diff --git a/ci/requirements-py35-min.yml b/ci/requirements-py35-min.yml
index f79844f160..edfd1cafcc 100644
--- a/ci/requirements-py35-min.yml
+++ b/ci/requirements-py35-min.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ dependencies:
     - requests
     - pip:
         - numpy==1.12.0
-        - pandas==0.18.1
+        - pandas==0.22.0
         - pytest-rerunfailures # conda version is >3.6
         - pytest-remotedata # conda package is 0.3.0, needs > 0.3.1
diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.8.0.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.8.0.rst
index 66fb16f878..3406475bb2 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.8.0.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.8.0.rst
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ Documentation
 
 Requirements
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Minimum pandas version increased to v0.22.0, released Dec 31, 2017. (:pull:`1003`)
 
 Contributors
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/conftest.py b/pvlib/tests/conftest.py
index e88b2b8ae7..ee2f2ae06c 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/conftest.py
@@ -84,14 +84,6 @@ def numpy_1_10():
     not numpy_1_10(), reason='requires numpy 1.10 or greater')
 
 
-def pandas_0_22():
-    return parse_version(pd.__version__) >= parse_version('0.22.0')
-
-
-needs_pandas_0_22 = pytest.mark.skipif(
-    not pandas_0_22(), reason='requires pandas 0.22 or greater')
-
-
 def has_spa_c():
     try:
         from pvlib.spa_c_files.spa_py import spa_calc
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_crn.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_crn.py
index d661acb1ce..465add4cb4 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_crn.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_crn.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal
 import numpy as np
 from numpy import dtype, nan
 import pytest
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_epw.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_epw.py
index 3467408360..ae5d437ce4 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_epw.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_epw.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from pandas.util.testing import network
 import pytest
 
 from pvlib.iotools import epw
@@ -11,7 +10,6 @@ def test_read_epw():
     epw.read_epw(epw_testfile)
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_epw_remote():
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_midc.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_midc.py
index 9827ef3d95..66e003b51f 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_midc.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_midc.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import network
 import pytest
 import pytz
 
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@ def test_read_midc_var_mapping_as_arg(test_mapping):
     assert 'temp_air' in data.columns
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_midc_raw_data_from_nrel():
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_solrad.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_solrad.py
index 4bc6223a18..b4a17bfd2f 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_solrad.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_solrad.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal
 import numpy as np
 from numpy import nan
 
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_srml.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_srml.py
index 63c5defc4e..0209c188f7 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_srml.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_srml.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from numpy import isnan
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import network
 import pytest
 
 from pvlib.iotools import srml
@@ -13,7 +12,6 @@ def test_read_srml():
     srml.read_srml(srml_testfile)
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_srml_remote():
@@ -66,7 +64,6 @@ def test_map_columns(column, expected):
     assert srml.map_columns(column) == expected
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_srml_month_from_solardat():
@@ -76,7 +73,6 @@ def test_read_srml_month_from_solardat():
     assert file_data.equals(requested)
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_15_minute_dt_index():
@@ -90,7 +86,6 @@ def test_15_minute_dt_index():
     assert (data.index[3::4].minute == 45).all()
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_hourly_dt_index():
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_surfrad.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_surfrad.py
index 7caab9fb41..498604970c 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_surfrad.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_surfrad.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import network
 import pytest
 
 from pvlib.iotools import surfrad
@@ -10,7 +9,6 @@
                     'Alamosa_CO/2016/slv16001.dat')
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_surfrad_network():
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_tmy.py b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_tmy.py
index bf10e3b830..98971005e3 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_tmy.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/iotools/test_tmy.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from pandas.util.testing import network
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 import pytest
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ def test_read_tmy3():
     tmy.read_tmy3(TMY3_TESTFILE)
 
 
-@network
 @pytest.mark.remote_data
 @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=RERUNS, reruns_delay=RERUNS_DELAY)
 def test_read_tmy3_remote():
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_atmosphere.py b/pvlib/tests/test_atmosphere.py
index 0bf7434a68..5412389d83 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_atmosphere.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_atmosphere.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from numpy import nan
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 import pytest
 
 from pvlib import atmosphere
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_clearsky.py b/pvlib/tests/test_clearsky.py
index 5774e343a0..67b185e56b 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_clearsky.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_clearsky.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
 
 from pvlib.location import Location
 from pvlib import clearsky
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_iam.py b/pvlib/tests/test_iam.py
index 7fc204bc95..9b886762b2 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_iam.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_iam.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 
 import pytest
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
 from pvlib import iam as _iam
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_inverter.py b/pvlib/tests/test_inverter.py
index 4f99f0a616..0816683f3a 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_inverter.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_inverter.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
 from pvlib import inverter
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_irradiance.py b/pvlib/tests/test_irradiance.py
index 221b99083f..b39b4543de 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_irradiance.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_irradiance.py
@@ -9,12 +9,11 @@
 import pytest
 from numpy.testing import assert_almost_equal, assert_allclose
 
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
 
 from pvlib import irradiance
 
-from conftest import (needs_numpy_1_10, pandas_0_22,
-                      requires_ephem, requires_numba)
+from conftest import (needs_numpy_1_10, requires_ephem, requires_numba)
 
