Watt Drives Demand
Wednesday | August 1, 2018
Demand is measured in kilowatts (kW). One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts, which is the equivalent of turning on ten 100-watt light bulbs at once. Understanding the wattage of your household appliances will help you take control of your energy bill, but where can you learn more about this information?
Read more >
We All Need the Utility System
Monday | August 9, 2021
United Power switched to a demand rate in January 2019 as a way to more fairly charge its members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system.
Read more >
We all Need the Utility System
Thursday | November 1, 2018
Utilities throw around terms like distribution system, electric infrastructure and “the grid.” But as an electric consumer – and cooperative member – have you given much thought into how you use the electric system, and your role in maintaining that system?
Read more >
We are Dedicated to Keeping the Lights On
Monday | April 4, 2022
On April 18th, we will celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day, to recognize and honor our lineworkers for their hard work and dedication.
Read more >
What are Vampire Loads?
Friday | January 25, 2019
All of these items are responsible for contributing to your “vampire load,” also known as the “phantom load.” Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off.
Read more >
Title
What is Demand?
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyWinter_NL_Demand.jpg?itok=LOfvMmC8
Monday | December 19, 2022
Card Teaser
The demand rate addresses how members use the system in different ways.
Demand Rate Addresses How Members Use the System in Different Ways
It has been nearly four years since United Power adopted its current rate structure that includes an energy and demand charge. Separating demand from energy charges was implemented as a way to more fairly charge members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system. While more electric utilities are making the transition to a demand rate, United Power was among the first to introduce a demand charge across its membership. To help our members learn more about demand, we have produced numerous resources dedicated to educating members so they may make the most of the rate.
What is Demand?
Demand refers simply to the maximum electricity needed at a given time and its impact on the system. The demand charge is the total wattage of all the power being used at that highest interval and is billed as kilowatts (kW). As the cooperative gained new insights about how each meter impacts the system differently, the decision was made to utilize demand as a measurement that helps the cooperative more fairly bill members for their usage. Since some members use electricity in ways that make them more expensive to serve, demand helps to make sure everyone is paying their fair share. When the demand charge was first introduced, the majority of our members saw very little change. Most members saw only a $1–2 increase or decrease in their bill monthly.
Is Demand an Added Charge?
No. The demand charge on your monthly bill was separated from the energy charge, essentially “unbundling” the details of your energy use. A traditional “blended” energy rate combines energy usage and demand into a single charge for all members. The blended rate placed an equal burden on all members for system maintenance costs despite differences in how they use energy. Under the old, blended rate some members were paying more than they should while others were not paying enough. United Power’s current rates separate demand — billed as the highest 15-minute interval of energy usage during each billing cycle — from the energy charge so members are now more fairly billed for both their usage and impact on the system.
How To Reduce My Demand
Now that you can see the impact of both the total energy you use and your highest usage intervals, you have more control over your total bill. By reducing overall energy use with simple tips like turning off devices that aren’t in use and using a programmable thermostat, you can affect your energy charge. To lower your demand charge, avoid using multiple appliances at once. Set the delay feature on your dishwasher so it runs after all the lights are off and avoid doing laundry while the air conditioner is running.
What is the Fixed Charge?
The “fixed charge” is a line item on your monthly billing statement that all members pay regardless of how much energy they use. The fixed charge is a standard amount and covers a portion of the costs for billing, collections, member services, and metering. These services are required whether you use a lot of energy, or none at all, and all residential members pay the same amount.
You can learn more about the fixed charge and other elements of your billing statement on our Understanding Your Bill page.
Member Rate Options
United Power introduced demand with a corresponding reduction in its energy charge and most members did not experience significant changes to their monthly bills. However, you may still benefit by switching to a different rate.
The cooperative offers a variety of rate options for residential members to fit the many ways members use electricity. To ask our trusted advisors if a new rate plan is right for you, schedule a phone assessment here.
Members can find more information about United Power’s demand charge — including steps you can take to control your demand and a calculator to help understand how appliances may contribute to demand — on our Understanding Demand page.
Why Members Round Up
Thursday | December 10, 2020
In November, we asked our members to tell us why they round up, and we received some tremendous responses.
Read more >
Why United Power Plans Outages
Monday | March 9, 2020
You may have at one time or another received a recorded message from United Power informing you of a “preplanned” outage in your area.
Read more >
Title
Why We Plan Outages
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2018_02_02_PlannedOutages.jpg?itok=3GEM8PdY
Friday | February 2, 2018
Card Teaser
Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?”
Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?” You may have wondered, “What is a planned outage?” and “Why does my electric utility need to perform one?” Occasionally, the equipment we use to bring power to your home needs to be replaced, repaired, or updated. When this happens, as a way to keep our crews and you safe, we plan an interruption to electric service.
We do our best to plan these outages during times when members will be the least inconvenienced. We also try to avoid planning these outages during winter or summer months. We understand these are peak times of the year when you depend on running your heating and cooling units the most.
While they may sound slightly inconvenient, planned outages are actually beneficial to you. Regular system upgrades are necessary for optimal performance, and they increase reliability. Repairing and upgrading our equipment is also critical to maintaining public safety. If older lines need to be replaced, we plan for it, repair or replace it, and that keeps everyone safe.
Planned outages also allow us to keep you informed of when and how long you will be without power. In most cases, we will notify you in advance, by telephone, before an outage, so you can be prepared.
We will also keep you aware of when line crews will be working in your area. Here at United Power, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and to keep our system running smoothly. So the next time you hear about a planned outage, know that it is one of the best ways we can provide you with quality electric service.
Title
Wildfire Mitigation a Cooperative Priority
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct2020_NL_FireMitigation.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vJP6gkTg
Tuesday | September 15, 2020
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention.
Wildfires have devastated parts of Colorado this year, with several blazing across the state in August. Near Grand Junction, the Pine Gulch Fire is the largest on record for the state and another near Glenwood Springs had threatened to join the list. Near Fort Collins, a third fire has even threatened parts of Poudre Valley REA’s electrical infrastructure. Although not attributed to any utility electrical system, these fires demonstrate the importance of having a developed fire mitigation plan in place for utilities like United Power, who reviews and updates its plan annually.
As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention. United Power’s goal is the safety of its members and the protection of the communities they live in.
United Power made preparations to enhance its existing fire mitigation plan in early 2013 with a change in facility design and placement, making them more accessible and clear of potential hazards. The implementation also included an expansive vegetation management policy to keep infrastructure clear of hazards that could be easily ignited in the event of a system failure (such as a fault or equipment malfunction leading to an outage).
“As we reviewed our system design, we began to recognize the opportunity for better design methodology and the use of advanced technology to prepare for the unexpected,” said acting chief executive officer Bryant Robbins. “One of the things we heavily targeted was the prevention of wildfire risk on our system.”
Members in Coal Creek Canyon, and those driving through, may have noticed crews installing new line in parts of the canyon. This new line is an insulated conductor known as Hendrix cable, which provides a high level of protection when contact is made, such as a tree falling into the line. The strength of the line along with the covered protection goes a long way in preventing fires caused by electrical equipment in the mountain service territory. The new line has been one of the more high profile and visible elements of the cooperative’s fire mitigation plan, but the team at United Power went much further in developing system improvements to mitigate the wildfire risk to members.
Always looking for an opportunity to develop a better system, United Power became an early adopter of drone maintenance inspections and an industry leader in both system automation and the deployment of smart devices.
“These technologies are among the most innovative forms of outage management currently available to utilities,” said Engineering Director Robert Maxwell. “Their design also allows them to stop the flow of electricity to faults that could develop into fires without this technology. We’re far ahead of the curve in utilizing the latest technology when compared not just to other cooperatives but also larger electric utilities.”
Drones are able to quickly survey miles of line in a rapid period of time, freeing line crews to focus on preventable outages, which has been especially useful in the mountains where the terrain can often make pole inspections time consuming and difficult. The number of man hours saved and outages prevented from this innovative inspection format is incalculable.
Automated field devices further allow the system to identify and isolate problems to restore power quickly while minimizing the number of members affected and smart devices are able to immediately report problems back to the cooperative’s system operations. These improvements, along with the installation of advanced trip savers and fault detectors, help improve outage response and mitigate the potential for fires.
Although the current pandemic has interfered with many facets of our daily lives, United Power has continued to make progress implementing new technology onto its system to further mitigate the threat of wildfires. As the past month has shown throughout the state, a strategic fire mitigation plan is essential in Colorado.
“Wildfire preparedness is a priority for United Power, and we’ve been able to blend our efforts to mitigate fire dangers with our efforts to prevent outages,” said Robbins. “As our numbers continue to improve, we’ll also continue looking for the best opportunities to better serve our members, both safely and affordably.”
For more information about United Power’s fire mitigation improvements, go to Fire Mitigation.
Watt Drives Demand
Wednesday | August 1, 2018
Demand is measured in kilowatts (kW). One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts, which is the equivalent of turning on ten 100-watt light bulbs at once. Understanding the wattage of your household appliances will help you take control of your energy bill, but where can you learn more about this information?
