Electric
Utility Uses Fiber Optic Network to Modernize Electric Grid
Bandera Electric Cooperative has completed its first distribution circuit automation project to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. “This project involved the integration of a wide-range of electric equipment, apparatus and residential solar resources, along with real-time communication..
PG&E Wins Award for Innovative App
InformationWeek has named Pacific Gas and Electric Company as the winner of the 2017 IT Excellence Award in the Data and Analytics category. The annual award program recognizes leaders and companies that demonstrate outstanding innovation in information technology. PG&E was recognized for its Mobile..
Fluke Unveils New Gas Leak Detector
Fluke Corp. has released the Ti450 SF6 Gas Leak Detector, which combines a high-quality infrared camera with an SF6 leak detector that visually pinpoints the location of SF6 leaks without shutting equipment down. The Ti450 SF6 allows utility crews to include it as a normal part of their maintena..
Companies Join Forces to Help Utilities Better Design Sewer, Water Systems
The SUEZ Group has agreed to provide increased capital funding to Optimatics, a company specializing in technology that optimizes the design of water and sewer networks. “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Optimatics and to support the development of this young digital innovative compa..
The Evolution Of Grouting Solutions
Injection grouting is described by its proponents as the first trenchless technology to repair leaks in underground pipes. First used for municipal applications more than 50 years ago, injection grouting has advanced to become the most economical and reliable method for controlling infiltration in ..
Do Manhole Rehabilitation Technologies Perform as Expected?
Spending for manhole structure rehabilitation has grown due to increased deterioration and collection system infiltration control. It is important to understand how the manhole structure functions, and how the deterioration and corrosion mechanisms are affecting the structures. Should the structures..
PECO Named Philadelphia's Best Midsize Employer
For the second year in a row, PECO has been named Philadelphia’s best midsize employer in a new ranking from Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Employers 2017” list. The ranking represents PECO’s ongoing efforts to provide a rewarding workplace for more than 2,500 employees from the Greater Philadelp..
Xylem: Improving Infrastructure Can Make Cities More Resilient
Xylem Inc. has released a whitepaper outlining strategies to increase the resilience of cities around the world. According to the United Nations, 66 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, posing a distinct and urgent need to create more resilient urban centers, capable o..
Company Develops New Fiber Optic Installation Tool
Panduit has released a new tool for fiber-optic cable installers, the OptiCam 2.0 Termination Tool. The tool delivers an immediate calculated insertion loss, which improves productivity by shortening the time installers spend on the jobsite and increases contractor profitability by decreasing projec..
Utility Hires 18 Line and Substation Employees from Training Program
Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has hired 18 recent graduates of the company’s utility worker training program as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance service reliability for customers in Maryland and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The new employees include 11 line wor..
Utilities Technology Council Recognizes Individuals, Utilities at Awards Dinner
The Utilities Technology Council held its annual UTC Awards dinner last night in Charlotte at the UTC Telecom & Technology 2017 conference. The celebration dinner honored utilities and individuals who have shown extraordinary initiative throughout the past year. The 2017 UTC Award Winners are: I..
Infinera Validates Fiber Optic Cable Technology
Infinera has announced a successful subsea field test with Canalink across its subsea cable. The test, conducted with the Infinera Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE4) and featuring Infinera’s fourth-generation photonic integrated circuit, demonstrated the capability to upgrade the cable capacity 13-fold..
Company Launches New Fiber Optic Cable Technology
Pioneer Consulting, a company specializing in submarine cable consulting, has expanded its core capabilities by launching GoCable.io. This innovative cloud-based service provides a design platform for mapping, planning and analyzing new undersea cable systems. GoCable.io is an accessible, web-based..
North American Power Rental Market Expected to Reach Almost $2 Billion by 2023
A new report by Verify Markets shows the North American Power Rental Market was valued at $1,365.4 million in 2016 and is expected to exceed $1,981.8 million by 2023. This expected increase is based on a variety of factors, including: Economic growth Increased infrastructure spending North Ame..
Utilities Technology Council Launches the UTC Foundation
The Utilities Technology Council has launched the UTC Foundation at the annual Telecom & Technology conference in Charlotte, N.C. The UTC Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of sponsoring educational incentives and programs to attract, retain and support top technology and t..
Water Organizations Release Guidance Manual on Fostering Innovation Within Utilities
The Water Research Foundation and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, in partnership with Birmingham Water Works Board and utilities from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, have published a guidance manual for innovation based on successful programs in the utility and commercial sectors. ..