 
 # fixtures create realistic test input data
@@ -237,11 +236,8 @@ def test_perez_components(irrad_data, ephem_data, dni_et, relative_airmass):
         columns=['sky_diffuse', 'isotropic', 'circumsolar', 'horizon'],
         index=irrad_data.index
     )
-    if pandas_0_22():
-        expected_for_sum = expected['sky_diffuse'].copy()
-        expected_for_sum.iloc[2] = 0
-    else:
-        expected_for_sum = expected['sky_diffuse']
+    expected_for_sum = expected['sky_diffuse'].copy()
+    expected_for_sum.iloc[2] = 0
     sum_components = out.iloc[:, 1:].sum(axis=1)
     sum_components.name = 'sky_diffuse'
 
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_location.py b/pvlib/tests/test_location.py
index c3c3959985..0694035df0 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_location.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_location.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 from numpy import nan
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_index_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_index_equal
 
 import pytest
 
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_modelchain.py b/pvlib/tests/test_modelchain.py
index 1ebe806a5b..5fe7367b28 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_modelchain.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_modelchain.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from pvlib.location import Location
 from pvlib._deprecation import pvlibDeprecationWarning
 
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 import pytest
 
 from conftest import fail_on_pvlib_version, requires_scipy, requires_tables
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_pvsystem.py b/pvlib/tests/test_pvsystem.py
index 81aca6cf9e..fb97d106ad 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_pvsystem.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_pvsystem.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 
 import pytest
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal, assert_frame_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal, assert_frame_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
 from pvlib import inverter, pvsystem
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_snow.py b/pvlib/tests/test_snow.py
index c5ba88a467..e988f4a191 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_snow.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_snow.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 
 from pvlib import snow
 from pvlib.tools import sind
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_soiling.py b/pvlib/tests/test_soiling.py
index ac15053adf..8ca5a41618 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_soiling.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_soiling.py
@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@
 import datetime
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 from pvlib.soiling import hsu, kimber
 from pvlib.iotools import read_tmy3
-from conftest import (
-    requires_scipy, needs_pandas_0_22, DATA_DIR)
+from conftest import requires_scipy, DATA_DIR
 import pytest
 
 
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ def rainfall_input():
 
 
 @requires_scipy
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_hsu_no_cleaning(rainfall_input, expected_output):
     """Test Soiling HSU function"""
 
@@ -84,7 +82,6 @@ def test_hsu_no_cleaning(rainfall_input, expected_output):
 
 
 @requires_scipy
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_hsu(rainfall_input, expected_output_2):
     """Test Soiling HSU function with cleanings"""
 
@@ -103,7 +100,6 @@ def test_hsu(rainfall_input, expected_output_2):
 
 
 @requires_scipy
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_hsu_defaults(rainfall_input, expected_output_1):
     """
     Test Soiling HSU function with default deposition velocity and default rain
@@ -129,7 +125,6 @@ def expected_kimber_nowash():
         parse_dates=True, index_col='timestamp')
 
 
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_kimber_nowash(greensboro_rain, expected_kimber_nowash):
     """Test Kimber soiling model with no manual washes"""
     # Greensboro typical expected annual rainfall is 8345mm
@@ -147,7 +142,6 @@ def expected_kimber_manwash():
         parse_dates=True, index_col='timestamp')
 
 
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_kimber_manwash(greensboro_rain, expected_kimber_manwash):
     """Test Kimber soiling model with a manual wash"""
     # a manual wash date
@@ -171,7 +165,6 @@ def expected_kimber_norain():
     return np.where(norain > max_loss_rate, max_loss_rate, norain)
 
 
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_kimber_norain(greensboro_rain, expected_kimber_norain):
     """Test Kimber soiling model with no rain"""
     # a year with no rain
@@ -193,7 +186,6 @@ def expected_kimber_initial_soil():
     return np.where(norain > max_loss_rate, max_loss_rate, norain)
 
 
-@needs_pandas_0_22
 def test_kimber_initial_soil(greensboro_rain, expected_kimber_initial_soil):
     """Test Kimber soiling model with initial soiling"""
     # a year with no rain
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_solarposition.py b/pvlib/tests/test_solarposition.py
index 026e28e55c..187c4851d3 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_solarposition.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_solarposition.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal, assert_series_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 import pytest
 
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_temperature.py b/pvlib/tests/test_temperature.py
index 417e24e5eb..2015cdba58 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_temperature.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_temperature.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 import pytest
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_series_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_series_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
 from pvlib import temperature
diff --git a/pvlib/tests/test_tracking.py b/pvlib/tests/test_tracking.py
index 983d8ae639..c229ea7422 100644
--- a/pvlib/tests/test_tracking.py
+++ b/pvlib/tests/test_tracking.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 
 import pytest
-from pandas.util.testing import assert_frame_equal
+from pandas.testing import assert_frame_equal
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
 from pvlib.location import Location
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2ec97ce506..dcde1e1712 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 URL = 'https://github.com/pvlib/pvlib-python'
 
 INSTALL_REQUIRES = ['numpy >= 1.12.0',
-                    'pandas >= 0.18.1',
+                    'pandas >= 0.22.0',
                     'pytz',
                     'requests']
 TESTS_REQUIRE = ['nose', 'pytest', 'pytest-cov', 'pytest-mock',