October is National Co-op Month
Thursday | October 5, 2017
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
Read more >
Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
Friday | January 10, 2020
Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Read more >
Title
Operation Round Up Gives Big in 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_RoundUp.jpg?h=45932144&itok=YdOl3AGv
Wednesday | December 14, 2022
Card Teaser
Member-funded foundation has distributed nearly $170,000 this year
Member-Funded Foundation has Distributed Nearly $170,000 This Year
Operation Round Up is poised to have one of its biggest giving years on record since the foundation’s inception more than 25 years ago. With another month remaining to consider grant requests, the foundation has already distributed nearly $170,000 to nonprofit organizations serving United Power members across the cooperative’s service territory. The foundation’s board will meet to review grant requests again in December.
Members who enroll in Round Up will have their monthly billing statements rounded up to the next whole dollar, which averages about $.50 per statement — or just $6 per year. Participation is voluntary and can be ended at any time. Donated funds are distributed to four partner nonprofit organizations representing members in each of the cooperative’s districts, as well as other organizations that submit grant requests. The board, made up of fellow United Power members, meets five times throughout the year to review requests.
As a voluntary foundation, members form the backbone of Round Up. Because the growing number of people in need is stretching local nonprofits beyond their means, United Power is making a call to its membership to consider enrolling. Your contribution will go further than you imagine and could mean another family has food on their table, clothes on their back, a warm place to sleep, or any other number of needs met. More than 20,000 members are currently enrolled in the program.
“We participate in Round Up,” said one Commerce City member when asked about the program. “To us, it is just a monthly reminder, however small, that everyone who benefits is part of one big family.”
Members who are interested in enrolling in Round Up or increasing their contribution can go to complete a quick form on our Round Up page or call Member Services at 303-637-1300.
Title
Operation Round-Up Commits $20,000 in Support to Local Food Banks
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/OpRoundUp.jpg?itok=5ff8Tzro
Wednesday | May 13, 2020
Card Teaser
The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
BRIGHTON – United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation will donate a total of $20,000 to large food banks that provide food to members throughout the United Power service territory. The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
“On behalf of the entire Round-Up board of directors, we are very pleased to be able to provide these generous grants to these two organizations,” stated Dale McCall, United Power Operation Round-Up President. “This support, coupled with our ongoing support of our partner organizations, provides direct relief to members of United Power who are being impacted by either health or economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to this one-time grant, the organization has been providing on-going support to several groups that provide essential services to community members over the last three years. Almost Home in Brighton, Catholic Charities in Ft. Lupton, the Carbon Valley Help Center in Firestone, and Canyon Cares in the Coal Creek Canyon area receive quarterly grants to provide assistance to United Power members who may need help paying utility, rent, and other critical expenses.
The Round-Up board is charged with the oversight and distribution of funds collected from members who support the foundation. The foundation is funded by members who “round-up” their bills to the next full dollar amount. The average donation is 50¢ per month, but those pennies add up to really make a substantial impact in United Power’s service territory. Since the foundation was established it has funneled more than $2.5 million back into the community to fund programs that support United Power members. To learn more about United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation, visit our website at www.unitedpower.com, or call us at 303-637-1300.
About United Power and the Operation Round-Up Foundation
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado's north-central front range. The United Power Operation Round-Up Foundation, funded by United Power members, supports the needs of cooperative members through grants to local organizations providing critical services. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
Title
Our Salute to Veterans
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SaluteVets_2022.jpg?itok=Aw5zoHD7
Friday | November 18, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is proud to celebrate veterans working in our offices, living in our communities, and throughout the country.
Co-op Emloyees Raised More Than $5,000 to Support Veterans Through Allegiance Ranch
Cooperatives are driven by a spirit of service and the desire to give back to the communities that built and shaped us, the same motivating factors that inspire our military heroes. United Power is proud to celebrate veterans working in our offices, living in our communities, and throughout the country. Veterans Day allows us to take a moment to appreciate and thank our military veterans. The cooperative is honored to serve those who have bravely served our country.
Many United Power employees have felt the impact of a family member who answered the call to serve and protect our country. Some fought in the most important conflicts in world history. Some employees have known this call firsthand from serving in one of our military branches themselves. The cooperative wants to recognize these employees not only for their service to the country, but also their commitment to the cooperative values and principles that drive us to serve members better every day.
