Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for October, 2010

RPU staff present 2011 budget proposal to Board with no rate increase for electric and water utility recommended

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) staff presented the proposed 2011 budget to the RPU Board with a recommendation of no rate increase for the electric or water utility at the RPU Board meeting on Tuesday. This marks the second straight year that RPU has held spending and recommended no rate increase for either utility.

 

“We have worked diligently to cut and reduce spending in order to present a budget to the Board that does not include a rate increase. We are confident that we presented a sound budget that is in the best interest of our customers,” said RPU general manager Larry Koshire.

 

Areas that were addressed in order to maintain a level budget for 2011 include:

 

       No FTE increases and unfilled positions will be evaluated and will be held open

       Reductions in facility maintenance and construction has been made

       Deferring capital projects where applicable

 

The RPU Board will act on the proposed electric and water budgets at a special November Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 9 at 4 p.m. at the RPU Service Center. Final budget approval will come from the Rochester City Council on November 15 at 7 p.m.

 

For more information on RPU, the proposed 2011 budget, 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 47,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 36,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

 

 

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RPU staff to present 2011 budget proposal with no rate increase for electric and water utility for the second straight year

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) staff will present the 2011 budget proposal to the RPU Board with a recommendation of no rate increase for the electric or water utility for the second straight year. The RPU Board will hear the budget proposal at the October 26 board meeting and will take action on the budget at a special board meeting on November 9.

 

“We believe a zero percent rate increase during this continued difficult economic time is a clear message of our commitment to our customers. Because of the continued dedication of our employees, we will be able to maintain our current budget levels without compromising our core values of safety and reliability in our service,” said RPU general manager Larry Koshire.

 

RPU is committed to being fiscally sound during the continued tough economic times. However, keeping budget levels flat over the last two years has proven to be challenging due to increased operating costs. Some of the key items that will put pressure on the 2011 budget include:

 

       Purchased power costs continue to be the single largest expenditure. The purchased power expense will be approximately $90 million, which accounts for 68 percent of the total operating budget in 2011.

       Lack of demand in the Midwest Independent System Operators (MISO) energy market, where local generation from RPU could be sold

       Increase in costs for necessary items such as utility poles, wire, pipes, and equipment

 

In order to sustain the reductions from the 2009 and 2010 budgets, RPU staff has worked diligently to ensure that reductions were made in places that will not compromise certain core pieces of RPU’s business. Some of the areas that were addressed include:

 

       No FTE increases and unfilled positions will be evaluated and will be held open

       Reductions in facility maintenance and construction has been made

       Deferring capital projects where applicable

 

The RPU Board will act on the proposed electric and water budgets at a special November Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 9 at 4 p.m. at the RPU Service Center. Final budget approval will come from the Rochester City Council on November 15 at 7 p.m.

 

For more information on RPU, the proposed 2011 budget, 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 47,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 36,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

 

 

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Lake Zumbro Hydro Drawdown Draws Near

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

The level of Lake Zumbro is scheduled to be lowered from normal summer pool (Elevation 919.7 dam datum) to the winter pool beginning on Saturday Oct. 30.

 

Due to flood damage to the spillway deicing system the lake will be drawndown to 916.0 for maintenance from Nov. 8 thru Nov. 12.  Starting Nov. 13 the lake will be gradually raised back up to the normal winter pool range of 918.0 – 918.5, which is about 1.5 to 2 feet below the crest of the dam.

 

During the months of November through March, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will attempt to maintain the lake level within the winter pool range.

 

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 47,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 36,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

 

 

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Pictures from RPU Day with the Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

As part of celebrating Public Power Week, RPU staff volunteered to help the Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity.

System maintenance scheduled for Sunday morning

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

We will be doing system maintenance Sunday morning (October 10) between 1 a.m. – 4 a.m. During this time you will not be able to access your account or make payments online. We apologize for the inconvenience.