In the wake of a recent severe weather system that knocked out power to around 3,000 customers, Minnesota public power utility Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) called on assistance from other public power utilities in the state to help with restoration work.
Strong winds, lightning, hail and an unconfirmed tornado came through the city of Rochester and Southeast Minnesota on Tuesday, June 4. The storm caused significant damage to trees and property of many Rochester residents, as well as causing damage to RPU infrastructure causing power outages.
A total of 3,255 RPU customers were affected by the outages. A majority of customers were only affected for a few hours the evening of June 4. By 8 am on June 5, only 179 customers were still without power, and those remaining customers had service back by the evening on June 5.
RPU received mutual aid assistance by 11am on June 5 from utility crews from the following Minnesota cities: Austin, Owatonna, Waseca, Blue Earth, and Shakopee.
All mutual aid crews were released by the evening on June 5.
RPU is a municipally-owned electric and water utility located in Rochester, Minn.
RPU serves 55,000 electric customers and 40,000 water customers and operates under the direction of a five-member, mayor-appointed Utility Board and under the Rochester City Council.
