RPU Responds to Storm-Related Power Outage Sunday Evening

Rochester, Minn. (Monday, Mar. 16) —Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) responded to a power outage Sunday evening after severe weather conditions caused a tree to come into contact with a high-voltage transmission line.

At approximately 8:52 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, a tree made contact with the 161 kV Q1 transmission line located behind the Rochester Honkers baseball field. The incident occurred during blizzard conditions with winds estimated between 30 and 50 miles per hour. The video surfacing online was the tree burning up in the power line.

The contact triggered protective equipment at RPU substations, causing an outage that affected approximately 6,642 electric customers. An additional 3,300 customers may have experienced a brief momentary interruption as the system responded to the fault.

Once crews confirmed the line conditions were safe, power restoration began. Electric service was restored in stages as crews re-energized equipment and returned substations and distribution feeders to service. Restoration was completed shortly after 10:25 p.m.

The probable cause of the outage was tree contact with the transmission line during severe weather conditions. No permanent damage to the electrical system was reported, and all equipment has been returned to normal operating order.

RPU crews remain available 24/7 to respond to outages and system issues.

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.