United Power Complaint Against Tri-State Can Proceed
Wednesday | March 25, 2020
United Power’s Complaint Against Wholesale Power Supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Can Proceed Following Ruling by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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United Power Conducting Pole Inspections
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Tuesday | March 14, 2017
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Over the next few months, United Power is conducting annual pole inspections throughout the cooperative service area.
Over the next few months, United Power is conducting annual pole inspections throughout the cooperative service area. This essential maintenance helps to keep our electric delivery system performing at the highest possible level. United Power has contracted this inspection service with Utility Asset Management Inc. While contract crews are working in your area, you may see this marked contractor vehicle and their employees visually inspecting the utility poles serving you.
In a few instances, Utility Asset Management crews may need access to poles located in yards. Should they need access into a fenced yard, they will work directly with the member to schedule an appointment. Contractors will not need access into any homes to complete this maintenance work.
United Power also uses our automated phone system to send out a recording alerting members when we will be working in your area. To ensure you receive these important updates, please confirm the phone number on your account by calling United Power at 303-637-1300 or by logging into your account via SmartHub.
If you have any questions about this maintenance work, please call our Member Services department at 303-637-1300.
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United Power Connects 10,000th Rooftop Solar System
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Wednesday | March 29, 2023
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On Saturday, United Power recognized Cory and Jaime Wagner of Keenesburg for connecting the utility’s 10,000th rooftop solar system.
Co-op Members Double National Average in Solar Installations
Brighton, CO – On Saturday, United Power recognized Cory and Jaime Wagner of Keenesburg for connecting the utility’s 10,000th rooftop solar system. Rooftop solar has quickly become a preferred solution for electric utility customers who are looking to offset their regular energy usage with more renewable options. The growth rate for solar installations on United Power’s system has increased at a rapid pace over the last three years, placing the cooperative at the forefront in connected solar across electric utilities nationwide.Â
United Power has added more than 1,000 rooftop solar installations in less than eight months and doubled the number connected to its system in the last three years. Nearly 11% of United Power’s residential members now generate power from solar systems at their homes, which is higher than both the state and regional solar penetration averages and more than double the national average. The combined generation potential of these systems is approximately 62 megawatts (MW), which represents a significant part of the cooperative’s 600 MW peak. Â
“More than 5,000 residential solar systems have been connected to our grid since early 2020, demonstrating our members’ desire to make autonomous energy choices that fit their daily needs,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are constantly working in our communities and behind the scenes to develop programs and processes that empower member choice as the energy landscape evolves.”
United Power Board members and cooperative leadership, along with Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) President Mike Kruger, gathered Saturday to congratulate the Wagner family. United Power presented them with a prize package recognizing the achievement.
“We are really excited to be in our first home, and happy to be generating our own solar power,” said Jaime Wagner. “Being a United Power member has been great. Once we got our system installed, United Power came right out and connected it, and we are ready to watch the panels start producing.”
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process. To ensure members like the Wagners realize the most value out of their solar systems, the cooperative offers additional resources like MyGen, an online tool where members can track their system’s production alongside energy use in their Power Portal account. For more information about going solar with United Power or to answer questions about how to size a solar system and choose a contractor, members may visit www.unitedpower.com/going-solar.
“I’m excited to be here with United Power to celebrate the cooperative’s 10,000th residential solar member,” said Kruger. “It’s phenomenal how many of its members are generating solar power from their homes. United Power is beating large investor-owned utilities, municipals, and other Colorado cooperatives in interconnected solar.”Â
Since powering Colorado’s first community solar farm – Sol Partners – in 2009, United Power has added five utility-scale solar farms and one of the state’s largest battery storage facilities. The solar farms generate a combined 50 MW, enough to power more than 10,000 homes. United Power’s energy portfolio also includes a 3.2 MW methane-capture project at the Erie Landfill. In recognition of these efforts, the cooperative was named one of COSSA’s 2022 Solar and Storage Champions. The cooperative continues to explore renewable and innovative energy projects with the greatest member benefits, including reliability, resiliency, and affordability.
“We appreciate the vision that the United Power community has put forth for a clean future and the ability to partner with them in that,” said Kruger. “I’m happy to celebrate today, and I think it’s a bright future for us all.”
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 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops, reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Contributes $20,000 to Mesa Hotline School Relocation Fund
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Tuesday | September 27, 2022
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Historic hotline school faces relocation due to commercial development at current location.
Historic Hotline School Faces Relocation Due to Commercial Development
Brighton, CO – United Power’s Board of Directors approved a $20,000 contribution to the Mesa Hotline School’s relocation fund at its regular meeting in August. Mesa Hotline School provides training and education to lineworkers at cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, and even investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy. The school learned it must find a new site for its campus due to commercial development at its existing location. The cooperative’s contribution will help the school meet approximately 20% of its relocation costs.
The Mesa Hotline School was formed in the 1960s at Mesa College following an inquiry from two cooperatives located on Colorado’s Western Slope, Empire Electric and Yampa Valley. Fast-growing local cooperatives needed a state-of-the-art facility that could provide the right kind of training and education for their lineworkers. The school enrolled its first class of 59 students in 1966. In the half century since, membership has grown from 15 members to nearly 80, representing electric utilities of all sizes throughout the country. In 2022, more than 100 instructors and volunteers helped provide training to approximately 600 lineworkers enrolled in the school’s various programs.
