Title
May/June Message from Mark A. Gabriel
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP
Monday | May 3, 2021
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Committed to the Traditions & Principles that put Members First
These are exciting times to be in the electric industry. We are witnessing a huge transition in the most critical commodity of our lives. The shift toward low or no carbon generation, the expansion of beneficial electrification and the development of innovative technologies generate engaging conversations with members and are driving some of the greatest changes we have seen in society in the past 75 years.
I joined United Power in March, and as I enter my third month as the cooperative’s President and Chief Executive Officer, I could not be more excited to be here. United Power is one of Colorado’s largest rural electric cooperatives and one of the most innovative cooperatives in the country. It is an honor to be able to serve you, our members, as we plan for the future.
United Power is already at the forefront of programs that will power our territory for decades to come. We have started to see significant growth in electric vehicles among our members. More than 6,000 members have installed rooftop solar systems on their homes. Farms, ranches and commercial members are becoming more connected as technology advances. Soon, electric tractor-trailers will be plying the roads in our communities. All of these emerging technologies require electricity.
As we have seen in the past 14 months, electricity is the critical force in all our lives. It has allowed many of us to transition to working or attending classes from home. It has permitted families to shelter in the safety of their own homes and neighborhoods and businesses to adapt to this new normal.
We must continue to focus on the need for security, quality, resiliency and availability of power for all our members. We must ensure members see the benefits of lower rates and lower carbon options. We must be proactive in removing barriers to things like energy efficiency and never forget the critical needs of our members, especially those whose circumstances may not enable them to take advantage of advances in technology. We must show flexibility in managing a changing electric grid while developing a two-way relationship with our members.
As United Power’s President and CEO, I am committed to upholding the cooperative tradition and its principles in serving members first. As we close in on 100,000 meters this summer, I am excited to help guide the organization through these amazing times and work with United Power employees to support your needs. I welcome feedback from our members as we work together to define the future.
Email Mark A. Gabriel
Member Choice Grants
Friday | March 13, 2020
Member Choice Grants allow our members to nominate a nonprofit organization within the cooperative's service territory to receive grant funds from United Power.
Read more >
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
Members will be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the program.
United Power members will once again be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the 2021 Member Choice Grant program.
Within our service territory, there are many nonprofits that bring value to the communities we serve. Member Choice Grants, originally introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. The grant funds will help them continue to work toward accomplishing their mission and ensures we are supporting causes our members truly care about.
This past year, our members recognized the needs of others who were trying to navigate difficult circumstances and focused their nominations on organizations that met essential needs. These organizations included food and clothing banks, mental health resources and positive recreation.
Recipients of grant awards are determined based on member nominations throughout the year. Nominations are now open, and recipients will be announced in three rounds in the cooperative’s newsletter.
For more information on Member Choice Grants and past recipients or to nominate a nonprofit that serves United Power members to receive grant funds, go to Member Choice.
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyFall2022_MemberChoice.jpg?itok=a3kXaAbk
Wednesday | September 7, 2022
Card Teaser
Nominate a local nonprofit to receive grant dollars from United Power by November 18.
Electric cooperatives are unique from for-profit electric utilities, which are governed by investor decisions that boost revenue and profits. Instead, co-ops are defined by a set of core principles, chief among them a commitment to the communities they serve. United Power is an active supporter and participant in community events and programs, but depends on knowledge from members like you to ensure it is supporting causes you care about.
The co-op launched Member Choice grants to provide a way for members to put their community knowledge into action – by nominating area nonprofits for United Power grant dollars. Nominating a local nonprofit for Member Choice grants allows you to have a voice in what organizations the cooperative is supporting.
United Power has distributed more than $10,000 to nonprofits within its service territory through Member Choice grants since its launch in 2020. The first grants were awarded to local food banks early in the pandemic. Members recognized the need for additional resources at food banks as many families lost their source of income. Members also nominated nonprofits that provided for mental health needs and outdoor recreation. The cooperative renewed Member Choice grants for three rounds in 2021. Recipients provided a variety of needs, including animal rescue and adoption, youth job force training and empowerment, and ending the cycle of homelessness.
Member Choice grants have been renewed again for 2022. Your nominations will help six worthy organizations receive a total of $12,000 in grant dollars to continue providing services to the communities they reach. To receive a Member Choice grant, nominated organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit operating within the cooperative’s service territory and serving United Power members. Ineligible nonprofits include organizations that further religious doctrine or support the interests of political parties.
