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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.###
United Power Helps Light Navajo Nation
Friday | August 23, 2024
United Power lineworkers helped set 70 poles and string miles of line over six days in July. The weeks-long project brought power to more than 150 families.
Read more >
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United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 15, 2020
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In response to growing concerns about COVID-19 and for the health and safety of its members, United Power offered an alternate option to its traditional Annual Meeting.
United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting Amid COVID-19 Concerns
2020 Virtual Annual Meeting Videos & Content
Brighton, CO – In response to growing concerns over the rapid spread of COVID-19 and for the health and safety of its members, United Power offered an alternate option to its traditional Annual Meeting format this year. The result was the co-op’s first-ever virtual “telephone town hall” style Annual Meeting held April 15, 2020.
The Annual Meeting, which had been previously scheduled at the Riverdale Regional Park, had a record participation of 569 members who pre-registered for the over-the-phone event. The virtual format offered United Power an optimal platform to educate members about the co-op’s activity over the past year and thank them for their hand in its success.
Since an in-person meeting could not be hosted, voting in this year’s director election was conducted via mail-in ballot only. Incumbents in United Power’s South and West Districts each won reelection in contested races. David E. Rose, South District, received 2,335 votes to retain his seat on the board. Stan Martin also received 1,833 votes in the South District. Greg Campbell and Phil Noble received 1,244 and 926 votes, respectively. In the West District, Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek retained her seat after receiving 4,499 votes. James P. Menghi received 1,774 votes. Tamra K. Waltemath, Mountain District, and James Vigesaa, East District, who ran unopposed in this year’s election, received 5,770 and 5,741 votes.
The cooperative focused on innovations and improvements this past year that centered on driving member satisfaction through increased reliability and pursuing more affordable power. Upgrades to the cooperative’s system, including the installation of an industry-leading “smart grid,” reduced outage times and placed the cooperative among the top 10 percent of utilities nationwide in reliability. Meanwhile, the cooperative has made headlines for ongoing negotiations with its wholesale power provider, Tri State Generation & Transmission, that would allow it to pursue more affordable energy options.
“One of our biggest challenges is the affordability of our power supply,” said United Power Board Chairman James Vigesaa. “We’re trying to obtain the most affordable power for our members by looking at all our options, including our wholesale power costs and what other opportunities exist to offer a better value to our members.”
One project that did highlight another strong year for the cooperative was staffing the Carbon Valley Service Center, located just off I-25 near Firestone in the western part of its service territory. Crews began the transition over to the new facility in early 2019 and were quickly able to prove the facility’s worth during March’s bomb cyclone weather event.
“We’ve got what I consider a world-class dispatch center over there,” said Chief Executive Officer Bryant Robbins. “If we hadn’t had those things in place, the members we got back on in two hours might have taken three days.”
Even in this time of uncertainty, United Power continues to put its members first, looking for the best way to provide the same reliable power its members have come to expect.
“The most important thing to all of us, board members and employees, is that our focus needs to be on that member out there at the end of the line,” said Vigesaa. “Everything we do needs to enhance the safety, affordability and reliability for that member.”
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to nearly 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 Holds Second Consecutive Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 14, 2021
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Record participation at the 2021 Annual Meeting demonstrated how effective the virtual format could be in allowing the cooperative to share and celebrate United Power’s accomplishments over the past year with its members.
United Power hosted its second consecutive virtual Annual Meeting on April 14 as lingering pandemic concerns prevented the cooperative from safely gathering with its members. Members who were interested in attending the meeting could either listen via phone, an alternative option introduced a year ago, or watch the livestream online.
Record participation at the 2021 Annual Meeting demonstrated how effective the virtual format could be in allowing the cooperative to share and celebrate United Power’s accomplishments over the past year with its members. More than 560 member attended the meeting via phone or livestream. The meeting included a recap of the cooperative’s 2020 accomplishments, a financial report and the certification of the Director Election.
Voting in this year’s Director Election was conducted via mail-in ballot only and 5,787 total ballots were cast by members. United Power’s Election and Credentials Committee Chair, Dale McCall reported the certified results of the 2021 Director Election. After all votes were tabulated, the cooperative has new board representatives in the South and Mountain Districts, while incumbents Tim Erickson and Brian McCormick retained their seats. Brad Case received 2,996 votes to claim the seat in the South District, while Ken Kreutzer received 2,600 votes. Stephen Whiteside, who ran unopposed, received 5,139 votes to win the seat in the Mountain District. Erickson, East District, received 3,148 votes to retain his seat on the board, while Steve Douglas received 2,484 votes. In the West District, McCormick retained his seat after receiving 3,059 votes. Vicki Hutchinson received 2,487 votes.
Ursula J. Morgan and Bryant Robbins presented the cooperative’s Chairman and CEO Report and summarized the accomplishments and challenges that 2020 presented to United Power.
Between prioritizing the health and safety of both members and employees, a historic wildfire season and ongoing conversations about competitive rates, last year was one of the most challenging, and most successful, years in United Power’s 82-year history.
In a proactive response to the pandemic, cooperative leadership temporarily suspended disconnects and established a financial assistance fund for members affected by COVID-19. The Co-op Cares Fund, created by allocating $300,000 in unclaimed capital credits, helped more than 1,700 members struggling to pay their electric bills. While the cooperative quickly shifted its focus to providing relief for members during the difficult period, internal departments were also adapting to the changing circumstances to provide the same level of service.
“What didn’t change was our commitment to providing the best possible service,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power’s acting chief executive officer throughout the pandemic. “We were still able to answer the phones, set up new service, help members with questions about their accounts and process payments. We safely restored power during outages, we kept building new lines and substations, and continued planned maintenance on the electric system.”
As though navigating the pandemic was not already challenging enough, this past summer also saw the worst wildfire season in Colorado history. While fires burned parts of rural electric systems north and west of United Power’s service territory, the cooperative was fortunate it was not affected. The co-op monitored the situation closely and was already in the midst of implementing a multiyear comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan.
