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Results of 2017 United Power Director Election
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Thursday | April 27, 2017
Card Teaser
Races for a seat in all four United Power director districts were decided by a vote of the members at the 2017 Annual Meeting on Apr. 18 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.
Incumbents Retain Seats, New Mountain Director Elected
New Officers Elected at Regular Monthly Board Meeting on April 21st
Races for a seat in all four United Power director districts were decided by a vote of the members at the 2017 Annual Meeting on Apr. 18 at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Incumbent Directors James Vigesaa and Ginny Buczek retained their respective seats. Director David Rose won the race for his seat in the South District. Incoming director Tamra Waltemath won the seat in the Mountain district left vacant by the retirement of director Douglas Pryce.
United Power’s Board of Directors met for their regular monthly board meeting the Friday following the annual election and selected new officers to serve the cooperative for 2017. James Vigesaa was elected President, Susan Petrocco was re-elected as Vice President, Beth Martin was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer and Ursula J. Morgan was elected to serve again as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Reunited & Ready
Thursday | July 8, 2021
After more than a year of altered business practices during COVID-19, United Power has resumed norma...
Read more >
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Rising to the Occasion
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Friday | September 27, 2019
Card Teaser
United Power partnered with Touchstone's national balloon program to present to donations to area nonprofits.
The early morning sun shining off the Touchstone Energy hot air balloon provided the perfect backdrop for United Power at the Adams County Fair in early August.
United Power partnered with Touchstone Energy Cooperative’s national balloon program to present two donations to local nonprofits that are doing incredible work in our community:
Food for Hope
There are thousands of children in Adams County who receive little to nothing to eat when they are not at school. Food for Hope seeks to empower and nourish the future of our community by providing nutritious food to children in need.
Foster Source
Provides relevant training, resources and support to foster parents from a trauma-informed approach, giving them the skills and confidence to spark healing in vulnerable children.
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Roadmap: Optimizing Our Distribution System
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Friday | September 16, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is proud to manage a comprehensive maintenance plan that has produced one of the most reliable systems in the country.
Analyzing System Data to Improve Performance & Reliability, Mitigate Risk
As an electric distribution cooperative, delivering high reliability power safely and efficiently to members is United Power’s first priority. You expect your power to be available when you need it and as long as you need it. United Power recognizes its members’ expectations and earlier this year released Our Cooperative Roadmap with strategic areas the cooperative is focusing on for both its future and the benefits of members. One of the key focuses in the Roadmap is system optimization. The cooperative is engaging in several proactive practices to increase system performance, while also bringing innovative technology solutions on board to assist in demand monitoring, outage resolution, and fire mitigation.
A few years ago, United Power’s operations team shifted its maintenance strategy to focus on areas of the system that were falling short of performance goals. Utilizing a sophisticated network of grid tracking technology, the cooperative is able to identify specific areas that need improvement and plan targeted maintenance projects. Since the new strategy launched, the cooperative’s outage times have been reduced by nearly half.
The cooperative’s outage restoration and response is also aided by the rapid adoption of innovative smart devices deployed throughout the distribution system. These automated field devices not only aid in the dissemination of tracking data that informs United Power’s maintenance strategy, but also allow the cooperative to restore power remotely in the event of an outage without having to dispatch crews. They fall into a varying spectrum from simple to complex, but work in conjunction to identify, isolate, and, when possible, resolve faults.
Design and construction teams are regularly reviewing emerging solutions to improve reliability and provide better tracking information. While the most prominent and immediately recognizable elements of the system are poles and power lines, United Power also manages nearly 18,000 streetlights across its service area. More than 3,000 now include LED smart node technology that communicates lighting issues directly to the cooperative. The technology is both energy efficient and cost effective because it provides information crews can use to ensure proper equipment and materials are collected before being dispatched. Smart nodes are now the default for new streetlight installations, and the cooperative works with each community to convert older technology to the new alternative.
A system that functions reliably must also function safely. United Power serves two mountain canyons at a time in Colorado when wildfire risk has spiked. The cooperative published its fire mitigation plan a few years ago and updates it annually to include new elements that are proven to reduce risk and improve safety. Previous updates have included the installation of new technology and updated construction standards; and this year included the addition of new protocols during Red Flag Warnings. These new procotols govern the system’s response when infererence to electric flow is detected and when fire danger is at its highest. While power can be restored once interference is cleared in most cases, United Power requires crews to investigate causes when Red Flag Warnings are issued. Although an outage is never convenient, preventing a wildfire is critical to member and community safety.
United Power is proud to manage a comprehensive maintenance plan that has produced one of the most reliable systems in the country. As cooperative members, you can rest assured co-op leadership is actively pursing the best resources for a reliable and safe system, and doing so in the most cost-effective manner to control member rates.
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Roadmap: Providing Flexible, Affordable, Sustainable Power & Services
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Thursday | July 7, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power caught the attention of electric distribution co-ops in April when it filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from its wholesale power contract with Tri-State.
United Power Exits its Current Wholesale Contract Effective May 1, 2024
United Power caught the attention of electric distribution cooperatives nationwide in April when it filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from its wholesale power contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission (Tri-State). The cooperative entered a long-term contract with the generation cooperative when few viable sources of affordable and reliable power were available. At the time, it provided stability for United Power and assurance that members would continue to receive reliable power. But the industry has entered a transition, and the contract is no longer reflective of the cooperative or its members’ best interests.