United Power began accepting new Member Choice grant nominations in August. Nominations must be received by November 18 to ensure consideration for the next round of grants. Recipients will be notified at the end of November and posted in the cooperative’s December newsletter and on its website.
For the nomination form, qualification requirements, and previous winners, please go to our Member Choice Grants page.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for First Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | March 8, 2021
Card Teaser
Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
United Power is proud to announce the recipients of its first round of Member Choice Grants for 2021. Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
Member Choice Grants, which were introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. Members may nominate a local nonprofit, within the cooperative’s service territory, to receive grant funds, ensuring we are able to support causes our members truly care about. To nominate a nonprofit for the second round of grants, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society
Established in 1921, Historic Highlandlake has grown over the years into a full-fledged historical society. The society is heavily invested in preserving the history of Highlandlake and the Town of Mead through educational outreach and hands-on community events that revive early pioneer living. Housed in the original Congregational Church, the society’s grounds also display other authentic buildings that have been preserved from the town’s early days.
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine is a small nonprofit on a mission to empower individuals and families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The nonprofit’s typical outreach was halted due to the pandemic in 2020, and it shifted to addressing community needs and the increased number of people facing food insecurity. In 2020, Let Your Light Shine distributed approximately 80,000 pounds of food to its clients, and has distributed nearly 30,000 pounds already this year.
Title
Members Invited to Attend the 2024 Annual Meeting
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/AM2023_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=0279N6WU
Tuesday | March 12, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power celebrates 85 years of service at this year’s Annual Meeting.
United Power Celebrates 85 Years of Service at This Year’s Annual Meeting
United Power has been proudly serving members along the Colorado Front Range for 85 years — setting the standard for innovative excellence in system performance, technological adoption and deployment, member engagement, and commitment to community growth and development. The cooperative has accomplished a lot in the past year as it prepares for the upcoming exit from its wholesale power contract in May, including record reliability and groundbreaking energy partnerships, a renewed dedication to supporting key accounts while maintaining the same level of local involvement, and expanding member programs and self-serve options. Members are invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting on April 17 and join the cooperative in celebrating the many ways it is “Here for Good.”
Voting in the annual Director Election also provides United Power members the unique opportunity to have a voice in the cooperative’s future. Each year, your votes determine who will serve on the Board of Directors. Member participation in the election is crucial to helping the cooperative better serve you.
Five candidates are running for election to the Board of Directors this year. One seat in the Mountain, North, Central, and South Districts is up for election. The director candidates are Stephen Whiteside (incumbent) in the Mountain District; Brian A. McCormick (incumbent) in the North District; Tim Erickson (incumbent) and Paige Wagner-Maul in the Central District; and Brad Case (incumbent) in the South District. Consider attending the Meet the Candidates event on March 19 to learn more about director candidates or read their candidate statements here.
A bylaw amendment is included on this year’s ballot regarding director term lengths. Members are being asked if director terms should be changed from three years to four years.
Balloting opens on March 15. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the election. Members may vote electronically through their online account or via mail ballots, sent to all members. Online and mail-in ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 16, or members can vote in person on April 17 at the meeting. Ballot drop boxes will not be available in cooperative offices this year, however a ballot drop box will be available on-site at the Annual Meeting from noon to 4 p.m. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure accessibility for members and to provide a representative cross-section of United Power’s member base in the co-op’s governing body.
Attend the Annual Meeting
The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held at Riverdale Regional Park on April 17. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Members may also view a livestream of the meeting posted here.
Title
Mitigating Wildfire Risk Proactive Strategies to Protect Members & Communities
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct2020_NL_FireMitigation.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vJP6gkTg
Monday | October 13, 2025
Card Teaser
October is recognized as Fire Prevention Month, but for the cooperative, every day is an ongoing effort to improve fire mitigation strategies that protect members and communities.
Proactive Strategies to Protect Members & Communities
A small neighborhood on the northeast side of the Gross Dam Reservoir in Coal Creek Canyon was evacuated late last summer after a fire erupted at a work site in the community. The Lake Shore Fire damaged at least two structures and burned nearly seven acres before it was contained. Although United Power members were minimally impacted due to the rapid response of local emergency management teams, the close call demonstrates the reality of wildfire risks in Colorado.