“The Mesa Hotline School has had a mutually beneficial relationship with United Power for many years,” said Brent Sydow, United Power’s Vice President of Operations. “Working foremen from United Power have invested hundreds of hours at the school teaching courses to both young and experienced lineworkers, and our lineworkers and apprentices have received the highest level of training through the school’s programs and course selections.”
Courses include underground and overhead equipment training, high tension stringing, and simulated high voltage training. Industry vendors also conduct training classes to showcase the latest tools and technology. Additionally, United Power utilizes the school’s educational materials to help progress its apprentice lineworkers toward qualification for the journeyman certification.
When the school received its notice about finding a new location, it began soliciting members for assistance. The relocation costs include site development, facility materials, training equipment, and more. The Mesa Hotline School launched a fundraising campaign this summer with the goal of raising $100,000 in preparation for its next class in May 2023. For more information about the hotline school, go to www.mesahotlineschool.com.
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 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Employees Give Back
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Thursday | November 14, 2024
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Employees volunteered at eight “Here for Good” service projects in October.
Employees Volunteered at Eight “Here for Good” Service Projects in October
United Power is proud to support the service organizations that add value to the communities in its territory. Dozens of nonprofits and not-for-profits are helping meet a variety of needs for cooperative members, including mental health therapy, housing and food security, outdoor recreation, and more.
The cooperative recognized National Co-op Month in October and celebrated its commitment to communities by collaborating with eight of these organizations on employee service projects. More than 80 United Power employees participated.
“These organizations are the heart of our communities, and we are proud of the participation we received from employees,” said Julie Stewart, United Power’s Community Outreach Specialist. “The response from our employees was tremendous — they were excited to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
United Power employees completed several beautification and facility improvement projects that freed the organizations’ staff and volunteers to focus on more important tasks like programming and planning to support the clients they serve.
Some of the projects included staining wooden structures for protection from winter weather at Barr Lake and the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center; painting and updating community areas at Graceful Oaks Youth Ranch; removing old flooring for renovations at the Carbon Valley Help Center; and mud mitigation at Allegiance Ranch. Employees also sorted and organized food for redistribution at Pastor’s Pantry, the Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank, and Food for Hope.
“It was a lot of fun representing United Power in the community,” said Member Services Representative Julie Vogel. “I am really thankful we were able to do this.”
These organizations are a reminder that the cooperative serves thriving communities thanks to our members’ spirits of service and commitment to giving back. Residents recognized an important need in their community and found a way to meet it, which resembles the very way electric cooperatives were formed more than 85 years ago. They are Here for Good, and so is United Power.
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United Power Energizes Generator at Gilpin County School
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Thursday | October 21, 2021
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The cooperative will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new generator on Friday, November 5 at 10 a.m.
Project Also Provides Alternate Energy Option for Emergency Management
Brighton, CO - United Power, partnering with the Gilpin County Office of Emergency Management, placed a 625-kw diesel generator on the Gilpin County School District campus. The generator was installed as a safety enhancement to serve both the school and community members in the mountain territory.
“United Power is excited to partner with Gilpin County on this key project for community members adjacent to the school district campus,” stated Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “Completing the project prior to the winter season should provide security and peace of mind to the residents in the area and provide a much-needed resource in the event of an extended power interruption.”
In the event of power outage, Gilpin County is required to notify parents and send students home because the school district doesn’t have a back-up power option. The installation of the generator alleviates concerns for school administration officials and parents of students. Additionally, the generator can provide a longer window of service with abbreviated services at the school, allowing Emergency Management to activate the site as an emergency warming center during an extended power outage in the area.
United Power upgraded existing infrastructure to ensure the generator can provide power to the entire school campus, including school buildings, gym facilities, the bus barn, water storage and delivery systems, pumping stations and the Eagles’ Nest Daycare Center. The generator operates on Tier 4 Diesel, with is an ultra-clean, low sulfur fuel and incorporates advanced emission reduction technologies, which exceeds state requirements for emission levels.
The cooperative will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new generator on Friday, November 5 at 10 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and learn more about this addition and the enhanced safety benefits it will offer to the residents. Please click here to RSVP.Â
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.
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United Power Enters Agreement with Aypa Power for Fortress Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Morgan County
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Tuesday | October 14, 2025
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The Fortress project that will combine 200 MW of solar with 150 MW/600 MWh of battery storage.
Brighton, CO –United Power, Inc. today announced it has entered into an agreement with Aypa Power for the Fortress project, a hybrid renewable energy project that will combine 200 megawatts (MW) of solar with 150 MW / 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage near the City of Brush in Morgan County.
Scheduled to come online in 2027, Fortress will generate and store power for United Power members under a long-term power purchase agreement. The project supports the cooperative’s ongoing efforts to strengthen grid reliability and manage long-term power supply costs through a more diverse and locally sourced energy portfolio.
“United Power continues on a path to diversify and localize the power we purchase and deliver to our members,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “We are investing in local projects that create a more robust generation system, which, in turn, will help us stabilize electric costs while investing in area economies. As the country grapples with the rising price of electricity, the cooperative is actively managing costs and seeking additional local generation resources. We believe our vision of a hyperlocalized electric system is the future of power production and it is an investment that will benefit all our members.”
