Title
Town of Frederick Utility Illegally Builds into United Power Territory
Friday | April 21, 2017
Card Teaser
Brighton, CO – United Power has sent official notice to the Town of Frederick that they have breached their agreement with the cooperative, and have violated Colorado State Law by building into United Power’s service territory.
United Power Seeks Resolution on Behalf of Cooperative Membership
Brighton, CO – United Power has sent official notice to the Town of Frederick that they have breached their agreement with the cooperative, and have violated Colorado State Law by building into United Power’s service territory. The cooperative is seeking a resolution within 15 days, or it will seek further action against the town.
“We originally attempted to make a good faith effort to resolve this illegal action by the Town of Frederick, but they have refused to address our concerns,” said Darryl Schriver, United Power CEO. “By building in United Power’s territory the Town violated not only state law, Frederick violated a prior agreement we have with them to supply wholesale power to the Town; we have no alternative but to seek an appropriate settlement on behalf of the entire cooperative membership.”
United Power and the Town of Frederick have a Wholesale Power Agreement, in effect from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2021, allowing the cooperative to provide power to the municipal utility serving approximately 2,000 customers. In the agreement the Town of Frederick promised to respect and honor United Power’s property interest, and that all facilities and customers outside of the Town’s “old town” boundaries are always United Power members. The fact that the Town of Frederick built in United Power’s territory to provide service to a facility located within the cooperative’s boundaries is a clear breach of the contract. Additionally, the Town of Frederick has violated a Colorado State Statute that defines the terms of any exchange of territory between municipal utilities and cooperatives. The law was designed to make sure that cooperative members are fairly compensated for any loss of membership and revenue when there is an agreement to relinquish territory.
“It is important to note that this illegal action affects every member of our cooperative—individuals and companies who have a stake in this operation,” stated Schriver. “As a cooperative we are owned by our members, and this action is a threat to the interests of every home and business that receives power from the cooperative.”
Title
Transitioning to a Demand Rate
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Sept2018_NL_Resources_0.png?itok=PNSsaHzm
Monday | October 1, 2018
Card Teaser
Beginning next year, United Power members will be charged differently for how they use energy. As was announced earlier this year, United Power will be implementing a new rate structure that will include a residential demand charge.
October 1, 2018 | Beginning next year, United Power members will be charged differently for how they use energy. As was announced earlier this year, United Power will be implementing a new rate structure that will include a residential demand charge. We are continuing the conversation about the 2019 change to residential rates by talking about why the change to the rate structure is happening now, and by taking a look at the information you can use to learn more about your electric consumption.
What is Demand?
Demand refers to the maximum amount of electrical power that is being consumed at a given time, as opposed to energy which is the amount of power used over a period of time. The more power used at once, the larger the infrastructure that is needed to deliver that power. United Power must build our system to accommodate the most possible power use at any given time, and this comes at a cost to the cooperative.
Why the Switch to a Demand Rate?
Residential electric rates have traditionally been a blend of costs: the cost of fuels to generate power, the cost to deliver the energy to your home, the cost to the cooperative to maintain and operate the system and even the cost to provide billing and member services to our members. These costs have long been allocated to members based simply on service type—even though some members’ usage patterns impact our system more than others.
We now have access to more information about how each member uses energy and the electric system. By breaking out these costs—the Fixed Charge, Energy Charge and Demand Charge –every member will be charged more fairly for how and when they use energy. The new rate structure also ensures United Power recoups the actual cost of service to each member in a fair and equitable way.
How Do I Learn More About Demand?
United Power has been discussing this new rate structure for several months. Read past issues of the United Newsline for more examples and information to help you understand Demand. A list of frequently asked questions can be found at Understanding Demand.
Your bill is also a valuable resource to learn more. The Demand Charge line item represented by a kilowatt (kW) measurement that now appears on residential electric bills offers you a clearer picture of how you use electricity. There is no charge currently associated with this Demand line item, but by providing this information ahead of the rate change, you can more closely monitor your energy use.
Members can also use our Power Portal to take a deeper look into their monthly consumption and pinpoint the exact moment they hit their monthly peak demand. Viewing your peak demand period in the Power Portal may help you recall that Monday afternoon when you ran the air conditioning, dishwasher and vacuum all at once. Perhaps you’ll decide that you can stagger these activities in the future to manage your energy costs.