“One thing that 2020 brought to light was the real threat of wildfires,” Robbins said. “United Power has had a fire mitigation plan in place for several years, and in 2020 we continued to look for ways to strengthen that plan.”
United Power had to adapt and respond quickly to new and evolving circumstances throughout the past year and did so by prioritizing its members. It rose to meet expectations and did so while also making meaningful headway in its long battle with Tri-State to provide more competitive rates.
“Your board believes the members of United Power deserve cleaner, more affordable power,” said Morgan, chairman of the cooperative’s Board of Directors. “We are already a leader in innovative renewable energy projects. Each of those projects were driven by what is financially and environmentally best for our members. Being able to consider other sources of power is just another step to build on our commitment to you, our members.”
United Power’s treasurer, Keith Alquist II from the South District, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported that despite the challenges in 2020, the cooperative continues to be in good financial condition. The auditors specifically complimented the United Power financial services team for their professionalism, completeness and accuracy in preparing the financial statements on a monthly basis.
Before adjourning for the evening, Morgan introduced United Power’s new president and chief executive officer, Mark Gabriel, who officially assumed his role on March 15, 2021.
“We are entering one of the most exciting times in the electric utility industry with a rare alignment of technological, societal and political momentum,” Gabriel said. “The electrification of everything will be the norm for the next decade and I believe the cooperative business model is the best suited to support the needs of members in our communities.”
Retiring board members, Susan Petrocco and Rick Newman, were also honored during the meeting for their many years of service to United Power members.
United Power board and staff concluded the meeting with a member forum offering members an opportunity to ask questions live over the phone or submit questions and comments online. The cooperative plans to follow up personally to any members who submitted questions that were not addressed during the time allowed. The videos and information presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2020 Annual Report, are available at www.unitedpower.com.
United Power a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to more than 97,000 meters at homes, farms and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. 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. At the end of 2020, the cooperative reached more than 97,000 meters representing more than 300,000 members. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.###
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United Power Hosted Annual Meeting on April 12
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Thursday | April 13, 2023
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Douglas Wins East District Seat; Three Incumbents Re-elected
Douglas Wins East District Seat; Three Incumbents Re-elected
Brighton, CO – United Power hosted its 2023 Annual Meeting on April 12. Members were invited to attend the meeting in person at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton or watch live on the cooperative’s website. Approximately 500 members and guests participated in this year’s meeting, which included a video recap highlighting accomplishments over the last year, an annual financial report, a presentation on the future of the cooperative, and the certification of the 2023 Director Election.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. The cooperative introduced electronic balloting in 2022 to provide members with a fast, secure, and convenient way to submit ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. Nearly 7,000 member ballots were cast in the election. Mountain District incumbent, Tamra “Tami” Waltemath, ran unopposed and will retain her seat with 5,918 votes. James Vigesaa received 1,960 votes winning the seat in the South District. Jamie Klein, Ken Kreutzer, and Katherine “Kathy” Mills received 1,271, 1,876, and 1,455 votes, respectively. In the West District, Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek retained her seat after receiving 4,003 votes in this year’s election. Thomas “Tom” Hogan received 2,510 votes. Steven “Steve” Douglas received 3,614 votes to win the East District seat. Robert “Rob” Masden received 2,994 votes.
Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman, and Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO, summarized the cooperative’s performance in 2022 with a video presentation. Last year, United Power reaffirmed its decision to exit its wholesale power contract in an effort pursue a more flexible, affordable, and reliable power supply. Over the course of the year, the cooperative achieved record-breaking reliability, and introduced its members to Our Cooperative Roadmap, an ever evolving plan outlining the co-op’s vision for maintaining its strength in a rapidly changing electric industry.
“No matter what the future holds, providing reliable electric service will always be at the core of our business,” said Martin. “We made great strides in 2022 – strengthening our system, improving reliability, and protecting our communities.”
Wildfire danger is an element of risk United Power takes seriously, with a continuously updated fire mitigation plan designed to protect our members and communities. In 2022, the cooperative removed vegetation encroaching on approximately 40 miles of line; applied a fire retardant to more than 400 poles; and added red flag warning procedures, which are activated when suitable wildfire conditions are present.
United Power also continued to evaluate opportunities to expand its electric vehicle (EV) offerings for members in 2022. The cooperative energized its third fast charger, rolled out its United EV pilot program, and launched its EV wiring rebate.
Member Choice grants, which allow members to nominate local nonprofits to receive grant dollars from the cooperative, were renewed for a third year in 2022. Six organizations were selected from dozens of nominations to receive a total of $12,000 through the program.
“Underlying all of these accomplishments is a dedicated team of United Power employees working to ensure they meet your needs,” said Gabriel. “Over 180 cooperative employees show up every day ready to put you first. They keep our systems secure and strong, take pride in working safely, and make sure that our members’ needs are met.”
Keith Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported another strong year. The finance team continues to receive compliments from auditors for their professionalism, completeness, and accuracy in preparing financial statements at year-end and on a monthly basis.
Gabriel concluded the business meeting with a presentation about the future of the electric industry. He highlighted the many ways the cooperative has already begun to proactively address the changing utility environment – from driving economic prosperity for its communities through tax revenue and job creation to how it is meeting the crucial needs of large business members. He also discussed local generation and self-generation as well as the technologies that work in conjunction with a robust electrical system that benefit the cooperative, its communities, and the members.
“A distribution utility like United Power stands at the crossroads of a changing energy industry and needs to transition from a simple distribution operator to managing a system that is agnostic to inputs and flexible enough to handle both centralized power and local generation,” he said.
Videos and information presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2022 Annual Report, are available here.
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 Hosts Annual Meeting on April 15
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Thursday | April 16, 2026
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Meeting highlights include Director Election results, local energy strategy, and New ERA grant update.