The current contract is too restrictive, capping locally sourced power at just 5% of its total load and preventing United Power from bringing more local generation onto its system, which would lower costs and expand member options. Before making the difficult decision to exit its contract, leadership at the cooperative attempted to negotiate a revised “partial requirements” contract. The revised contract would have continued United Power’s membership relationship with Tri-State while also allowing the cooperative to explore and purchase lower cost, cleaner power options on the market. Unfortunately, negotiations to this end failed.
“Our first option was to continue a mutually beneficial relationship with our wholesale power supplier, where we would continue sourcing a portion of our power from them,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is unfortunate they were unwilling to help us reach this goal. Although we feel the current contract does not represent shifts taking place in the industry, it was not a decision we made lightly. We spent countless hours weighing our options and discussing a course of action that would result in the best outcome for our members and our future.”
United Power also issued a request for proposal (RFP) for new wholesale power suppliers along with its Notice of Intent to Withdraw. Perspective power suppliers will have until early August to submit proposals outlining their ability to meet the cooperative’s energy needs. Proposals from suppliers are expected to meet three criteria:
Energy, the critical resource keeping lights on for United Power members.
Capacity, the ability to provide continuously reliable power even in adverse conditions.
Resource adequacy, the assurance generation will be adequate to meet demand even on hot summer days during peak hours.
“We are expecting a healthy response to our RFP,” said Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “We’ll spend about two months evaluating proposals before selecting a handful of potential suppliers to work with directly. We hope to select a supplier, or group of suppliers, and begin contract negotiations early next year.”
The final step in United Power’s exit is determining an exit fee, which is currently pending with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Although the fee hasn’t been determined, FERC has issued a number of decisions in the cooperative’s favor over the past few months. In March, FERC economist Greg Golino determined Tri-State’s methodology for calculating the exit fee was “flawed and unreasonable.” The exit fee could be decided as early as this summer.
“Our situation has substantially changed, with more affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable power supply options now available,” said Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman. “We believe we should deliver electricity that is more reflective of the current market price, ultimately helping our members save.”
In June, United Power hosted a member forum to discuss its upcoming exit. Gabriel and Hubbuck provided detailed background of how United Power got to this point and where the cooperative is heading from here. The forum concluded with a question and answer session from attendees both online and in person.
Additional information, including a recording of the forum is available on our Power Supply page.
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Rosie's Moving In
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Tuesday | May 1, 2018
Card Teaser
Butterfly Pavilion, home to Rosie the tarantula, recently announced its plans to construct a new facility in Broomfield, inside United Power's service territory.
United Power members will soon share territory with one of Colorado’s most beloved invertebrates. Butterfly Pavilion, home to Rosie the tarantula, recently announced its plans to construct a new facility in Broomfield, just off Interstate 25 and Highway 7. The new facility will house a world-class research lab to serve as the hub for invertebrate knowledge, conservation, inspiration and connection.
As the hub for invertebrate research, the new facility will offer an opportunity for new discoveries to reach the public more quickly and help contribute to the conservation of pollinators.
“Butterfly Pavilion is launching this expansion to confront and solve global challenges in environmental conservation today and in the future,” said President and CEO Patrick Tennyson in a press release.
Butterfly Pavilion’s new facility will anchor Broomfield’s larger 900-acre science district in the Baseline neighborhood, which will include a linear park, a K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) school, and a “pollinator district,” with pollinator-friendly parks and open spaces.
The new facility expects to open in 2021. In the meantime, Butterfly Pavilion will continue operating at its current location.
In anticipation of this exciting move, United Power has partnered with Butterfly Pavilion to offer its members an exclusive opportunity to visit the current facility in Westminster at a discounted rate. Bring the coupon below in May, August or September between Monday and Thursday to receive $2 off general admission for guests of any age.
Butterfly Pavilion was founded in 1995 as the first stand-alone, nonprofit invertebrate zoo in the nation. Its mission is to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation.
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Rural Utilities Want Their Own Piece Of Colorado’s Low-Carbon Future. That Could Mean Breaking Up Big Power Providers
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Friday | December 20, 2019
Article published by Colorado Public Radio Dec. 20, 2019
Grace Hood/CPR News
United Power customer Stephen Whiteside loads a wheelbarrow with chopped wood near his rural home in Coal Creek Canyon Dec. 12, 2019.When it comes to greening up Colorado’s power supply, seismic shifts aren’t just coming out of the state Capitol.
They’re also shaking out of rural Colorado, places like Coal Creek Canyon where utility customer Stephen Whiteside lives.
Whiteside is a conservative Republican. He’s also pro-renewable energy. It’s not a combination you’d expect, but a recent poll by Pew Research suggests many Republicans favor wind and solar.
But Whiteside doesn’t support renewables by building a big solar array in his backyard. He does it by cheering on his rural electric cooperative, United Power. In November, United Power said it’s considering parting ways with fossil fuel-heavy power provider Tri-State Generation and Transmission in pursuit of cheaper electricity bills and more renewable energy.
“I think that’s fairly recent that renewables may be more cost-effective than other types of energy,” Whiteside said. “To me that makes a lot of sense to pursue that kind of avenue.”
