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United Power Files with PUC for Tri-State Exit Price
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Wednesday | November 6, 2019
Card Teaser
Cooperative Seeks More Renewable Energy, Lower Costs
United Power, a member-owned electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern front range, has been investigating its power supply options with Tri-State Generation & Transmission over the last several years, as is the fiduciary responsibility to its member-owners. As part of its investigation, United Power filed a request for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to exercise its authority to establish a just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory exit charge from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Tri-State is a cooperative generation and transmission association headquartered in Westminster, Colorado which provides wholesale power to 40 utilities across four states, including United Power.
“United Power members deserve clean, affordable energy and we have an obligation as a cooperative to look out for the financial interests of our member-owners. We have been working for the last few years on solutions with Tri-State that would allow the co-op the flexibility to add local resources, or purchase lower cost power from other sources,” said John Parker, Chief Executive Officer for United Power. “Conversations regarding our power agreement with Tri-State have stalled and the cooperative is seeking out all possible alternatives to build in rate reductions and offer more renewable options to our energy mix.”
Power purchase agreements with Tri-State limit the purchase of additional power by United Power to just five percent of total power requirements. United Power, along with several other cooperatives, championed a bylaw change that would allow Tri-State member cooperatives to enter into partial requirement contracts. These new partial requirement contracts are an essential component of any successful plan to de-carbonize Colorado electricity generation consistent with Colorado state policy objectives by reducing United Power’s reliance on Tri-State’s high-priced, carbon-intensive power mix. Not only that, they would allow the cooperative to better meet demands for local renewable energy projects, and ultimately reduce costs for United Power members. Since the resolution was passed earlier this year, the two parties have been unable to come to agreements on proposed solutions, and recently Tri-State placed a moratorium on all partial power and buy-out conversations until mid-2020.
“By not allowing United Power to move forward in a timely manner to seek additional energy sources, Tri-State is effectively holding this cooperative and our members hostage,” said Parker. “We are seeking partial requirements and/or buy-out solutions that are in the financial interests of the Tri-State cooperative family, and mutually beneficial to the ratepayers we serve. A full disclosure of a fair and just exit package is the information United Power needs to evaluate and ultimately make effective choices for our members.”
Colorado’s Public Utilities Law gives the Commission broad jurisdiction over public utilities like Tri-State, thus United Power has asked for their intervention to obtain a fair exit price and pricing methodology from Tri-State.
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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 >
Title
United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 15, 2020
Card Teaser
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
Card Teaser
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 Honored as 2022 Solar and Storage Champion
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Tuesday | September 6, 2022
Card Teaser
COSSA honored United Power for its contribution to the growth of the solar and storage industry
BRIGHTON, Colorado – The Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) honored United Power as one of their Solar and Storage Champions for 2022 for the cooperative’s contribution to the growth of the solar and storage industry. This awards program started in 2021 at COSSA’s inaugural Topgolf Networking Event and developed out of COSSA’s annual tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations that have made invaluable contributions to the solar and storage energy industry.
United Power has taken several impactful steps to support solar and energy storage, with efforts touching multiple solar sectors. In addition to having some of the highest distributed generation penetration of Colorado utilities, United Power has advocated for community solar at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and recently issued a request for proposal for wholesale electric power supply to serve up to a peak load of 600 MW. United Power CEO and President Mark A. Gabriel accepted the award and made a short presentation at the awards ceremony.
“United Power is proud to be a leader and innovator in this arena,” stated Gabriel. “Supporting solar and storage options is an essential part of our plan for the future of this cooperative. As we move toward a more multifaceted power delivery system, distributed generation is a big consideration. Embracing these technologies is important for our cooperative as we continue to build an electric delivery system that meets the changing needs of our members.”
This year’s Solar and Storage Champions were celebrated during COSSA’s Topgolf Networking Event on Aug. 25, 2022, at Topgolf in Thornton, Colorado.
###About COSSACOSSA is the state trade association representing over 250 solar and storage businesses in Colorado. COSSA’s members provide solar and energy storage products and services to residential consumers, commercial businesses, utilities, and governmental entities throughout the state.
