1. 07/22/2019 - 04:40 PM
    Title Summer Air Conditioning and the Demand Rate /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/JulyAug2019_NL_AirConditioning.jpg?itok=Bka7-6IY Monday | July 22, 2019 Card Teaser Your air conditioner is probably one of the most demand intensive appliances in your home. This means members will begin to see their demand charge rise to include this additional appliance as the summer heat arrives. Your air conditioner is probably one of the most demand intensive appliances in your home. This means members will begin to see their demand charge rise to include this additional appliance as the summer heat arrives. There is good news if you like keeping your home cool, though. When United Power instituted the demand charge, there was a corresponding REDUCTION in the cost of energy. Since you use a lot of energy to keep your home cool, you will probably see very little change from prior summers in your average bill.  When United Power moved to a demand rate we uncoupled costs that had previously been blended into the rate. This new structure gives you more control over your electric costs, by allowing you to avoid stacking appliance use. It also reduced the cost you pay for the actual energy you use.   The change is helping to make sure you pay a more accurate portion of your costs for the distribution system that brings power to your home.  Demand is the total of all electric appliances that are running at one time. United Power bases their demand charge on your highest demand in a 15-minute period throughout the month. In the summer this is going to happen when you run your air conditioner, and perhaps an additional appliance like your washer or oven.  For example, a 24,000 BTU air conditioner creates a demand of about 3.8 kW, which translates to a demand charge of $3.80 plus the demand of any other appliances running at the same time. United Power made sure that our members can access the information they need to better understand their power consumption.  All United Power members can look at their power consumption and see when you reach your peak demand via the Power Portal. If you need help accessing the Power Portal give Member Services a call at 303-637-1300. Remember that our website, www.unitedpower.com, has lots of great information about how you can reduce demand and how demand billing works. 
  2. 09/24/2019 - 07:45 AM
    Title Summer Heat Sets Record Peak /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct_NL_RecordPeak.jpg?itok=tcVCN2QP Monday | September 23, 2019 Card Teaser In July, the cooperative hit its record peak demand at more than 520 megawatts, the highest demand of any cooperative in the state. The summer is coming to a close soon, but you may have noticed some higher than usual bills over the past couple months. That’s in part due to the unusually warm summer we’ve had this year.  As the temperatures rose, United Power also felt the affects. In July, the cooperative hit its record peak demand at more than 520 megawatts, the highest demand of any cooperative in the state. Nationally, the heat wave resulted in the highest demand since 2017, according to the Energy Information Administration.  If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat without seeing the impact on your electric bill, the Department of Energy recommends turning your A/C up a few degrees when you leave the house. Turning your thermostat back a few degrees and ensuring your house has the proper insulation can result in big savings.  You can find more energy savings tips under Managing My Energy. 
  3. 02/10/2026 - 04:19 PM
    Survey Sent to Members Tuesday | February 10, 2026 We want your feedback! Read more >
  4. 09/21/2023 - 01:33 PM
    Surviving in Place: Why a Battery Backup? Thursday | September 21, 2023 Members who rely on powered medical equipment should have a plan for large disasters and power interruptions. Read more >
  5. 01/03/2020 - 08:41 AM
    Take the Edge off Electric Bills in 2020 Friday | January 3, 2020 Take advantage of the resources the cooperative provides for its members and discover quick home upgrades and behavior changes to see immediate savings. Read more >
  6. 03/25/2026 - 09:32 AM
    Title Tenth Circuit Court Opinion Signals End to Years of Litigation /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Gavel.png?h=056ec721&itok=Nlg14PbQ Wednesday | March 25, 2026 Card Teaser Opinion upholds FERC orders that adopted an exit-fee methodology for distribution cooperative members. Brighton, CO – On March 24, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) issued an opinion upholding multiple Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) orders dating back to December 2023 that adopted an exit-fee methodology for distribution cooperative members wishing to exit their all-requirements power supply contracts with Tri-State Generation & Transmission (Tri-State).    Litigation over the exit process and the fee under Tri-State’s Rate Schedule No. 281 has taken United Power and several other former Tri-State members on an odyssey to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, Colorado state court, more than six years of proceedings at FERC, a review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and finally the Tenth Circuit where the judges heard four separate appeals of FERC’s orders.  