No Rate Changes for Members in 2022
Monday | December 13, 2021
United Power has announced that there will not be a rate increase for members in 2022, marking the second consecutive year rates have not been increased.
Read more >
No Rate Increase for Members in 2021
Tuesday | December 8, 2020
The decision from the cooperative’s Board of Directors was made in November upon approval of the 2021 budget and rate structure.
Read more >
Title
Notice of Board Nominations
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Friday | February 14, 2020
Card Teaser
The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc.
UNITED POWER, INC.
OFFICIAL POSTING OF NOMINATIONS
FOR DIRECTOR BY PETITION
The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc., in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled April 15, 2020. Districts E (East), Districts M (Mountain), S (South) and W (West) are up for three-year terms.
District E (East)
James Vigesaa
District M (Mountains)
Tamra K. Waltemath
District S (South)
Greg Campbell
Stan Martin
Phil Noble
David E. Rose
District W (West)
Ginny Buczek
James P. Menghi
This notice is posted pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of United Power, Inc.
Posted: 2-14-2020
Cooperative Website
Brighton Headquarters
Carbon Valley Service Center
Coal Creek Office
Ft. Lupton Office
Learn more about the 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election here:
Annual Meeting
Title
Notice of Change in Rules and Regulations Tariffs
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Tuesday | July 12, 2022
Card Teaser
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations.
NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS TARIFFS OF UNITED POWER, INC.
Date of Notice: July 12, 2022
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations. These updates are to become effective on or after August 12, 2022. Staff has reviewed the current Rules and Regulations tariffs. Business units across the organization were involved in the review. The following main areas have been identified as needing revisions or updating: (1) Updating “Customer” to “Member” to recognize our end-users properly; (2) Updating “United” to “United Power” for consistency throughout the entire document; (3) Formatting and grammatical updates for ease of use, consistency, and clarity; and (4) Updates for Current Business Practices to reflect technological changes, system changes, and efficiencies.
The present and proposed Rules and Regulations tariffs are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Brighton headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado; and the Carbon Valley Service Center located at 9586 E. I-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United Power 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 Power, in regard to the proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations tariffs 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 Power’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United Power.
United Power 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 Rules and Regulations tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United Power, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC.
By: Mark A. Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer
Title
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | October 8, 2018
Card Teaser
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
Title
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | November 20, 2017
Card Teaser
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
Title
November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 4, 2024
Card Teaser
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.
Title
November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 1, 2021
Card Teaser
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
Card Teaser
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.
No Rate Changes for Members in 2022
Monday | December 13, 2021
United Power has announced that there will not be a rate increase for members in 2022, marking the second consecutive year rates have not been increased.
Read more >
No Rate Increase for Members in 2021
Tuesday | December 8, 2020
The decision from the cooperative’s Board of Directors was made in November upon approval of the 2021 budget and rate structure.
Read more >
Title
Notice of Board Nominations
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Friday | February 14, 2020
Card Teaser
The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc.
UNITED POWER, INC.
OFFICIAL POSTING OF NOMINATIONS
FOR DIRECTOR BY PETITION
The following persons have been nominated by petition to run for Director of United Power, Inc., in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of Members scheduled April 15, 2020. Districts E (East), Districts M (Mountain), S (South) and W (West) are up for three-year terms.
District E (East)
James Vigesaa
District M (Mountains)
Tamra K. Waltemath
District S (South)
Greg Campbell
Stan Martin
Phil Noble
David E. Rose
District W (West)
Ginny Buczek
James P. Menghi
This notice is posted pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of United Power, Inc.
Posted: 2-14-2020
Cooperative Website
Brighton Headquarters
Carbon Valley Service Center
Coal Creek Office
Ft. Lupton Office
Learn more about the 2020 Annual Meeting & Director Election here:
Annual Meeting
Title
Notice of Change in Rules and Regulations Tariffs
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Tuesday | July 12, 2022
Card Teaser
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations.
NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS TARIFFS OF UNITED POWER, INC.
Date of Notice: July 12, 2022
You are hereby notified that UNITED POWER, INC. (United Power) proposes to make several modifications to update and reflect current business practices in the Rules and Regulations. These updates are to become effective on or after August 12, 2022. Staff has reviewed the current Rules and Regulations tariffs. Business units across the organization were involved in the review. The following main areas have been identified as needing revisions or updating: (1) Updating “Customer” to “Member” to recognize our end-users properly; (2) Updating “United” to “United Power” for consistency throughout the entire document; (3) Formatting and grammatical updates for ease of use, consistency, and clarity; and (4) Updates for Current Business Practices to reflect technological changes, system changes, and efficiencies.
The present and proposed Rules and Regulations tariffs are available for examination at the Coal Creek Branch Office, located at 5 Gross Dam Road, Golden, Colorado; the Brighton headquarters office located at 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton Colorado; and the Carbon Valley Service Center located at 9586 E. I-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, Colorado.
Anyone who desires to comment about the proposed changes shall file either an informal complaint or a formal complaint with United Power 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 Power, in regard to the proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations tariffs 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 Power’s Regulations Governing Consumer Complaints and Related Matters. Upon request, a copy of said regulations is available from United Power.
United Power 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 Rules and Regulations tariffs proposed or currently in effect. Anyone who desires to receive notice of hearings, if any, shall make a written request therefor to United Power, at the above address at least 10 days before the proposed effective date.
UNITED POWER, INC.
By: Mark A. Gabriel, President and Chief Executive Officer
Title
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | October 8, 2018
Card Teaser
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
Title
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
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Monday | November 20, 2017
Card Teaser
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
Title
November Message from Mark A. Gabriel
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Monday | November 4, 2024
Card Teaser
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.
