People's Energy Cooperative just posted a warning about a scam targeting people here in southeast Minnesota. They say a customer reached out to them to inform them that a scammer had called and threatened to remove the customer's meter unless they paid close to $500. You can read the full statement from the electricity provider below.
People's Energy has nearly 19,000 customers all throughout southeast Minnesota including residents in Olmsted, Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Wabasha, and Winona counties, and says they never request bank or payment info over the phone.

People's Energy Coop Warns Residents About A New Scam:

A member of People’s Energy Cooperative (PEC) was the target of a phone scam earlier today after receiving a call saying she needed to pay $499.11 for her new meter or she would be disconnected. They also told her that if she did not pay it immediately, an independent contractor would come out to remove the meter and disconnect the service. When the member said she would call People’s Energy to confirm, they hung up on her.
PEC would like to remind members that employees will never request bank or payment information from members over the phone. Member service representatives will only ask for information to identify who a member is. If members receive a call from someone claiming to represent a utility company, and the caller is asking for personal information or threatening disconnection without immediate payment, hang up and call the customer service number on your bill.  - Posted on People's Energy Cooperative's Facebook page. 

Wow! Check out how Rochester has changed throughout the years in these Google photos.

As we are soaring down Hwy 52, it is hard to imagine what life was like in our town before the Target store was built where it is today. Or the house that you live in now, at one point in town, that wasn't there. In fact, Rochester has grown so fast throughout the years, most of our houses weren't even around 50 years ago! Don't believe me? Look through these photos to get a glimpse of what Rochester was like years ago.

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