Since leaving its former wholesale power provider in May of 2024, United Power has continued to invest in a portfolio of locally produced power sources, including several renewable energy and battery storage projects. Projects like Fortress represent significant investments in the state, helping ensure tax revenue and job creation benefit the communities United Power serves, while supporting a more resilient and member-focused energy network.
“Aypa Power is pleased to partner with United Power to bring the first phase of a 600 MW solar and battery storage complex online in Colorado,” said Dan Santelli, Chief Commercial Operator at Aypa Power. “Fortress will deliver low-cost energy and provide critical reliability, while supporting United Power’s commitment to dependable and locally sourced power.”
To learn more about United Power’s energy transition and its power portfolio, visit the cooperative’s website at www.unitedpower.com.
About United PowerUnited 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 115,000 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 InstagramAbout Aypa PowerAypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects across North America. With 30 projects currently in operation or under construction, and a development pipeline exceeding 22 gigawatts, Aypa delivers solutions that strengthen grid reliability, integrate renewable energy, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Aypa has been at the forefront of energy storage development since its first energy storage project came online in 2018. For more information, follow Aypa Power on LinkedIn or visit www.aypapower.com.###
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United Power Enters Agreement with TEA Solutions
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Wednesday | June 7, 2023
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Contract will authorize TEA Solutions to coordinate United Power’s growing portfolio of power contracts
Contract will authorize TEA Solutions to coordinate United Power’s growing portfolio of power contracts
United Power, Inc. (United Power) and TEA Solutions entered into an agreement on June 1 to support United Power’s transition to new power suppliers. The Energy Authority (TEA), headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, provides public power entities with strategic perspective on deriving maximum value from their assets, and offers advisory services, advanced analytics, and renewable solutions. TEA Solutions, a sister company of The Energy Authority, was created to serve community-owned utilities such as cooperatives.  Â
“This agreement marks an important strategic step toward United Power’s new energy future,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “United Power has been dedicated to building a new network of service providers and energy sources for the planned exit from our current power supplier next spring. This marks a vital step in the process, and we are proud to partner with a firm that has the expertise and experience to help us be successful in this significant endeavor.”
“We are honored to be chosen by United Power to be their strategic partner,” stated Joanie Teofilo, President and CEO of The Energy Authority and TEA Solutions.  “We were created to support community-owned utilities and look forward to working with United Power to achieve its mission to provide efficient and reliable power to its members.”
United Power’s exit from its current wholesale power supply contract will be complete May 1, 2024. The cooperative is in the process of securing both the power contracts and strategic expertise necessary to capitalize on the changing energy marketplace, which in turn, will bring considerable value to its members.
“We are working to provide not only reliable power, but power that is more economically priced for our members,” stated Gabriel. “As the energy market expands west, we will be able to take advantage of available resources including clean, renewable energy generation, and increase our investment in local energy generation sources.”
To learn more about how United Power is moving into a new energy future, visit Power Supply.Â
About United PowerUnited 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, and in June 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Executes Letter of Commitment for Nearly $262 Million in New ERA Grant Funding
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Monday | December 30, 2024
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In September, the co-op was announced as an awardee for $261.6 million in grant funding to offset the cost of new, clean energy generation.
Brighton, CO – United Power executed a letter of commitment with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Services today for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. In September, the cooperative was announced as an awardee for $261.6 million in grant funding to offset the cost of new generation for its transition to a strategic portfolio of clean energy that includes power purchase agreements that will provide more than 760 megawatts of renewable resources to its members by 2030. USDA staff is currently working with the cooperative to complete underwriting to fully fund the award.
The New ERA funding requires submission of a comprehensive Community Benefit Plan (CBP). United Power’s CBP was submitted and accepted in November, allowing the cooperative to move to the next step in the New ERA process.
“These grant funds will be used to offset a portion of the costs United Power has and will incur for seven different power purchase agreements,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO. “The projects represent new, clean energy sources that have already significantly reduced our greenhouse gas emissions since the exit from our former wholesale power supplier on May 1. Additionally, the projects are bringing tax dollars and jobs to each of the areas where the systems are located.”
United Power’s CBP expands assistance to the communities it serves, with a commitment to invest an additional $1 million into a variety of community projects and programs. The goal of the CBP is to enhance life for members and communities through support of targeted programs, providing dollars for a wide range of needs. Assisting members on fixed incomes, investing in beneficial electrification efforts, supporting farmers and ranchers, and directing funding to communities where New ERA project facilities are located are all included in the extensive list of CBP initiatives.
The first initiative funded under the CBP is the award of four lineworker scholarships of $7,500 each. There is a critical need for trained lineworkers, and the scholarships will help to boost opportunities for students working toward certification at local colleges in Colorado.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me,” said Kate Killinen, one of the United Power lineworker scholarship recipients. “It means that I can go through the Mesa Lineworker Program without going into any school debt and focus more on my studies rather than how to get the money I need to get through it. Receiving this scholarship will help my long-term career goals of working for an electric cooperative by helping me get through an amazing program that is the foundation to my whole career.”Â
The CBP commitments will be distributed throughout the 10 years of the planned grant period and represent a substantial increase over the dollars already earmarked by the cooperative for its numerous annual community support efforts.Â
“As a cooperative, supporting our communities and investing in education have always been key directives in our annual planning,” said Gabriel. “We have been awarding scholarships, supporting education in our industry, and providing leadership and investment dollars to assistance organizations that serve our members for decades. Now we will be able to do even more.”