Meeting Highlights include Director Election Results, Local Energy Strategy, and New ERA Grant UpdateBrighton, CO – United Power members gathered for the cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting on April 15 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. More than 500 members and guests attended this year’s meeting, which included a video presentation highlighting the co-op’s 2025 accomplishments, the annual financial report, and a special presentation from United Power President and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. Results of the Director Election were announced at the conclusion of the meeting.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. More than 4,700 member ballots were cast in the election. Running unopposed, South District incumbent Steven Douglas and Mountain District incumbent Tamra K. Waltemath retained their seats with each candidate receiving 3,996 votes. North District incumbent Virginia A. “Ginny” Buczek retained her seat with 2,496 votes. Her opponent Phil Tiffany received 2,110 votes. A new director was seated in the Central District, where Lisa Hough received 2,733 votes to challenger Vicki Erickson’s 1,797 votes. A ballot item that asked members to update the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation to ensure they are clear, transparent, and consistent with current state laws and the cooperative’s bylaws passed with 3,635 votes in favor.
Board Chair Stephen Whiteside and Mark A. Gabriel shared a video presentation at the meeting highlighting how The Power of Local impacts the cooperative’s decision making and its everyday operations. Two years ago, United Power exited its wholesale power contract beginning its journey to energy independence. The cooperative is actively implementing its local energy strategy, known as hyper-localization, where more power is generated closer to the cooperative’s footprint and the communities it serves. Local energy also bypasses costly and congested transmission. The strategy was highlighted last year in the second version of the co-op’s long-term action plan, Our Cooperative Roadmap.
“One of the most significant changes in United Power’s history was our transition to a new power supply strategy,” said Whiteside. “When we moved away from a single provider, we gained more local control over where our power comes from and our ability to plan for the future.”
“Independence provides the cooperative with flexibility to build a diverse energy portfolio that protects reliability and helps keep long-term costs in check,” Gabriel said. “This includes an expanding catalog of hyper-local projects, like Mountain Peak Power, which was energized last summer in partnership with Kindle Energy. This innovative natural gas peaking plant is strategically located outside Keenesburg adjacent to gas lines, making it an efficient and cost-effective resource during peak demand events. Also, because it is located near a substation connected to a battery energy storage system (BESS), it will reduce costs and increase reliability for our members.”
United Power became one of the first electric utilities in the country to install BESS adjacent to its substations in 2024. These projects support the cooperative’s hyper-local strategy and are critical for resource adequacy, energy arbitrage opportunities, and shaving peak demand.
“Resources like Mountain Peak Power help ensure we have power when we need it most, right here at home,” said Whiteside. “It is another example of how investing locally supports reliability, flexibility, and long-term value for our members.”
Gabriel also shared that this week, the cooperative was the first awardee of 15 to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. The grant award, which will be paid over the next 10 to 15 years, will be used to help mitigate the rising cost of power and to stabilize rates for cooperative members. In September 2025, the agency confirmed that United Power was the first cooperative to submit and receive approval of its Community Benefit Plan Implementation Report, which was a condition to receive funds related to four energy projects already operating for the benefit of United Power communities. Three additional New ERA projects will come online by the end of 2029. United Power will continue investing in local communities, and fulfilling the cooperative’s commitments to advancing workforce development, access to energy assistance, support for rural farmers, and more.
“Simply put, just as we are securing new energy resources to support our membership, we are also ensuring the benefits of New ERA related to new jobs, reliability, and long-term affordability stay in our communities,” said Whiteside.
“We would like to extend a special thank you to our Congressional delegation, including Reps. Gabe Evans and Lauren Boebert as well as Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, for their support,” said Gabriel. “It has been a long road, but our amazing staff and the USDA staff made it happen.”
Paige Wagner-Maul, United Power Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financial report. Fiscal year 2025 marked United Power’s first full year of independence from its former single-source wholesale power contract, highlighted by the cooperative’s “A - Stable” investor-grade credit rating being affirmed by Fitch Ratings. This rating indicates a strong and stable financial outlook and will allow the co-op to pursue favorable interest rates as it continues to invest in its system.
Although margins decreased slightly, energy sales and revenue increased last year. Notably, certain aspects of the co-op’s May 2024 wholesale power contract buyout were determined in the co-op’s favor in 2025, lowering wholesale power costs and offsetting costs to the membership.
Gabriel concluded the meeting with a presentation about how United Power is taking a proactive position in an industry undergoing dramatic change. New technologies and projects are under development that promise to deliver answers to existing challenges, but the cooperative cannot afford to wait. Gabriel highlighted some expectations about United Power’s future energy demands and its strategy to address them.
“The future will not be defined by those who sit idle,” Gabriel said. “It will be shaped by those who act. United Power is doing exactly that. Planning strategically, investing wisely, and keeping our members at the center of every decision.”
Videos and information presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2025 Annual Report, are available 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 nearly 118,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###VIDEO: 2025 United Power Chair & CEO ReportTRANSCRIPT: United Power President & CEO Mark A. Gabriel’s 2026 Annual Meeting presentation
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United Power Hosts Annual Meeting on April 16
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Tuesday | April 22, 2025
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Three incumbents re-elected in 2025 Director Election.
Three Incumbents Re-elected in 2025 Director ElectionBrighton, CO – United Power members gathered for the cooperative’s 2025 Annual Meeting on April 16 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. More than 500 members and guests attended this year’s meeting, which included a video presentation highlighting the co-op’s 2024 accomplishments, an annual financial report, and a special presentation from President and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. Results of the Director Election were announced at the conclusion of the meeting.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. More than 4,700 member ballots were cast in the election. Running unopposed, North District incumbent Ursula J. Morgan and Central District incumbent Keith Alquist retained their seats with 4,242 votes and 4,227 votes, respectively. Incumbent Beth Martin received 2,757 votes in the South District to retain her seat; Ryan Keefer received 1,915 votes.
Board Chair Ursula J. Morgan and Gabriel shared a video presentation highlighting the cooperative’s successful transition to energy independence after the cooperative exited its wholesale power contract in May 2024. The withdrawal launched a new era in United Power’s history where it has the autonomy to manage and balance its own portfolio of energy resources and power supply agreements. The decision to leave was carefully considered over many years as the cooperative’s Board studied the industry and how it was developing.