“Please join me in extending a special thank you to all United Power employees who are veterans and all our members who served our country both in peace and conflict,” said United Power President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Gabriel. “Thank you for your patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”
As part of the United Power’s recognition of Veterans Day in November, co-op employees led an effort to raise funds for Allegiance Ranch and Equine Rescue in Erie. Allegiance Ranch is a nonprofit that provides a safe and welcoming place for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families. It provides services free of charge thanks to the support of community members and donors.
Employees raised more than $5,000 for Allegiance Ranch in less than 48 hours through an online auction featuring themed baskets donated by each United Power department. Many departments and several United Power employees also donated additional items for the auction. Allegiance Ranch will use the funds to complete projects that allow them to better serve veterans. The check presentation is scheduled later this year. To learn more about Allegiance Ranch, click here.
Thank you again to all our military veterans. You inspire us each day to do our best to serve our members and our communities with pride and commitment. Thank you for your service.
Title
Our Superheros
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Mar2018_NL_TimeToShine_0.png?itok=TCMKfnzs
Monday | April 2, 2018
Card Teaser
Every day heroes may not wear capes and fly around the city, but they know when the going gets tough, it’s time for them to get going.
When darkness befalls a city, superheroes lace up their boots, throw on their capes and race into danger without a moment’s hesitation. Everyone knows the classic Spider-Man quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Every day heroes may not wear capes and fly around the city, but they know when the going gets tough, it’s time for them to get going.
The Denver area is synonymous with winter storms, and when the metro last experienced the most trying pitfalls of living at the base of the Rocky Mountains in October 2009, United Power linemen were prepped and ready to go as snow blanketed the metro area. Schools and businesses took preemptive action, closing before the storm hit. By the time the last snowflake nestled in with its brethren, snow had been falling for more than 24 hours.
While area youth enjoyed a day away from the classroom, a different picture unfolded in the Front Range. Coal Creek Canyon, a community within United Power’s mountain service area, had accumulated nearly four feet of snow.
To put that number into perspective, Chicago’s average annual snowfall is around three feet.
Calm winds allowed the snow to gingerly build on tree branches, poles, yard ornaments and fences, bringing with it a massive burden. Each new snowflake resting precariously on unsuspecting surfaces brought weight inching toward disaster, like the dastardly plan of a supervillain. Before the storm faded, thousands of Coal Creek residents were without power as tree branches, cross arms and power lines succumbed to the weight of the snow.
Within moments of the outage, United Power had begun mobilizing crews to diagnose the situation and restore power. Operations Superintendent Mike Lanckriet, a lineman of 32 years, and his crew were among the first to respond.
“We took careful steps to monitor the storm as it moved into our territory, but we never expected the amount of snow we got,” Lanckriet said. “At times the snow was deeper than our linemen were tall. But we didn’t think of it in terms of challenges. When we arrived, our first focus was what needed to be done to get the power back on.”
United Power linemen wouldn’t let the enormity of the task ahead deter them from accomplishing their goal. They laced up their boots, threw on their tools and raced headfirst into our worst winter storm in more than 12 years.
Crews spent nearly a week battling dense snow, bitter cold and physical and mental fatigue while alternating 14 hour shifts to restore power to Coal Creek. Final repairs, however, took more than two weeks to complete.
“You try to be as prepared as possible before a large storm, but there’s always a level of unpredictability,” said Kurt Eisenbarth, another United Power superintendent and former lineman. “It takes a different mentality to thrive on that in the most critical situations.”
Living along the Front Range means each winter brings the possibility of another debilitating winter storm, but in reality critical situations come few and far between. Most of the time, linemen are working when the weather’s calm and the sun is shining. It’s easy to forget the service they provide when the situation isn’t seen as “critical,” easy to divorce their role from the danger linemen face each day.
“It doesn’t take lightning or snow for our job to be dangerous,” said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. “The most routine task requires a high level of care and safety.”
Being a lineman requires hard work, dedication and commitment – to their crew and their work – to doing dangerous work, knowing the fruits of their labor are often misunderstood or unrecognized.
Residents in a comic book rest easy knowing a superhero is there to save the day when danger rears its head, much like we confidently trust in the unimpeded flow of electricity to power our lives. But when the power fails, our linemen spring into action.
We invite our members to join us in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th. Use #ThankALineman on social media to show your support, or take a moment to drop a kind note in the mail.
Outages can come without warning, from a variety of different situations, but one thing you can count on: when the power goes out, a United Power line crew is already on its way.
“When the power goes out, it’s about a brotherhood coming together to accomplish a goal, working shoulder to shoulder through blood, sweat and tears,” Eisenbarth said. “At night, they get to be the superheroes.”