How Much will the Demand Rate Cost?
The exact rate for the Residential Demand Charge has not been set. United Power’s Board of Directors will meet before the end of 2018 to approve the final rate. The intention is to introduce this new rate structure slowly with small incremental changes annually over a four-year period. Demand charges for residential ratepayers will be lower than those paid by commercial customers based on how they use power. Watch for announcements in the United Newsline and on our website www.unitedpower.com with more information on the approved rate.
If you have questions about the Demand Rate, please e-mail unitednewsline@unitedpower.com. We’ll post answers on our website and in a future issue of United Newsline.
Title
Trista Fugate Named United Power's New Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/08_15_2019_MeghanDeweyMEO.jpg?h=45932144&itok=2CBPKu8S
Monday | January 10, 2022
Card Teaser
At United Power, Fugate will be responsible for directing all phases of the cooperative’s member marketing and new program initiatives.
Fugate Brings Wealth of Utility Marketing and Community Affairs Experience
Brighton, CO – United Power announces Trista Fugate as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in January. Fugate comes to the cooperative after spending the past two years with Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins and more than twelve years with Pedernales Electric Cooperative, the largest cooperative utility in the country. At United Power, she will be responsible for directing all phases of the cooperative’s member marketing and new program initiatives, including residential, commercial and industrial programs, products and services.
“I’m excited to join the United Power team at such a pivotal time,” Fugate said. “The cooperative model is ideal for today’s changing energy environment, and I look forward to helping shape our future while continuing the tradition of providing true benefits to our members.”
Before joining United Power, Fugate served as Platte River’s Director of Community and Government Affairs, where she led strategic outreach efforts to build and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, community partners and organizations within the utility’s owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. She also directed the communications and marketing team, responsible for developing all internal and external communications, including promotional materials for energy efficiency offerings, and oversaw the Efficiency WorksTM programs, providing technical and financial support to help customers use energy more wisely.
Fugate has nearly 20 years of experience working across the spectrum of the electric utility industry, holding positions at a municipal electric utility, a distribution cooperative and a generation and transmission utility. She has worked for CPS Energy in San Antonio, the nation’s largest municipal utility, and held leadership roles with Pedernales Electric Cooperative, which serves more than 365,000 active accounts in Texas. During her career, Fugate has focused on strategic communications and marketing, community and economic development, community engagement, conservation and energy efficiency, corporate social responsibility, local government relations and public affairs.
“United Power is proud to welcome Trista to the United Power family,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her experience in member and community engagement and program planning will be critical in the cooperative’s next chapter as we prepare to separate from our longtime wholesale energy supplier and begin navigating the path toward more energy autonomy with new providers. Her insight with one of the nation’s largest cooperatives will also be invaluable to United Power as we continue to grow and seek the best ways to serve our members.”
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 cooperatives in the nation, and in June joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options and reforming the traditional Generation and Transmission (G&T) business model. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.###
Title
Troy Whitmore Receives RMEL’s Industry Leadership Award
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Troy_RMEL.jpg?itok=1yh3umwS
Friday | November 4, 2022
Card Teaser
The Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose leadership has made contributions that have made an impact within their organization.
Troy Whitmore, Vice President & Public Affairs Officer, United Power, received a 2022 RMEL Industry Leadership Award during RMEL’s 119th Annual Fall Convention on Wednesday, October 12th.
The Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose leadership has made contributions that have made an impact within their organization. Recipients usually have more than 10 years of experience in the industry. These individuals are often active in various industry affiliations, associations and/or organizations that serve the electric energy industry.
Troy Whitmore is the Vice President & Public Affairs Officer at United Power, headquartered in Brighton, Colorado. Troy’s long tenure at United Power and in the electric industry has allowed him to be a real force in helping to guide not only cooperative, but legislative initiatives that affect our industry. An active voice at the state capitol, Troy has worked with legislators on issues ranging from election transparency for cooperatives, to helping to incorporate renewable energy guidelines for utilities. He is an engaged and active voice for the members of United Power, and for other electric consumers around Colorado.