Grace Hood/CPR News
United Power customers Stephen and Sara Whiteside feed their horses near their rural home in Coal Creek Canyon outside Denver.Right now, Tri-State gets about one-third of its power from renewable energy. Customers like Whiteside want more renewables because they think it will bring cheaper rates. According to a recent estimate by Standard and Poor’s, electricity rates for Whiteside and others under the Tri-State System could be as much as 20 percent above the statewide Colorado average.
Here’s how the model works now: United Power bands together with 42 other rural electricity providers, called electric cooperatives, to buy power from one entity: Tri-State.
“What that model has not done is kept up with the technological changes in the industry,” United Power CEO John Parker said.
Parker thinks it all adds up to growing pressure on the economic model that rural utilities have followed for decades. In the '80s and '90s, power providers like Tri-State invested heavily in coal-fired plants. Now, they’re trying to green up.
United Power is not the first or the last utility looking into leave Tri-State. La Plata Electric Association has filed a complaint with Colorado regulators seeking an exit fee from Tri-State.
Grace Hood/CPR News
John Parker, Chief Executive Officer of United Power, stands in front of the rural electric cooperative's large battery on Dec. 9, 2019. United Power is exploring whether it can procure wind and solar more cheaply by exiting its current contract with power provider Tri-State.If those utilities part ways, they’ll follow in the footsteps of two other rural utilities: Colorado-based Delta Montrose Electric Association and New Mexico-based Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Delta Montrose got the OK to leave its generation and transmission association (known as a G&T) with Tri-State in 2019. Kit Carson left in 2016.
“Just as the industry changes, [generation and transmission cooperatives] have to change,” said Lee Boughey, Tri-State senior manager for communications and public affairs.
Generation and Transmission Cooperatives like Tri-State formed in rural America in the middle of the last century. It was historically expensive for rural electricity providers to provide power because they just served a few customers per mile of the electricity line. That’s unlike urban utilities, which have hundreds of customers per mile. G&Ts helped shoulder the burden by providing power to rural utilities, building expensive coal-fired power plants and setting up contracts that lasted decades to help pay off the plants.
Flashforward to 2019, and power customers like Parker have a keen interest to modernize the grid and experiment with battery storage to keep customers like Whiteside happy. United Power owns the largest battery in the state, but it’s locked into a contract with Tri-State that lasts another 30 years. After power supplier Tri-State quoted United Power a $1.2 billion exit fee to leave its 30-year contract, Parker turned to state regulators for help.
“That’s the balance we’re trying to find. If it costs us $1.2 billion to get out, we probably can’t save enough money to make that work,” Parker said.
Boughey said 2019 was a big year for Tri-State. It opened up community solar options to its members and brought 104 megawatts of new wind power online. It announced plans to build a 100 megawatt new solar farm. Its Nucla coal-fired power plant was retired early from service, reducing emissions and making operations more efficient.
Tri-State’s member cooperatives are finalizing new contracts that would allow rural utilities like United Power more flexibility to buy renewables. Currently, they’re capped in their contracts at generating just 5 percent of renewable power locally.
Nate Minor
The Craig Station power plant features three generating units, all of which are fully or partially owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Unit 1 will be retired by the end of 2025.One of the challenges for Tri-State will be to get even more fossil fuel sources off its financial books as it faces regulatory pressure to do so in Colorado and New Mexico. Legislatures in both states passed carbon-reduction goals for utilities this year. Tri-State will be required to participate in expensive planning. However, there are no financial penalties if Tri-State doesn’t meet the goals.
“As we move into 2020 and chart our course for the future I think there should be confidence that we’ll be able to meet the challenges ahead,” Boughey said.
Similar disputes are playing out between rural utilities and their power suppliers across the United States. In Indiana, Tipmont Rural Electric is seeking to part ways from its power supplier over high rates. In Minneapolis, suburban utility Connexus is in the midst of talks with its power provider to get lower rates and more flexibility.
“Today memberships across the country are expecting more from their G&Ts. They’re expecting competitive prices and a greening of the grid,” Connexus CEO Greg Ridderbusch said.
Like United Power, Connexus is locked into a decades-long contact with its power provider. Ridderbusch said in the future it will be important for his utility and others to form more robust partnerships with their power suppliers.
“We need the G&T to lower the constraints on things we’re doing in our own backyard for our members,” Ridderbusch said.
Whiteside said he’s on United Power’s side.
“To have reliable electric service is absolutely critical,” Whiteside said. “If solar power can supplement the other sources that United Power has, it would make sense to do that if it’s available.”
As relationships start to shift across the country between power suppliers and rural utilities, all eyes will be on Colorado. The Public Utilities Commission could rule on the La Plata and United Power cases in 2020.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect that Tri-State’s members will ultimately decide how to roll out a partial-requirements contract.
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Safe Tree Trimming
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Wednesday | July 21, 2021
Card Teaser
Observe ten-foot rule to safely trim trees near power lines.
Observe Ten-Foot Rule to Safely Trim Trees Near Power Lines
Summer is in full swing, and as trees begin to grow and bud, they may get close enough to come into contact with power lines. While the fires and damage from 2020 are still fresh on everyone’s minds, we want to remind members that trees near power lines can cause potential hazards, tree-related power outages and increase the risk of fire.