Title
Our Time to Shine
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Mar2018_NL_TimeToShine.png?itok=CsuppcyJ
Thursday | March 1, 2018
Card Teaser
When severe weather hits, there’s one group United Power and its members rely on to keep the power on. Join us in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th.
When severe weather hits, there’s one group United Power and its members rely on to keep the power on. On April 18th, we will join in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day, honoring the hard work, innovation and dedication of America’s electrical lineworkers.
Linemen must be prepared to face daily situations that may be less than ideal, regularly tasked with resolving intricate and hazardous problems in unknown or perilous conditions. It requires a strong commitment to one another and doing dangerous work, knowing the fruits of their labor are often misunderstood or unrecognized.
In the line of duty, the smallest mistake could be the difference between life and death. When our linemen lace up their boots, they understand the dedication they must have to safely complete their work in the quickest possible way.
“Electric linemen are the backbone of what we do,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power Chief Operations Officer. “They go above and beyond on a daily basis, often in hazardous conditions far from their families, to restore power to their communities.”
Our linemen are on call 24 hours a day, ready to respond to any situation in any type of weather. So next time you lose power, rest assured a highly trained United Power crew is on the way, dedicated to getting the lights back on quickly and safely.
“When the power is off, that’s when we’re at our best and it’s our time to shine,” said Mark Keith, United Power foreman. “We get out there no matter the weather, and get to work figuring out how to solve the problem.”
Regularly facing difficult situations, it’s no surprise electrical lineworkers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. In 2017, electrical powerline installers and repairers were noted to have the 15th most dangerous profession.
Without our linemen, the power that makes our member’s homes comfortable wouldn’t be possible. We invite our members to take a moment to thank our United Power linemen for the work they do. Use #ThankALineman on social media to show your support, or take a moment to drop a kind note in the mail.
Pastor's Pantry Received Round-Up Grant
Monday | June 29, 2020
Pastor’s Pantry is an available resource for anyone in need in the canyon, and provides both food and essential items, such as toiletries and paper products.
Read more >
October is National Co-op Month
Thursday | October 5, 2017
United Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve.
Read more >
Old Home Wiring May Need TLC
Friday | January 10, 2020
Here are a few clues to find out if your home’s electric network needs a professional switch.
Read more >
Title
Operation Round Up Gives Big in 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_RoundUp.jpg?h=45932144&itok=YdOl3AGv
Wednesday | December 14, 2022
Card Teaser
Member-funded foundation has distributed nearly $170,000 this year
Member-Funded Foundation has Distributed Nearly $170,000 This Year
Operation Round Up is poised to have one of its biggest giving years on record since the foundation’s inception more than 25 years ago. With another month remaining to consider grant requests, the foundation has already distributed nearly $170,000 to nonprofit organizations serving United Power members across the cooperative’s service territory. The foundation’s board will meet to review grant requests again in December.
Members who enroll in Round Up will have their monthly billing statements rounded up to the next whole dollar, which averages about $.50 per statement — or just $6 per year. Participation is voluntary and can be ended at any time. Donated funds are distributed to four partner nonprofit organizations representing members in each of the cooperative’s districts, as well as other organizations that submit grant requests. The board, made up of fellow United Power members, meets five times throughout the year to review requests.
As a voluntary foundation, members form the backbone of Round Up. Because the growing number of people in need is stretching local nonprofits beyond their means, United Power is making a call to its membership to consider enrolling. Your contribution will go further than you imagine and could mean another family has food on their table, clothes on their back, a warm place to sleep, or any other number of needs met. More than 20,000 members are currently enrolled in the program.
“We participate in Round Up,” said one Commerce City member when asked about the program. “To us, it is just a monthly reminder, however small, that everyone who benefits is part of one big family.”
Members who are interested in enrolling in Round Up or increasing their contribution can go to complete a quick form on our Round Up page or call Member Services at 303-637-1300.
Title
Operation Round-Up Commits $20,000 in Support to Local Food Banks
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/OpRoundUp.jpg?itok=5ff8Tzro
Wednesday | May 13, 2020
Card Teaser
The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
BRIGHTON – United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation will donate a total of $20,000 to large food banks that provide food to members throughout the United Power service territory. The board of directors selected Food Bank of the Rockies and the Weld County Food Bank to receive grants of $10,000 each to offset their growing costs during the COVID-19 situation.