McElroy Releases Industry-First Outlet Fusion Tool
McElroy has designed the first all-in-one fusion tool for outlet fusion of polypropylene pipe — the Hornet™. The patent-pending Hornet helps installers maintain perfect alignment of the pipe and fitting for more efficient and accurate fusions with less time and strain compared to manual methods. “I..
New Mexico Electric Utility Agrees to Settle Rate Dispute
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest electric provider has reached a settlement with regulators, the state attorney general and others over a rate increase scheduled to take effect next year. The parties said the proposed settlement was filed Friday with the state Public Regulation Commiss..
Groundbreaking Underground Electric Transmission Line Installed in California
Burns & McDonnell has completed construction of Southern California Edison’s Mira Loma-Vincent 500kV Underground Transmission Project in Chino and Chino Hills, California. The project was one of the world’s first 500kV transmission lines ever installed underground and is the final link in Sou..
Kubota, Texas A&M Announce Equipment Research Venture
Kubota Tractor Corporation and the Texas A&M University System today announced a strategic venture within its Research and Development program to test equipment performance in various applications within The Texas A&M University System on land and within its testing facilities. “In keeping with Kub..
Kansas Regulators Asked to Reconsider Rejection of Utility Sale
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas regulators are being asked to reconsider their rejection of the proposed sale of the state’s largest electric company to a Missouri firm. Kansas City, Missouri-based Great Plains Energy Inc. and Topeka-based Westar Energy Inc. announced Thursday that they made the r..
California Utility to Use Echologics Leak Detection Technology
San Jose Water Company has selected Echologics’ EchoShore®-DX leak detection technology to continuously monitor its pipeline network to help the utility measure and reduce water loss. “This is truly a game-changing smart technology that will become a critical part of our water loss control program ..
Report: Utilities to Increase Investment in Smart Water Technologies
According to a new report, “US Smart Water: Defining the Opportunity, Competitive Landscape, and Market Outlook,” from Bluefield Research, the U.S. municipal water sector is projected to spend more than $20 billion on software, data, and analytics solutions over the next decade. As a result, more t..
Water Utility Seeks Proposals for Energy Storage Project
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on Thursday authorized the water authority, in conjunction with the City of San Diego, to begin seeking detailed proposals for the San Vicente Energy Storage Project. The San Vicente Energy Storage Project includes the construction of an energ..
Emera Set to Install North America’s Longest Submarine Electricity Cables
Nexans’ Skagerrak has arrived in Canada with the first of North America’s two longest submarine electricity cables to be installed as part of Emera’s Maritime Link Project. Each cable is 106 miles long and weighs 6,063 tons. The first cable was manufactured in Halden, Norway, while the second cable..
Chicago Utility Creates App to Respond to Incidents Impacting Waterways
As boaters and visitors flock to area waterways, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is prepared to respond to local incidents impacting local rivers and streams. To alert the MWRD of odors, stream blockages and other environmental-related issues, the public is encouraged..
Report Touts the Benefits of PVC Pipe for Sewer, Water Projects
Sustainable Solutions Corporation has released the Life Cycle Assessment of PVC Water and Sewer Pipe and Comparative Sustainability Analysis of Pipe Materials, the first comprehensive environmental review of underground piping systems in North America. Based on a 100-year life cycle assessment metho..
Industry Leaders Launch Fiber Optic Sensing Association
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association, the nation’s first trade association dedicated to fiber optic sensing, launched today with a focus on educating industry, government and the public on the benefits of this cutting-edge technology. The organization was formed with the mission to provide great..
Utility to Put Sewer Biogas in Pipeline
NW Natural has agreed to work with the City of Portland to put renewable natural gas converted from the city’s largest wastewater treatment plant on its pipeline and into vehicles. In a vote yesterday, the Portland City Council authorized the construction of a RNG production facility at the Columbi..
40 U.S. Utilities Recognized for Environmental Excellence
40 U.S. utilities have been recognized as 2017 Environmental Champions by Market Strategies International’s Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential, a nationwide study of nearly 58,000 customers among 130 of the largest residential gas and electric utility providers. The study scor..
- Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Texas A&M weighs underground transit plan with Elon Musk's Boring Co. to reduce campus traffic
- Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel, Max Bore HDD system boost drilling efficiency, performance
- Colorado's Wolf Creek Pass tunnel drainage project begins
- Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
- Elgin, Ill., joins EPA drinking water initiative to accelerate lead pipe replacement
- Dog River pipeline replacement in Oregon improves water supply with new HDPE pipe
- Leaking wastewater systems named top source of San Diego River contamination, study finds
- New Portable Welding System From Miller