October is nationally recognized as Fire Prevention Month, but for the cooperative, every day is an ongoing effort to improve fire mitigation strategies that protect members and communities. United Power debuted its first official Wildfire Mitigation Plan in 2019 to highlight existing programs and guide future initiatives. It directs the cooperative to implement industry-leading strategies and utilize innovative technologies that identify and address risk factors. Like Our Cooperative Roadmap, the plan evolves each year through review and revision, accounting for emerging technology and new data about the service territory.
“A wildfire mitigation plan is essential for any electric utility and is top of mind at United Power,” said Adam Dillon, Vice President of Operations. “Not only does it prepare us for a wildfire event and help protect our communities, it also helps improve our system reliability and keeps us engaged with the communities we serve.”
The single largest element of the plan is its robust and aggressive approach to vegetation management, which includes clearing rights-of-way and increasing accessibility to electrical equipment for maintenance and outage restoration. Clearing overgrowth is critical and removes hazards that could create an ignition or fuel source. The cooperative onboarded a new solution for efficiently scheduling and tracking vegetation management projects called AiDash in 2021. The sophisticated software leverages artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to establish growth patterns and identify risks in real time. The implementation was so successful that AiDash recognized United Power for its impact on wildfire risk reduction.
One of the cooperative’s challenges in wildfire mitigation is serving a rugged mountain territory with difficult terrain for crews to inspect efficiently. United Power recently enhanced its drone inspection program with light detection and ranging imaging — more commonly known as LiDAR — to map high risk areas and conduct line inspections. This imaging helps quickly identify issues so that repairs can be made sooner. The first flights took place late last year with additional focus earlier this summer.
The implementation of AiDash and LiDAR continues the cooperative’s historical trend of reviewing and deploying new technology in innovative ways that improve system resiliency and mitigate wildfire risk. The cooperative has long been an industry leader for its deployment of automated smart devices, which allows the cooperative to quickly restore power during an outage or cut the flow of power during high-risk fire weather. United Power also uses infrared cameras to detect heat signatures at its substations and sensors strategically located in high-risk areas that can detect smoke and gas particulates.
“We are always looking at ways to improve our mitigation plan,” said Travis Rodlin, Mountain Area Manager. “Technology is ever changing. Our use of artificial intelligence may increase as it evolves to improve speed and efficiency of our evaluations and efforts. Hybrid undergrounding is also being researched within the industry, which could benefit areas where undergrounding was not previously cost effective or possible.”
United Power has developed operational procedures, called Wildfire Safety Mode, that are enacted when the National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings. These warnings mean the combination of weather conditions — high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds — increase the risk of fire danger. While in wildfire safety mode, the system will automatically de-energize line segments when foreign objects are detected, and they will remain off until crews have completed a manual inspection. Another inspection is completed after power is restored. This may temporarily increase outage restoration times but substantially increases safety and reduces fire risk.
“Ultimately, wildfire mitigation cannot be the sole responsibility of any single utility,” Rodlin said. “It requires a community-wide commitment. Proactive measures like home hardening, creating defensible space, and property-wide mitigation are essential to help our communities be better prepared. That is why we actively collaborate at the county and state levels and will continue to support local efforts to build a more resilient community together.”
Members can learn more about the cooperative’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan here.
Mutton Busting: Toughest Sport on Wool
Monday | July 2, 2018
For years, the Adams County Fair has provided an opportunity to channel that spirit into a popular rugrat rodeo activity – Mutton Bustin’. Mutton Bustin’ will return with the fair in August, but will introduce an exciting new change from previous event formats.
Read more >
Title
Myths of Energy Efficiency
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Monday | February 14, 2022
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills. To help you make more informed decisions, we tackle some common energy efficiency myths in this column.
Reducing Energy Use is Too Expensive
A common and enduring myth about energy efficiency is cost. The stigma associated with it assumes it’s too expensive and not worth it. While costly energy efficiency upgrades are possible, many immediate steps you can take are simple behavioral and habitual changes. These include turning off lights in unused rooms, unplugging or shutting down unused electronics, closing doors to empty rooms while heating/cooling systems are running, limiting use of vents in the kitchen or bathroom and remembering to close your curtains in the summer – and conversely open them in the winter – to keep sunlight from affecting the temperature inside your home.