Read more >
We All Need the Utility System
Monday | August 9, 2021
United Power switched to a demand rate in January 2019 as a way to more fairly charge its members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system.
Read more >
We all Need the Utility System
Thursday | November 1, 2018
Utilities throw around terms like distribution system, electric infrastructure and “the grid.” But as an electric consumer – and cooperative member – have you given much thought into how you use the electric system, and your role in maintaining that system?
Read more >
We are Dedicated to Keeping the Lights On
Monday | April 4, 2022
On April 18th, we will celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day, to recognize and honor our lineworkers for their hard work and dedication.
Read more >
What are Vampire Loads?
Friday | January 25, 2019
All of these items are responsible for contributing to your “vampire load,” also known as the “phantom load.” Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off.
Read more >
Title
What is Demand?
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/EarlyWinter_NL_Demand.jpg?itok=LOfvMmC8
Monday | December 19, 2022
Card Teaser
The demand rate addresses how members use the system in different ways.
Demand Rate Addresses How Members Use the System in Different Ways
It has been nearly four years since United Power adopted its current rate structure that includes an energy and demand charge. Separating demand from energy charges was implemented as a way to more fairly charge members for their electric usage and impact on the cooperative’s system. While more electric utilities are making the transition to a demand rate, United Power was among the first to introduce a demand charge across its membership. To help our members learn more about demand, we have produced numerous resources dedicated to educating members so they may make the most of the rate.
What is Demand?
Demand refers simply to the maximum electricity needed at a given time and its impact on the system. The demand charge is the total wattage of all the power being used at that highest interval and is billed as kilowatts (kW). As the cooperative gained new insights about how each meter impacts the system differently, the decision was made to utilize demand as a measurement that helps the cooperative more fairly bill members for their usage. Since some members use electricity in ways that make them more expensive to serve, demand helps to make sure everyone is paying their fair share. When the demand charge was first introduced, the majority of our members saw very little change. Most members saw only a $1–2 increase or decrease in their bill monthly.
Is Demand an Added Charge?
No. The demand charge on your monthly bill was separated from the energy charge, essentially “unbundling” the details of your energy use. A traditional “blended” energy rate combines energy usage and demand into a single charge for all members. The blended rate placed an equal burden on all members for system maintenance costs despite differences in how they use energy. Under the old, blended rate some members were paying more than they should while others were not paying enough. United Power’s current rates separate demand — billed as the highest 15-minute interval of energy usage during each billing cycle — from the energy charge so members are now more fairly billed for both their usage and impact on the system.
How To Reduce My Demand
Now that you can see the impact of both the total energy you use and your highest usage intervals, you have more control over your total bill. By reducing overall energy use with simple tips like turning off devices that aren’t in use and using a programmable thermostat, you can affect your energy charge. To lower your demand charge, avoid using multiple appliances at once. Set the delay feature on your dishwasher so it runs after all the lights are off and avoid doing laundry while the air conditioner is running.
What is the Fixed Charge?
The “fixed charge” is a line item on your monthly billing statement that all members pay regardless of how much energy they use. The fixed charge is a standard amount and covers a portion of the costs for billing, collections, member services, and metering. These services are required whether you use a lot of energy, or none at all, and all residential members pay the same amount.
You can learn more about the fixed charge and other elements of your billing statement on our Understanding Your Bill page.
Member Rate Options
United Power introduced demand with a corresponding reduction in its energy charge and most members did not experience significant changes to their monthly bills. However, you may still benefit by switching to a different rate.
The cooperative offers a variety of rate options for residential members to fit the many ways members use electricity. To ask our trusted advisors if a new rate plan is right for you, schedule a phone assessment here.
Members can find more information about United Power’s demand charge — including steps you can take to control your demand and a calculator to help understand how appliances may contribute to demand — on our Understanding Demand page.
Why Members Round Up
Thursday | December 10, 2020
In November, we asked our members to tell us why they round up, and we received some tremendous responses.
Read more >
Why United Power Plans Outages
Monday | March 9, 2020
You may have at one time or another received a recorded message from United Power informing you of a “preplanned” outage in your area.
Read more >
Title
Why We Plan Outages
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/2018_02_02_PlannedOutages.jpg?itok=3GEM8PdY
Friday | February 2, 2018
Card Teaser
Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?”
