Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for the ‘Customer Service’ Category

Learn more about RPU’s Partnering in Energy Solutions Program for Commercial Customers

Friday, June 3rd, 2022

View the Partnering in Energy Solutions Borchure

Important information for all RPU customers!

Friday, April 15th, 2022

Mask guidance changes for city and county buildings

Friday, March 11th, 2022

Mask guidance has changed for anyone visiting government buildings or facilities in Olmsted County and the City of Rochester. Effective today, masks will no longer be required in them. Olmsted County and the City of Rochester still welcome the use of masks in local government buildings for whoever wishes to wear them and strongly encourage unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals to continue wearing facial coverings. 

These changes are effective today because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the COVID-19 Community Level for Olmsted County to “Medium.” Olmsted County and the City of Rochester have been following CDC recommendations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help guide decision-making on COVID-19 matters.

It’s important to note that masks are still required on Rochester Public Transit (RPT) buses and in RPT facilities by order of the Transportation Security Administration and the CDC. Masks will also need to be worn by individuals 2-years-old and up for direct patient care services provided by Olmsted County Public Health Services (that is because the CDC’s new COVID-19 Community Level recommendations do not apply in health care settings). Additionally, private businesses still retain the right to require patrons to wear masks inside stores and facilities.

“At Olmsted County, we have been vigilant about keeping our employees, clients, and visitors as healthy and safe as possible,” said Olmsted County Administrator Heidi Welsch. “We have appreciated the community’s compliance with these CDC guidelines.”

City of Rochester Administrator Alison Zelms shared, “The news of Olmsted County dropping to ‘Medium’ on the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level tracker ushers us into a new, more optimistic, and welcomed phase of the pandemic where we no longer require masks to be worn inside our facilities. We understand that many in our community will continue masking and they are welcome to do so in all of our buildings.”

To view Olmsted County community levels and prevention steps, visit the CDC website.

https://www.rochestermn.gov/Home/Components/News/News/8629/1121

All RPU customers urged to monitor the temperature of their water

Friday, January 28th, 2022

January 26, 2022 – ROCHESTER, MN – Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) is starting to hear from customers that are concerned about their water service freezing this winter. Current frost depth is 36” as of January 26th.

RPU advises these water customers to take the temperature of their water and then continue monitoring it until the frost is out of the ground. This is especially important for customers that have experienced frozen water services in the past. Run an inside cold tap and hold a thermometer in the stream for 10-20 seconds for an accurate reading. If your water temperature gets below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, you should immediately start running a continuous pencil-width stream of water from a faucet.

All businesses and residence types could be affected. The age of your home does not matter.

For more information, please contact Tony Benson at 507-280-1534 or email at tbenson@rpu.org.

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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All eligible RPU residential water service customers to be enrolled into RPU’s Service Assured® Water Service Repair Coverage Program on January 1

Tuesday, December 28th, 2021

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will transition all eligible residential water service customers into RPU’s Service Assured® Water Service Repair Coverage Program starting on January 1, 2022.

RPU’s Service Assured® Water Service Repair Coverage Program protects homeowners from costly water service repairs in the event that the service has a failure due to old age, improper installation, corrosion, freezing, or valve failure.

The expansion was approved as a part of RPU’s and the City of Rochester’s 2022 budget process. All eligible RPU residential water customers that are not already enrolled in the program will automatically be added and billed $1.99 per month. 

With this new expanded program, RPU will be able to quickly address costly water service repairs with no hassle or worry to customers.

Any customers wishing to not receive the Service Assured® Water protection may opt out of the program by calling RPU Customer Care at 507-280-1500 or by visiting www.rpu.org to complete and submit an opt-out form. However, those customers choosing to opt-out will not be allowed back on the program for 12 months, even if a costly repair is needed. Any repair will be at the customer’s expense if you are not enrolled in the program.

Service Assured® Electric coverage will continue to be an opt-in coverage for underground residential electric service protection. For additional information on RPU’s Service Assured® Underground Service Repair Coverage, please visit www.rpu.org.

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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