fire risk.
Danger in Wet Areas
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are now required in areas around water, like near a kitchen or bathroom sink or outdoors. However, older homes may not have been upgraded to these types of outlets. It is fairly simple to replace old receptacles with GFCIs.
If your home needs upgrades and repairs to its wiring, consider hiring a licensed electrician. An electric professional can safely make wiring updates needed in your home or tell you what inspections and permits are needed to make necessary repairs.
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Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | October 8, 2018
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You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018.
Date of Notice: October 10, 2018
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to update Interconnection Standards and make changes to several tariff sheets to become effective on November 1, 2018. The Reserve Capacity rate for Net Metering will be eliminated and the wording in the Net Metering rate tariff is updated to reflect current language for Interconnection Standards.
The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.
Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.
United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC
By: John D. Parker, Chief Executive Officer
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Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | November 20, 2017
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You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018).
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United) proposes to make changes to several of its rate tariff schedules to become effective for energy usage on or after January 1, 2018 (billings issued after February 1, 2018). A cost of service study was completed and indicated a fixed charge cost increase to the Residential R1 rate class of $2.00/month. The Industrial Service Substation or Transmission ITD1, ITD2, ITD3 and ITD4 rate classes will have a fixed charge increase of $500.00/month. The Grid Access Demand charge will increase for ITD3 to $3.50/kW and ITD4 will increase to $4.00/kW. The Power Cost Adjustment charge will be added into the energy charge for all effected rate classes and then zeroed out. There will be billing language clean up consistent with rate tariffs on all rate classes and Non-Standard Meter Fees will be made available to members with either behind the meter distributed generation or AMI opt-out. Also, the re-connection fee will be decreased for AMI metered accounts only.
The present and proposed tariff provisions are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Ft. Lupton Branch office located at 1200 Dexter Street, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; and the headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, Colorado 80603 at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
An informal complaint shall be in writing and shall contain such facts and other information to adequately state the reason(s) for the complaint. An informal complaint shall be considered by United, in regard to the proposed tariff changes, but will not require that a hearing be held.
Anyone who desires a hearing must file a specific and formal complaint to the proposed changes and a request for hearing at least 10 days before the proposed effective date. A formal complaint shall be in writing in the form prescribed by United’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United.
United may hold a hearing to determine what changes will be authorized, regardless of complaints. If proper formal complaints and request for hearings are timely filed, the Board shall schedule a hearing. The changes ultimately authorized may or may not be the same as those proposed and may include changes different than those tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC
By: John Parker, Chief Executive Officer
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November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 4, 2024
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Engaging with our members and communities is the highest privilege of running an electric cooperative. Understanding our members’ needs and goals allows us to meet — and often exceed — their expectations for providing electricity.
I had the pleasure of visiting two of our business members this past month — Meati Foods, the manufacturer of a “superfood” meat substitute made from mycelium, and several Chevron-owned sites. Although the two businesses could not be more different, they are similar in their visions for the energy future.
Their corporate visions include using electricity to improve operations and reduce their carbon footprint. This strategy aligns with Our Cooperative Roadmap. We have made significant progress in reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions — down 26% since May 1 — and further reductions are planned.
The value of reliable and resilient electric power is core to the business success of both Meati Foods and Chevron. The Rockies Business Unit of Chevron has pioneered the electrification of oil and gas sites, which eliminates the use of diesel generators. The benefits of this solution are a cost-effective alternative to operating and maintaining large generators and a smaller, cleaner, and quieter footprint. One site supervisor told me, “We love [electrification] because it is quiet, does not smell, and we can count on it to work.” Reliable power is also critical for Meati Food’s process, which turns a small handful of mycelium into the meat equivalent of 350 head of cattle in just over three days. Even brief power interruptions create challenges.
In both cases, there is a desire to develop on-site generation and storage that aligns perfectly with United Power’s vision of hyper-localized power, keeping power supply close at hand in a world where transmission congestion is increasing and costs are rising. Keeping generation and storage in our communities has the added benefit of bringing additional tax revenue and jobs. It also bolsters reliability and grid resilience.
As part of our energy transition and the expansion of our power supply portfolio, we broke ground on a unique 162 MW natural gas project in September that exemplifies our hyper-localization strategy. The Mountain Peak Power plant, developed in partnership with Kindle Energy, sits adjacent to one of our rural substations. The site borders a natural gas line and hosts one of our 11 MW battery energy storage systems. Since it all resides on the distribution system, it negates the need for costly transmission. It will help ensure reliability and resource adequacy at times when renewable generation is underproducing. Combined with the on-site battery, it provides a closed loop for power to support our system.