To protect your power and your community, United Power will be concentrating significant resources on clearing vegetation from power lines this summer – especially in portions of our mountain territory that are heavily forested. United Power adheres to industry best practices and will trim away any vegetation within ten feet of power lines. You can help protect your community from power outages, damaged utility equipment and fires by observing the ten-foot rule between trees and power lines.
If you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary line, immediately contact United Power. These are the high-voltage lines running from pole to pole, and they require specially trained tree-trimming crews. Report tree hazards on our website.
Members are responsible for trimming vegetation away from secondary lines – the lines that stretch beyond your electric meter to your service location. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines for tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines.
Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may call unexpectedly and take down power lines and cause potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer.
When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to assess the situation and keep you safe.
For more information on digging and planting safely, go to our Dig Safe, Plant Safe page.
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Safe Tree Trimming
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Tuesday | May 1, 2018
Card Teaser
As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety.
May is National Electrical Safety Month
Were you aware tree limbs may become a safety hazard when in contact with power lines? Did you know attempting to trim a tree in contact with a power line puts you in danger of electrocution? Have you ever been uncertain about when and where to trim your trees located near power lines?
The warm weather of spring often arrives with May, which is also recognized as National Electrical Safety Month. As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety. United Power wants to make sure you know the answers to your questions so you can safely tackle your spring yard work.
(For quick reference about who’s responsible for maintaining trees near power lines, please read “Who’s Responsible” below.)
When you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary power line, immediately contact United Power. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines.
Observe the Ten-Foot Rule to safely trim trees on your property located near power lines. This means anything inside that radius may put you at risk. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines when notified in advance of any tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may fall unexpectedly and risk taking down power lines and causing potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer.
When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to send out a troubleshooter or one of our tree contractors to assess the situation and keep you safe.
Who's Responsible
United Power has an aggressive tree trimming program to reduce the number of tree related outages. However, in some cases, the homeowner may be responsible for keeping a line to their home clear of trees. Here is how it works:
United Power is responsible for trimming around primary lines. These are lines running from pole to pole. United Power maintains these lines because they are higher voltage and require special handling from a qualified tree trimming crew.
Members are responsible for obstructions in secondary lines. These are typically single lines stretching from our pole to a member’s home - often seen in backyards, crossing from the main electric line to the home.
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Safe Zones Around Pad-Mounted Transformers
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Friday | June 1, 2018
Card Teaser
Though pad-mounted transformers may appear safe to use as workbenches and climbing obstacles, electrical equipment can still pose a risk to anyone who may come in contact with it. Members should always use caution and keep a safe distance.
Pad-mounted transformers, those big green utility boxes commonly seen around town, serve the purpose of lowering high voltage to standard household voltage used to power electronics, appliances and lighting. These transformers are not protected in the way overhead lines and substations are. Though they may appear safe to use as workbenches and climbing obstacles, electrical equipment can still pose a risk to anyone who may come in contact with it. Members should always use caution and keep a safe distance.
United Power crews also need safe access for repairs and maintenance. Barriers, such as landscaping and fencing, should be kept clear of electrical equipment. While it may be tempting to “camouflage” transformers with landscaping, please remember cooperative crews need at least 10-feet of clearance at the opening of a pad-mounted transformer and four-feet at the rear and sides of the housing. The distance allows crews to safely use tools required for working with energized equipment. It also ensures crews have the ability to move about safely should problems arise.
In many newer subdivisions and residential developments pad-mounted transformers are more common – and in many cases are located on consumer property. These transformers are connected to primary high voltage lines, and secondary lines can extend from the transform in several directions underground. Remember this before planting shrubs or trees, setting fence posts, installing sprinkler systems or digging anywhere near a transformer. You should always dial 811 before you dig to ensure lines are located so your project doesn’t disrupt utility service, cause serious injury or worse.
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September is National Preparedness Month
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Wednesday | September 4, 2019
Card Teaser
Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month.
Are You Ready?
Severe weather is a fact of life, and it’s important to make sure you and your family are prepared for when it occurs. Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month to educate and empower Americans to take simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies that could affect us where we live, work and visit. This year’s theme (Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters.) touches on four distinct aspects of emergency preparation:
Save Early for Disaster Costs
Emergencies hit us when we least expect and could be costly if we aren’t prepared beforehand. Do you have an emergency fund? Does your insurance adequately cover the costs of a natural disaster? Does your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance cover flood damages? It’s important to have funds available when emergencies disrupt daily life or if an ATM isn’t immediately available.
Make a Plan
Preparing your family for an emergency is as simple as a conversation over dinner, and it’s important to include kids in the disaster planning process. Practice your plan, including evacuations, fire escapes and turning off utilities like natural gas.
Youth Preparedness
Teach children what to do in an emergency if they are at home or away. They should know how to communicate during an emergency, with you, friends or emergency responders. Review family emergency plans regularly, or even have them practice building their own emergency kits.
Get Involved in Community Preparedness
Take some time to learn about the hazards most likely to affect your community and their responses. Look for opportunities to get involved by volunteering with organizations before, during and after potential disasters. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) train volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters their community may face.
For more information on National Preparedness Month, including sample emergency communications plans, organizations you can volunteer with during disasters and more, visit www.ready.gov.
