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 >
The Birth of a Cooperative
Thursday | January 3, 2019
This is the first in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Read more >
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 MembershipMembership 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 ControlCo-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 ParticipationMembers 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 & IndependenceCo-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, & InformationEducation 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 CooperativesCo-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 CommunitiesCo-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.
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.
Title
The Force of Nature
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/WindStorm_251217_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=QizmetTX
Thursday | February 19, 2026
Card Teaser
Lineworkers spent days clearing lines following storms on Dec. 17 & 19.
Lineworkers Spent Days Clearing Lines Following Storms on Dec. 17 & 19
United Power members experienced Colorado’s ferocious weather in December when strong windstorms struck the northern Front Range twice in one week. Members who live in the cooperative’s mountain territory received the brunt of the storms, with gusts reaching more than 110 miles per hour near the foothills, according to data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
Weather forecasting provided advance notice about the potential for heavy and sustained winds and, due to an exceedingly dry season, prompted the National Weather Service to issue its first-ever “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Red Flag Warning (for extremely critical fire weather conditions) for the state of Colorado. Xcel Energy, a transmission provider to parts of United Power’s system, responded by preemptively scheduling public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) in the foothills between Golden and Boulder.
Although United Power did not initiate any power shutoffs and was not impacted by Xcel’s PSPS, both utilities activated system-wide wildfire safety measures. This included placing any power lines in the immediate area into Wildfire Safety Mode, which is a setting that stops the flow of power whenever a fault is detected and prevents automated devices from attempting re-energization. A manual inspection is required to ensure the line is clear of debris and the infrastructure is not damaged before power restoration can begin. Shortly after winds peaked, United Power lost transmission from the Xcel line that delivers power to the cooperative’s members in the Coal Creek and Golden Gate canyons. It was the first in a series of events that launched line crews into a dayslong effort to clear debris from miles of line and restore power to thousands of families.
“Heavy wind is an enemy to even the most resilient power grids because it forces us to circumvent all our built-in automation and system redundancies for the safety of our members,” said Adam Dillon, United Power’s Vice President of Operations. “And it prolongs outage recovery because we cannot restore power without visually inspecting every mile of line, much of which needed to be cleared of debris from the storms.”
Aftermath of the Storms
As the sun faded on Dec. 17, and the first round of storms had passed through the area, all members in the mountain territory were without power and the extent of the damage was unknown. The lack of visibility without light made assessments difficult and unsafe to conduct, forcing crews to wait until first light to begin working on power restoration. Upon inspection, lineworkers found downed trees and power lines, broken poles, and a variety of other damage.
Once the transmission line providing power to the mountains was re-energized, it finally gave United Power the opportunity to test parts of its system that had been cleared and attempt to restore power to some members. Working slowly, feeder by feeder, crews were eventually able to restore power to nearly every member in the mountain territory. However, a second round of windstorms was now on deck.
“It is backbreaking work to spend all that time clearing debris and restoring power while knowing you will probably have to do it all over again in another 24 hours,” said Dillon. “It takes a certain mindset to do what lineworkers do day in and day out, with a lot of dedication and determination, especially in adverse and unpredictable conditions.”
Heavy winds arrived earlier than expected for the second storm, hitting the co-op overnight on Dec. 19 and causing outages to roll in quickly. Before the sun had a chance to rise, all members were once again without power. The prior day’s efforts erased in just a couple hours.
Troubleshooters were dispatched, but little could be done as conditions deteriorated into the morning and early afternoon. Relentless winds toppled trees and blew debris into power lines. Until there was a break, the situation was too dangerous — and too uncertain — to conduct restoration attempts.
Slowly and methodically, as the wind broke and crews were able to assess damage to the system, the cooperative began a painstaking weekend of clearing debris, making repairs to infrastructure, testing the system, and, finally, restoring power.
“Our lineworkers are diligent and gritty. They work hard to keep the lights on,” said Travis Rodlin, United Power’s Mountain Manager. “They were prepared for the circumstances of these storms and did not back down from the challenge.”
