22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 26th
April 24, 2024- ROCHESTER, MN— Rochester Public Utilities, with partners Maier Tree & Lawn, Rochester Park & Recreation, and Sargent’s Gardens, will hold its 22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 26, 2024. Come join in the celebration at RCTC’s Field House located at 851 30th Ave SE in Rochester (due to weather), with live music, free trees, and free lunch! Smokey Bear, chainsaw carver, games, and many more family activities will be taking place.
The fun and free community event will feature a variety of activities, music, and displays that will include: A tree giveaway (while supplies last), a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last). Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor activities and information.
Children will be able to enjoy the apple toss game, tree cookie stacking, tree ring toss, tree medallion necklaces, and much more!
At noon, an awards ceremony will honor Rochester elementary school students who were selected as finalists of the 2024 Arbor Day poster contest, as well as this year’s overall winner, Shaarav Nawale, a 4th grader at Washington Elementary. Shaarav will receive a $100 Target gift card, his winning poster will be featured in RPU’s 2025 calendar, and a tree will be planted in his honor at Washington Elementary School. This year’s poster contest theme was “Trees Are Terrific…For Animals Too!”
RPU line crews will also be partnering with Rochester Parks & Recreation on a tree planting for The Right Tree in the Right Place program on Wednesday, May 1 in NW Rochester near John Adams Middle School. This is an annual event to plant the proper type of boulevard trees in different neighborhoods in Rochester.
Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: ArborWise, Culligan of Greater Minnesota, Hy-Vee, Jim Whiting Nursery & Garden Center, Kemps, Minnesota Energy Resources, Pepsi, Sekapp Orchard, and Seneca Foods.
In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved to Rochester Community & Technical College’s Field House. This announcement will be made on the RPU Facebook (Rochester Public Utilities) and Twitter (@rpualerts) accounts.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 58,000 customers. Water customers number more than 41,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Apr 24, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on 22nd Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 26th
RPU voted best tasting drinking water at Minnesota Rural Water Association Conference
Posted: Apr 05, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on RPU voted best tasting drinking water at Minnesota Rural Water Association Conference
2024 Lake Zumbro Dam Spring and Summer Pool
March 6, 2024- Due to warmer weather, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will be slowly restoring the reservoir to the summer pool elevation of 914.5 MSL the week of March 11th. Lake Zumbro will be maintained at normal summer pool (914.5 MSL) throughout the rest of the spring and summer season, to the extent possible. However, the public should be aware that the Zumbro Hydroelectric Plant has extremely limited capacity to pass flood flow, resulting in occasional high water events that exceed normal pool.
Real-time lake level information is available on the RPU web site (www.rpu.org). For additional information regarding the Zumbro Dam and Hydroelectric Facility please contact Tony Benson 280-1534 or Todd Osweiler, 280-1589.
Tips for safe boating:
Watch the weather. Be aware of changing water levels and conditions that would expose logs, snags or cause floating debris. Be cautious when boating in the vicinity of the dam. Do not proceed past the warning signs and buoys. Tell someone where you are going, who is with you, and how long you will be away. Avoid standing, and when changing seats, stay low and near the centerline of your boat. Be ready for trouble when a powerboat passes you in a narrow channel. Maintain a safe operating speed. Always wear approved personal flotation devices (PFD).
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 58,000 customers. Water customers number more than 41,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Mar 06, 2024 by Tony B | Comments Off on 2024 Lake Zumbro Dam Spring and Summer Pool
Sixty-Seven Public Power Systems Earn Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards
Sixty-seven public power electric utilities and utility organizations earned Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards from the American Public Power Association. The awards were presented this week at APPA’s Customer Connections Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
The annual awards recognize excellence in communications. The entries are judged in three categories: Print & Digital, Web & Social Media, and Video. Awards were given to those that showed ingenuity and creativity in telling their stories through outstanding copy, design, financial data presentation, graphics, social media engagement, video editing, and web layout and interactivity.
This year’s awards were judged by Jakub Konysz, Founder and CEO, Global Navigators; Steven M. Mandurano, Principal: Marketing, Membership & Communications, Association CMO LLC; and Lidia Varesco Racoma, Brand Strategist & Marketing Designer, Lidia Varesco Design.
The winners are:
Class A: Gross revenues of $400 million or more
Print/Digital
- Award of Excellence – Chelan County PUD
- Award of Excellence – ElectriCities of North Carolina
- Award of Excellence – Indiana Municipal Power Agency
- Award of Excellence – Long Island Power Authority
- Award of Excellence – Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Award of Excellence – New York Power Authority
- Award of Merit – Huntsville Utilities
- Award of Merit – Knoxville Utilities Board
- Award of Merit – Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Award of Merit – Tacoma Public Utilities’ Power Division
- Award of Merit – WPPI Energy
Video
- Award of Excellence – Austin Energy
- Award of Excellence – Chelan County PUD
- Award of Excellence – Energy Northwest
- Award of Excellence – Orlando Utilities Commission
- Award of Excellence – Santee Cooper
- Award of Excellence – Energy Northwest
- Award of Excellence – Long Island Power Authority
- Award of Excellence – Nashville Electric Service
- Award of Excellence – Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Award of Excellence – Salt River Project
- Award of Merit – Anaheim Public Utilities
- Award of Merit – Chelan County PUD
- Award of Merit – JEA
- Award of Merit – Tennessee Valley Authority
Web/Social Media
- Award of Excellence – American Municipal Power, Inc.