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Results of 2017 United Power Director Election
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Thursday | April 27, 2017
Card Teaser
Races for a seat in all four United Power director districts were decided by a vote of the members at the 2017 Annual Meeting on Apr. 18 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.
Incumbents Retain Seats, New Mountain Director Elected
New Officers Elected at Regular Monthly Board Meeting on April 21st
Races for a seat in all four United Power director districts were decided by a vote of the members at the 2017 Annual Meeting on Apr. 18 at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Incumbent Directors James Vigesaa and Ginny Buczek retained their respective seats. Director David Rose won the race for his seat in the South District. Incoming director Tamra Waltemath won the seat in the Mountain district left vacant by the retirement of director Douglas Pryce.
United Power’s Board of Directors met for their regular monthly board meeting the Friday following the annual election and selected new officers to serve the cooperative for 2017. James Vigesaa was elected President, Susan Petrocco was re-elected as Vice President, Beth Martin was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer and Ursula J. Morgan was elected to serve again as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Reunited & Ready
Thursday | July 8, 2021
After more than a year of altered business practices during COVID-19, United Power has resumed norma...
Read more >
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Rising to the Occasion
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Friday | September 27, 2019
Card Teaser
United Power partnered with Touchstone's national balloon program to present to donations to area nonprofits.
The early morning sun shining off the Touchstone Energy hot air balloon provided the perfect backdrop for United Power at the Adams County Fair in early August.
United Power partnered with Touchstone Energy Cooperative’s national balloon program to present two donations to local nonprofits that are doing incredible work in our community:
Food for Hope
There are thousands of children in Adams County who receive little to nothing to eat when they are not at school. Food for Hope seeks to empower and nourish the future of our community by providing nutritious food to children in need.
Foster Source
Provides relevant training, resources and support to foster parents from a trauma-informed approach, giving them the skills and confidence to spark healing in vulnerable children.
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Roadmap: Optimizing Our Distribution System
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Friday | September 16, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is proud to manage a comprehensive maintenance plan that has produced one of the most reliable systems in the country.
Analyzing System Data to Improve Performance & Reliability, Mitigate Risk
As an electric distribution cooperative, delivering high reliability power safely and efficiently to members is United Power’s first priority. You expect your power to be available when you need it and as long as you need it. United Power recognizes its members’ expectations and earlier this year released Our Cooperative Roadmap with strategic areas the cooperative is focusing on for both its future and the benefits of members. One of the key focuses in the Roadmap is system optimization. The cooperative is engaging in several proactive practices to increase system performance, while also bringing innovative technology solutions on board to assist in demand monitoring, outage resolution, and fire mitigation.
A few years ago, United Power’s operations team shifted its maintenance strategy to focus on areas of the system that were falling short of performance goals. Utilizing a sophisticated network of grid tracking technology, the cooperative is able to identify specific areas that need improvement and plan targeted maintenance projects. Since the new strategy launched, the cooperative’s outage times have been reduced by nearly half.
The cooperative’s outage restoration and response is also aided by the rapid adoption of innovative smart devices deployed throughout the distribution system. These automated field devices not only aid in the dissemination of tracking data that informs United Power’s maintenance strategy, but also allow the cooperative to restore power remotely in the event of an outage without having to dispatch crews. They fall into a varying spectrum from simple to complex, but work in conjunction to identify, isolate, and, when possible, resolve faults.
Design and construction teams are regularly reviewing emerging solutions to improve reliability and provide better tracking information. While the most prominent and immediately recognizable elements of the system are poles and power lines, United Power also manages nearly 18,000 streetlights across its service area. More than 3,000 now include LED smart node technology that communicates lighting issues directly to the cooperative. The technology is both energy efficient and cost effective because it provides information crews can use to ensure proper equipment and materials are collected before being dispatched. Smart nodes are now the default for new streetlight installations, and the cooperative works with each community to convert older technology to the new alternative.
A system that functions reliably must also function safely. United Power serves two mountain canyons at a time in Colorado when wildfire risk has spiked. The cooperative published its fire mitigation plan a few years ago and updates it annually to include new elements that are proven to reduce risk and improve safety. Previous updates have included the installation of new technology and updated construction standards; and this year included the addition of new protocols during Red Flag Warnings. These new procotols govern the system’s response when infererence to electric flow is detected and when fire danger is at its highest. While power can be restored once interference is cleared in most cases, United Power requires crews to investigate causes when Red Flag Warnings are issued. Although an outage is never convenient, preventing a wildfire is critical to member and community safety.
United Power is proud to manage a comprehensive maintenance plan that has produced one of the most reliable systems in the country. As cooperative members, you can rest assured co-op leadership is actively pursing the best resources for a reliable and safe system, and doing so in the most cost-effective manner to control member rates.
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Roadmap: Providing Flexible, Affordable, Sustainable Power & Services
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Thursday | July 7, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power caught the attention of electric distribution co-ops in April when it filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from its wholesale power contract with Tri-State.
United Power Exits its Current Wholesale Contract Effective May 1, 2024
United Power caught the attention of electric distribution cooperatives nationwide in April when it filed its non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from its wholesale power contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission (Tri-State). The cooperative entered a long-term contract with the generation cooperative when few viable sources of affordable and reliable power were available. At the time, it provided stability for United Power and assurance that members would continue to receive reliable power. But the industry has entered a transition, and the contract is no longer reflective of the cooperative or its members’ best interests.
