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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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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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Recycle any and all of your old holiday lighting between now and Friday, January 29, 2021. Just drop your old lighting strands off at the RPU Service Center (4000 East River Road NE). The recycle bins are right inside our lobby.

What is accepted:

• Holiday Lights – incandescent or LED (working or non-working)
• Holiday Light Decorations

What is NOT accepted:

• Appliance Cords
• Battery Packs
• CFL Lights
• Cord Adaptors
• Electric Cords
• Plastic Rope Lights
• Telephone Cords