The weekend provided relief from winds and a fresh dusting of snow, allowing United Power to operate under standard system settings instead of Wildfire Safety Mode, which had been activated for much of the previous week. It did not, however, ease the burden of lineworkers who encountered a significant number of downed trees and power lines as they worked toward restoration. Approximately 1,000 members were without power throughout Saturday, and that number dropped to 125 by Sunday afternoon. A couple dozen remaining members were restored on Monday morning, finally ending the outage.
“As proud as I am of our lineworkers’ efforts, I am equally grateful to our members for their patience throughout the restoration process,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “Many of our members were without power for several days. That would be difficult for anyone. Thank you for giving our lineworkers the grace to safely restore power.”
Learn more about United Power’s Wildfire Safety Mode and power safety updates.
The Value of Electricity
Tuesday | November 22, 2022
Electricity is so readily available and easy to access we may not realize it has a surprisingly high value when compared to many of our other regular expenses.
Read more >
Title
Three Board Seats Up in Annual Director Election
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/images/Images_News/Gavel.jpg?h=056ec721&itok=00YZJnkd
Thursday | January 13, 2022
Card Teaser
The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.
Three positions on United Power’s eleven-member board are up for election at the 2022 Hybrid Annual Meeting & Director Election which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
The cooperative plans to host a hybrid event, available for members to attend either in-person or virtually. One seat in the East, West, and South districts will be up for a three-year term.
To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must be a United Power member and receive electric service from United Power at the member’s primary residence in the district he or she represents. United Power’s bylaws provide in-depth
information on director districts, qualifications, terms, elections, meetings, and officers.
Each member’s district is printed on their United Power statement. Nominations by written petition must state the nominee’s name and district, be signed by 15 or more United Power members, and be filed with the Board no less than 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting. We ask any member interested in nomination to complete a biographical request form, available through the Executive Department.
The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.
Petitions are available at United Power’s headquarters office in Brighton at 500 Cooperative Way. Additional information can be obtained by calling United Power’s executive department at 303-659-0551 or on the Annual Meeting page.
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 >
The Birth of a Cooperative
Thursday | January 3, 2019
This is the first in a three part series chronicling the cooperative’s history leading up to its 80th Annual Meeting this April.
Read more >
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 MembershipMembership 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 ControlCo-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 ParticipationMembers 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 & IndependenceCo-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, & InformationEducation 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 CooperativesCo-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 CommunitiesCo-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.
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.
Title
The Force of Nature
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/WindStorm_251217_1320x860.jpg?h=45932144&itok=QizmetTX
Thursday | February 19, 2026
Card Teaser
Lineworkers spent days clearing lines following storms on Dec. 17 & 19.
Lineworkers Spent Days Clearing Lines Following Storms on Dec. 17 & 19
United Power members experienced Colorado’s ferocious weather in December when strong windstorms struck the northern Front Range twice in one week. Members who live in the cooperative’s mountain territory received the brunt of the storms, with gusts reaching more than 110 miles per hour near the foothills, according to data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
Weather forecasting provided advance notice about the potential for heavy and sustained winds and, due to an exceedingly dry season, prompted the National Weather Service to issue its first-ever “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Red Flag Warning (for extremely critical fire weather conditions) for the state of Colorado. Xcel Energy, a transmission provider to parts of United Power’s system, responded by preemptively scheduling public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) in the foothills between Golden and Boulder.
Although United Power did not initiate any power shutoffs and was not impacted by Xcel’s PSPS, both utilities activated system-wide wildfire safety measures. This included placing any power lines in the immediate area into Wildfire Safety Mode, which is a setting that stops the flow of power whenever a fault is detected and prevents automated devices from attempting re-energization. A manual inspection is required to ensure the line is clear of debris and the infrastructure is not damaged before power restoration can begin. Shortly after winds peaked, United Power lost transmission from the Xcel line that delivers power to the cooperative’s members in the Coal Creek and Golden Gate canyons. It was the first in a series of events that launched line crews into a dayslong effort to clear debris from miles of line and restore power to thousands of families.