To learn more about United Power’s industry leading energy transition outlined in its long-term vision for the future, read Our Cooperative Roadmap.
About United PowerUnited 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 113,000 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Files Complaint Against Tri-State in District Court
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Monday | November 23, 2020
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Complaint alleges Tri-State violated their bylaws and state statute to admit non-utility members.
United Power Files Complaint Against Tri-State In District Court Alleging They Violated Their Bylaws and State Statute to Admit Non-Utility Members
Brighton, CO – Today United Power filed a complaint in Adams County District Court, alleging that Tri-State Generation and Transmission violated Colorado State Statutes and their own Articles of Incorporation and bylaws to add a greenhouse, a cattle ranch, and a natural gas supplier to their membership. The addition of these non-utility entities allowed the power cooperative to seek oversight from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), temporarily suspending a year-long effort by United Power to establish a reasonable buyout cost to leave the cooperative. United Power has been battling their power supplier to receive a buyout number with the goal of providing lower cost power to its membership.
“It is our belief that a favorable ruling in District Court would force FERC to reconsider their decision to allow Tri-State to be FERC jurisdictional,” stated Bryant Robbins, acting CEO at United Power. “This would allow the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CoPUC) to affirm the decision of Administrative Law Judge Robert Garvey who, on July 10, 2020, ruled that Tri-State had discriminated against United Power and adopted United Power’s approach for calculating a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory exit fee.”
Tri-State’s questionable legal maneuvers opened the door for it to bypass the CoPUC and brought the organization under regulation from FERC. Tri-State is anticipating that the move will allow it to avoid the buyout methodology that was initially accepted by the CoPUC. In a hearing last month, the CoPUC found that it did not have jurisdiction to decide whether Tri-State’s corporate maneuvers were legal, but it invited United Power to return once the issue had been decided.
“This announcement should come as no surprise to anyone, especially Tri-State. This filing and subsequent ruling should determine, once and for all, whether Tri-State is lawfully FERC regulated. We feel strongly that it will be determined that they are not,” stated Robbins. “It is our hope that the District Court will recognize the importance of a quick decision on this matter. We also remain hopeful that ongoing discussions with Tri-State on possible solutions to our issues will be productive.”
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, business, and farms in Colorado's north central front range. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
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United Power Files Notice of Intent to Leave Tri-State Generation and Transmission
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Tuesday | December 14, 2021
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United Power today filed its Notice of Intent to withdraw from the membership of Tri-State G&T at the FERC in Washington, D.C., effective January 1, 2024.
Date: 4/29/2022
United Power filed a non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from our power supplier in compliance with a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling. This changes our previously announced Tri-State exit date of Jan. 1, 2024 to May 1, 2024.
Reducing Costs, Leveraging Clean Resources Among Reasons for the Move
Brighton, Colorado/Washington D.C. — United Power, a rural electric cooperative based in Brighton, Colorado, today filed its Notice of Intent to withdraw from the membership of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C., effective January 1, 2024. The two-year notice period was accepted by FERC in an October 29, 2021 ruling.
United Power is the largest member of Tri-State and accounts for nearly 20% of the G&T’s annual revenue. United Power has unsuccessfully attempted to modify its all requirements contract with the G&T for more than three years. In the last nine months alone United Power has tendered three formal term sheets and held numerous high-level meetings, but leadership at the G&T has been unresponsive to the contract modification requests.
“Sadly, our power supplier has been ignoring our efforts to come to an amicable arrangement that better supports the needs of our members while guaranteeing that our prior commitments are met,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive Officer. “Instead of working with us in the pursuit of lower-cost, cleaner options, Tri-State has resisted these developments. Tri-State recently purchased additional coal generation, is limiting our members’ ability to add more carbon free generation and is penalizing additional storage on our system. They also offer non-members preferable transmission rates over those of us who have invested in the system for decades.”
United Power has been a leader in the deployment of innovative technologies and in the integration of renewable energy resources. Currently United Power has 84 megawatts of renewable generation on its system including 46 megawatts of utility scale solar, Colorado’s largest battery storage project and more than 6,800 roof top systems. Tri-State’s policies include penalties if a utility exceeds 5% of generation other than from the G&T.
There are a number of cases currently in front of FERC, Denver Courts, Adams County Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals that will ultimately decide the exit fee for United Power. United Power joins Delta Montrose Electric Association and Kit Carson who have exited the G&T in the last five years. At least six other cooperatives are considering a potential exit.
“When I came to United Power nine months ago, I was extremely optimistic that we would be able to come to an agreement that lives up to our commitment for past investments and allows us to provide lower cost, cleaner options to our rapidly growing communities in the future,” Gabriel said. “Our decision to depart is not made lightly but follows the cooperative principles of voluntary participation and member’s economic participation by choice,” added Gabriel.
United Power will be seeking alternative power supply and the use of transmission as outlined by FERC as part of Open Access Transmission Tariffs.
About United PowerUnited 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.###Message to the Membership & Frequently Asked Questions
United Power Complaint Against Tri-State Can Proceed
Wednesday | March 25, 2020
United Power’s Complaint Against Wholesale Power Supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Can Proceed Following Ruling by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Read more >
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United Power Conducting Pole Inspections
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Tuesday | March 14, 2017
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Over the next few months, United Power is conducting annual pole inspections throughout the cooperative service area.