“Many of these changes were driven by you, our member-owners,” said Morgan. “Not only did our membership increase, power demands also increased, and you tasked this cooperative with finding new ways to produce and provide power.”
It was the shift in how members use and generate power that required United Power to rethink its distribution model, said Gabriel. Adoption of residential solar among the cooperative’s members has outpaced most of the country. Those who produce more than they consume sell their excess back to the cooperative so that the distribution of energy generation is no longer a one-way street. Additional flexibility was also necessary to help commercial and industrial members, such as those in the oil and gas industry, achieve their own goals; these members are working to electrify their processes and meet sustainability requirements.
Wholesale power costs were another factor in the decision to exit the contract. These costs already constituted more than two-thirds of the cooperative’s expenses, and United Power had little ability to control the uncertainty surrounding future increases.
“I am proud to say that from day one, we were delivering power generated by cleaner sources at more predictable prices,” said Gabriel of the successful exit. “And our record of reliability and safety remain at the high standards we expect.”
United Power’s energy independence allows the cooperative to pursue a strategy of hyper-localization. Prioritizing power generation opportunities located within its footprint benefits both the cooperative and local communities, and limits reliance on generation facilities hundreds of miles away. Last year, the co-op added new power supply agreements for solar resources in Adams and Weld Counties, a natural gas peaking plant near Keenesburg, and battery storage facilities co-located at substations throughout the service territory.
“We are continuing to add more power agreements and are looking for new opportunities to include local resources,” said Gabriel. “This ongoing transition is the future of electric generation and delivery, and United Power is proud to be at the forefront of this change.”
Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported another strong year. The financial performance throughout the year was ahead of not only the prior year, but also ahead of budget. Lower wholesale power costs helped offset costs associated with the co-op’s buyout last May.
Gabriel concluded the business meeting with a presentation about United Power’s opportunities as it transitions to a distribution system operator. This model of energy delivery will help the cooperative continue to meet the growing energy needs of its members while also thriving as an innovative distribution co-op. Gabriel’s presentation highlighted the coming of energy markets to Colorado, how those markets benefit United Power, and what it means for members who are energy producers as well as consumers.
“This was a big year for United Power,” Gabriel said. “We continue to be committed to creating an energy future that is sustainable, stabilizes costs for our members, and evolves to meet the growing needs of the communities you call home.”
Videos and information presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2024 Annual Report, are available here.
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 114,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Hosts Hybrid Annual Meeting on April 13
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Thursday | April 14, 2022
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First In-Person Meeting Since 2019; Incumbents Re-elected
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.
United Power hosted a hybrid Annual Meeting on April 13, allowing members to gather in person for the first time since 2019. The cooperative was pleased to return to an in-person format this year. Nearly 450 members and guests attended the meeting either in person or online. The meeting included a video recap highlighting the cooperative’s accomplishments over the last year, an annual financial report, and the certification of the director election.
Voting in the director election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. The cooperative introduced electronic balloting this year to provide members with a fast, secure and convenient way to submit ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. More than 6,000 member ballots were cast in the election. East District incumbent, Elizabeth “Beth” Martin, retained her seat, receiving 2,728 votes. Steven “Steve” Douglas received 2,536 votes and Naptali A. Lucks received 700 votes in the race for the East District. Ursula J. Morgan, West District, and Keith Alquist, South District, ran unopposed and will retain their seats with 5,341 and 5,337 votes, respectively.
Ursula J. Morgan, Board Chairman and Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO, summarized the cooperative’s performance in 2021 with a video presentation. The cooperative surpassed 100,000 meter connections, improved operational efficiencies, and implemented several innovative projects all in the last year.
The addition of more than 4,600 new meters pushed United Power beyond 100,000 meters early last summer. It became just the 31st electric cooperative nationwide to surpass this mark and only the second in Colorado. While more meters were being added, the operations team conducted targeted maintenance, which reduced outage times to nearly half the national average.
United Power also expanded its electric vehicle charging network, installed a diesel generator in Gilpin County, and deployed its first hybrid bucket truck. The cooperative’s second charging station at the Market Street Mart in Keenesburg filled a gap in available charging infrastructure along Interstate 76. The generator project provided an outage solution and emergency backup to members located at the ends of the co-op’s lines where it can be difficult to restore power quickly due to isolation and mountain terrain.
Most significantly, United Power announced its intentions to pursue a change in its wholesale power supplier effective January 2024. Wholesale power costs account for approximately 75% of member rates and attempts to negotiate the cooperative’s existing contract have failed. Based on the broader economic landscape, leadership believes it is in the best interest of members to find an alternate supplier moving forward.
“This was not a decision that was reached without exhaustive research and deliberation,” said Morgan. “We considered the impact on rates and reliability, as well as the flexibility of our power supply. The Board believes this is the right direction for our cooperative.”
The cost of power under the current contract is nearly 20-25% higher than market levels. The availability of self-generation and storage options combined with existing contract limitations no longer meet the needs of United Power members.
“Our goal is to provide both lower-cost power and more options for our members,” Gabriel said. “We are confident we can craft a new future for our members, and we are excited to bring the opportunities to you.”
United Power anticipates far-reaching change and innovation to come to the electric utility industry in the years ahead. One of the cooperative’s biggest accomplishments last year was developing Our Cooperative Roadmap, a long-term action plan to maintain United Power’s strength and competitiveness in the evolving industry.
“What does the future look like for United Power?” Gabriel asked. “We need to continue to provide a robust network so that every member behind every meter has every possible option and opportunity to engage in the way they desire. Bottom line: we need to do this while ensuring high quality, high reliability, and reasonably priced power.”
Keith Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported the cooperative is in good fiscal shape. The finance team at United Power continues to receive compliments from auditors for their professionalism, completeness and accuracy in preparing financial statements at year-end and on a monthly basis.
Videos and information presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2021 Annual Report, are available here.
