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Volume 15 • Edition 11
June 1, 2022
Delivering to over 17,000 homes & businesses including all of Fort Lupton and Lochbuie.
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson
FERC Rules in Favor of United Power
Brighton, Colo.— The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week issued four initial decisions as part of the rate settlement proceedings between United Power, an electric cooperative headquartered in Brighton, Colo., and its wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State). On May 26, FERC Administrative Law Judge Scott Hempling handed down decisions in the cooperative’s favor on three of four issues and ordered Tri-State to give United Power significant refunds concerning energy storage resources (i.e., battery storage). As one of the settling parties, United Power agreed to the rate settlement at FERC after four key issues were reserved and set for hearing this spring: transmission and delivery system cost unbundling, direct assignment of non-networked delivery facilities (cost causation), energy storage resources, and the discriminatory nature of Tri-State’s Board Policy 119 (BP 119) regarding community solar programs. “These rulings are significant as they will provide long term benefits to all TriState members and their rate payers, in identifying and controlling system costs and assuring the costs are allocated to those who benefit,” said Mark A. Gabriel, United Power President and Chief Executive Officer. “The decision will also impact TriState’s claims in the contract termination payment methodology currently awaiting FERC decision, and guide the future work of Tri-State’s rate design committee as the ruling dictates rate structure, ultimately mandating more transparency to all TriState members.” Under the rulings in favor of United Power, FERC determined that Tri-State must unbundle its rates into generation, transmission, and each of the six ancillary services, assuring that the costs of each element are properly identified and disclosed. The FERC judge also determined that Tri-State’s 2023 come-back filing must explain the integration status of each element using appropriate accounting and engineering data, allocating the associated costs accordingly so that facilities used to deliver electric power are properly identified and the costs allocated to those who use them known as “cost causation.” Further, it was found that Tri-State’s special policy for certain community solar programs (BP 119) is unduly discriminatory. This results from a cost-benefit ratio that varies widely depending on a member’s size. Judge Hempling characterized this mismatch of costs and benefits under BP 119 as “textbook undue discrimination.” A split decision was issued regarding energy storage resources. It was found that Tri-State improperly charged United Power and must provide refunds from September 2019 forward. Judge Hempling specifically ruled that Tri-State cannot use board policies to manipulate the contract and filed rate terms. He also ruled that TriState’s inconsistent treatment of energy storage resources is unduly discriminatory, but resolution of that issue was outside the scope of the proceeding. “The reserved issues before FERC are ahead of the rate settlement case being heard in Washington, D.C., and final rulings on these issues bring United Power closer to our contract termination payment determination,” said Gabriel. “We are pleased with the fair outcomes of these rulings by FERC and look forward to the day when United Power has more control of the power supply mix serving our members.” United Power filed a non-conditional Notice of Intent to Withdraw from Tri-State, effective May 1, 2024, and simultaneously issued a request for proposals for up to 600 MW of wholesale electric supply. A ruling from the presiding FERC judge on exit fees for Tri-State members is expected by the end of the summer, with a final decision expected in 2023. 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 coops and reforming the traditional generation and transmission business model. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
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Normandy Visit May 2022
by Allois Soucie I was born just after World War II ended. As a child I heard my parents talk about the war and I had four uncles, Dad’s brothers who served in the war. I had the usual World History classes in school, with a few chapters on the war. None of that prepared me for the emotional impact of visiting Normandy and seeing Omaha Beach, the D-Day Memorial and the American Cemetery. The Guide explained how the planners had decided the American soldiers would attack the most difficult front, Omaha Beach because they were fresh from America and were not “War Weary”. The casualties in the first wave were extreme, the beach was littered with bodies and the sea water was red with blood. The Landing Craft operators were untrained and many opened the doors of the craft too early. Many of the G. I.’s, weighted down with gear were dumped into deep water and drowned. By the afternoon of June 6, 1944, Omaha Beach was taken, much by valiant effort but aided by the fact that the Germans had almost run out of ammunition. At the Memorial, there are walls with columns of names of the thousands of Missing-in-Action, whose bodies were never recovered. At the Cemetery, the grave markers, all in perfectly straight, evenly spaced rows are situated so they face toward HOME. And many of the grave markers mark the final resting place of Unknown Soldiers. Until now I had never thought about the fear and worry endured by the families of the soldiers and sailors fighting in the war. My Grandparents had four sons in harms way; my Dad had three brothers in the Army and one in the Navy. The entire Memorial and Cemetery are a beautiful, serene effort to honor all who fought and died there, yet there is such an aura of sadness. Any American who travels to Europe should go visit Normandy.
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
Page 2: Way of World Page 2: Sheriff Steve Reams Endorses Barb Kirkmeyer for CD8 Page 5: Congratulations to Women of Weld for Primary Season’s Efforts Page 6: Fort Lupton Annual Mother’s Day Tea Page 7: Transitional Energy Solution to Reducing Carbon Emissions Page 10: Weldon Valley 2022 Graduates Page 13-14: Wiggins 2022 Graduates Page 15-20: Weld Central 2022 Graduates Page 21: Colorado Republican Rumble at the Grizzley Rose Page 24: Weld Central FFA 2022 Spring Banquet