Setting Thermostat Higher Heats Home Faster
No matter what temperature you set your thermostat, your furnace will work equally as hard and fast to meet that goal. The only difference achieved by setting the temperature to a higher degree is that the system will work for a longer period of time, therefore using more energy. The same applies to air conditioners when set to a lower temperature than necessary. Although blasting your heater or air conditioning does not heat or cool your home more quickly, adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees, depending on the season, can help you save energy.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Energy
Shutting vents in empty or unused rooms may seem logical to save energy. Heating or cooling an empty space does appear to waste energy. However, your system cannot detect closed vents and will continue trying to push air to them. When the air cannot escape, it reverses and can cause damage to your system. Instead of closing vents, practice closing doors to rooms that are not in use. When doors are open, it allows the hot or cold air from inside the room to escape and the air from outside the room to enter, which can force your system to work harder to maintain thermostat settings. Closed doors prevent air from entering or exiting so the system can properly heat or cool the room and maintain it more easily.
Using energy more efficiently isn’t as difficult as you may believe. Small behavioral changes make a big difference. To review more ways to save, check out our website at www.unitedpower.com/energy-tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
How to Monitor Your Energy Usage
United Power members looking for ways to use energy more efficiently this year and save on their energy bills can utilize free resources available exclusively to the cooperative’s members.
View Usage With Power Portal
Power Portal was launched as an ancillary feature of the cooperative’s online account tool for members to view advanced data on their energy use over the course of days, weeks, months and more. The software breaks your energy usage down into 15-minute segments to provide you with a detailed picture of what activities or habits are controlling your energy usage. Members can even use the tool to evaluate on- and off-peak energy usage.
Armed with the ability to diagnose behaviors that lead to excess energy usage, members can begin taking real steps toward using energy more efficiently. Members can even use this tool to gauge the effectiveness of energy efficient updates to their home.
For more information, go to the Power Portal page.
Demand Calculator
Adding or upgrading an appliance in your home? United Power recently debuted its new demand calculator, which allows members to toggle different appliances on and off to see what demand they could require in your home. To use the calculator or learn more about the demand rate, go to the Understanding Demand page.
Title
May/June Message from Mark A. Gabriel
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP
Monday | May 3, 2021
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
Committed to the Traditions & Principles that put Members First
These are exciting times to be in the electric industry. We are witnessing a huge transition in the most critical commodity of our lives. The shift toward low or no carbon generation, the expansion of beneficial electrification and the development of innovative technologies generate engaging conversations with members and are driving some of the greatest changes we have seen in society in the past 75 years.
I joined United Power in March, and as I enter my third month as the cooperative’s President and Chief Executive Officer, I could not be more excited to be here. United Power is one of Colorado’s largest rural electric cooperatives and one of the most innovative cooperatives in the country. It is an honor to be able to serve you, our members, as we plan for the future.
United Power is already at the forefront of programs that will power our territory for decades to come. We have started to see significant growth in electric vehicles among our members. More than 6,000 members have installed rooftop solar systems on their homes. Farms, ranches and commercial members are becoming more connected as technology advances. Soon, electric tractor-trailers will be plying the roads in our communities. All of these emerging technologies require electricity.
As we have seen in the past 14 months, electricity is the critical force in all our lives. It has allowed many of us to transition to working or attending classes from home. It has permitted families to shelter in the safety of their own homes and neighborhoods and businesses to adapt to this new normal.
We must continue to focus on the need for security, quality, resiliency and availability of power for all our members. We must ensure members see the benefits of lower rates and lower carbon options. We must be proactive in removing barriers to things like energy efficiency and never forget the critical needs of our members, especially those whose circumstances may not enable them to take advantage of advances in technology. We must show flexibility in managing a changing electric grid while developing a two-way relationship with our members.
As United Power’s President and CEO, I am committed to upholding the cooperative tradition and its principles in serving members first. As we close in on 100,000 meters this summer, I am excited to help guide the organization through these amazing times and work with United Power employees to support your needs. I welcome feedback from our members as we work together to define the future.
Email Mark A. Gabriel
Member Choice Grants
Friday | March 13, 2020
Member Choice Grants allow our members to nominate a nonprofit organization within the cooperative's service territory to receive grant funds from United Power.
Read more >
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
Members will be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the program.
United Power members will once again be able to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive grant funds from the cooperative through the 2021 Member Choice Grant program.
Within our service territory, there are many nonprofits that bring value to the communities we serve. Member Choice Grants, originally introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. The grant funds will help them continue to work toward accomplishing their mission and ensures we are supporting causes our members truly care about.