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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.###
United Power Helps Light Navajo Nation
Friday | August 23, 2024
United Power lineworkers helped set 70 poles and string miles of line over six days in July. The weeks-long project brought power to more than 150 families.
Read more >
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United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 15, 2020
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In response to growing concerns about COVID-19 and for the health and safety of its members, United Power offered an alternate option to its traditional Annual Meeting.
United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting Amid COVID-19 Concerns
2020 Virtual Annual Meeting Videos & Content
Brighton, CO – In response to growing concerns over the rapid spread of COVID-19 and for the health and safety of its members, United Power offered an alternate option to its traditional Annual Meeting format this year. The result was the co-op’s first-ever virtual “telephone town hall” style Annual Meeting held April 15, 2020.
The Annual Meeting, which had been previously scheduled at the Riverdale Regional Park, had a record participation of 569 members who pre-registered for the over-the-phone event. The virtual format offered United Power an optimal platform to educate members about the co-op’s activity over the past year and thank them for their hand in its success.
Since an in-person meeting could not be hosted, voting in this year’s director election was conducted via mail-in ballot only. Incumbents in United Power’s South and West Districts each won reelection in contested races. David E. Rose, South District, received 2,335 votes to retain his seat on the board. Stan Martin also received 1,833 votes in the South District. Greg Campbell and Phil Noble received 1,244 and 926 votes, respectively. In the West District, Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek retained her seat after receiving 4,499 votes. James P. Menghi received 1,774 votes. Tamra K. Waltemath, Mountain District, and James Vigesaa, East District, who ran unopposed in this year’s election, received 5,770 and 5,741 votes.
The cooperative focused on innovations and improvements this past year that centered on driving member satisfaction through increased reliability and pursuing more affordable power. Upgrades to the cooperative’s system, including the installation of an industry-leading “smart grid,” reduced outage times and placed the cooperative among the top 10 percent of utilities nationwide in reliability. Meanwhile, the cooperative has made headlines for ongoing negotiations with its wholesale power provider, Tri State Generation & Transmission, that would allow it to pursue more affordable energy options.
“One of our biggest challenges is the affordability of our power supply,” said United Power Board Chairman James Vigesaa. “We’re trying to obtain the most affordable power for our members by looking at all our options, including our wholesale power costs and what other opportunities exist to offer a better value to our members.”
One project that did highlight another strong year for the cooperative was staffing the Carbon Valley Service Center, located just off I-25 near Firestone in the western part of its service territory. Crews began the transition over to the new facility in early 2019 and were quickly able to prove the facility’s worth during March’s bomb cyclone weather event.
“We’ve got what I consider a world-class dispatch center over there,” said Chief Executive Officer Bryant Robbins. “If we hadn’t had those things in place, the members we got back on in two hours might have taken three days.”
Even in this time of uncertainty, United Power continues to put its members first, looking for the best way to provide the same reliable power its members have come to expect.
“The most important thing to all of us, board members and employees, is that our focus needs to be on that member out there at the end of the line,” said Vigesaa. “Everything we do needs to enhance the safety, affordability and reliability for that member.”
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to nearly 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 Holds Second Consecutive Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 14, 2021
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Record participation at the 2021 Annual Meeting demonstrated how effective the virtual format could be in allowing the cooperative to share and celebrate United Power’s accomplishments over the past year with its members.
United Power hosted its second consecutive virtual Annual Meeting on April 14 as lingering pandemic concerns prevented the cooperative from safely gathering with its members. Members who were interested in attending the meeting could either listen via phone, an alternative option introduced a year ago, or watch the livestream online.
Record participation at the 2021 Annual Meeting demonstrated how effective the virtual format could be in allowing the cooperative to share and celebrate United Power’s accomplishments over the past year with its members. More than 560 member attended the meeting via phone or livestream. The meeting included a recap of the cooperative’s 2020 accomplishments, a financial report and the certification of the Director Election.
Voting in this year’s Director Election was conducted via mail-in ballot only and 5,787 total ballots were cast by members. United Power’s Election and Credentials Committee Chair, Dale McCall reported the certified results of the 2021 Director Election. After all votes were tabulated, the cooperative has new board representatives in the South and Mountain Districts, while incumbents Tim Erickson and Brian McCormick retained their seats. Brad Case received 2,996 votes to claim the seat in the South District, while Ken Kreutzer received 2,600 votes. Stephen Whiteside, who ran unopposed, received 5,139 votes to win the seat in the Mountain District. Erickson, East District, received 3,148 votes to retain his seat on the board, while Steve Douglas received 2,484 votes. In the West District, McCormick retained his seat after receiving 3,059 votes. Vicki Hutchinson received 2,487 votes.
Ursula J. Morgan and Bryant Robbins presented the cooperative’s Chairman and CEO Report and summarized the accomplishments and challenges that 2020 presented to United Power.
Between prioritizing the health and safety of both members and employees, a historic wildfire season and ongoing conversations about competitive rates, last year was one of the most challenging, and most successful, years in United Power’s 82-year history.
In a proactive response to the pandemic, cooperative leadership temporarily suspended disconnects and established a financial assistance fund for members affected by COVID-19. The Co-op Cares Fund, created by allocating $300,000 in unclaimed capital credits, helped more than 1,700 members struggling to pay their electric bills. While the cooperative quickly shifted its focus to providing relief for members during the difficult period, internal departments were also adapting to the changing circumstances to provide the same level of service.
“What didn’t change was our commitment to providing the best possible service,” said Bryant Robbins, United Power’s acting chief executive officer throughout the pandemic. “We were still able to answer the phones, set up new service, help members with questions about their accounts and process payments. We safely restored power during outages, we kept building new lines and substations, and continued planned maintenance on the electric system.”
As though navigating the pandemic was not already challenging enough, this past summer also saw the worst wildfire season in Colorado history. While fires burned parts of rural electric systems north and west of United Power’s service territory, the cooperative was fortunate it was not affected. The co-op monitored the situation closely and was already in the midst of implementing a multiyear comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan.
