Public Utility Board

Must be a resident of Rochester.

• Determining fundamental philosophy, mission, objectives, and policies for meeting the current and future water and energy needs of the community.
• Appointing a General Manager who is responsible for the management of the organization.
• Maintaining direction over the performance of management, and through management, the performance of employees.
• Controlling the finances of the utility by approving the annual budget(s), authorizing subsequent changes, and approving major expenditures.
• Approving or modifying rates charged by the utility, subject to review by the City Council.
• Reviewing, modifying and approving operating programs and activities planned and recommended by management.
• Serving as an appeals body for persons or organizations that desire to be heard on matters under consideration by the board, or on questions arising from utility policies, operations, or other phases of the utility’s work.
• As a policymaker, serve as a liaison between the utility, other governmental bodies, and the public.

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) is a municipally-owned utility that provides electric and water service to the greater Rochester Area. RPU serves approximately 50,800 electric and 38,330 water customers across 47 square miles. The Public Utility Board’s mission is to perpetuate municipal ownership of the utility systems which it is authorized to manage, control and operate.

The Board manages assets totaling approximately $357 million and provides overall policy direction for the combined utilities. The Board’s principal role is to provide policy direction to the RPU management and staff. The Board recognizes the Common Council as the elected body of the City of Rochester to which the Board is accountable for the performance of the City's utility systems that it controls.

A five-member Board governs RPU. Four members are appointed by the Mayor of Rochester and ratified by the Common Council. They serve four-year terms, and no more than two consecutive terms. The fifth member is appointed by the Council President from the Council for a two-year term.

Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.