Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for September, 2017

RPU crew that went to help with Hurricane Irma restoration to be available to media on Tuesday, September 26

Friday, September 22nd, 2017

The Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) crew of lineworkers that went to Florida to help with Hurricane Irma power restoration will be available to meet and share their experience with the media on Tuesday, September 26 at 3:30pm.

The RPU lineworkers left on Saturday, September 9th along with crews from over 15 other Minnesota municipal utilities and returned back to Rochester on Thursday, September 21st. The restoration effort began in Kissimmee, FL and then moved onto Lake Worth, FL who was also hit hard by hurricane damage.

According to the Kissimmee Utility Authority, at the peak of the storm over 38,000 of their 72,000 customers were without power.

The special media event will be held in the Community Room at the RPU Service Center before the RPU Board Meeting.

For more information, contact Tony Benson at 507.280.1534.

 

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 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 37,000.  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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Proposed rates notification 9-1-17

Tuesday, September 12th, 2017

Call for Nominations: 2017 Environmental Achievement Awards

Tuesday, September 12th, 2017

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and the Olmsted County Environmental Commission are calling for nominations for the 2017 Environmental Achievement Awards. The awards honor individuals, organizations, schools and businesses that have made a significant environmental contribution over the past year in Rochester or Olmsted County.

Award categories include: climate change, education, renewables, sustainable food production, conservation, energy, water, and other.

Since 1992, the awards have recognized the positive environmental impact of over 100 Olmsted County and Rochester community members and groups.

To submit a nomination or to see a list of past recipients, go to www.rpu.org. Completed nominations are due by Friday, October 6, 2017 to Anthony Wittmer (wittmer.anthony@co.olmsted.mn.us).

 

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 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 37,000.  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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RPU to send crew to Kissimmee, Florida to help with Hurricane Irma response

Friday, September 8th, 2017

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will send a crew of lineworkers to Kissimmee, Florida to help with the Hurricane Irma response. The lineworkers plan to leave on Saturday morning and could be away for up to three weeks depending on hurricane damage and crew response for restoration efforts.

The RPU crew will leave from the RPU Service Center along with approximately 15 other Minnesota municipal line crews, before heading to meet with Wisconsin crews on their way south to Florida. The RPU crew will bring along a bucket truck with a 55 foot boom and a digger derrick truck used for setting utility poles.

The media is invited to meet with the RPU crew before they depart on Saturday morning. Interested media outlets can arrive at the RPU Service Center gate along East River Road at 8:30 a.m. No admittance will be permitted after 8:30 a.m.

RPU will share updates and photos from the crew on their Facebook page. For more information regarding the response effort, contact Tony Benson at 507.280.1534 or 507.398.7250 (cell).

 

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 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 37,000.  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 to remove cooling towers at Silver Lake Plant

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will begin removing the cooling towers at the Silver Lake Power Plant (SLP) on Tuesday, September 5th.

Demolition of the cooling towers and work associated with the demolition is scheduled to take approximately 17 days to complete. The cooling towers have not been operational since RPU ceased coal-fired generation at the plant back in November 2013. Removing the cooling towers is necessary due to them being a fire hazard and posing operation issues.

For more information regarding the project, contact Tony Benson at 507.280.1534.

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 50,000 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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