- Award of Excellence – Austin Energy
- Award of Excellence – Huntsville Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Riverside Public Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Award of Excellence – Salt River Project
- Award of Merit – Tennessee Valley Authority
- Award of Merit – Turlock Irrigation District
Class B: Gross revenues of $200 million-$399,999,999
Print/Digital
- Award of Excellence – Lakeland Electric
- Award of Excellence – Missouri River Energy Services
- Award of Excellence – Platte River Power Authority
- Award of Excellence – San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
- Award of Merit – Guam Power Authority
- Award of Merit – Lansing Board of Water and Light
Video
- Award of Excellence – Eugene Water and Electric Board
- Award of Excellence – and Grant County PUD
- Award of Merit – Alabama Municipal Electric Authority
- Award of Merit – Denton Municipal Electric
- Award of Merit – Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Web/Social Media
- Award of Excellence – Eugene Water and Electric Board
- Award of Excellence – Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Sunnyvale
- Award of Excellence – Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
- Award of Merit – Alabama Municipal Electric Authority
- Award of Merit – CDE Lightband
- Award of Merit – Guam Power Authority
- Award of Merit – Kissimmee Utility Authority
- Award of Merit – San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Class C: Gross revenues of $75 million-$199,999,999
Print/Digital
- Award of Excellence – Morristown Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Muscatine Power and Water
- Award of Excellence – Riviera Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Rochester Public Utilities
- Award of Merit – Greenville Utilities Commission
- Award of Merit – Holland Board of Public Works
Video
- Award of Excellence – Franklin Public Utility District
- Award of Merit – GEUS
- Award of Merit – Muscatine Power and Water
- Award of Merit – New Smyrna Beach Utilities
- Award of Merit – Westfield Gas and Electric
Web/Social Media
- Award of Excellence – Franklin Public Utility District
- Award of Excellence – Mason PUD 3
- Award of Excellence – Muscatine Power and Water
- Award of Excellence – Riviera Utilities
- Award of Excellence – Westfield Gas and Electric
- Award of Merit – Braintree Electric Light Department
- Award of Merit – Morristown Utilities
- Award of Merit – New Braunfels Utilities
Class D: Gross revenues of less than $75 million
Print/Digital
- Award of Excellence – Conway Corporation
- Award of Excellence – Heartland Energy
- Award of Excellence – Northwest Public Power Association
- Award of Merit – Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments
- Award of Merit – Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
- Award of Merit – Nebraska Rural Electric Association
- Award of Merit – and Sioux Center Municipal Utilities
Video
- Award of Excellence – Heartland Energy
- Award of Excellence – Kerrville Public Utility Board
- Award of Excellence – Sun Prairie Utilities
- Award of Merit – City of Milford
Web/Social Media
- Award of Excellence – Crawfordsville Electric Light and Power.
- Award of Excellence – City of Lompoc
- Award of Merit – City of Banning Electric Utility
- Award of Merit – Conway Corporation
- Award of Merit – Elk River Municipal Utilities
- Award of Merit – Florida Municipal Electric Association
- Award of Merit – Heartland Energy
- Award of Merit – Kerrville Public Utility Board
- Award of Merit – Moreno Valley Utility
- Award of Merit – SMTX Utilities
Posted: Dec 15, 2023 by Tony B | Comments Off on Sixty-Seven Public Power Systems Earn Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards
2023 Lake Zumbro Dam Fall Drawdown
ROCHESTER, MN—The fall drawdown of Lake Zumbro is scheduled to begin on October 29th. The drawdown is necessary for planned maintenance at the hydroelectric facility and shoreline restoration work. The public should be aware that the drawdown planned for this fall will be substantially greater than normal. A typical fall drawdown is less than two feet; whereas this year a four foot drawdown will be attempted. These plans are subject to change depending on rainfall and resulting runoff. RPU’s drawdown plan is as follows:
- Sunday, October 29th start the 4 foot drawdown.
- RPU will plan to draw the lake level down 0.5 feet per day while maintaining a minimum flow of 70 cfs.
- Monday, November 6th the lake level will be held at 910.5 (~4.0 feet below the spillway) for 2 weeks.
- Monday, November 20th start to slowly refill the lake level until it reaches the winter pool elevation of 913.0
- RPU will plan to refill the lake level while maintaining a minimum flow of 70 cfs.
The drawdown plan is subject to change depending on weather conditions.
During the months of December through March, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will attempt to maintain the lake level at the winter pool of 913.0 MSL.
Real-time lake level information, along with Lake Zumbro hydro updates are available on the RPU web site (www.rpu.org). For additional information regarding the Zumbro Hydroelectric Facility please contact Tony Benson at (507) 280-1534.
Tips for lake ice safety:
Be extremely careful during winter activities that involve Lake Zumbro such as ice fishing, snowmobiling or just walking out on the frozen lake.
Watch the weather and river flow conditions.
Ice thickness and condition can vary greatly. Be very cautious.
Look out for ice heaves and exposed logs and snags.
Be cautious in the vicinity of the dam. De-icing equipment has been installed along the upstream face of the dam resulting in open water and/or thin ice.
Do not proceed past the warning signs and buoys.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 56,000 customers. Water customers number more than 40,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.
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Posted: Oct 06, 2023 by Tony B | Comments Off on 2023 Lake Zumbro Dam Fall Drawdown