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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
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
Monday | October 8, 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.
Read more >
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
Monday | November 20, 2017
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).
Read more >
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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
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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November Message from Mark. A. Gabriel
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Friday | November 3, 2023
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
I remember my second day on the job at Central Vermont Public Service when the process of setting electric rates was explained to me by the utility’s head of ratemaking. My head was swimming with numbers when the CEO, Tom Webb, whom I had never met, popped into the room. Shaking his head, he told me the only thing I needed to know about rates is to keep them as low as possible and always at or below the rate of inflation.
United Power’s staff has worked diligently to keep all costs in check, including insurance premiums. Initiatives like our industry-leading wildfire mitigation plan have allowed us to secure insurance coverage and keep premium increases low. The same is true for the efforts around insurance for cybersecurity, medical, and facilities.
Additionally, the entire organization is working to improve processes to better manage resources and ensure high reliability as costs increase. The cooperative is identifying pathways to optimize efficiency, such as expanding its asset management program to allow for more cost-effective planning.
We have all felt the recent challenges of inflation. Here at your cooperative, we have held rates flat since Jan. 1, 2020, despite galloping increases in all areas. A typical distribution transformer found near your home used to cost $1,747 in 2019 and today runs $3,113 – assuming one is even available due to supply chain shortages. The cost for larger units has increased nearly 150%, from $35,689 to $88,286. Even simple electrical cable, the main commodity in our business, has gone from $2.39 per foot to $3.81 – a 59% increase!
Power supply represents 75% of our costs. No matter how well we manage the other 25%, the cost of power has the largest impact on rates. Our current power supplier has filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a considerable rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The change in their rate structure will impact United Power significantly due to the shift from generation costs to transmission. Specifically, if they charge more for transmission – to deliver the power – those costs will have an effect on the rates we have to pay on your behalf.
The good news is that effective May 1, 2024, United Power will move to a competitive market for power with the selection of at least nine providers. Over time, we will have more control over our generation costs as we increase the amount of carbon-free resources and deploy and manage one of the nation’s first distributed battery storage systems. These systems will allow us to buy and store power when energy prices are low and use it when the demand is high. As a wholesale energy market comes to Colorado in 2026, we will further be able to leverage becoming a distribution system operator by buying and selling resources across the western marketplace.
Even with our concerted efforts, we must implement a rate increase across all our member classes, because we recognize the importance of operating a financially strong member-owned cooperative. We are extremely conscious of the impact that even a small rate increase has on our members and commit to continue working to find ways to lower rates into the future.
United Power wants to work with you to help manage your electric bills and has a team of dedicated employees to provide information, audits, and tips to moderate any rate impacts. They can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat at www.unitedpower.com. Likewise, members may email the United Power Member Services team.
The new rates, which go into effect Jan. 1, are split between the demand charge and energy charge. The energy component will include a power cost adjustment, providing us the flexibility to move that portion up and down if needed.
Inflation has risen a staggering 21% since our last rate increase four years ago. I hear my old CEO’s words echoing in the back of my mind: “…keep rates as low as possible, and always at or below the rate of inflation.” Tom, we are working hard to do just that!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
October is Co-op Month
Monday | October 1, 2018
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
Read more >
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October is National Co-op Month
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Friday | September 16, 2022
Card Teaser
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
Card Teaser
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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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
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
Monday | October 8, 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.
Read more >
Notice of Change in the Tariffs of United Power, Inc.
Monday | November 20, 2017
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).
Read more >
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!
Title
November Message from Mark. A. Gabriel
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/CEO_Message.jpg?h=45932144&itok=pNegmSzP
Friday | November 3, 2023
Card Teaser
A message to United Power members from the cooperative's President & Chief Executive Officer.
I remember my second day on the job at Central Vermont Public Service when the process of setting electric rates was explained to me by the utility’s head of ratemaking. My head was swimming with numbers when the CEO, Tom Webb, whom I had never met, popped into the room. Shaking his head, he told me the only thing I needed to know about rates is to keep them as low as possible and always at or below the rate of inflation.
United Power’s staff has worked diligently to keep all costs in check, including insurance premiums. Initiatives like our industry-leading wildfire mitigation plan have allowed us to secure insurance coverage and keep premium increases low. The same is true for the efforts around insurance for cybersecurity, medical, and facilities.
Additionally, the entire organization is working to improve processes to better manage resources and ensure high reliability as costs increase. The cooperative is identifying pathways to optimize efficiency, such as expanding its asset management program to allow for more cost-effective planning.
We have all felt the recent challenges of inflation. Here at your cooperative, we have held rates flat since Jan. 1, 2020, despite galloping increases in all areas. A typical distribution transformer found near your home used to cost $1,747 in 2019 and today runs $3,113 – assuming one is even available due to supply chain shortages. The cost for larger units has increased nearly 150%, from $35,689 to $88,286. Even simple electrical cable, the main commodity in our business, has gone from $2.39 per foot to $3.81 – a 59% increase!
Power supply represents 75% of our costs. No matter how well we manage the other 25%, the cost of power has the largest impact on rates. Our current power supplier has filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a considerable rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. The change in their rate structure will impact United Power significantly due to the shift from generation costs to transmission. Specifically, if they charge more for transmission – to deliver the power – those costs will have an effect on the rates we have to pay on your behalf.
The good news is that effective May 1, 2024, United Power will move to a competitive market for power with the selection of at least nine providers. Over time, we will have more control over our generation costs as we increase the amount of carbon-free resources and deploy and manage one of the nation’s first distributed battery storage systems. These systems will allow us to buy and store power when energy prices are low and use it when the demand is high. As a wholesale energy market comes to Colorado in 2026, we will further be able to leverage becoming a distribution system operator by buying and selling resources across the western marketplace.
Even with our concerted efforts, we must implement a rate increase across all our member classes, because we recognize the importance of operating a financially strong member-owned cooperative. We are extremely conscious of the impact that even a small rate increase has on our members and commit to continue working to find ways to lower rates into the future.
United Power wants to work with you to help manage your electric bills and has a team of dedicated employees to provide information, audits, and tips to moderate any rate impacts. They can be reached during normal business hours by phone at 303-637-1300 or via online chat at www.unitedpower.com. Likewise, members may email the United Power Member Services team.
The new rates, which go into effect Jan. 1, are split between the demand charge and energy charge. The energy component will include a power cost adjustment, providing us the flexibility to move that portion up and down if needed.
Inflation has risen a staggering 21% since our last rate increase four years ago. I hear my old CEO’s words echoing in the back of my mind: “…keep rates as low as possible, and always at or below the rate of inflation.” Tom, we are working hard to do just that!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
October is Co-op Month
Monday | October 1, 2018
This October, United Power will join more than 30,000 cooperatives across the country to celebrate National Co-op Month.
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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.