“One thing that 2020 brought to light was the real threat of wildfires,” Robbins said. “United Power has had a fire mitigation plan in place for several years, and in 2020 we continued to look for ways to strengthen that plan.”
United Power had to adapt and respond quickly to new and evolving circumstances throughout the past year and did so by prioritizing its members. It rose to meet expectations and did so while also making meaningful headway in its long battle with Tri-State to provide more competitive rates.
“Your board believes the members of United Power deserve cleaner, more affordable power,” said Morgan, chairman of the cooperative’s Board of Directors. “We are already a leader in innovative renewable energy projects. Each of those projects were driven by what is financially and environmentally best for our members. Being able to consider other sources of power is just another step to build on our commitment to you, our members.”
United Power’s treasurer, Keith Alquist II from the South District, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported that despite the challenges in 2020, the cooperative continues to be in good financial condition. The auditors specifically complimented the United Power financial services team for their professionalism, completeness and accuracy in preparing the financial statements on a monthly basis.
Before adjourning for the evening, Morgan introduced United Power’s new president and chief executive officer, Mark Gabriel, who officially assumed his role on March 15, 2021.
“We are entering one of the most exciting times in the electric utility industry with a rare alignment of technological, societal and political momentum,” Gabriel said. “The electrification of everything will be the norm for the next decade and I believe the cooperative business model is the best suited to support the needs of members in our communities.”
Retiring board members, Susan Petrocco and Rick Newman, were also honored during the meeting for their many years of service to United Power members.
United Power board and staff concluded the meeting with a member forum offering members an opportunity to ask questions live over the phone or submit questions and comments online. The cooperative plans to follow up personally to any members who submitted questions that were not addressed during the time allowed. The videos and information presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2020 Annual Report, are available at www.unitedpower.com.
United Power a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to more than 97,000 meters at homes, farms and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. 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. At the end of 2020, the cooperative reached more than 97,000 meters representing more than 300,000 members. For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.###
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United Power Hosted Annual Meeting on April 12
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Thursday | April 13, 2023
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Douglas Wins East District Seat; Three Incumbents Re-elected
Douglas Wins East District Seat; Three Incumbents Re-elected
Brighton, CO – United Power hosted its 2023 Annual Meeting on April 12. Members were invited to attend the meeting in person at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton or watch live on the cooperative’s website. Approximately 500 members and guests participated in this year’s meeting, which included a video recap highlighting accomplishments over the last year, an annual financial report, a presentation on the future of the cooperative, and the certification of the 2023 Director Election.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. The cooperative introduced electronic balloting in 2022 to provide members with a fast, secure, and convenient way to submit ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. Nearly 7,000 member ballots were cast in the election. Mountain District incumbent, Tamra “Tami” Waltemath, ran unopposed and will retain her seat with 5,918 votes. James Vigesaa received 1,960 votes winning the seat in the South District. Jamie Klein, Ken Kreutzer, and Katherine “Kathy” Mills received 1,271, 1,876, and 1,455 votes, respectively. In the West District, Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek retained her seat after receiving 4,003 votes in this year’s election. Thomas “Tom” Hogan received 2,510 votes. Steven “Steve” Douglas received 3,614 votes to win the East District seat. Robert “Rob” Masden received 2,994 votes.
Beth Martin, United Power’s Board Chairman, and Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO, summarized the cooperative’s performance in 2022 with a video presentation. Last year, United Power reaffirmed its decision to exit its wholesale power contract in an effort pursue a more flexible, affordable, and reliable power supply. Over the course of the year, the cooperative achieved record-breaking reliability, and introduced its members to Our Cooperative Roadmap, an ever evolving plan outlining the co-op’s vision for maintaining its strength in a rapidly changing electric industry.
“No matter what the future holds, providing reliable electric service will always be at the core of our business,” said Martin. “We made great strides in 2022 – strengthening our system, improving reliability, and protecting our communities.”
Wildfire danger is an element of risk United Power takes seriously, with a continuously updated fire mitigation plan designed to protect our members and communities. In 2022, the cooperative removed vegetation encroaching on approximately 40 miles of line; applied a fire retardant to more than 400 poles; and added red flag warning procedures, which are activated when suitable wildfire conditions are present.
United Power also continued to evaluate opportunities to expand its electric vehicle (EV) offerings for members in 2022. The cooperative energized its third fast charger, rolled out its United EV pilot program, and launched its EV wiring rebate.
Member Choice grants, which allow members to nominate local nonprofits to receive grant dollars from the cooperative, were renewed for a third year in 2022. Six organizations were selected from dozens of nominations to receive a total of $12,000 through the program.
“Underlying all of these accomplishments is a dedicated team of United Power employees working to ensure they meet your needs,” said Gabriel. “Over 180 cooperative employees show up every day ready to put you first. They keep our systems secure and strong, take pride in working safely, and make sure that our members’ needs are met.”
Keith Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported another strong year. The finance team continues to receive compliments from auditors for their professionalism, completeness, and accuracy in preparing financial statements at year-end and on a monthly basis.
Gabriel concluded the business meeting with a presentation about the future of the electric industry. He highlighted the many ways the cooperative has already begun to proactively address the changing utility environment – from driving economic prosperity for its communities through tax revenue and job creation to how it is meeting the crucial needs of large business members. He also discussed local generation and self-generation as well as the technologies that work in conjunction with a robust electrical system that benefit the cooperative, its communities, and the members.
“A distribution utility like United Power stands at the crossroads of a changing energy industry and needs to transition from a simple distribution operator to managing a system that is agnostic to inputs and flexible enough to handle both centralized power and local generation,” he said.
Videos and information presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2022 Annual Report, are available here.
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 Hosts Annual Meeting on April 15
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Thursday | April 16, 2026
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Meeting highlights include Director Election results, local energy strategy, and New ERA grant update.