“On behalf of the entire Round-Up board of directors, we are very pleased to be able to provide these generous grants to these two organizations,” stated Dale McCall, United Power Operation Round-Up President. “This support, coupled with our ongoing support of our partner organizations, provides direct relief to members of United Power who are being impacted by either health or economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to this one-time grant, the organization has been providing on-going support to several groups that provide essential services to community members over the last three years. Almost Home in Brighton, Catholic Charities in Ft. Lupton, the Carbon Valley Help Center in Firestone, and Canyon Cares in the Coal Creek Canyon area receive quarterly grants to provide assistance to United Power members who may need help paying utility, rent, and other critical expenses.
The Round-Up board is charged with the oversight and distribution of funds collected from members who support the foundation. The foundation is funded by members who “round-up” their bills to the next full dollar amount. The average donation is 50¢ per month, but those pennies add up to really make a substantial impact in United Power’s service territory. Since the foundation was established it has funneled more than $2.5 million back into the community to fund programs that support United Power members. To learn more about United Power’s Operation Round-Up Foundation, visit our website at www.unitedpower.com, or call us at 303-637-1300.
About United Power and the Operation Round-Up Foundation
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado's north-central front range. The United Power Operation Round-Up Foundation, funded by United Power members, supports the needs of cooperative members through grants to local organizations providing critical services. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
Title
Our Salute to Veterans
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SaluteVets_2022.jpg?itok=Aw5zoHD7
Friday | November 18, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is proud to celebrate veterans working in our offices, living in our communities, and throughout the country.
Co-op Emloyees Raised More Than $5,000 to Support Veterans Through Allegiance Ranch
Cooperatives are driven by a spirit of service and the desire to give back to the communities that built and shaped us, the same motivating factors that inspire our military heroes. United Power is proud to celebrate veterans working in our offices, living in our communities, and throughout the country. Veterans Day allows us to take a moment to appreciate and thank our military veterans. The cooperative is honored to serve those who have bravely served our country.
Many United Power employees have felt the impact of a family member who answered the call to serve and protect our country. Some fought in the most important conflicts in world history. Some employees have known this call firsthand from serving in one of our military branches themselves. The cooperative wants to recognize these employees not only for their service to the country, but also their commitment to the cooperative values and principles that drive us to serve members better every day.
“Please join me in extending a special thank you to all United Power employees who are veterans and all our members who served our country both in peace and conflict,” said United Power President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Gabriel. “Thank you for your patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”
As part of the United Power’s recognition of Veterans Day in November, co-op employees led an effort to raise funds for Allegiance Ranch and Equine Rescue in Erie. Allegiance Ranch is a nonprofit that provides a safe and welcoming place for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families. It provides services free of charge thanks to the support of community members and donors.
Employees raised more than $5,000 for Allegiance Ranch in less than 48 hours through an online auction featuring themed baskets donated by each United Power department. Many departments and several United Power employees also donated additional items for the auction. Allegiance Ranch will use the funds to complete projects that allow them to better serve veterans. The check presentation is scheduled later this year. To learn more about Allegiance Ranch, click here.
Thank you again to all our military veterans. You inspire us each day to do our best to serve our members and our communities with pride and commitment. Thank you for your service.
Title
Our Superheros
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Mar2018_NL_TimeToShine_0.png?itok=TCMKfnzs
Monday | April 2, 2018
Card Teaser
Every day heroes may not wear capes and fly around the city, but they know when the going gets tough, it’s time for them to get going.
When darkness befalls a city, superheroes lace up their boots, throw on their capes and race into danger without a moment’s hesitation. Everyone knows the classic Spider-Man quote, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Every day heroes may not wear capes and fly around the city, but they know when the going gets tough, it’s time for them to get going.
The Denver area is synonymous with winter storms, and when the metro last experienced the most trying pitfalls of living at the base of the Rocky Mountains in October 2009, United Power linemen were prepped and ready to go as snow blanketed the metro area. Schools and businesses took preemptive action, closing before the storm hit. By the time the last snowflake nestled in with its brethren, snow had been falling for more than 24 hours.
While area youth enjoyed a day away from the classroom, a different picture unfolded in the Front Range. Coal Creek Canyon, a community within United Power’s mountain service area, had accumulated nearly four feet of snow.
To put that number into perspective, Chicago’s average annual snowfall is around three feet.
Calm winds allowed the snow to gingerly build on tree branches, poles, yard ornaments and fences, bringing with it a massive burden. Each new snowflake resting precariously on unsuspecting surfaces brought weight inching toward disaster, like the dastardly plan of a supervillain. Before the storm faded, thousands of Coal Creek residents were without power as tree branches, cross arms and power lines succumbed to the weight of the snow.