The current contract is too restrictive, capping locally sourced power at just 5% of its total load and preventing United Power from bringing more local generation onto its system, which would lower costs and expand member options. Before making the difficult decision to exit its contract, leadership at the cooperative attempted to negotiate a revised “partial requirements” contract. The revised contract would have continued United Power’s membership relationship with Tri-State while also allowing the cooperative to explore and purchase lower cost, cleaner power options on the market. Unfortunately, negotiations to this end failed.
“Our first option was to continue a mutually beneficial relationship with our wholesale power supplier, where we would continue sourcing a portion of our power from them,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is unfortunate they were unwilling to help us reach this goal. Although we feel the current contract does not represent shifts taking place in the industry, it was not a decision we made lightly. We spent countless hours weighing our options and discussing a course of action that would result in the best outcome for our members and our future.”
United Power also issued a request for proposal (RFP) for new wholesale power suppliers along with its Notice of Intent to Withdraw. Perspective power suppliers will have until early August to submit proposals outlining their ability to meet the cooperative’s energy needs. Proposals from suppliers are expected to meet three criteria:
Energy, the critical resource keeping lights on for United Power members.
Capacity, the ability to provide continuously reliable power even in adverse conditions.
Resource adequacy, the assurance generation will be adequate to meet demand even on hot summer days during peak hours.
“We are expecting a healthy response to our RFP,” said Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “We’ll spend about two months evaluating proposals before selecting a handful of potential suppliers to work with directly. We hope to select a supplier, or group of suppliers, and begin contract negotiations early next year.”
The final step in United Power’s exit is determining an exit fee, which is currently pending with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Although the fee hasn’t been determined, FERC has issued a number of decisions in the cooperative’s favor over the past few months. In March, FERC economist Greg Golino determined Tri-State’s methodology for calculating the exit fee was “flawed and unreasonable.” The exit fee could be decided as early as this summer.
“Our situation has substantially changed, with more affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable power supply options now available,” said Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman. “We believe we should deliver electricity that is more reflective of the current market price, ultimately helping our members save.”
In June, United Power hosted a member forum to discuss its upcoming exit. Gabriel and Hubbuck provided detailed background of how United Power got to this point and where the cooperative is heading from here. The forum concluded with a question and answer session from attendees both online and in person.
Additional information, including a recording of the forum is available on our Power Supply page.
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Rosie's Moving In
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Tuesday | May 1, 2018
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Butterfly Pavilion, home to Rosie the tarantula, recently announced its plans to construct a new facility in Broomfield, inside United Power's service territory.
United Power members will soon share territory with one of Colorado’s most beloved invertebrates. Butterfly Pavilion, home to Rosie the tarantula, recently announced its plans to construct a new facility in Broomfield, just off Interstate 25 and Highway 7. The new facility will house a world-class research lab to serve as the hub for invertebrate knowledge, conservation, inspiration and connection.
As the hub for invertebrate research, the new facility will offer an opportunity for new discoveries to reach the public more quickly and help contribute to the conservation of pollinators.
“Butterfly Pavilion is launching this expansion to confront and solve global challenges in environmental conservation today and in the future,” said President and CEO Patrick Tennyson in a press release.
Butterfly Pavilion’s new facility will anchor Broomfield’s larger 900-acre science district in the Baseline neighborhood, which will include a linear park, a K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) school, and a “pollinator district,” with pollinator-friendly parks and open spaces.
The new facility expects to open in 2021. In the meantime, Butterfly Pavilion will continue operating at its current location.
In anticipation of this exciting move, United Power has partnered with Butterfly Pavilion to offer its members an exclusive opportunity to visit the current facility in Westminster at a discounted rate. Bring the coupon below in May, August or September between Monday and Thursday to receive $2 off general admission for guests of any age.
Butterfly Pavilion was founded in 1995 as the first stand-alone, nonprofit invertebrate zoo in the nation. Its mission is to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation.
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Rural Utilities Want Their Own Piece Of Colorado’s Low-Carbon Future. That Could Mean Breaking Up Big Power Providers
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Friday | December 20, 2019
Article published by Colorado Public Radio Dec. 20, 2019
Grace Hood/CPR News
United Power customer Stephen Whiteside loads a wheelbarrow with chopped wood near his rural home in Coal Creek Canyon Dec. 12, 2019.When it comes to greening up Colorado’s power supply, seismic shifts aren’t just coming out of the state Capitol.
They’re also shaking out of rural Colorado, places like Coal Creek Canyon where utility customer Stephen Whiteside lives.
Whiteside is a conservative Republican. He’s also pro-renewable energy. It’s not a combination you’d expect, but a recent poll by Pew Research suggests many Republicans favor wind and solar.
But Whiteside doesn’t support renewables by building a big solar array in his backyard. He does it by cheering on his rural electric cooperative, United Power. In November, United Power said it’s considering parting ways with fossil fuel-heavy power provider Tri-State Generation and Transmission in pursuit of cheaper electricity bills and more renewable energy.
“I think that’s fairly recent that renewables may be more cost-effective than other types of energy,” Whiteside said. “To me that makes a lot of sense to pursue that kind of avenue.”