United Power will also open the state’s largest and the West’s longest duration battery on the distribution system in December. The 33 MW, six-hour battery will be located in Brighton. Further, New ERA funds will be used to offset the cost of solar generation produced in a disadvantaged community in Alamosa County, owned by the same company that will operate the Brighton battery facility. It marks continued progress in expanding resources close to home and means we have nearly 115 MW of critical storage, allowing us to buy low-cost energy to discharge during our peak.
On a final note, we are moving into the “shoulder” months when electric usage is typically lower. It is also when work gets done on generators, substations, and related equipment. There are times when that means we have to take outages for work to be completed safely — especially by our transmission providers. We understand these outages can be inconvenient and will work diligently to communicate when they may occur. I ask you to make sure the contact information on your account is up-to-date so that you do not miss alerts.
A great thank you to your Board of Directors for their vision and support, and to the amazing women and men of United Power, whom I have the honor to serve. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with your questions, comments and concerns.
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November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 1, 2021
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A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
At the turn of the past century (1900, not 2000) there were as many electric vehicles as gas powered cars. The EVs of the day were more expensive, but quieter, cleaner and easier to start and drive. Now, 120 years later, EVs are becoming increasingly popular, with nearly 4,000 United Power members driving one, and the numbers are growing.
With an electric grid in its infancy and before the creation of rural electric cooperatives, most of America outside of its cities would not be fully electrified for another 25 years. Gasoline became an essential commodity. Although it was dirty, noisy and somewhat flammable, it was also portable and easy to move across great distances in bulk, allowing for rapid expansion.
I had the opportunity to drive many of the early EVs on the market during my time at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 20 years ago – the ill-fated EV1, an all-electric RAV4, a converted S-10 pickup and an experimental Honda. They all shared similar benefits to today’s EVs: rapid acceleration, amazing handling – due to the weight of the batteries – and were eerily quiet. I also clearly recall taking the pickup to my daughter’s school for a show and tell, driving across the San Mateo bridge to my home in Pleasanton, Cali. and nervously watching the battery meter drifting toward zero.
My, how has the world changed. An expanding electric grid has made electricity the commodity, EV battery life is now up to 300 miles or more and we have 49 publicly available “Level 2” chargers and seven DC Fast Chargers (two owned by United Power) in our service territory. The network is rapidly expanding across Colorado and the U.S. Now, with most charging taking place at home, United Power will soon begin offering a leasing program for home chargers to our members.
I have been driving an electric vehicle almost daily for the past seven months and have learned much in that time. The Tesla Model 3 I drive is a pleasure and nothing short of a modern engineering miracle – an iPhone on wheels. But it is different in other ways too, some of which take getting used to versus traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
First and foremost, more planning is involved for long trips. I made a journey to Wyoming for a Tri-State meeting, a distance of about 250 miles. Although the car would have made it on a single charge there were no fast chargers available at my destination. So, my car instructed me to stop at Laramie for a 15-minute charge coming and going. This means not pushing on to the next gas/charging station since that might be miles away. Secondly, since most people charge at home and “filling up” at 120 volts takes a long time, United Power’s upcoming Level 2 leasing program targets the length of time it takes to charge while adding sophistication to the timing of the charge for better bill management.
There are four key questions to ask as you consider an EV for your next ride:
Does it meet my needs? My other vehicle is a 4WD Ford- F-250 with a 7.3-liter gas engine since towing my camper, heading to the woods for hunting or even making it up to my house on the mountain at 9,000 feet in the winter would be a challenge.
Do I like it? As with any automobile purchase, our cars reflect our personal tastes. Early EVs were, well, not exactly “attractive” to most of us. The “geek look” worked for some, but not all.
Can I afford it? The total cost of an EV is much less expensive than an ICE with no tune-ups or oil changes and fewer mechanical things to go wrong. There are roughly 30% fewer parts in an EV. However, some of the initial costs may be higher.
How can I fuel it? For apartment dwellers or renters, charging at home might be a challenge. For homeowners, it might require an additional 240-volt service on your electric panel. The great news is that the availability of public charging is dramatically increasing.
As your electric cooperative we are here to help answer your questions. You can find information online at ChooseEV or by calling 720-685-5644.
Come join the EV revolution!
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October is Co-op Month
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Monday | October 1, 2018
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This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month. More than 1,000 electric cooperatives serve rural communities in America. Rural electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country that the larger, investor-owned companies had no interest in serving due to the increased costs incurred from less densely populated areas.
The demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles and new technology is at an all-time high. As your electric provider, United Power is focused on utilizing the latest technology to bring you safe and reliable power.
While technological improvements allow us to provide energy more efficiently and renewable options become more feasible in our industry, one thing about us remains unchanged. As your cooperative, we operate under a set of principles that guide how we interact and engage with our members and the communities we serve.
At their core, cooperatives care for their communities. From educating and empowering youth through safety demonstrations, scholarship opportunities or leadership training to sponsoring local fairs, festivals and parades, you’ll regularly find United Power actively involved in and around the communities we serve.
So far this year, United Power has attended more than 30 fairs and festivals, provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships to high school seniors and sent five area youth on leadership training trips.
Preparing for the future also means supporting community growth and development. United Power’s employees work as partners in the cities and towns we serve, helping each community reach its vision for the future. Employees are encouraged to have active roles within their communities through involvement in local organizations and charities, sitting on boards and councils and supporting local schools.
Employees sit on the board of school foundations, non-profits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils, leadership councils and more. Their presence helps strengthen not only the communities, but our relationship to them.
While leadership within United Power has a strategic vision for the future, our members may see opportunities they’d like to share with us. As a member, you have a voice in the cooperative. Cooperatives have democratically elected leadership. Members are eligible to run for Board seats and vote in annual elections.
United Power isn’t alone in caring for communities. These are principles found within cooperatives throughout the country and in every industry. More than 350 million members benefit from the cooperative difference. Cooperatives generate jobs, keep profits local and pay taxes to help support community services. Their community involvement ensures everyone has an opportunity to benefit from cooperative principles.
We understand what really prepares us for the future is you, our members. United Power is proud to be a part of America’s cooperative network, and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Tuesday | October 1, 2024
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Members are invited to join in celebrating the contributions cooperatives make in our lives.
Members Invited to Celebrate Cooperative Contributions
Cooperatives are businesses wholly owned by the members they serve and designed to meet a community’s needs. They exist across a multitude of markets and industries, including food and agriculture, finance and banking, consumer retail, insurance, healthcare, and more. Electric distribution cooperatives like United Power were formed more than 85 years ago when farmers and business owners in rural areas of the country observed a need and found a way to meet it. Together, more than 900 electric cooperatives provide power to approximately 75% of the country’s landmass and make up more than 40% of the nation’s electric grid.
This October, members are invited to join in recognizing National Co-op Month, a celebration of the contributions cooperatives make in our lives. What sets co-ops apart from their for-profit and investor-owned counterparts is the emphasis on serving members and empowering communities. United Power is deeply invested in providing resources to help each community on its lines establish their own unique visions for the future.
As the communities United Power serves have grown, so too has the cooperative and its commitment to supporting those communities. The co-op has an active and visible presence in the cities and towns it serves. Employees live, work, play, and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chamber boards, at nonprofit fundraisers, and at fairs and festivals across the fast-growing communities in United Power’s 900–square–mile service territory. United Power puts money back into the community every year in the form of sponsorships, scholarships, and youth leadership development.
The cooperative announced an increase of nearly $10,000 in scholarship awards in the spring and introduced two new lineworker scholarships of $7,500 each. In the summer, six local high school students were selected to represent the cooperative on youth leadership trips to Washington, D.C. and Steamboat Springs. In August, the cooperative was the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair, one of the largest county fairs in the country, in addition to supporting community celebrations in Fort Lupton, Frederick, Mead, Keenesburg, Gilpin County, and many more.
While United Power exists to provide safe and reliable power, the cooperative is more than just your local energy provider. The co-op is Here for Good, supporting the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Friday | September 16, 2022
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Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
Commitment to Community Continues to Guide Cooperative Through Industry Changes
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and their members. Cooperatives provide many of the same products and services you can get from for-profit businesses, but for uniquely different reasons. They were established as an extension of the local community to spur growth and development while also providing critical services necessary for a thriving city. It was the foundational commitment to community that fueled our founders to establish United Power and deliver the life-changing benefits of power to small rural areas northeast of Denver when larger investor-owned utilities would not. It guided our strategy in our infancy and continues to guide us as the electric industry enters an unprecedented period of change.
