Rochester Public Utilities | Blog

Archive for April, 2019

17th Annual Arbor Day Celebration to be held on April 26

Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), with partners Maier Tree & Lawn and Rochester Parks & Recreation, will host the 17th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 26 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 (while supplies last), a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last), and live music from PK Mayo Trio. Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor activities and information.

Children will be able to enjoy Smokey Bear, tree medallion necklace, apple toss game, 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, Hope Peterson, a 4th grader at Gibbs Elementary. Hope will receive a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card, her winning poster will be featured in RPU’s 2020 calendar, and a tree will be planted in her honor at Gibbs Elementary School. This year’s poster contest theme was “Trees Are Terrific…For Animals Too!”

RPU line crews will also be partnering with Rochester Parks & Recreation on a tree planting for The Right Tree in the Right Place program beginning at 8 a.m. Approximately 50 compatible trees under power lines will be planted along 36th Ave NW and 7th St NW. Tree species include Lilac Snow Dance, Crabapple Royal Rain Drops, Pear Autumn Blaze, Hawthorne Snowbird, and Red Buds.

Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: Hy-Vee, Jim Whiting Nursery & Garden Center, Minnesota Energy Resources, Sargent’s Gardens, and Seneca Foods.

Participants include: Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota Children’s Museum Rochester, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Olmsted County Environmental Resources, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Rochester Police Department, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Public Works, Rochester Water Reclamation Plant, Sekapp Orchard, 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 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 55,000 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.

###

RPU Receives Diamond RP3 Designation from American Public Power Association

Thursday, April 11th, 2019

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) received the 2019 Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Diamond designation by the American Public Power Association (APPA). RPU was honored at the APPA Engineering and Operations Conference in Colorado Springs, CO on Monday, April 1, 2019.

The Diamond designation is the highest level achievable within the RP3 designation. RPU scored a total of 99.5 points out of a possible 100. RPU is one of only 254 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

Applications are reviewed by an 18-member panel of public power representatives nationwide.

The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 13 years now. The Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.

Additional information regarding the APPA RP3 designation can be found at www.publicpower.org or by contacting 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 54,000 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.

###