Policy 17: Electric Service Availability

Policy Objective:

The Board's objective is to provide electric service to all applicants requesting service within the geographical area that the Utility is entitled and obligated to serve.

Policy Statement:

1. Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) will provide electric service to all customers located within the electric service area limits established by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).
2. Service rights to each and every new annexation to the city will be acquired through a negotiated written agreement with the displaced utility, a petition to the MPUC, or eminent domain.
3. Where permanent service rights cannot be obtained prior to the need for electric service, RPU will attempt to acquire interim service rights through a written agreement with the displaced utility or through a petition to the MPUC.
4. Service will be provided to all customers located within the RPU service area in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, Board policies, and with published rules approved by the Board. Service to all customers will be non- discriminatory within each established customer class.

Responsibilities:

1. The General Manager will review, or cause to be reviewed, all annexations to the City of Rochester and identify those areas not previously contained within the assigned RPU electric service area.
2. Periodically, as appropriate for the pace of annexations and development, the General Manager will initiate negotiations and/or a legal process for interim and permanent service rights to newly annexed areas.
3. The General Manager will maintain, or cause to be maintained, a map of the RPU service area which is updated after each acquisition and filed as required with the MPUC. 
4. The General Manager will review and update RPU's electric service rules and regulations as appropriate to reflect Board policy, prudent practice, industry changes, and regulatory requirements.
5. The Board will approve all written agreements for acquisition of service rights.

Policy Information

Effective Date of Policy: May 8,1984
Last Reviewed: September 25, 2019
Last Approved: October 29, 2019
Signed By: Brian Morgan, Board President