This was never more evident than when we debuted Our Cooperative Roadmap (Roadmap)earlier this year. The Roadmap is a detailed action plan to respond to industry changes and modifications in energy usage as electrification becomes an even more essential societal fixture. It identifies four distinct but dependent priority areas the cooperative is addressing to maximize member benefit as technology evolves and the energy fuel mix shifts to more renewable resources. This includes the decision to exit our wholesale power supply contract, which becomes effective in May 2024, and will allow United Power to offer members more competitive rate options. More information on the Roadmap here.
United Power has launched new program initiatives this year to acknowledge the changing energy needs of both the cooperative and our members. The redesigned summer cooling program, Smart Rewards, allows members to earn money back for enrolling in a demand response and control plan that helps us control costs which are then passed back on to the member. The cooperative also launched an all-new electric vehicle pilot program, United EV, which provides at-home charging solutions and wiring rebates for a small monthly fee. This includes the installation of a level 2 charger and all unit maintenance for the duration of your enrollment. For more information on United EV, click here.
Although the cooperative continues to roll out new member programs, it hasn’t strayed from its roots as a proud supporter of local communities. United Power distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors this year and sent two qualifying students for a weeklong leadership training experience in Washington D.C., known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. We were also the presenting sponsor of the Adams County Fair in August and have sponsored well over two dozen other community fairs, festivals, parades, and other local events. We are committed to providing educational opportunities, like our safety trailer demonstration, and have many employees serving on local boards and councils.
Cooperatives exist for you, our members, and to empower each city and town’s unique vision for their community. It is the cooperative way.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Monday | October 4, 2021
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United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops.
United Power is an Essential Partner in Local Communities
Cooperatives are more than a local business. Not only do they provide the same products and services as their for-profit counterparts, they also go beyond the business, placing great emphasis on community involvement and the flourishing of its members. Without the members we serve, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives have for their communities and members. There are more than 64,000 cooperatives stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives, and more than 800 of them are local electric co-ops. Electric co-ops provide power to nearly 60% of the country’s landmass, maintain more than 40% of its distribution grid — approximately 3 million miles of line — and serve more than 40 million members across 2,500 counties in 47 states.
Birthed out of the hard work of our members more than 80 years ago, electric cooperatives were established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned utilities had no interest in serving. When co-ops were formed to deliver power to these rural communities, they also made a commitment to serve and strengthen the communities within their service territory through investment in the economy, supporting local nonprofits and developing future leaders.
United Power works closely with its communities to support them directly and indirectly. It maintains close relationships with locally owned and operated businesses. Employees serve on the boards of local nonprofits, chambers of commerce, economic development councils and more.
The cooperative’s commitment to its communities and members was on full display over the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. From temporary suspension of disconnects to contributing $550,000 to the Co-op Cares Fund to provide direct support to members affected throughout the pandemic, United Power put its words into demonstrable action. It established the Member Choice Grants program to help the cooperative direct support to areas members care about and Operation Round-Up, a voluntary member-funded organization supported by the cooperative, went above and beyond to provide additional assistance to area nonprofits where it was needed.
United Power also continued to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to area seniors pursuing a post-secondary education and sponsored dozens of virtual community events while in-person events were not possible. When community events did return this summer, the cooperative played a vital role in making them happen, including fairs, festivals and local movie nights and celebrations.
While some electric cooperatives remain small and rural, others have outgrown their rural roots. As communities have grown from rural farming communities to suburban commuter communities or even urban centers, so has United Power’s commitment to those communities. No matter where you live or how you use electricity, you can count on United Power to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy and to make serving you its priority.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Tuesday | October 1, 2019
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There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States. Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities.
United Power is More Than Your Electric Provider. We’re Part of Your Community.
What sets cooperatives apart from our for-profit counterparts is our emphasis on the communities and members we serve. When United Power celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year, the story was not about us, but each of you and the strength of the communities that make up who we are. Without you, there would be no United Power. We’re invested in making each and every one of our communities the best version of itself and empowering our members to be a part of that vision.
This October, United Power invites our members to join with us in honoring National Co-op Month, a celebration of the commitment cooperatives play in their communities. There are more than 64,000 co-ops in the United States stretching across almost every industry that touches our daily lives.
Nearly 1,000 cooperatives are electric utilities established to deliver power to parts of the country larger investor-owned companies had no interest in serving. Electric cooperatives were birthed out of the hard work of our members who recognized a need and set out to find a way to meet it. We were formed by our community, for our community.
As our communities have grown, so have we. So too has our commitment to you. United Power is an active presence in the cities and towns we serve. Our employees live, work, play and serve here. Their faces are recognizable on local chambers of commerce boards, at nonprofits fundraisers, youth sporting events and fairs and festivals across the nearly 900 square miles we serve.