Meeting Highlights include Director Election Results, Local Energy Strategy, and New ERA Grant UpdateBrighton, CO – United Power members gathered for the cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting on April 15 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. More than 500 members and guests attended this year’s meeting, which included a video presentation highlighting the co-op’s 2025 accomplishments, the annual financial report, and a special presentation from United Power President and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. Results of the Director Election were announced at the conclusion of the meeting.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. More than 4,700 member ballots were cast in the election. Running unopposed, South District incumbent Steven Douglas and Mountain District incumbent Tamra K. Waltemath retained their seats with each candidate receiving 3,996 votes. North District incumbent Virginia A. “Ginny” Buczek retained her seat with 2,496 votes. Her opponent Phil Tiffany received 2,110 votes. A new director was seated in the Central District, where Lisa Hough received 2,733 votes to challenger Vicki Erickson’s 1,797 votes. A ballot item that asked members to update the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation to ensure they are clear, transparent, and consistent with current state laws and the cooperative’s bylaws passed with 3,635 votes in favor.
Board Chair Stephen Whiteside and Mark A. Gabriel shared a video presentation at the meeting highlighting how The Power of Local impacts the cooperative’s decision making and its everyday operations. Two years ago, United Power exited its wholesale power contract beginning its journey to energy independence. The cooperative is actively implementing its local energy strategy, known as hyper-localization, where more power is generated closer to the cooperative’s footprint and the communities it serves. Local energy also bypasses costly and congested transmission. The strategy was highlighted last year in the second version of the co-op’s long-term action plan, Our Cooperative Roadmap.
“One of the most significant changes in United Power’s history was our transition to a new power supply strategy,” said Whiteside. “When we moved away from a single provider, we gained more local control over where our power comes from and our ability to plan for the future.”
“Independence provides the cooperative with flexibility to build a diverse energy portfolio that protects reliability and helps keep long-term costs in check,” Gabriel said. “This includes an expanding catalog of hyper-local projects, like Mountain Peak Power, which was energized last summer in partnership with Kindle Energy. This innovative natural gas peaking plant is strategically located outside Keenesburg adjacent to gas lines, making it an efficient and cost-effective resource during peak demand events. Also, because it is located near a substation connected to a battery energy storage system (BESS), it will reduce costs and increase reliability for our members.”
United Power became one of the first electric utilities in the country to install BESS adjacent to its substations in 2024. These projects support the cooperative’s hyper-local strategy and are critical for resource adequacy, energy arbitrage opportunities, and shaving peak demand.
“Resources like Mountain Peak Power help ensure we have power when we need it most, right here at home,” said Whiteside. “It is another example of how investing locally supports reliability, flexibility, and long-term value for our members.”
Gabriel also shared that this week, the cooperative was the first awardee of 15 to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. The grant award, which will be paid over the next 10 to 15 years, will be used to help mitigate the rising cost of power and to stabilize rates for cooperative members. In September 2025, the agency confirmed that United Power was the first cooperative to submit and receive approval of its Community Benefit Plan Implementation Report, which was a condition to receive funds related to four energy projects already operating for the benefit of United Power communities. Three additional New ERA projects will come online by the end of 2029. United Power will continue investing in local communities, and fulfilling the cooperative’s commitments to advancing workforce development, access to energy assistance, support for rural farmers, and more.
“Simply put, just as we are securing new energy resources to support our membership, we are also ensuring the benefits of New ERA related to new jobs, reliability, and long-term affordability stay in our communities,” said Whiteside.
“We would like to extend a special thank you to our Congressional delegation, including Reps. Gabe Evans and Lauren Boebert as well as Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, for their support,” said Gabriel. “It has been a long road, but our amazing staff and the USDA staff made it happen.”
Paige Wagner-Maul, United Power Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financial report. Fiscal year 2025 marked United Power’s first full year of independence from its former single-source wholesale power contract, highlighted by the cooperative’s “A - Stable” investor-grade credit rating being affirmed by Fitch Ratings. This rating indicates a strong and stable financial outlook and will allow the co-op to pursue favorable interest rates as it continues to invest in its system.
Although margins decreased slightly, energy sales and revenue increased last year. Notably, certain aspects of the co-op’s May 2024 wholesale power contract buyout were determined in the co-op’s favor in 2025, lowering wholesale power costs and offsetting costs to the membership.
Gabriel concluded the meeting with a presentation about how United Power is taking a proactive position in an industry undergoing dramatic change. New technologies and projects are under development that promise to deliver answers to existing challenges, but the cooperative cannot afford to wait. Gabriel highlighted some expectations about United Power’s future energy demands and its strategy to address them.
“The future will not be defined by those who sit idle,” Gabriel said. “It will be shaped by those who act. United Power is doing exactly that. Planning strategically, investing wisely, and keeping our members at the center of every decision.”
Videos and information presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2025 Annual Report, are available 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 nearly 118,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###VIDEO: 2025 United Power Chair & CEO ReportTRANSCRIPT: United Power President & CEO Mark A. Gabriel’s 2026 Annual Meeting presentation
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United Power Hosts Annual Meeting on April 16
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Tuesday | April 22, 2025
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Three incumbents re-elected in 2025 Director Election.
Three Incumbents Re-elected in 2025 Director ElectionBrighton, CO – United Power members gathered for the cooperative’s 2025 Annual Meeting on April 16 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. More than 500 members and guests attended this year’s meeting, which included a video presentation highlighting the co-op’s 2024 accomplishments, an annual financial report, and a special presentation from President and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. Results of the Director Election were announced at the conclusion of the meeting.
Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. More than 4,700 member ballots were cast in the election. Running unopposed, North District incumbent Ursula J. Morgan and Central District incumbent Keith Alquist retained their seats with 4,242 votes and 4,227 votes, respectively. Incumbent Beth Martin received 2,757 votes in the South District to retain her seat; Ryan Keefer received 1,915 votes.
Board Chair Ursula J. Morgan and Gabriel shared a video presentation highlighting the cooperative’s successful transition to energy independence after the cooperative exited its wholesale power contract in May 2024. The withdrawal launched a new era in United Power’s history where it has the autonomy to manage and balance its own portfolio of energy resources and power supply agreements. The decision to leave was carefully considered over many years as the cooperative’s Board studied the industry and how it was developing.