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United Power Hosted Annual Meeting on April 12
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Thursday | April 13, 2023
Card Teaser
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.Â
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.Â
“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.”Â
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.Â
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.Â
“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.Â
“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.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 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 Hybrid Annual Meeting on April 13
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Thursday | April 14, 2022
Card Teaser
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 with PUC for Tri-State Exit Price
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Wednesday | November 6, 2019
Card Teaser
Cooperative Seeks More Renewable Energy, Lower Costs
United Power, a member-owned electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern front range, has been investigating its power supply options with Tri-State Generation & Transmission over the last several years, as is the fiduciary responsibility to its member-owners. As part of its investigation, United Power filed a request for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to exercise its authority to establish a just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory exit charge from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Tri-State is a cooperative generation and transmission association headquartered in Westminster, Colorado which provides wholesale power to 40 utilities across four states, including United Power.
“United Power members deserve clean, affordable energy and we have an obligation as a cooperative to look out for the financial interests of our member-owners. We have been working for the last few years on solutions with Tri-State that would allow the co-op the flexibility to add local resources, or purchase lower cost power from other sources,” said John Parker, Chief Executive Officer for United Power. “Conversations regarding our power agreement with Tri-State have stalled and the cooperative is seeking out all possible alternatives to build in rate reductions and offer more renewable options to our energy mix.”
Power purchase agreements with Tri-State limit the purchase of additional power by United Power to just five percent of total power requirements. United Power, along with several other cooperatives, championed a bylaw change that would allow Tri-State member cooperatives to enter into partial requirement contracts. These new partial requirement contracts are an essential component of any successful plan to de-carbonize Colorado electricity generation consistent with Colorado state policy objectives by reducing United Power’s reliance on Tri-State’s high-priced, carbon-intensive power mix. Not only that, they would allow the cooperative to better meet demands for local renewable energy projects, and ultimately reduce costs for United Power members. Since the resolution was passed earlier this year, the two parties have been unable to come to agreements on proposed solutions, and recently Tri-State placed a moratorium on all partial power and buy-out conversations until mid-2020.
“By not allowing United Power to move forward in a timely manner to seek additional energy sources, Tri-State is effectively holding this cooperative and our members hostage,” said Parker. “We are seeking partial requirements and/or buy-out solutions that are in the financial interests of the Tri-State cooperative family, and mutually beneficial to the ratepayers we serve. A full disclosure of a fair and just exit package is the information United Power needs to evaluate and ultimately make effective choices for our members.”
Colorado’s Public Utilities Law gives the Commission broad jurisdiction over public utilities like Tri-State, thus United Power has asked for their intervention to obtain a fair exit price and pricing methodology from Tri-State.
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 >
Title
United Power Holds First-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 15, 2020
Card Teaser
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. ###
Title
United Power Holds Second Consecutive Virtual Annual Meeting
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Wednesday | April 14, 2021
Card Teaser
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 Honored as 2022 Solar and Storage Champion
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Tuesday | September 6, 2022
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COSSA honored United Power for its contribution to the growth of the solar and storage industry
BRIGHTON, Colorado – The Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) honored United Power as one of their Solar and Storage Champions for 2022 for the cooperative’s contribution to the growth of the solar and storage industry. This awards program started in 2021 at COSSA’s inaugural Topgolf Networking Event and developed out of COSSA’s annual tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations that have made invaluable contributions to the solar and storage energy industry.
United Power has taken several impactful steps to support solar and energy storage, with efforts touching multiple solar sectors. In addition to having some of the highest distributed generation penetration of Colorado utilities, United Power has advocated for community solar at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and recently issued a request for proposal for wholesale electric power supply to serve up to a peak load of 600 MW. United Power CEO and President Mark A. Gabriel accepted the award and made a short presentation at the awards ceremony.
“United Power is proud to be a leader and innovator in this arena,” stated Gabriel. “Supporting solar and storage options is an essential part of our plan for the future of this cooperative. As we move toward a more multifaceted power delivery system, distributed generation is a big consideration. Embracing these technologies is important for our cooperative as we continue to build an electric delivery system that meets the changing needs of our members.”
This year’s Solar and Storage Champions were celebrated during COSSA’s Topgolf Networking Event on Aug. 25, 2022, at Topgolf in Thornton, Colorado.
###About COSSACOSSA is the state trade association representing over 250 solar and storage businesses in Colorado. COSSA’s members provide solar and energy storage products and services to residential consumers, commercial businesses, utilities, and governmental entities throughout the state.
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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.Â
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.Â
“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.”Â
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.Â
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.Â
“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.Â
“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.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 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 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.