“Heavy wind is an enemy to even the most resilient power grids because it forces us to circumvent all our built-in automation and system redundancies for the safety of our members,” said Adam Dillon, United Power’s Vice President of Operations. “And it prolongs outage recovery because we cannot restore power without visually inspecting every mile of line, much of which needed to be cleared of debris from the storms.”
Aftermath of the Storms
As the sun faded on Dec. 17, and the first round of storms had passed through the area, all members in the mountain territory were without power and the extent of the damage was unknown. The lack of visibility without light made assessments difficult and unsafe to conduct, forcing crews to wait until first light to begin working on power restoration. Upon inspection, lineworkers found downed trees and power lines, broken poles, and a variety of other damage.
Once the transmission line providing power to the mountains was re-energized, it finally gave United Power the opportunity to test parts of its system that had been cleared and attempt to restore power to some members. Working slowly, feeder by feeder, crews were eventually able to restore power to nearly every member in the mountain territory. However, a second round of windstorms was now on deck.
“It is backbreaking work to spend all that time clearing debris and restoring power while knowing you will probably have to do it all over again in another 24 hours,” said Dillon. “It takes a certain mindset to do what lineworkers do day in and day out, with a lot of dedication and determination, especially in adverse and unpredictable conditions.”
Heavy winds arrived earlier than expected for the second storm, hitting the co-op overnight on Dec. 19 and causing outages to roll in quickly. Before the sun had a chance to rise, all members were once again without power. The prior day’s efforts erased in just a couple hours.
Troubleshooters were dispatched, but little could be done as conditions deteriorated into the morning and early afternoon. Relentless winds toppled trees and blew debris into power lines. Until there was a break, the situation was too dangerous — and too uncertain — to conduct restoration attempts.
Slowly and methodically, as the wind broke and crews were able to assess damage to the system, the cooperative began a painstaking weekend of clearing debris, making repairs to infrastructure, testing the system, and, finally, restoring power.
“Our lineworkers are diligent and gritty. They work hard to keep the lights on,” said Travis Rodlin, United Power’s Mountain Manager. “They were prepared for the circumstances of these storms and did not back down from the challenge.”
The weekend provided relief from winds and a fresh dusting of snow, allowing United Power to operate under standard system settings instead of Wildfire Safety Mode, which had been activated for much of the previous week. It did not, however, ease the burden of lineworkers who encountered a significant number of downed trees and power lines as they worked toward restoration. Approximately 1,000 members were without power throughout Saturday, and that number dropped to 125 by Sunday afternoon. A couple dozen remaining members were restored on Monday morning, finally ending the outage.
“As proud as I am of our lineworkers’ efforts, I am equally grateful to our members for their patience throughout the restoration process,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “Many of our members were without power for several days. That would be difficult for anyone. Thank you for giving our lineworkers the grace to safely restore power.”
Learn more about United Power’s Wildfire Safety Mode and power safety updates.
The Value of Electricity
Tuesday | November 22, 2022
Electricity is so readily available and easy to access we may not realize it has a surprisingly high value when compared to many of our other regular expenses.
Read more >
Title
Three Board Seats Up in Annual Director Election
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/images/Images_News/Gavel.jpg?h=056ec721&itok=00YZJnkd
Thursday | January 13, 2022
Card Teaser
The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.
Three positions on United Power’s eleven-member board are up for election at the 2022 Hybrid Annual Meeting & Director Election which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
The cooperative plans to host a hybrid event, available for members to attend either in-person or virtually. One seat in the East, West, and South districts will be up for a three-year term.
To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must be a United Power member and receive electric service from United Power at the member’s primary residence in the district he or she represents. United Power’s bylaws provide in-depth
information on director districts, qualifications, terms, elections, meetings, and officers.
Each member’s district is printed on their United Power statement. Nominations by written petition must state the nominee’s name and district, be signed by 15 or more United Power members, and be filed with the Board no less than 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting. We ask any member interested in nomination to complete a biographical request form, available through the Executive Department.
The deadline for nominations by petition is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.
Petitions are available at United Power’s headquarters office in Brighton at 500 Cooperative Way. Additional information can be obtained by calling United Power’s executive department at 303-659-0551 or on the Annual Meeting page.