Within moments of the outage, United Power had begun mobilizing crews to diagnose the situation and restore power. Operations Superintendent Mike Lanckriet, a lineman of 32 years, and his crew were among the first to respond.
“We took careful steps to monitor the storm as it moved into our territory, but we never expected the amount of snow we got,” Lanckriet said. “At times the snow was deeper than our linemen were tall. But we didn’t think of it in terms of challenges. When we arrived, our first focus was what needed to be done to get the power back on.”
United Power linemen wouldn’t let the enormity of the task ahead deter them from accomplishing their goal. They laced up their boots, threw on their tools and raced headfirst into our worst winter storm in more than 12 years.
Crews spent nearly a week battling dense snow, bitter cold and physical and mental fatigue while alternating 14 hour shifts to restore power to Coal Creek. Final repairs, however, took more than two weeks to complete.
“You try to be as prepared as possible before a large storm, but there’s always a level of unpredictability,” said Kurt Eisenbarth, another United Power superintendent and former lineman. “It takes a different mentality to thrive on that in the most critical situations.”
Living along the Front Range means each winter brings the possibility of another debilitating winter storm, but in reality critical situations come few and far between. Most of the time, linemen are working when the weather’s calm and the sun is shining. It’s easy to forget the service they provide when the situation isn’t seen as “critical,” easy to divorce their role from the danger linemen face each day.
“It doesn’t take lightning or snow for our job to be dangerous,” said Operations Manager Brent Sydow. “The most routine task requires a high level of care and safety.”
Being a lineman requires hard work, dedication and commitment – to their crew and their work – to doing dangerous work, knowing the fruits of their labor are often misunderstood or unrecognized.
Residents in a comic book rest easy knowing a superhero is there to save the day when danger rears its head, much like we confidently trust in the unimpeded flow of electricity to power our lives. But when the power fails, our linemen spring into action.
We invite our members to join us in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th. Use #ThankALineman on social media to show your support, or take a moment to drop a kind note in the mail.
Outages can come without warning, from a variety of different situations, but one thing you can count on: when the power goes out, a United Power line crew is already on its way.
“When the power goes out, it’s about a brotherhood coming together to accomplish a goal, working shoulder to shoulder through blood, sweat and tears,” Eisenbarth said. “At night, they get to be the superheroes.”
Title
Our Time to Shine
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Mar2018_NL_TimeToShine.png?itok=CsuppcyJ
Thursday | March 1, 2018
Card Teaser
When severe weather hits, there’s one group United Power and its members rely on to keep the power on. Join us in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th.
When severe weather hits, there’s one group United Power and its members rely on to keep the power on. On April 18th, we will join in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day, honoring the hard work, innovation and dedication of America’s electrical lineworkers.
Linemen must be prepared to face daily situations that may be less than ideal, regularly tasked with resolving intricate and hazardous problems in unknown or perilous conditions. It requires a strong commitment to one another and doing dangerous work, knowing the fruits of their labor are often misunderstood or unrecognized.
In the line of duty, the smallest mistake could be the difference between life and death. When our linemen lace up their boots, they understand the dedication they must have to safely complete their work in the quickest possible way.
“Electric linemen are the backbone of what we do,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power Chief Operations Officer. “They go above and beyond on a daily basis, often in hazardous conditions far from their families, to restore power to their communities.”
Our linemen are on call 24 hours a day, ready to respond to any situation in any type of weather. So next time you lose power, rest assured a highly trained United Power crew is on the way, dedicated to getting the lights back on quickly and safely.
“When the power is off, that’s when we’re at our best and it’s our time to shine,” said Mark Keith, United Power foreman. “We get out there no matter the weather, and get to work figuring out how to solve the problem.”
Regularly facing difficult situations, it’s no surprise electrical lineworkers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. In 2017, electrical powerline installers and repairers were noted to have the 15th most dangerous profession.
Without our linemen, the power that makes our member’s homes comfortable wouldn’t be possible. We invite our members to take a moment to thank our United Power linemen for the work they do. Use #ThankALineman on social media to show your support, or take a moment to drop a kind note in the mail.
Pastor's Pantry Received Round-Up Grant
Monday | June 29, 2020
Pastor’s Pantry is an available resource for anyone in need in the canyon, and provides both food and essential items, such as toiletries and paper products.
Read more >
