Continue Power Restoration Following Severe Storm

Rochester, Minn. (Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026) — Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) crews continue working to restore power following severe weather that brought winds exceeding 60 mph and caused widespread damage throughout Rochester.

“This is not a typical outage situation,” said Scott Nickels, Director of Power Delivery at RPU. “The storm caused significant and varying damage throughout our service area, and our crews have been working throughout the day to safely restore power to our customers as quickly as possible.”

Storm damage includes downed trees and vegetation, damaged power lines and poles, and other electrical infrastructure impacts. Each outage is different and requires crews to assess the damage, determine the repairs needed, safely complete that work, and restore service.

Because of the extent and varying nature of the damage, RPU is unable to provide specific restoration times for individual outages at this time. RPU crews have been working continuously since the storm, including overnight and throughout the day, and will continue restoration efforts until power is restored to all customers. Restoration times will vary based on the extent of damage at each location, with crews working toward restoring power to all remaining customers later this evening.

RPU understands the difficulty of being without power for an extended period and appreciates customers’ continued patience and understanding. Safely restoring service to all customers remains RPU’s top priority.

Food Safety During an Extended Power Outage
For customers who have been without power for several hours, RPU encourages residents to follow Minnesota Department of Health food-safety recommendations:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• An unopened refrigerator will generally keep food cold for approximately 4–6 hours.
• A full, unopened freezer can keep food frozen for approximately 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can maintain its temperature for about 24 hours.
• Consider using ice or frozen gel packs in a cooler to keep perishable foods cold.
• Do not taste food to determine whether it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

Additional guidance is available from the Minnesota Department of Health’s emergency food safety information.⁠

About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for over 120 years, RPU has provided high-quality and reliable electricity to more than 59,000 customers, along with water services to over 42,000 customers. RPU is governed by a five-member Utility Board and the Rochester City Council. The utility continually explores innovative technologies to help customers maximize the value of the services they receive, with current initiatives including photovoltaic offerings, wind energy, energy and water-efficient equipment, and electric vehicle charging.