Grace Hood/CPR News
United Power customers Stephen and Sara Whiteside feed their horses near their rural home in Coal Creek Canyon outside Denver.Right now, Tri-State gets about one-third of its power from renewable energy. Customers like Whiteside want more renewables because they think it will bring cheaper rates. According to a recent estimate by Standard and Poor’s, electricity rates for Whiteside and others under the Tri-State System could be as much as 20 percent above the statewide Colorado average.
Here’s how the model works now: United Power bands together with 42 other rural electricity providers, called electric cooperatives, to buy power from one entity: Tri-State.
“What that model has not done is kept up with the technological changes in the industry,” United Power CEO John Parker said.
Parker thinks it all adds up to growing pressure on the economic model that rural utilities have followed for decades. In the '80s and '90s, power providers like Tri-State invested heavily in coal-fired plants. Now, they’re trying to green up.
United Power is not the first or the last utility looking into leave Tri-State. La Plata Electric Association has filed a complaint with Colorado regulators seeking an exit fee from Tri-State.
Grace Hood/CPR News
John Parker, Chief Executive Officer of United Power, stands in front of the rural electric cooperative's large battery on Dec. 9, 2019. United Power is exploring whether it can procure wind and solar more cheaply by exiting its current contract with power provider Tri-State.If those utilities part ways, they’ll follow in the footsteps of two other rural utilities: Colorado-based Delta Montrose Electric Association and New Mexico-based Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Delta Montrose got the OK to leave its generation and transmission association (known as a G&T) with Tri-State in 2019. Kit Carson left in 2016.
“Just as the industry changes, [generation and transmission cooperatives] have to change,” said Lee Boughey, Tri-State senior manager for communications and public affairs.
Generation and Transmission Cooperatives like Tri-State formed in rural America in the middle of the last century. It was historically expensive for rural electricity providers to provide power because they just served a few customers per mile of the electricity line. That’s unlike urban utilities, which have hundreds of customers per mile. G&Ts helped shoulder the burden by providing power to rural utilities, building expensive coal-fired power plants and setting up contracts that lasted decades to help pay off the plants.
Flashforward to 2019, and power customers like Parker have a keen interest to modernize the grid and experiment with battery storage to keep customers like Whiteside happy. United Power owns the largest battery in the state, but it’s locked into a contract with Tri-State that lasts another 30 years. After power supplier Tri-State quoted United Power a $1.2 billion exit fee to leave its 30-year contract, Parker turned to state regulators for help.
“That’s the balance we’re trying to find. If it costs us $1.2 billion to get out, we probably can’t save enough money to make that work,” Parker said.
Boughey said 2019 was a big year for Tri-State. It opened up community solar options to its members and brought 104 megawatts of new wind power online. It announced plans to build a 100 megawatt new solar farm. Its Nucla coal-fired power plant was retired early from service, reducing emissions and making operations more efficient.
Tri-State’s member cooperatives are finalizing new contracts that would allow rural utilities like United Power more flexibility to buy renewables. Currently, they’re capped in their contracts at generating just 5 percent of renewable power locally.
Nate Minor
The Craig Station power plant features three generating units, all of which are fully or partially owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Unit 1 will be retired by the end of 2025.One of the challenges for Tri-State will be to get even more fossil fuel sources off its financial books as it faces regulatory pressure to do so in Colorado and New Mexico. Legislatures in both states passed carbon-reduction goals for utilities this year. Tri-State will be required to participate in expensive planning. However, there are no financial penalties if Tri-State doesn’t meet the goals.
“As we move into 2020 and chart our course for the future I think there should be confidence that we’ll be able to meet the challenges ahead,” Boughey said.
Similar disputes are playing out between rural utilities and their power suppliers across the United States. In Indiana, Tipmont Rural Electric is seeking to part ways from its power supplier over high rates. In Minneapolis, suburban utility Connexus is in the midst of talks with its power provider to get lower rates and more flexibility.
“Today memberships across the country are expecting more from their G&Ts. They’re expecting competitive prices and a greening of the grid,” Connexus CEO Greg Ridderbusch said.
Like United Power, Connexus is locked into a decades-long contact with its power provider. Ridderbusch said in the future it will be important for his utility and others to form more robust partnerships with their power suppliers.
“We need the G&T to lower the constraints on things we’re doing in our own backyard for our members,” Ridderbusch said.
Whiteside said he’s on United Power’s side.
“To have reliable electric service is absolutely critical,” Whiteside said. “If solar power can supplement the other sources that United Power has, it would make sense to do that if it’s available.”
As relationships start to shift across the country between power suppliers and rural utilities, all eyes will be on Colorado. The Public Utilities Commission could rule on the La Plata and United Power cases in 2020.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect that Tri-State’s members will ultimately decide how to roll out a partial-requirements contract.
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Safe Tree Trimming
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Wednesday | July 21, 2021
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Observe ten-foot rule to safely trim trees near power lines.
Observe Ten-Foot Rule to Safely Trim Trees Near Power Lines
Summer is in full swing, and as trees begin to grow and bud, they may get close enough to come into contact with power lines. While the fires and damage from 2020 are still fresh on everyone’s minds, we want to remind members that trees near power lines can cause potential hazards, tree-related power outages and increase the risk of fire.