In denying Tri-State’s multiple petitions, the Tenth Circuit held “we have no doubt that FERC sufficiently weighed competing views on the best approach to the exit-fee methodology. In a 200-plus page order, FERC assiduously weighed the proposed exit-fee methodologies and the parties’ competing views. It then reweighed the methodologies and competing views on rehearing.” Moreover, the Tenth Circuit noted that “it would be inappropriate for the [exit-fee] payment to shield Tri-State from its other business risks.”   United Power has always recognized that it would have to pay an exit fee, but it has sought a fair, transparent process, and a just and reasonable methodology for establishing the amount. The cooperative’s Chief Legal Officer Robin Meidhof notes that “Tri-State’s insistence that United Power pay $1.6 billion was never reasonable and the Tenth Circuit opinion affirmed that ‘record evidence supported a balance sheet approach’ adopted by FERC.” Pursuant to FERC’s orders, Tri-State ultimately received $627.2 million from United Power, but $296.3 million of that amount was a credit for transmission service for the next 40 years.  The Tenth Circuit opinion explained that due to the technical understanding and policy judgment required to determine the exit-fee methodology, “FERC, not this or any other court, regulates electricity rates.” Meidhof shared, “We hope this decision brings closure for Tri-State and the guidance that all its members have been seeking for far too many years. At a time when all utilities are working to address challenges and increasing costs to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to their members/customers, we want to be collaborating with Tri-State, not continuing to litigate a matter that should have been resolved years ago.”  About United Power United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, serving more than 117,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. ###
  7. 03/20/2020 - 02:28 PM
    Thank A Lineman Friday | March 20, 2020 On April 18th, we will join in celebrating National Lineman Appreciation Day, honoring the hard work, innovation and dedication of America’s electrical lineworkers. Read more >
  8. 01/24/2019 - 11:01 AM
    Title The Birth of a Cooperative /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2019_NL_BirthCooperative.png?itok=m6DZoKJN Thursday | January 3, 2019 Card Teaser This is the first in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April. Today, United Power enjoys a seat as one of the most progressive cooperatives across the country. Over the past 80 years, United Power has reached milestones few other cooperatives have, but not without first overcoming a few seasons of turbulence. This is the first in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.  In June 1938, shortly after Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electric Administration, a group of local farmers in the counties northeast of Denver met to discuss the possibility of forming a cooperative to meet their needs. In October of that year, Union Rural Electric Association was born. The cooperative began construction on lines that would first serve members in late January of 1940.  Though the outbreak of WWII paused development, growth continued through the 1950s. During that time, Union REA entered a competitive territory battle with the state’s largest public utility, Public Service Company of Colorado (now Xcel Energy), which had begun to see the areas lucrative potential. The battle over service territory would continue throughout the 1980s. Legislation passed in 1961 finally recognized Union REA, and all other utilities in the state, as full-fledged public utilities with the right to serve certified territories, temporarily halting PSCo’s encroachment on the cooperative’s territory. However, Union REA agreed to allow PSCo to serve some of the fastest growing towns in its territory following a negotiation in 1964.  In the 1970s, PSCo broke faith with the cooperative as growth exploded in the area during that time. The public utility began aggressively claiming territory beyond what Union REA felt was outlined in the agreement. During that time, Union lost nearly 2000 accounts, and many more were considered “at-risk.” In 1987, the Public Utilities Commission declared the agreement invalid in favor of the cooperative, triggering PSCo to initiate a takeover attempt later that year. Now more than 10,000 members strong, the cooperative’s healthy growth, combined with the proximity to the Denver metro area, made Union an attractive takeover target. PSCo offered to buy out the cooperative for $62.5 million and compensate members with a $500 cash payout to replace lost capital credits. Union REA leadership felt the offer was disingenuous, and communicated directly with membership until a vote on Saturday, August 22, 1987. Union members ultimately voted against the takeover, placing their faith in the promise of the cooperative future.   