During his 36 years at United Power, Troy has served in numerous functions including communications, marketing, customer service and governmental affairs. In his current position as Vice President & Public Affairs Officer, Troy oversees governmental affairs, community relations, key accounts, and economic development functions. His work has always balanced where the industry can move realistically, with the needs and wants of United Power’s members. Much of his work has allowed United Power to become an innovation leader among cooperatives. Troy remains extremely active in his community and serves as the Chair of the board of Colorado Advocates for Rural Electrification (CARE) which is Colorado’s electric cooperatives’ political action committee, and a Board member of Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) which is Colorado’s premier energy assistance foundation.
RMEL also conferred the Distinguished Leadership Award to Mike Hummel, General Manager & Chief Executive Officer, SRP. RMEL’s Honorary Life Member Award recipients are Paul Barham, retired, CPS Energy; Joel Bladow, retired, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association; Kevin Howard, retired, Western Area Power Administration; Pat Pope, retired, Nebraska Public Power District; and Stuart Wevik, retired, Black Hills Energy. Also receiving the Industry Leadership Award are Tony Eddleman, Director of NERC Reliability Compliance, Nebraska Public Power District; Mike Jones, Senior Director of Strategic Risk Management, SRP; Keith Nix, Vice President of Operations, Texas-New Mexico Power; and Jim Trask, Department Manager – Energy Group, Burns & McDonnell.
Congratulations to all 2022 RMEL Award Winners and thank you for your dedication to the electric energy industry.
The 2023 Awards Program will kick off with the Emerging Leader Awards Nominations early next year. More information on the 2023 RMEL Awards Program will be available at www.RMEL.org soon.
About RMEL:
RMEL is a not-for-profit energy trade association that has served the electric utility industry with a variety of education and networking services since 1903. RMEL’s mission is: Preparing the electric energy industry for the future through education and networking. Once known as the Rocky Mountain Electrical League, the association officially became RMEL in the 1990s to better reflect a membership base that spans the entire country.
United for the Cure
Monday | December 16, 2019
This October, United Power joined the ongoing battle to find a cure through an employee-led effort to support colleagues, raise funds and create awareness.
Read more >
Title
Town of Frederick Utility Illegally Builds into United Power Territory
Friday | April 21, 2017
Card Teaser
Brighton, CO – United Power has sent official notice to the Town of Frederick that they have breached their agreement with the cooperative, and have violated Colorado State Law by building into United Power’s service territory.
United Power Seeks Resolution on Behalf of Cooperative Membership
Brighton, CO – United Power has sent official notice to the Town of Frederick that they have breached their agreement with the cooperative, and have violated Colorado State Law by building into United Power’s service territory. The cooperative is seeking a resolution within 15 days, or it will seek further action against the town.
“We originally attempted to make a good faith effort to resolve this illegal action by the Town of Frederick, but they have refused to address our concerns,” said Darryl Schriver, United Power CEO. “By building in United Power’s territory the Town violated not only state law, Frederick violated a prior agreement we have with them to supply wholesale power to the Town; we have no alternative but to seek an appropriate settlement on behalf of the entire cooperative membership.”
United Power and the Town of Frederick have a Wholesale Power Agreement, in effect from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2021, allowing the cooperative to provide power to the municipal utility serving approximately 2,000 customers. In the agreement the Town of Frederick promised to respect and honor United Power’s property interest, and that all facilities and customers outside of the Town’s “old town” boundaries are always United Power members. The fact that the Town of Frederick built in United Power’s territory to provide service to a facility located within the cooperative’s boundaries is a clear breach of the contract. Additionally, the Town of Frederick has violated a Colorado State Statute that defines the terms of any exchange of territory between municipal utilities and cooperatives. The law was designed to make sure that cooperative members are fairly compensated for any loss of membership and revenue when there is an agreement to relinquish territory.
“It is important to note that this illegal action affects every member of our cooperative—individuals and companies who have a stake in this operation,” stated Schriver. “As a cooperative we are owned by our members, and this action is a threat to the interests of every home and business that receives power from the cooperative.”
Title
Transitioning to a Demand Rate
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Sept2018_NL_Resources_0.png?itok=PNSsaHzm
Monday | October 1, 2018
Card Teaser
Beginning next year, United Power members will be charged differently for how they use energy. As was announced earlier this year, United Power will be implementing a new rate structure that will include a residential demand charge.