Have you ever received a notification from United Power informing you of a “planned outage?” You may have wondered, “What is a planned outage?” and “Why does my electric utility need to perform one?” Occasionally, the equipment we use to bring power to your home needs to be replaced, repaired, or updated. When this happens, as a way to keep our crews and you safe, we plan an interruption to electric service.
We do our best to plan these outages during times when members will be the least inconvenienced. We also try to avoid planning these outages during winter or summer months. We understand these are peak times of the year when you depend on running your heating and cooling units the most.
While they may sound slightly inconvenient, planned outages are actually beneficial to you. Regular system upgrades are necessary for optimal performance, and they increase reliability. Repairing and upgrading our equipment is also critical to maintaining public safety. If older lines need to be replaced, we plan for it, repair or replace it, and that keeps everyone safe.
Planned outages also allow us to keep you informed of when and how long you will be without power. In most cases, we will notify you in advance, by telephone, before an outage, so you can be prepared.
We will also keep you aware of when line crews will be working in your area. Here at United Power, we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and to keep our system running smoothly. So the next time you hear about a planned outage, know that it is one of the best ways we can provide you with quality electric service.
Title
Wildfire Mitigation a Cooperative Priority
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/SeptOct2020_NL_FireMitigation.jpg?h=45932144&itok=vJP6gkTg
Tuesday | September 15, 2020
Card Teaser
As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention.
Wildfires have devastated parts of Colorado this year, with several blazing across the state in August. Near Grand Junction, the Pine Gulch Fire is the largest on record for the state and another near Glenwood Springs had threatened to join the list. Near Fort Collins, a third fire has even threatened parts of Poudre Valley REA’s electrical infrastructure. Although not attributed to any utility electrical system, these fires demonstrate the importance of having a developed fire mitigation plan in place for utilities like United Power, who reviews and updates its plan annually.
As your cooperative, United Power takes these growing threats seriously. Leadership at the cooperative has continuously embraced a proactive and progressive approach to wildfire prevention. United Power’s goal is the safety of its members and the protection of the communities they live in.
United Power made preparations to enhance its existing fire mitigation plan in early 2013 with a change in facility design and placement, making them more accessible and clear of potential hazards. The implementation also included an expansive vegetation management policy to keep infrastructure clear of hazards that could be easily ignited in the event of a system failure (such as a fault or equipment malfunction leading to an outage).
“As we reviewed our system design, we began to recognize the opportunity for better design methodology and the use of advanced technology to prepare for the unexpected,” said acting chief executive officer Bryant Robbins. “One of the things we heavily targeted was the prevention of wildfire risk on our system.”
Members in Coal Creek Canyon, and those driving through, may have noticed crews installing new line in parts of the canyon. This new line is an insulated conductor known as Hendrix cable, which provides a high level of protection when contact is made, such as a tree falling into the line. The strength of the line along with the covered protection goes a long way in preventing fires caused by electrical equipment in the mountain service territory. The new line has been one of the more high profile and visible elements of the cooperative’s fire mitigation plan, but the team at United Power went much further in developing system improvements to mitigate the wildfire risk to members.
Always looking for an opportunity to develop a better system, United Power became an early adopter of drone maintenance inspections and an industry leader in both system automation and the deployment of smart devices.
“These technologies are among the most innovative forms of outage management currently available to utilities,” said Engineering Director Robert Maxwell. “Their design also allows them to stop the flow of electricity to faults that could develop into fires without this technology. We’re far ahead of the curve in utilizing the latest technology when compared not just to other cooperatives but also larger electric utilities.”
Drones are able to quickly survey miles of line in a rapid period of time, freeing line crews to focus on preventable outages, which has been especially useful in the mountains where the terrain can often make pole inspections time consuming and difficult. The number of man hours saved and outages prevented from this innovative inspection format is incalculable.
Automated field devices further allow the system to identify and isolate problems to restore power quickly while minimizing the number of members affected and smart devices are able to immediately report problems back to the cooperative’s system operations. These improvements, along with the installation of advanced trip savers and fault detectors, help improve outage response and mitigate the potential for fires.
Although the current pandemic has interfered with many facets of our daily lives, United Power has continued to make progress implementing new technology onto its system to further mitigate the threat of wildfires. As the past month has shown throughout the state, a strategic fire mitigation plan is essential in Colorado.
“Wildfire preparedness is a priority for United Power, and we’ve been able to blend our efforts to mitigate fire dangers with our efforts to prevent outages,” said Robbins. “As our numbers continue to improve, we’ll also continue looking for the best opportunities to better serve our members, both safely and affordably.”
For more information about United Power’s fire mitigation improvements, go to Fire Mitigation.