Over the next few months, United Power is conducting annual pole inspections throughout the cooperative service area. This essential maintenance helps to keep our electric delivery system performing at the highest possible level. United Power has contracted this inspection service with Utility Asset Management Inc. While contract crews are working in your area, you may see this marked contractor vehicle and their employees visually inspecting the utility poles serving you.
In a few instances, Utility Asset Management crews may need access to poles located in yards. Should they need access into a fenced yard, they will work directly with the member to schedule an appointment. Contractors will not need access into any homes to complete this maintenance work.
United Power also uses our automated phone system to send out a recording alerting members when we will be working in your area. To ensure you receive these important updates, please confirm the phone number on your account by calling United Power at 303-637-1300 or by logging into your account via SmartHub.
If you have any questions about this maintenance work, please call our Member Services department at 303-637-1300.
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United Power Connects 10,000th Rooftop Solar System
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Wednesday | March 29, 2023
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On Saturday, United Power recognized Cory and Jaime Wagner of Keenesburg for connecting the utility’s 10,000th rooftop solar system.
Co-op Members Double National Average in Solar Installations
Brighton, CO – On Saturday, United Power recognized Cory and Jaime Wagner of Keenesburg for connecting the utility’s 10,000th rooftop solar system. Rooftop solar has quickly become a preferred solution for electric utility customers who are looking to offset their regular energy usage with more renewable options. The growth rate for solar installations on United Power’s system has increased at a rapid pace over the last three years, placing the cooperative at the forefront in connected solar across electric utilities nationwide.Â
United Power has added more than 1,000 rooftop solar installations in less than eight months and doubled the number connected to its system in the last three years. Nearly 11% of United Power’s residential members now generate power from solar systems at their homes, which is higher than both the state and regional solar penetration averages and more than double the national average. The combined generation potential of these systems is approximately 62 megawatts (MW), which represents a significant part of the cooperative’s 600 MW peak. Â
“More than 5,000 residential solar systems have been connected to our grid since early 2020, demonstrating our members’ desire to make autonomous energy choices that fit their daily needs,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are constantly working in our communities and behind the scenes to develop programs and processes that empower member choice as the energy landscape evolves.”
United Power Board members and cooperative leadership, along with Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) President Mike Kruger, gathered Saturday to congratulate the Wagner family. United Power presented them with a prize package recognizing the achievement.
“We are really excited to be in our first home, and happy to be generating our own solar power,” said Jaime Wagner. “Being a United Power member has been great. Once we got our system installed, United Power came right out and connected it, and we are ready to watch the panels start producing.”
United Power is proud to support a robust solar community and is committed to providing a member-friendly connection process. To ensure members like the Wagners realize the most value out of their solar systems, the cooperative offers additional resources like MyGen, an online tool where members can track their system’s production alongside energy use in their Power Portal account. For more information about going solar with United Power or to answer questions about how to size a solar system and choose a contractor, members may visit www.unitedpower.com/going-solar.
“I’m excited to be here with United Power to celebrate the cooperative’s 10,000th residential solar member,” said Kruger. “It’s phenomenal how many of its members are generating solar power from their homes. United Power is beating large investor-owned utilities, municipals, and other Colorado cooperatives in interconnected solar.”Â
Since powering Colorado’s first community solar farm – Sol Partners – in 2009, United Power has added five utility-scale solar farms and one of the state’s largest battery storage facilities. The solar farms generate a combined 50 MW, enough to power more than 10,000 homes. United Power’s energy portfolio also includes a 3.2 MW methane-capture project at the Erie Landfill. In recognition of these efforts, the cooperative was named one of COSSA’s 2022 Solar and Storage Champions. The cooperative continues to explore renewable and innovative energy projects with the greatest member benefits, including reliability, resiliency, and affordability.
“We appreciate the vision that the United Power community has put forth for a clean future and the ability to partner with them in that,” said Kruger. “I’m happy to celebrate today, and I think it’s a bright future for us all.”
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 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops, reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Contributes $20,000 to Mesa Hotline School Relocation Fund
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Tuesday | September 27, 2022
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Historic hotline school faces relocation due to commercial development at current location.
Historic Hotline School Faces Relocation Due to Commercial Development
Brighton, CO – United Power’s Board of Directors approved a $20,000 contribution to the Mesa Hotline School’s relocation fund at its regular meeting in August. Mesa Hotline School provides training and education to lineworkers at cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, and even investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy. The school learned it must find a new site for its campus due to commercial development at its existing location. The cooperative’s contribution will help the school meet approximately 20% of its relocation costs.
The Mesa Hotline School was formed in the 1960s at Mesa College following an inquiry from two cooperatives located on Colorado’s Western Slope, Empire Electric and Yampa Valley. Fast-growing local cooperatives needed a state-of-the-art facility that could provide the right kind of training and education for their lineworkers. The school enrolled its first class of 59 students in 1966. In the half century since, membership has grown from 15 members to nearly 80, representing electric utilities of all sizes throughout the country. In 2022, more than 100 instructors and volunteers helped provide training to approximately 600 lineworkers enrolled in the school’s various programs.