October 1, 2018 | Beginning next year, United Power members will be charged differently for how they use energy. As was announced earlier this year, United Power will be implementing a new rate structure that will include a residential demand charge. We are continuing the conversation about the 2019 change to residential rates by talking about why the change to the rate structure is happening now, and by taking a look at the information you can use to learn more about your electric consumption.
What is Demand?
Demand refers to the maximum amount of electrical power that is being consumed at a given time, as opposed to energy which is the amount of power used over a period of time. The more power used at once, the larger the infrastructure that is needed to deliver that power. United Power must build our system to accommodate the most possible power use at any given time, and this comes at a cost to the cooperative.
Why the Switch to a Demand Rate?
Residential electric rates have traditionally been a blend of costs: the cost of fuels to generate power, the cost to deliver the energy to your home, the cost to the cooperative to maintain and operate the system and even the cost to provide billing and member services to our members. These costs have long been allocated to members based simply on service type—even though some members’ usage patterns impact our system more than others.
We now have access to more information about how each member uses energy and the electric system. By breaking out these costs—the Fixed Charge, Energy Charge and Demand Charge –every member will be charged more fairly for how and when they use energy. The new rate structure also ensures United Power recoups the actual cost of service to each member in a fair and equitable way.
How Do I Learn More About Demand?
United Power has been discussing this new rate structure for several months. Read past issues of the United Newsline for more examples and information to help you understand Demand. A list of frequently asked questions can be found at Understanding Demand.
Your bill is also a valuable resource to learn more. The Demand Charge line item represented by a kilowatt (kW) measurement that now appears on residential electric bills offers you a clearer picture of how you use electricity. There is no charge currently associated with this Demand line item, but by providing this information ahead of the rate change, you can more closely monitor your energy use.
Members can also use our Power Portal to take a deeper look into their monthly consumption and pinpoint the exact moment they hit their monthly peak demand. Viewing your peak demand period in the Power Portal may help you recall that Monday afternoon when you ran the air conditioning, dishwasher and vacuum all at once. Perhaps you’ll decide that you can stagger these activities in the future to manage your energy costs.
How Much will the Demand Rate Cost?
The exact rate for the Residential Demand Charge has not been set. United Power’s Board of Directors will meet before the end of 2018 to approve the final rate. The intention is to introduce this new rate structure slowly with small incremental changes annually over a four-year period. Demand charges for residential ratepayers will be lower than those paid by commercial customers based on how they use power. Watch for announcements in the United Newsline and on our website www.unitedpower.com with more information on the approved rate.
If you have questions about the Demand Rate, please e-mail unitednewsline@unitedpower.com. We’ll post answers on our website and in a future issue of United Newsline.
Title
Trista Fugate Named United Power's New Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/08_15_2019_MeghanDeweyMEO.jpg?h=45932144&itok=2CBPKu8S
Monday | January 10, 2022
Card Teaser
At United Power, Fugate will be responsible for directing all phases of the cooperative’s member marketing and new program initiatives.
Fugate Brings Wealth of Utility Marketing and Community Affairs Experience
Brighton, CO – United Power announces Trista Fugate as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in January. Fugate comes to the cooperative after spending the past two years with Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins and more than twelve years with Pedernales Electric Cooperative, the largest cooperative utility in the country. At United Power, she will be responsible for directing all phases of the cooperative’s member marketing and new program initiatives, including residential, commercial and industrial programs, products and services.
“I’m excited to join the United Power team at such a pivotal time,” Fugate said. “The cooperative model is ideal for today’s changing energy environment, and I look forward to helping shape our future while continuing the tradition of providing true benefits to our members.”
Before joining United Power, Fugate served as Platte River’s Director of Community and Government Affairs, where she led strategic outreach efforts to build and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, community partners and organizations within the utility’s owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. She also directed the communications and marketing team, responsible for developing all internal and external communications, including promotional materials for energy efficiency offerings, and oversaw the Efficiency WorksTM programs, providing technical and financial support to help customers use energy more wisely.
