RPU is updating its Involuntary Disconnection policy, formerly the Cold Weather Disconnect policy, to include current state statutes.  Extreme heat conditions and military service have been added to the policy to protect qualifying residential customers from disconnection. No other substantial changes have been made to the policy. The policy is currently in draft form and open for public review; it has not been approved yet. Click here for the full policy Involuntary Disconnection – clean version. If you have comments or questions you may contact Tony Benson at tbenson@rpu.org or 507-280-1534.

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) announced today the promotion of Jeremy Sutton as the new Director of Power Resources.

Sutton served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 2001. After his military service, he was a Senior Plant Operator for Air Products and Chemicals in Southern California, which is a steam methane reforming hydrogen production facility with cogeneration.

He started at Rochester Public Utilities as a system operator and then moved up to the role of Chief System Operator. In 2009, Sutton was tasked with starting a new department at RPU, managing MISO (Mid-continent Independent System Operators) market activities.

Sutton has a BA in Business Management and is a NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) Reliability Coordinator Certified Operator.

He takes over for longtime RPU employee Walter Schlink, who retired earlier this month. 

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 (RPU) has heard from customers that scam calls are being made to some RPU customers. RPU staff has collected information regarding the scam from customers to share with all RPU customers and the Rochester community.

The Scam –The callers are targeting commercial customers, but residential customers need to be vigilant as well. A caller states that they are from RPU and that a payment must be made to avoid disconnection. On caller ID the phone number shown is RPU’s customer line 507.280.1500 by using technology that can manipulate the number to show RPU’s actual customer service line. If the call goes unanswered, a message is left stating to call the phone number 1.844.287.6955. This is not an RPU phone number. When called, they use RPU’s on-hold messaging and then the person answering says that they are from RPU, but they are not an RPU employee or affiliated with RPU.

Identifying a Scam – RPU will never request bank or secure personal information from you over the phone unless you ask to discuss your account. The RPU representative will then ask for information to identify who you are.

What to do if you receive a scam call:

• If someone calls threatening to cut off your power if you don’t pay, hang up.
• Call RPU at 507.280.1500 to report the scam.
• Never give personal or financial information to an unknown caller.
• Remember that RPU will never use threatening language or make forceful demands for payment.

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 53,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 39,000.  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.