“The Mesa Hotline School has had a mutually beneficial relationship with United Power for many years,” said Brent Sydow, United Power’s Vice President of Operations. “Working foremen from United Power have invested hundreds of hours at the school teaching courses to both young and experienced lineworkers, and our lineworkers and apprentices have received the highest level of training through the school’s programs and course selections.”
Courses include underground and overhead equipment training, high tension stringing, and simulated high voltage training. Industry vendors also conduct training classes to showcase the latest tools and technology. Additionally, United Power utilizes the school’s educational materials to help progress its apprentice lineworkers toward qualification for the journeyman certification.
When the school received its notice about finding a new location, it began soliciting members for assistance. The relocation costs include site development, facility materials, training equipment, and more. The Mesa Hotline School launched a fundraising campaign this summer with the goal of raising $100,000 in preparation for its next class in May 2023. For more information about the hotline school, go to www.mesahotlineschool.com.
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 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Employees Give Back
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Thursday | November 14, 2024
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Employees volunteered at eight “Here for Good” service projects in October.
Employees Volunteered at Eight “Here for Good” Service Projects in October
United Power is proud to support the service organizations that add value to the communities in its territory. Dozens of nonprofits and not-for-profits are helping meet a variety of needs for cooperative members, including mental health therapy, housing and food security, outdoor recreation, and more.
The cooperative recognized National Co-op Month in October and celebrated its commitment to communities by collaborating with eight of these organizations on employee service projects. More than 80 United Power employees participated.
“These organizations are the heart of our communities, and we are proud of the participation we received from employees,” said Julie Stewart, United Power’s Community Outreach Specialist. “The response from our employees was tremendous — they were excited to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
United Power employees completed several beautification and facility improvement projects that freed the organizations’ staff and volunteers to focus on more important tasks like programming and planning to support the clients they serve.
Some of the projects included staining wooden structures for protection from winter weather at Barr Lake and the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center; painting and updating community areas at Graceful Oaks Youth Ranch; removing old flooring for renovations at the Carbon Valley Help Center; and mud mitigation at Allegiance Ranch. Employees also sorted and organized food for redistribution at Pastor’s Pantry, the Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank, and Food for Hope.
“It was a lot of fun representing United Power in the community,” said Member Services Representative Julie Vogel. “I am really thankful we were able to do this.”
These organizations are a reminder that the cooperative serves thriving communities thanks to our members’ spirits of service and commitment to giving back. Residents recognized an important need in their community and found a way to meet it, which resembles the very way electric cooperatives were formed more than 85 years ago. They are Here for Good, and so is United Power.
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United Power Energizes Generator at Gilpin County School
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Thursday | October 21, 2021
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The cooperative will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new generator on Friday, November 5 at 10 a.m.
Project Also Provides Alternate Energy Option for Emergency Management
Brighton, CO - United Power, partnering with the Gilpin County Office of Emergency Management, placed a 625-kw diesel generator on the Gilpin County School District campus. The generator was installed as a safety enhancement to serve both the school and community members in the mountain territory.
“United Power is excited to partner with Gilpin County on this key project for community members adjacent to the school district campus,” stated Dean Hubbuck, United Power’s Chief Energy Resource Officer. “Completing the project prior to the winter season should provide security and peace of mind to the residents in the area and provide a much-needed resource in the event of an extended power interruption.”
In the event of power outage, Gilpin County is required to notify parents and send students home because the school district doesn’t have a back-up power option. The installation of the generator alleviates concerns for school administration officials and parents of students. Additionally, the generator can provide a longer window of service with abbreviated services at the school, allowing Emergency Management to activate the site as an emergency warming center during an extended power outage in the area.
United Power upgraded existing infrastructure to ensure the generator can provide power to the entire school campus, including school buildings, gym facilities, the bus barn, water storage and delivery systems, pumping stations and the Eagles’ Nest Daycare Center. The generator operates on Tier 4 Diesel, with is an ultra-clean, low sulfur fuel and incorporates advanced emission reduction technologies, which exceeds state requirements for emission levels.
The cooperative will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new generator on Friday, November 5 at 10 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and learn more about this addition and the enhanced safety benefits it will offer to the residents. Please click here to RSVP.Â
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.
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United Power Enters Agreement with Aypa Power for Fortress Solar-Plus-Storage Project in Morgan County
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Tuesday | October 14, 2025
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The Fortress project that will combine 200 MW of solar with 150 MW/600 MWh of battery storage.
Brighton, CO –United Power, Inc. today announced it has entered into an agreement with Aypa Power for the Fortress project, a hybrid renewable energy project that will combine 200 megawatts (MW) of solar with 150 MW / 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage near the City of Brush in Morgan County.
Scheduled to come online in 2027, Fortress will generate and store power for United Power members under a long-term power purchase agreement. The project supports the cooperative’s ongoing efforts to strengthen grid reliability and manage long-term power supply costs through a more diverse and locally sourced energy portfolio.
“United Power continues on a path to diversify and localize the power we purchase and deliver to our members,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “We are investing in local projects that create a more robust generation system, which, in turn, will help us stabilize electric costs while investing in area economies. As the country grapples with the rising price of electricity, the cooperative is actively managing costs and seeking additional local generation resources. We believe our vision of a hyperlocalized electric system is the future of power production and it is an investment that will benefit all our members.”