Fugate has nearly 20 years of experience working across the spectrum of the electric utility industry, holding positions at a municipal electric utility, a distribution cooperative and a generation and transmission utility. She has worked for CPS Energy in San Antonio, the nation’s largest municipal utility, and held leadership roles with Pedernales Electric Cooperative, which serves more than 365,000 active accounts in Texas. During her career, Fugate has focused on strategic communications and marketing, community and economic development, community engagement, conservation and energy efficiency, corporate social responsibility, local government relations and public affairs.
“United Power is proud to welcome Trista to the United Power family,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her experience in member and community engagement and program planning will be critical in the cooperative’s next chapter as we prepare to separate from our longtime wholesale energy supplier and begin navigating the path toward more energy autonomy with new providers. Her insight with one of the nation’s largest cooperatives will also be invaluable to United Power as we continue to grow and seek the best ways to serve our members.”
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 cooperatives in the nation, and in June joined the elite ranks of cooperatives serving more than 100,000 meters. The 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options and reforming the traditional Generation and Transmission (G&T) business model. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.###
Title
Troy Whitmore Receives RMEL’s Industry Leadership Award
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Troy_RMEL.jpg?itok=1yh3umwS
Friday | November 4, 2022
Card Teaser
The Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose leadership has made contributions that have made an impact within their organization.
Troy Whitmore, Vice President & Public Affairs Officer, United Power, received a 2022 RMEL Industry Leadership Award during RMEL’s 119th Annual Fall Convention on Wednesday, October 12th.
The Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose leadership has made contributions that have made an impact within their organization. Recipients usually have more than 10 years of experience in the industry. These individuals are often active in various industry affiliations, associations and/or organizations that serve the electric energy industry.
Troy Whitmore is the Vice President & Public Affairs Officer at United Power, headquartered in Brighton, Colorado. Troy’s long tenure at United Power and in the electric industry has allowed him to be a real force in helping to guide not only cooperative, but legislative initiatives that affect our industry. An active voice at the state capitol, Troy has worked with legislators on issues ranging from election transparency for cooperatives, to helping to incorporate renewable energy guidelines for utilities. He is an engaged and active voice for the members of United Power, and for other electric consumers around Colorado.
During his 36 years at United Power, Troy has served in numerous functions including communications, marketing, customer service and governmental affairs. In his current position as Vice President & Public Affairs Officer, Troy oversees governmental affairs, community relations, key accounts, and economic development functions. His work has always balanced where the industry can move realistically, with the needs and wants of United Power’s members. Much of his work has allowed United Power to become an innovation leader among cooperatives. Troy remains extremely active in his community and serves as the Chair of the board of Colorado Advocates for Rural Electrification (CARE) which is Colorado’s electric cooperatives’ political action committee, and a Board member of Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) which is Colorado’s premier energy assistance foundation.
RMEL also conferred the Distinguished Leadership Award to Mike Hummel, General Manager & Chief Executive Officer, SRP. RMEL’s Honorary Life Member Award recipients are Paul Barham, retired, CPS Energy; Joel Bladow, retired, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association; Kevin Howard, retired, Western Area Power Administration; Pat Pope, retired, Nebraska Public Power District; and Stuart Wevik, retired, Black Hills Energy. Also receiving the Industry Leadership Award are Tony Eddleman, Director of NERC Reliability Compliance, Nebraska Public Power District; Mike Jones, Senior Director of Strategic Risk Management, SRP; Keith Nix, Vice President of Operations, Texas-New Mexico Power; and Jim Trask, Department Manager – Energy Group, Burns & McDonnell.
Congratulations to all 2022 RMEL Award Winners and thank you for your dedication to the electric energy industry.
The 2023 Awards Program will kick off with the Emerging Leader Awards Nominations early next year. More information on the 2023 RMEL Awards Program will be available at www.RMEL.org soon.
About RMEL:
RMEL is a not-for-profit energy trade association that has served the electric utility industry with a variety of education and networking services since 1903. RMEL’s mission is: Preparing the electric energy industry for the future through education and networking. Once known as the Rocky Mountain Electrical League, the association officially became RMEL in the 1990s to better reflect a membership base that spans the entire country.
United for the Cure
Monday | December 16, 2019
This October, United Power joined the ongoing battle to find a cure through an employee-led effort to support colleagues, raise funds and create awareness.
Read more >