  9. 01/23/2026 - 11:19 AM
    Title The Cooperative Principles /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Principles_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=ewoHuXBV Saturday | January 31, 2026 Card Teaser Understanding the seven principles that guide United Power and other cooperatives. Understanding the Seven Principles that Guide United Power and Other Cooperatives All cooperatives operate according to the same seven principles. These principles articulate the reasons cooperatives exist, which is for the good of their members, their communities, and one another. 1. Open & Voluntary Membership Membership in a co-op is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. United Power members include anyone who receives power on its lines within its defined service territory.  2. Democratic Member Control Co-ops are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. United Power members elect the co-op’s 11-person Board of Directors. Directors serve four year terms and are elected at the Annual Meeting held in April. The Board is the policy making arm of the cooperative and acts on behalf of its members.  3. Members’ Economic Participation Members contribute equally to the capital of their co-op. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the co-op. United Power members pay not just for the electricity they use, but also for the infrastructure required to distribute power and the resources necessary to maintain the system of poles, lines, and equipment. The cooperative’s rates are designed so that members share the burden relative to their demand on the system and so that no one pays for more than they use.  4. Autonomy & Independence Co-ops are autonomous organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity. United Power operates as an independent electric utility, most evidently demonstrated by its recent power purchase agreements.  5. Education, Training, & Information Education and training for members, elected representatives, CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the co-op’s development. United Power’s Board members obtain and renew credentials that help them effectively govern the cooperative. Employees are also encouraged to attend continuing education and training conferences that better equip them to perform their jobs.  6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives Co-ops improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs through cooperation in local, national, and regional structures. United Power partners with other cooperatives and regional and national groups to advocate for policy that benefits electric cooperatives and their members. The co-op is a member of the Association of Large Distribution Cooperatives, where ideas and best practices are shared.  7. Concern for Communities Co-ops work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership. United Power is an advocate for the communities it serves, both as an economic development partner and proud supporter of local events, fairs, festivals, and more. 
  10. 12/30/2020 - 09:00 AM
    Title The Diversity of Careers in Cooperatives /sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_Careers.jpg?itok=Vk96VvfA Friday | December 18, 2020 Card Teaser At a cooperative, you are more than an employee. Your work is valued because it directly benefits the members it serves. Whether it’s a large investor-owned utility or a small, local cooperative like United Power, most people picture lineworkers when they think of the individuals who work at their electric utility. Lineworkers are highly visible around the communites we serve, working to ensure our members have safe and reliable power around the clock. They become all the more visible when the weather turns bad. Our line crews are powered by hard-working employees who are passionate about the jobs they perform. When it comes to keeping your lights on, though, linemen don’t do it alone. There are many who work behind the scenes day in and day out to assist them in their duties and serve our members in less visible, but equally important, roles. United Power’s system is a complicated infrastructure designed to deliver more than 500 megawatts of power to more than 95,000 members over nearly 1,000 square miles. Our engineers and operations staff coordinate to plan and design the system to ensure it runs effectively and efficiently. When the power does go out, this design allows our line crews to restore it quickly. The suburbs around Denver have become an attractive place to live, and because of this, United Power has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. When a new business or subdivision development moves into our territory, our project managers work closely with developers to review and design an electrical route that meets both the system’s and members’ needs. Over the years, United Power has built a name for itself as an innovative and forward-thinking cooperative, due in large part to its willingness to adopt new technology to better serve our members, such as four utility-scale solar farms and the state’s largest battery storage facility. Our New Business team helps coordinate these projects and also manages our diverse set of energy management tools, available free to our members. These represent only a few of the many career paths one can choose to pursue with a cooperative. Opportunities exist in finance and accounting, information technology, communications, government relations and more. You could even assist members directly as part of our Member Services team. At a cooperative, you are more than an employee. Your work is valued because it directly benefits the members it serves. Check United Power’s Careers page to see what opportunities are currently available at Careers.
  11. 02/19/2026 - 10:14 AM
    The Force of Nature Thursday | February 19, 2026 Lineworkers spent days clearing lines following storms on Dec. 17 & 19. Read more >
  12. 05/19/2026 - 09:19 AM
    The Power of Local Giving Tuesday | May 19, 2026 Partner groups help Round Up in community. Read more >