This past year, our members recognized the needs of others who were trying to navigate difficult circumstances and focused their nominations on organizations that met essential needs. These organizations included food and clothing banks, mental health resources and positive recreation.
Recipients of grant awards are determined based on member nominations throughout the year. Nominations are now open, and recipients will be announced in three rounds in the cooperative’s newsletter.
For more information on Member Choice Grants and past recipients or to nominate a nonprofit that serves United Power members to receive grant funds, go to Member Choice.
Title
Member Choice Grants Renewed for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyFall2022_MemberChoice.jpg?itok=a3kXaAbk
Wednesday | September 7, 2022
Card Teaser
Nominate a local nonprofit to receive grant dollars from United Power by November 18.
Electric cooperatives are unique from for-profit electric utilities, which are governed by investor decisions that boost revenue and profits. Instead, co-ops are defined by a set of core principles, chief among them a commitment to the communities they serve. United Power is an active supporter and participant in community events and programs, but depends on knowledge from members like you to ensure it is supporting causes you care about.
The co-op launched Member Choice grants to provide a way for members to put their community knowledge into action – by nominating area nonprofits for United Power grant dollars. Nominating a local nonprofit for Member Choice grants allows you to have a voice in what organizations the cooperative is supporting.
United Power has distributed more than $10,000 to nonprofits within its service territory through Member Choice grants since its launch in 2020. The first grants were awarded to local food banks early in the pandemic. Members recognized the need for additional resources at food banks as many families lost their source of income. Members also nominated nonprofits that provided for mental health needs and outdoor recreation. The cooperative renewed Member Choice grants for three rounds in 2021. Recipients provided a variety of needs, including animal rescue and adoption, youth job force training and empowerment, and ending the cycle of homelessness.
Member Choice grants have been renewed again for 2022. Your nominations will help six worthy organizations receive a total of $12,000 in grant dollars to continue providing services to the communities they reach. To receive a Member Choice grant, nominated organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit operating within the cooperative’s service territory and serving United Power members. Ineligible nonprofits include organizations that further religious doctrine or support the interests of political parties.
United Power began accepting new Member Choice grant nominations in August. Nominations must be received by November 18 to ensure consideration for the next round of grants. Recipients will be notified at the end of November and posted in the cooperative’s December newsletter and on its website.
For the nomination form, qualification requirements, and previous winners, please go to our Member Choice Grants page.
Title
Member Choice Recipient Announced for First Round of 2021
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/MemberChoice.jpg?itok=xQRicKHr
Monday | March 8, 2021
Card Teaser
Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
United Power is proud to announce the recipients of its first round of Member Choice Grants for 2021. Let Your Light Shine, located in Brighton, and the Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society have been selected based on nominations submitted by members throughout the first part of the year.
Member Choice Grants, which were introduced in 2020, give our members a voice in what nonprofit organizations they’d like to see us support. Members may nominate a local nonprofit, within the cooperative’s service territory, to receive grant funds, ensuring we are able to support causes our members truly care about. To nominate a nonprofit for the second round of grants, go to www.unitedpower.com/memberchoice.
Highlandlake & Mead, Historical Society
Established in 1921, Historic Highlandlake has grown over the years into a full-fledged historical society. The society is heavily invested in preserving the history of Highlandlake and the Town of Mead through educational outreach and hands-on community events that revive early pioneer living. Housed in the original Congregational Church, the society’s grounds also display other authentic buildings that have been preserved from the town’s early days.
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine is a small nonprofit on a mission to empower individuals and families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The nonprofit’s typical outreach was halted due to the pandemic in 2020, and it shifted to addressing community needs and the increased number of people facing food insecurity. In 2020, Let Your Light Shine distributed approximately 80,000 pounds of food to its clients, and has distributed nearly 30,000 pounds already this year.
Title
Members Invited to Attend the 2024 Annual Meeting
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/AM2023_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=0279N6WU
Tuesday | March 12, 2024
Card Teaser
United Power celebrates 85 years of service at this year’s Annual Meeting.
United Power Celebrates 85 Years of Service at This Year’s Annual Meeting
United Power has been proudly serving members along the Colorado Front Range for 85 years — setting the standard for innovative excellence in system performance, technological adoption and deployment, member engagement, and commitment to community growth and development. The cooperative has accomplished a lot in the past year as it prepares for the upcoming exit from its wholesale power contract in May, including record reliability and groundbreaking energy partnerships, a renewed dedication to supporting key accounts while maintaining the same level of local involvement, and expanding member programs and self-serve options. Members are invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting on April 17 and join the cooperative in celebrating the many ways it is “Here for Good.”