Your cooperative puts money back into the community in the form of sponsorships, scholarships and youth leadership development. In August, United Power partnered with the Touchstone Energy balloon program to highlight two local nonprofits, Foster Source and Food For Hope, and present them with check donations to continue their incredible work in our community.
Operation Round-Up, a foundation that wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our members, provides thousands of dollars to service organizations each year. Over its 20-year history, the foundation has distributed more than $1.5 million to organizations that provide for the necessities and urgent needs of residents in our territory. Operation Round-Up is truly an example of member-driven commitment to giving back.
In May, the board of directors approved a $5.5 million capital credit refund. Those refunds don’t just go back to individual families within our territory. They are also distributed to schools districts and local governments.
This year, United Power has also re-emphasized its commitment to its members with the addition of Meghan Dewey as its Member Engagement Officer. In this newly created position, Dewey is responsible for developing and implementing United Power’s member engagement strategy. Read more about Meghan here.
Ultimately, though, the larger community benefits from these programs because of our members, who empower us through your membership, participation and support.
Members can play an even larger role in setting the direction of the cooperative. Our democratically elected board of directors are members, just like you. Each year, members vote for board members in our director election at our Annual Meeting in April, and any member may be eligible to run for a seat. Our board and leadership team also hold occasional listening sessions to hear the concerns of our membership to make sure our policies reflects your needs.
While United Power exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we hope you think of us as more than your energy provider, but as a local business that supports the economic development and prosperity of its communities and members – by the community, for the community.
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October is National Co-op Month
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Thursday | October 5, 2017
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United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities.
“Our cooperative delivers electricity to over 200,000 people in our six-county service area along the north central range of the Colorado Rockies,” said John Parker, CEO. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated. Revenue generated by United Power goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. In addition to providing the vital power co-op members depend on, United Power supports our communities directly and indirectly. We provide educational opportunities for youth in our territory, visiting classrooms teaching students about electrical safety or talking to them about job opportunities.
We also educate our communities and members about the dangers of contact with electricity through our safety demonstration trailer. Not only does our presentation team, made up of knowledgeable linemen, teach people how to be safe around electricity, but they also inform people about the complex and dangerous tasks our linemen face each day and explain the importance of safety equipment, including personal protective equipment, rubber gloves, hard hats and cover ups.
United Power provides college scholarships and sponsors student representatives to youth camps in Colorado and Washington D.C. We are sponsors of dozens of community events including fairs, festivals and school fundraisers. United Power employees are active members of local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils and nonprofit organizations serving our membership.
United Power is proud to be part of America’s cooperative network and we are dedicated to bringing safe, reliable electricity to our members.
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Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
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Friday | January 10, 2020
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Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Nothing has the charm of an older home on a family farm or a cute cottage in a historic district. But cosmetic and structural upgrade needs are often packaged with the cozy charm. Upgrades to your home may include a fresh coat of paint or installing new fixtures, but have you considered the unseen needs, such as wiring behind a switch plate or outlet? Do you know the hidden dangers of aged wiring? Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Type of Wiring
Modern wire used in homes is either copper (for conductivity) or aluminum (for cost effectiveness) and covered in a plastic or rubber insulation. Older homes, usually built before the 1940s, may use an outdated wiring method known as “knob-and-tube,” a two-wire system with no ground. Over time, corrosion can cause insulation to wear away, exposing wires to combustible materials and leading to loose connections, increasing fire risk in a home. This can be a concern in older homes regardless of wiring method. If your home has aluminum wiring, use only aluminum approved switches, outlets and other accessories.
Plugs Falling Out of Outlets Easily
Over time, the contacts in a plug can begin to fail. When contacts loosen, they aren’t able to securely grip your plug. That missed connection can cause electrical arcing, a major risk for house fires. The good news is it’s an easy fix. Consult an electrician for directions.
Not Enough Outlets
The increasing use of chargers for electronic devices, including phones, tablets and gaming devices, means outlets are in high demand. A lack of outlets can result in the overuse of power strips, which could overload an outlet. Overloading can cause heat, leading to fire risk.
Danger in Wet Areas
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are now required in areas around water, like near a kitchen or bathroom sink or outdoors. However, older homes may not have been upgraded to these types of outlets. It is fairly simple to replace old receptacles with GFCIs.
If your home needs upgrades and repairs to its wiring, consider hiring a licensed electrician. An electric professional can safely make wiring updates needed in your home or tell you what inspections and permits are needed to make necessary repairs.
