RPU presents major capital plan and rate proposals; water, electric changes to affect customers

Tim McCullough, General Manager of Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), presented RPU’s enterprise budgets, cost‑of‑service studies and capital plans to the city council and to the city’s budget study session.

McCullough described a multi‑year capital program and several near‑term rate decisions. On water, RPU’s rate recommendation presented to the RPU board and noted for council review would raise the average residential bill by about $2 per month in 2026, McCullough said, driven by investments such as a citywide coordinated water‑main replacement program and an advanced metering rollout. He said the lead service line replacement work planned for 2026 is expected to be reimbursed by grants but that RPU expects to use short‑term debt to manage cash flow until reimbursements arrive.

On electric service McCullough told the council the utility is accelerating resource investments and presenting “a net impact of about $6 of additional cost per month for the average residential customer” in the first year of the proposed trajectory. He also said: “We are recommending a 66%…