“Many of these changes were driven by you, our member-owners,” said Morgan. “Not only did our membership increase, power demands also increased, and you tasked this cooperative with finding new ways to produce and provide power.”
It was the shift in how members use and generate power that required United Power to rethink its distribution model, said Gabriel. Adoption of residential solar among the cooperative’s members has outpaced most of the country. Those who produce more than they consume sell their excess back to the cooperative so that the distribution of energy generation is no longer a one-way street. Additional flexibility was also necessary to help commercial and industrial members, such as those in the oil and gas industry, achieve their own goals; these members are working to electrify their processes and meet sustainability requirements.
Wholesale power costs were another factor in the decision to exit the contract. These costs already constituted more than two-thirds of the cooperative’s expenses, and United Power had little ability to control the uncertainty surrounding future increases.
“I am proud to say that from day one, we were delivering power generated by cleaner sources at more predictable prices,” said Gabriel of the successful exit. “And our record of reliability and safety remain at the high standards we expect.”
United Power’s energy independence allows the cooperative to pursue a strategy of hyper-localization. Prioritizing power generation opportunities located within its footprint benefits both the cooperative and local communities, and limits reliance on generation facilities hundreds of miles away. Last year, the co-op added new power supply agreements for solar resources in Adams and Weld Counties, a natural gas peaking plant near Keenesburg, and battery storage facilities co-located at substations throughout the service territory.
“We are continuing to add more power agreements and are looking for new opportunities to include local resources,” said Gabriel. “This ongoing transition is the future of electric generation and delivery, and United Power is proud to be at the forefront of this change.”
Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported another strong year. The financial performance throughout the year was ahead of not only the prior year, but also ahead of budget. Lower wholesale power costs helped offset costs associated with the co-op’s buyout last May.
Gabriel concluded the business meeting with a presentation about United Power’s opportunities as it transitions to a distribution system operator. This model of energy delivery will help the cooperative continue to meet the growing energy needs of its members while also thriving as an innovative distribution co-op. Gabriel’s presentation highlighted the coming of energy markets to Colorado, how those markets benefit United Power, and what it means for members who are energy producers as well as consumers.
“This was a big year for United Power,” Gabriel said. “We continue to be committed to creating an energy future that is sustainable, stabilizes costs for our members, and evolves to meet the growing needs of the communities you call home.”
Videos and information presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2024 Annual Report, are available here.
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 114,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.###
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United Power Hosts Hybrid Annual Meeting on April 13
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Thursday | April 14, 2022
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First In-Person Meeting Since 2019; Incumbents Re-elected
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.
United Power hosted a hybrid Annual Meeting on April 13, allowing members to gather in person for the first time since 2019. The cooperative was pleased to return to an in-person format this year. Nearly 450 members and guests attended the meeting either in person or online. The meeting included a video recap highlighting the cooperative’s accomplishments over the last year, an annual financial report, and the certification of the director election.
Voting in the director election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. The cooperative introduced electronic balloting this year to provide members with a fast, secure and convenient way to submit ballots and avoid delays in mail handling. More than 6,000 member ballots were cast in the election. East District incumbent, Elizabeth “Beth” Martin, retained her seat, receiving 2,728 votes. Steven “Steve” Douglas received 2,536 votes and Naptali A. Lucks received 700 votes in the race for the East District. Ursula J. Morgan, West District, and Keith Alquist, South District, ran unopposed and will retain their seats with 5,341 and 5,337 votes, respectively.
Ursula J. Morgan, Board Chairman and Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO, summarized the cooperative’s performance in 2021 with a video presentation. The cooperative surpassed 100,000 meter connections, improved operational efficiencies, and implemented several innovative projects all in the last year.
The addition of more than 4,600 new meters pushed United Power beyond 100,000 meters early last summer. It became just the 31st electric cooperative nationwide to surpass this mark and only the second in Colorado. While more meters were being added, the operations team conducted targeted maintenance, which reduced outage times to nearly half the national average.
United Power also expanded its electric vehicle charging network, installed a diesel generator in Gilpin County, and deployed its first hybrid bucket truck. The cooperative’s second charging station at the Market Street Mart in Keenesburg filled a gap in available charging infrastructure along Interstate 76. The generator project provided an outage solution and emergency backup to members located at the ends of the co-op’s lines where it can be difficult to restore power quickly due to isolation and mountain terrain.
Most significantly, United Power announced its intentions to pursue a change in its wholesale power supplier effective January 2024. Wholesale power costs account for approximately 75% of member rates and attempts to negotiate the cooperative’s existing contract have failed. Based on the broader economic landscape, leadership believes it is in the best interest of members to find an alternate supplier moving forward.
“This was not a decision that was reached without exhaustive research and deliberation,” said Morgan. “We considered the impact on rates and reliability, as well as the flexibility of our power supply. The Board believes this is the right direction for our cooperative.”
The cost of power under the current contract is nearly 20-25% higher than market levels. The availability of self-generation and storage options combined with existing contract limitations no longer meet the needs of United Power members.
“Our goal is to provide both lower-cost power and more options for our members,” Gabriel said. “We are confident we can craft a new future for our members, and we are excited to bring the opportunities to you.”
United Power anticipates far-reaching change and innovation to come to the electric utility industry in the years ahead. One of the cooperative’s biggest accomplishments last year was developing Our Cooperative Roadmap, a long-term action plan to maintain United Power’s strength and competitiveness in the evolving industry.
“What does the future look like for United Power?” Gabriel asked. “We need to continue to provide a robust network so that every member behind every meter has every possible option and opportunity to engage in the way they desire. Bottom line: we need to do this while ensuring high quality, high reliability, and reasonably priced power.”
Keith Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported the cooperative is in good fiscal shape. The finance team at United Power continues to receive compliments from auditors for their professionalism, completeness and accuracy in preparing financial statements at year-end and on a monthly basis.
Videos and information presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2021 Annual Report, are available here.
