Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for April, 2014

12th Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 25

Thursday, April 24th, 2014

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), with partners Maier Tree & Lawn and Rochester Park and Recreation, will host the 12th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Three Links-Silver Lake Park, located at 840 7th St NE in Rochester.

 

The fun and free community event will feature a variety of activities and displays that will include: A tree giveaway of over 3,000 trees, a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last), and live music from Paul Mayasich and his band, Real American Made Music. Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor displays.

 

Children will be able to enjoy Smokey Bear, balloonists, a scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, bean bag toss, and much more!

 

At noon, an awards ceremony will honor Rochester elementary school students who were selected as finalists of the Arbor Day poster contest, as well as this year’s overall winner, Annie Orvis, a fifth grader at Washington Elementary. Annie will receive a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card, her winning poster will be featured in advertising, and a tree will be planted in her honor at Washington Elementary School.

 

Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: Hy-Vee, Minnesota Energy Resources, Sargent’s Gardens, and Seneca Foods.

 

Participants include: Minnesota Department of natural Resources, Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Public Works, and Zumbro Valley Audubon.

 

In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved to Rochester Community & Technical College’s Field House.

 

About Rochester Public Utilities

 

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 38,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include smart grid, water sustainability, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

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New General Manager named at Rochester Public Utilities

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

At a special meeting this morning, the Utility Board of the Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) unanimously appointed Mark Kotschevar as its next general manager, replacing the retiring Larry Koshire.

 

Kotschevar is a 32-year employee of RPU and is currently the Director of Core Services.  In addition to his present position, he has also served as Manager of Maintenance and Construction, Senior Electrical Engineer, Project Electrical Engineer and Electrical Engineer.  These positions have given him experiences in electric transmission and its distribution, water supply and its distribution, system operations and engineering.

 

Kotschevar has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Electronics from North Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Winona State University.  He is a registered Professional Engineer and a licensed “Class A” Master Electrician in the State of Minnesota.

 

Jerry Williams, President of the Utility Board, calls Kotschevar a “great fit for the organization, now and moving it forward into the future.”  Williams went on to say that “his experiences with both sides of the business, electricity and water, are emblematic of his work at RPU and critical as we look at the many challenges and opportunities that are part of a changing business.  He has the foresight and determination to continue to make RPU, the largest municipal in the State, a pre-eminent utility that exists to serve the needs of its customers, the citizens of Rochester.”

 

When told of his selection, Kotschevar said he was “humbled” and pledged to do whatever is necessary to continue RPU’s positive momentum into the future.  “The utility’s core values of safety, integrity, service, stewardship, accountability and skill will continue to guide us, as they have so successfully done in the past.”

 

After the board vote, an all-staff meeting was held to introduce Kotschevar as the new general manager, effective May 1.

 

About Rochester Public Utilities

 

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 38,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include smart grid, water sustainability, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

 

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Lake Zumbro Spring and Summer Pool

Monday, April 7th, 2014

Due to heavy runoff the level of Lake Zumbro is currently above normal summer pool elevation. This condition will persist until river flows in the South and Middle Forks of the Zumbro River fall to less than the hydraulic capacity of the Zumbro Hydroelectric Plant (approximately 800 cubic feet per second). 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 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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No Foolin’ – Commerce Recommends an Advanced Home Energy Assessment before Making Major Home Improvements, Upgrades

Friday, April 4th, 2014

From the Minnesota Department of Commerce

Before embarking on home energy improvements or remodeling, especially major projects, the Minnesota Department of Commerce strongly recommends having an advanced home energy assessment. An assessment, or energy audit, of how your house is functioning can help you decide what needs fixing or replacing. A follow-up inspection after the work has been completed can help document the energy savings.

An energy assessment will identify some simple low-cost measures you can take, such as weather-stripping doors, and it can help prioritize more expensive but cost-effective measures, like adding insulation and air-sealing or replacing a heating system. Analyzing the operation and interactions of the various components of the home upfront can save in the long run. For instance, consider an energy assessment before replacing major equipment such as a furnace or boiler. Determining and addressing air leakage, insulation, and other issues can help to correctly size a new heating system and ensure that it will work as efficiently as possible.

An advanced energy assessment should include the following:

  • A review of energy bills to help assess home performance and identify savings opportunities.
  • A blower-door test to determine air leakage.
  • Infrared scans to detect insulation levels and sources of air leaks.
  • Efficiency and safety testing for combustion appliances.
  • A thorough visual inspection for attic, wall, crawlspace, foundation, basement, window, door, and roof problems.

Contact your gas or electric utility to arrange an advanced energy assessment. More comprehensive assessments are available from private contractors specializing in comprehensive home performance reviews. Advanced energy assessments range in cost from about $100 to several hundred dollars, depending on the level of detail. An energy assessment will be your first step to saving energy and saving money on your utility bills.

For more information on home energy assessments and energy-saving improvements, check out the “Home Envelope” consumer guide on the Division of Energy Resources website.

Minnesota Energy Tips is provided twice a month by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. Contact the division’s Energy Information Center at energy.info@state.mn.us or 800-657-3710 with energy questions.