Since leaving its former wholesale power provider in May of 2024, United Power has continued to invest in a portfolio of locally produced power sources, including several renewable energy and battery storage projects. Projects like Fortress represent significant investments in the state, helping ensure tax revenue and job creation benefit the communities United Power serves, while supporting a more resilient and member-focused energy network.
“Aypa Power is pleased to partner with United Power to bring the first phase of a 600 MW solar and battery storage complex online in Colorado,” said Dan Santelli, Chief Commercial Operator at Aypa Power. “Fortress will deliver low-cost energy and provide critical reliability, while supporting United Power’s commitment to dependable and locally sourced power.”
To learn more about United Power’s energy transition and its power portfolio, visit the cooperative’s website at www.unitedpower.com.
About United PowerUnited 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 115,000 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 InstagramAbout Aypa PowerAypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects across North America. With 30 projects currently in operation or under construction, and a development pipeline exceeding 22 gigawatts, Aypa delivers solutions that strengthen grid reliability, integrate renewable energy, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Aypa has been at the forefront of energy storage development since its first energy storage project came online in 2018. For more information, follow Aypa Power on LinkedIn or visit www.aypapower.com.###
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United Power Enters Agreement with TEA Solutions
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Wednesday | June 7, 2023
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Contract will authorize TEA Solutions to coordinate United Power’s growing portfolio of power contracts
Contract will authorize TEA Solutions to coordinate United Power’s growing portfolio of power contracts
United Power, Inc. (United Power) and TEA Solutions entered into an agreement on June 1 to support United Power’s transition to new power suppliers. The Energy Authority (TEA), headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, provides public power entities with strategic perspective on deriving maximum value from their assets, and offers advisory services, advanced analytics, and renewable solutions. TEA Solutions, a sister company of The Energy Authority, was created to serve community-owned utilities such as cooperatives.  Â
“This agreement marks an important strategic step toward United Power’s new energy future,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and CEO. “United Power has been dedicated to building a new network of service providers and energy sources for the planned exit from our current power supplier next spring. This marks a vital step in the process, and we are proud to partner with a firm that has the expertise and experience to help us be successful in this significant endeavor.”
“We are honored to be chosen by United Power to be their strategic partner,” stated Joanie Teofilo, President and CEO of The Energy Authority and TEA Solutions.  “We were created to support community-owned utilities and look forward to working with United Power to achieve its mission to provide efficient and reliable power to its members.”
United Power’s exit from its current wholesale power supply contract will be complete May 1, 2024. The cooperative is in the process of securing both the power contracts and strategic expertise necessary to capitalize on the changing energy marketplace, which in turn, will bring considerable value to its members.
“We are working to provide not only reliable power, but power that is more economically priced for our members,” stated Gabriel. “As the energy market expands west, we will be able to take advantage of available resources including clean, renewable energy generation, and increase our investment in local energy generation sources.”
To learn more about how United Power is moving into a new energy future, visit Power Supply.Â
About United PowerUnited 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, and in June 2021 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, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Executes Letter of Commitment for Nearly $262 Million in New ERA Grant Funding
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Monday | December 30, 2024
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In September, the co-op was announced as an awardee for $261.6 million in grant funding to offset the cost of new, clean energy generation.
Brighton, CO – United Power executed a letter of commitment with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Services today for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. In September, the cooperative was announced as an awardee for $261.6 million in grant funding to offset the cost of new generation for its transition to a strategic portfolio of clean energy that includes power purchase agreements that will provide more than 760 megawatts of renewable resources to its members by 2030. USDA staff is currently working with the cooperative to complete underwriting to fully fund the award.
The New ERA funding requires submission of a comprehensive Community Benefit Plan (CBP). United Power’s CBP was submitted and accepted in November, allowing the cooperative to move to the next step in the New ERA process.
“These grant funds will be used to offset a portion of the costs United Power has and will incur for seven different power purchase agreements,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO. “The projects represent new, clean energy sources that have already significantly reduced our greenhouse gas emissions since the exit from our former wholesale power supplier on May 1. Additionally, the projects are bringing tax dollars and jobs to each of the areas where the systems are located.”
United Power’s CBP expands assistance to the communities it serves, with a commitment to invest an additional $1 million into a variety of community projects and programs. The goal of the CBP is to enhance life for members and communities through support of targeted programs, providing dollars for a wide range of needs. Assisting members on fixed incomes, investing in beneficial electrification efforts, supporting farmers and ranchers, and directing funding to communities where New ERA project facilities are located are all included in the extensive list of CBP initiatives.
The first initiative funded under the CBP is the award of four lineworker scholarships of $7,500 each. There is a critical need for trained lineworkers, and the scholarships will help to boost opportunities for students working toward certification at local colleges in Colorado.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me,” said Kate Killinen, one of the United Power lineworker scholarship recipients. “It means that I can go through the Mesa Lineworker Program without going into any school debt and focus more on my studies rather than how to get the money I need to get through it. Receiving this scholarship will help my long-term career goals of working for an electric cooperative by helping me get through an amazing program that is the foundation to my whole career.”Â
The CBP commitments will be distributed throughout the 10 years of the planned grant period and represent a substantial increase over the dollars already earmarked by the cooperative for its numerous annual community support efforts.Â
“As a cooperative, supporting our communities and investing in education have always been key directives in our annual planning,” said Gabriel. “We have been awarding scholarships, supporting education in our industry, and providing leadership and investment dollars to assistance organizations that serve our members for decades. Now we will be able to do even more.”