Voting in the annual Director Election also provides United Power members the unique opportunity to have a voice in the cooperative’s future. Each year, your votes determine who will serve on the Board of Directors. Member participation in the election is crucial to helping the cooperative better serve you.
Five candidates are running for election to the Board of Directors this year. One seat in the Mountain, North, Central, and South Districts is up for election. The director candidates are Stephen Whiteside (incumbent) in the Mountain District; Brian A. McCormick (incumbent) in the North District; Tim Erickson (incumbent) and Paige Wagner-Maul in the Central District; and Brad Case (incumbent) in the South District. Consider attending the Meet the Candidates event on March 19 to learn more about director candidates or read their candidate statements here.
A bylaw amendment is included on this year’s ballot regarding director term lengths. Members are being asked if director terms should be changed from three years to four years.
Balloting opens on March 15. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the election. Members may vote electronically through their online account or via mail ballots, sent to all members. Online and mail-in ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 16, or members can vote in person on April 17 at the meeting. Ballot drop boxes will not be available in cooperative offices this year, however a ballot drop box will be available on-site at the Annual Meeting from noon to 4 p.m. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure accessibility for members and to provide a representative cross-section of United Power’s member base in the co-op’s governing body.
Attend the Annual Meeting
The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held at Riverdale Regional Park on April 17. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Members may also view a livestream of the meeting posted here.
Title
Mitigating Wildfire Risk Proactive Strategies to Protect Members & Communities
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct2020_NL_FireMitigation.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vJP6gkTg
Monday | October 13, 2025
Card Teaser
October is recognized as Fire Prevention Month, but for the cooperative, every day is an ongoing effort to improve fire mitigation strategies that protect members and communities.
Proactive Strategies to Protect Members & Communities
A small neighborhood on the northeast side of the Gross Dam Reservoir in Coal Creek Canyon was evacuated late last summer after a fire erupted at a work site in the community. The Lake Shore Fire damaged at least two structures and burned nearly seven acres before it was contained. Although United Power members were minimally impacted due to the rapid response of local emergency management teams, the close call demonstrates the reality of wildfire risks in Colorado.
October is nationally recognized as Fire Prevention Month, but for the cooperative, every day is an ongoing effort to improve fire mitigation strategies that protect members and communities. United Power debuted its first official Wildfire Mitigation Plan in 2019 to highlight existing programs and guide future initiatives. It directs the cooperative to implement industry-leading strategies and utilize innovative technologies that identify and address risk factors. Like Our Cooperative Roadmap, the plan evolves each year through review and revision, accounting for emerging technology and new data about the service territory.
“A wildfire mitigation plan is essential for any electric utility and is top of mind at United Power,” said Adam Dillon, Vice President of Operations. “Not only does it prepare us for a wildfire event and help protect our communities, it also helps improve our system reliability and keeps us engaged with the communities we serve.”
The single largest element of the plan is its robust and aggressive approach to vegetation management, which includes clearing rights-of-way and increasing accessibility to electrical equipment for maintenance and outage restoration. Clearing overgrowth is critical and removes hazards that could create an ignition or fuel source. The cooperative onboarded a new solution for efficiently scheduling and tracking vegetation management projects called AiDash in 2021. The sophisticated software leverages artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to establish growth patterns and identify risks in real time. The implementation was so successful that AiDash recognized United Power for its impact on wildfire risk reduction.
One of the cooperative’s challenges in wildfire mitigation is serving a rugged mountain territory with difficult terrain for crews to inspect efficiently. United Power recently enhanced its drone inspection program with light detection and ranging imaging — more commonly known as LiDAR — to map high risk areas and conduct line inspections. This imaging helps quickly identify issues so that repairs can be made sooner. The first flights took place late last year with additional focus earlier this summer.
The implementation of AiDash and LiDAR continues the cooperative’s historical trend of reviewing and deploying new technology in innovative ways that improve system resiliency and mitigate wildfire risk. The cooperative has long been an industry leader for its deployment of automated smart devices, which allows the cooperative to quickly restore power during an outage or cut the flow of power during high-risk fire weather. United Power also uses infrared cameras to detect heat signatures at its substations and sensors strategically located in high-risk areas that can detect smoke and gas particulates.