To protect your power and your community, United Power will be concentrating significant resources on clearing vegetation from power lines this summer – especially in portions of our mountain territory that are heavily forested. United Power adheres to industry best practices and will trim away any vegetation within ten feet of power lines. You can help protect your community from power outages, damaged utility equipment and fires by observing the ten-foot rule between trees and power lines.
If you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary line, immediately contact United Power. These are the high-voltage lines running from pole to pole, and they require specially trained tree-trimming crews. Report tree hazards on our website.
Members are responsible for trimming vegetation away from secondary lines – the lines that stretch beyond your electric meter to your service location. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines for tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines.
Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may call unexpectedly and take down power lines and cause potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer.
When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to assess the situation and keep you safe.
For more information on digging and planting safely, go to our Dig Safe, Plant Safe page.
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Safe Tree Trimming
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Tuesday | May 1, 2018
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As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety.
May is National Electrical Safety Month
Were you aware tree limbs may become a safety hazard when in contact with power lines? Did you know attempting to trim a tree in contact with a power line puts you in danger of electrocution? Have you ever been uncertain about when and where to trim your trees located near power lines?
The warm weather of spring often arrives with May, which is also recognized as National Electrical Safety Month. As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety. United Power wants to make sure you know the answers to your questions so you can safely tackle your spring yard work.
(For quick reference about who’s responsible for maintaining trees near power lines, please read “Who’s Responsible” below.)
When you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary power line, immediately contact United Power. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines.
Observe the Ten-Foot Rule to safely trim trees on your property located near power lines. This means anything inside that radius may put you at risk. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines when notified in advance of any tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may fall unexpectedly and risk taking down power lines and causing potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer.
When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to send out a troubleshooter or one of our tree contractors to assess the situation and keep you safe.
Who's Responsible
United Power has an aggressive tree trimming program to reduce the number of tree related outages. However, in some cases, the homeowner may be responsible for keeping a line to their home clear of trees. Here is how it works:
United Power is responsible for trimming around primary lines. These are lines running from pole to pole. United Power maintains these lines because they are higher voltage and require special handling from a qualified tree trimming crew.
Members are responsible for obstructions in secondary lines. These are typically single lines stretching from our pole to a member’s home - often seen in backyards, crossing from the main electric line to the home.
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Safe Zones Around Pad-Mounted Transformers
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Friday | June 1, 2018
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Though pad-mounted transformers may appear safe to use as workbenches and climbing obstacles, electrical equipment can still pose a risk to anyone who may come in contact with it. Members should always use caution and keep a safe distance.
Pad-mounted transformers, those big green utility boxes commonly seen around town, serve the purpose of lowering high voltage to standard household voltage used to power electronics, appliances and lighting. These transformers are not protected in the way overhead lines and substations are. Though they may appear safe to use as workbenches and climbing obstacles, electrical equipment can still pose a risk to anyone who may come in contact with it. Members should always use caution and keep a safe distance.
United Power crews also need safe access for repairs and maintenance. Barriers, such as landscaping and fencing, should be kept clear of electrical equipment. While it may be tempting to “camouflage” transformers with landscaping, please remember cooperative crews need at least 10-feet of clearance at the opening of a pad-mounted transformer and four-feet at the rear and sides of the housing. The distance allows crews to safely use tools required for working with energized equipment. It also ensures crews have the ability to move about safely should problems arise.
In many newer subdivisions and residential developments pad-mounted transformers are more common – and in many cases are located on consumer property. These transformers are connected to primary high voltage lines, and secondary lines can extend from the transform in several directions underground. Remember this before planting shrubs or trees, setting fence posts, installing sprinkler systems or digging anywhere near a transformer. You should always dial 811 before you dig to ensure lines are located so your project doesn’t disrupt utility service, cause serious injury or worse.
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September is National Preparedness Month
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Wednesday | September 4, 2019
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Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month.
Are You Ready?
Severe weather is a fact of life, and it’s important to make sure you and your family are prepared for when it occurs. Each September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes National Preparedness Month to educate and empower Americans to take simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies that could affect us where we live, work and visit. This year’s theme (Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters.) touches on four distinct aspects of emergency preparation:
Save Early for Disaster Costs
Emergencies hit us when we least expect and could be costly if we aren’t prepared beforehand. Do you have an emergency fund? Does your insurance adequately cover the costs of a natural disaster? Does your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance cover flood damages? It’s important to have funds available when emergencies disrupt daily life or if an ATM isn’t immediately available.
Make a Plan
Preparing your family for an emergency is as simple as a conversation over dinner, and it’s important to include kids in the disaster planning process. Practice your plan, including evacuations, fire escapes and turning off utilities like natural gas.
Youth Preparedness
Teach children what to do in an emergency if they are at home or away. They should know how to communicate during an emergency, with you, friends or emergency responders. Review family emergency plans regularly, or even have them practice building their own emergency kits.
Get Involved in Community Preparedness
Take some time to learn about the hazards most likely to affect your community and their responses. Look for opportunities to get involved by volunteering with organizations before, during and after potential disasters. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) train volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters their community may face.
For more information on National Preparedness Month, including sample emergency communications plans, organizations you can volunteer with during disasters and more, visit www.ready.gov.
