In short: Rochester has its own city utility, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU). Its customers paid about 17.9¢ per kWh in 2024 and lost about 102 minutes of power each, or 43 minutes without major storms, a third of Xcel’s Minnesota figure (EIA). RPU pays $500 for joining its EV time-of-use rate, and the state helps pay for batteries.
This page covers what is specific to Rochester: RPU, its programs, the city’s permits and charging. For statewide rules, including net metering under 40 kW and the solar tax exemptions, see our Minnesota energy guide.
Rochester at a glance
- Rochester Public Utilities (the city of Rochester): about 17.9¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024. Outages: 102 minutes per customer with major events, 43 without; 0.98 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
- Around the city: rural Olmsted County is served by co-ops, including People’s Cooperative Services (about 16.7¢) and MiEnergy (about 16.6¢, and 101 outage minutes with major events), and by Xcel Energy in places (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 3.9 kWh per square meter per day, from 1.3 in December to 6.0 in June (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,125 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: Olmsted County’s overall risk is “relatively moderate.” Cold waves rate “relatively high,” and hail, inland flooding, strong wind, tornadoes and winter weather “relatively moderate” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 116 ports at 54 locations in Rochester (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
- Home solar: 618 RPU homes had net-metered solar in 2024, about 1 in 90 customers, and 8 had a battery with it (EIA-861).
Your utility and what it means
- RPU, solar: when your panels make more than your home uses, the extra goes to RPU’s grid, and RPU buys it “under the current rate schedule.” That is its 2026 Distributed Energy Resources rate schedule, on RPU’s solar page. Minnesota law requires an interconnection application for any grid-tied system, filed through RPU. RPU lists no solar rebate of its own, but it points to the state battery incentive and to CEE’s residential solar financing.
- RPU, EVs: join the residential time-of-use rate and get a one-time $500 rebate for your first EV and $150 for each additional one. Off-peak is 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and RPU estimates savings of $150 to $200 a year for 13,000 miles. No extra meter is needed, but you must stay on the rate for a year. A separately metered EV charging rate offers the same rebates, with an added monthly meter fee.
- Co-op and Xcel customers outside the city: check your own utility’s programs. Xcel’s are on our Twin Cities page.
Backup power in Rochester
RPU’s grid is one of the steadier ones in the state. In 2024, its customers averaged about 43 minutes without power on ordinary days and about 1.7 hours with major storms counted, against about 5.1 hours for Xcel Energy in Minnesota (EIA). Outages are less frequent, too: just under one a year. So backup power in Rochester is mostly about the rare long outage, and about the cold. Olmsted County’s highest-rated hazard is the cold wave.
That favors smaller, targeted backup over a whole-house system. A portable power station or a modest home battery can run the furnace blower, sump pump, fridge and internet. Homes with medical equipment, or that can’t go without heat, may still want a natural gas standby generator. Compare them in backup power options, and size them with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool.
Safety first: the CPSC says to run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house and never in a garage. Fit battery-backed CO alarms, and have a licensed electrician install the transfer switch (generator installation).
Solar in Rochester
Rochester gets about the same sun as the Twin Cities: about 1,125 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, most of it from April to September. At RPU’s 2024 average of about 17.9¢, each kW is worth about $200 a year in power you use at home. Exports are paid under RPU’s rate schedule, so ask the installer to show both numbers. These are estimates. Run your roof through the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator, and read solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in Rochester
Batteries are still rare here: 8 of RPU’s 618 solar homes had one in 2024. That may change, because RPU customers are outside Xcel territory and can use the Minnesota Department of Commerce incentive: $250 per kWh of capacity up to $7,000, for a battery of up to 50 kWh paired with solar. A 13.5 kWh battery would get about $3,375. The state reported about $1.42 million left on August 17, 2026, first come, first served, so check the program page before you sign. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Rochester
At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs roughly $5.40 per 100 miles at RPU’s 2024 average (our estimate), less on the time-of-use rate if you charge overnight. Rochester has 116 public ports (AFDC, October 3, 2026). A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit, an electrical permit and an inspection. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Rochester: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Rochester: Community Development issues building permits through Accela Citizen Access, with DIY permit guides (507-328-2600). A building permit does not cover electrical work, which needs a separate electrical permit.
- Who may do the wiring: the city reminds residents that Minnesota law requires licensed electrical contractors. A homeowner may do electrical work on their own home of up to two units, with inspection. For solar, batteries and transfer switches, a licensed electrician is the safe choice.
- Outside the city: Olmsted County Inspections handles the building code for Stewartville, Chatfield, Eyota, Byron and some townships.
- Utility and HOA: RPU must approve the interconnection before solar or a battery goes live. Check any HOA rules in writing.
Cities we cover
- Rochester
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Rochester energy FAQ
Who is my electric utility in Rochester, Minnesota?
Inside the city it is Rochester Public Utilities, a city-owned utility with about 55,000 residential customers (EIA, 2024). Outside the city, homes may be served by People’s Cooperative Services, MiEnergy, another co-op or Xcel Energy. Check your bill.
Does RPU pay for solar power I send to the grid?
Yes. RPU buys the excess “under the current rate schedule,” its 2026 Distributed Energy Resources schedule. Minnesota’s rules for systems under 40 kW are on our state page. Ask RPU’s distributed energy team (DER@rpu.org) to confirm the credit for your system size before you sign.
What EV rebate does Rochester Public Utilities offer?
A one-time $500 for your first EV, and $150 for each additional one, when you join RPU’s residential time-of-use rate and stay on it for a year. Off-peak hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. RPU estimates savings of $150 to $200 a year for 13,000 miles of driving.
Can I get a battery rebate in Rochester?
If you have solar or are adding it, yes. Rochester is outside Xcel territory, so the Minnesota Department of Commerce incentive applies: $250 per kWh up to $7,000, for a battery up to 50 kWh paired with solar, while funds last.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar and battery counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Rochester Public Utilities solar and EV pages. Minnesota Department of Commerce on-site energy storage incentive. City of Rochester building permit pages and Olmsted County Inspections. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center. Generator safety: CPSC. All checked October 3, 2026.