“We are always looking at ways to improve our mitigation plan,” said Travis Rodlin, Mountain Area Manager. “Technology is ever changing. Our use of artificial intelligence may increase as it evolves to improve speed and efficiency of our evaluations and efforts. Hybrid undergrounding is also being researched within the industry, which could benefit areas where undergrounding was not previously cost effective or possible.”
United Power has developed operational procedures, called Wildfire Safety Mode, that are enacted when the National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings. These warnings mean the combination of weather conditions — high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds — increase the risk of fire danger. While in wildfire safety mode, the system will automatically de-energize line segments when foreign objects are detected, and they will remain off until crews have completed a manual inspection. Another inspection is completed after power is restored. This may temporarily increase outage restoration times but substantially increases safety and reduces fire risk.
“Ultimately, wildfire mitigation cannot be the sole responsibility of any single utility,” Rodlin said. “It requires a community-wide commitment. Proactive measures like home hardening, creating defensible space, and property-wide mitigation are essential to help our communities be better prepared. That is why we actively collaborate at the county and state levels and will continue to support local efforts to build a more resilient community together.”
Members can learn more about the cooperative’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan here.
Mutton Busting: Toughest Sport on Wool
Monday | July 2, 2018
For years, the Adams County Fair has provided an opportunity to channel that spirit into a popular rugrat rodeo activity – Mutton Bustin’. Mutton Bustin’ will return with the fair in August, but will introduce an exciting new change from previous event formats.
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Myths of Energy Efficiency
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Monday | February 14, 2022
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills.
As your cooperative, we want to provide you with the most useful information and applicable resources to help you save on bills. To help you make more informed decisions, we tackle some common energy efficiency myths in this column.
Reducing Energy Use is Too Expensive
A common and enduring myth about energy efficiency is cost. The stigma associated with it assumes it’s too expensive and not worth it. While costly energy efficiency upgrades are possible, many immediate steps you can take are simple behavioral and habitual changes. These include turning off lights in unused rooms, unplugging or shutting down unused electronics, closing doors to empty rooms while heating/cooling systems are running, limiting use of vents in the kitchen or bathroom and remembering to close your curtains in the summer – and conversely open them in the winter – to keep sunlight from affecting the temperature inside your home.
Setting Thermostat Higher Heats Home Faster
No matter what temperature you set your thermostat, your furnace will work equally as hard and fast to meet that goal. The only difference achieved by setting the temperature to a higher degree is that the system will work for a longer period of time, therefore using more energy. The same applies to air conditioners when set to a lower temperature than necessary. Although blasting your heater or air conditioning does not heat or cool your home more quickly, adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees, depending on the season, can help you save energy.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Energy
Shutting vents in empty or unused rooms may seem logical to save energy. Heating or cooling an empty space does appear to waste energy. However, your system cannot detect closed vents and will continue trying to push air to them. When the air cannot escape, it reverses and can cause damage to your system. Instead of closing vents, practice closing doors to rooms that are not in use. When doors are open, it allows the hot or cold air from inside the room to escape and the air from outside the room to enter, which can force your system to work harder to maintain thermostat settings. Closed doors prevent air from entering or exiting so the system can properly heat or cool the room and maintain it more easily.
Using energy more efficiently isn’t as difficult as you may believe. Small behavioral changes make a big difference. To review more ways to save, check out our website at www.unitedpower.com/energy-tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
How to Monitor Your Energy Usage
United Power members looking for ways to use energy more efficiently this year and save on their energy bills can utilize free resources available exclusively to the cooperative’s members.
View Usage With Power Portal
Power Portal was launched as an ancillary feature of the cooperative’s online account tool for members to view advanced data on their energy use over the course of days, weeks, months and more. The software breaks your energy usage down into 15-minute segments to provide you with a detailed picture of what activities or habits are controlling your energy usage. Members can even use the tool to evaluate on- and off-peak energy usage.
Armed with the ability to diagnose behaviors that lead to excess energy usage, members can begin taking real steps toward using energy more efficiently. Members can even use this tool to gauge the effectiveness of energy efficient updates to their home.
For more information, go to the Power Portal page.
Demand Calculator
Adding or upgrading an appliance in your home? United Power recently debuted its new demand calculator, which allows members to toggle different appliances on and off to see what demand they could require in your home. To use the calculator or learn more about the demand rate, go to the Understanding Demand page.