To learn more about United Power’s industry leading energy transition outlined in its long-term vision for the future, read Our Cooperative Roadmap.
About United PowerUnited 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 113,000 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. United Power is also a founding member of the NextGen Cooperative Alliance, which is dedicated to expanding the power supply and procurement options available to distribution co-ops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Files Complaint Against Tri-State in District Court
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Monday | November 23, 2020
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Complaint alleges Tri-State violated their bylaws and state statute to admit non-utility members.
United Power Files Complaint Against Tri-State In District Court Alleging They Violated Their Bylaws and State Statute to Admit Non-Utility Members
Brighton, CO – Today United Power filed a complaint in Adams County District Court, alleging that Tri-State Generation and Transmission violated Colorado State Statutes and their own Articles of Incorporation and bylaws to add a greenhouse, a cattle ranch, and a natural gas supplier to their membership. The addition of these non-utility entities allowed the power cooperative to seek oversight from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), temporarily suspending a year-long effort by United Power to establish a reasonable buyout cost to leave the cooperative. United Power has been battling their power supplier to receive a buyout number with the goal of providing lower cost power to its membership.
“It is our belief that a favorable ruling in District Court would force FERC to reconsider their decision to allow Tri-State to be FERC jurisdictional,” stated Bryant Robbins, acting CEO at United Power. “This would allow the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CoPUC) to affirm the decision of Administrative Law Judge Robert Garvey who, on July 10, 2020, ruled that Tri-State had discriminated against United Power and adopted United Power’s approach for calculating a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory exit fee.”
Tri-State’s questionable legal maneuvers opened the door for it to bypass the CoPUC and brought the organization under regulation from FERC. Tri-State is anticipating that the move will allow it to avoid the buyout methodology that was initially accepted by the CoPUC. In a hearing last month, the CoPUC found that it did not have jurisdiction to decide whether Tri-State’s corporate maneuvers were legal, but it invited United Power to return once the issue had been decided.
“This announcement should come as no surprise to anyone, especially Tri-State. This filing and subsequent ruling should determine, once and for all, whether Tri-State is lawfully FERC regulated. We feel strongly that it will be determined that they are not,” stated Robbins. “It is our hope that the District Court will recognize the importance of a quick decision on this matter. We also remain hopeful that ongoing discussions with Tri-State on possible solutions to our issues will be productive.”
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 95,000 meters at homes, business, and farms in Colorado's north central front range. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.###
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United Power Files Notice of Intent to Leave Tri-State Generation and Transmission
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Tuesday | December 14, 2021
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United Power today filed its Notice of Intent to withdraw from the membership of Tri-State G&T at the FERC in Washington, D.C., effective January 1, 2024.
Date: 4/29/2022
United Power filed a non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from our power supplier in compliance with a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling. This changes our previously announced Tri-State exit date of Jan. 1, 2024 to May 1, 2024.
Reducing Costs, Leveraging Clean Resources Among Reasons for the Move
Brighton, Colorado/Washington D.C. — United Power, a rural electric cooperative based in Brighton, Colorado, today filed its Notice of Intent to withdraw from the membership of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C., effective January 1, 2024. The two-year notice period was accepted by FERC in an October 29, 2021 ruling.
United Power is the largest member of Tri-State and accounts for nearly 20% of the G&T’s annual revenue. United Power has unsuccessfully attempted to modify its all requirements contract with the G&T for more than three years. In the last nine months alone United Power has tendered three formal term sheets and held numerous high-level meetings, but leadership at the G&T has been unresponsive to the contract modification requests.
“Sadly, our power supplier has been ignoring our efforts to come to an amicable arrangement that better supports the needs of our members while guaranteeing that our prior commitments are met,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive Officer. “Instead of working with us in the pursuit of lower-cost, cleaner options, Tri-State has resisted these developments. Tri-State recently purchased additional coal generation, is limiting our members’ ability to add more carbon free generation and is penalizing additional storage on our system. They also offer non-members preferable transmission rates over those of us who have invested in the system for decades.”
United Power has been a leader in the deployment of innovative technologies and in the integration of renewable energy resources. Currently United Power has 84 megawatts of renewable generation on its system including 46 megawatts of utility scale solar, Colorado’s largest battery storage project and more than 6,800 roof top systems. Tri-State’s policies include penalties if a utility exceeds 5% of generation other than from the G&T.
There are a number of cases currently in front of FERC, Denver Courts, Adams County Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals that will ultimately decide the exit fee for United Power. United Power joins Delta Montrose Electric Association and Kit Carson who have exited the G&T in the last five years. At least six other cooperatives are considering a potential exit.
“When I came to United Power nine months ago, I was extremely optimistic that we would be able to come to an agreement that lives up to our commitment for past investments and allows us to provide lower cost, cleaner options to our rapidly growing communities in the future,” Gabriel said. “Our decision to depart is not made lightly but follows the cooperative principles of voluntary participation and member’s economic participation by choice,” added Gabriel.
United Power will be seeking alternative power supply and the use of transmission as outlined by FERC as part of Open Access Transmission Tariffs.
About United PowerUnited 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.###Message to the Membership & Frequently Asked Questions
