Telecom/Electric
Report Calls for “Internet of Water” for Sustainability
The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program, the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University and Redstone Strategy Group have released Internet of Water: Sharing and Integrating Water Data for Sustainability, a Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Water Data report ..
Navigant: The Utility Value Chain to Change Significantly by 2030
Navigant Research has released a new whitepaper, Defining the Digital Future of Utilities, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that the utility industry will face during the transition to an intelligent and distributed future. According to Navigant, significant change is already underway ..
The Great Lakes Water Utility Energy Challenge Announces Finalists
The Great Lakes Protection Fund and American Water Works Association have announced the finalists in the Water Utility Energy Challenge, an innovative program which engages water operators in a competition to reduce the emissions sourced in their energy generation. The inaugural 2017-2018 competitio..
A. O. Smith, The Water Council Announce 2nd-Annual Water Technology Challenge
For the second consecutive year, A. O. Smith Corporation and The Water Council have agreed to partner together to identify and support entrepreneurs and start-ups developing innovative freshwater technologies through a global technology challenge, BREW Corporate: Powered by A. O. Smith. The challen..
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..
Grand Ocean NEK606 Standard Offshore Cables Meet ABS Requirements
Grand Ocean today announced that its NEK606 standard cables have passed the ABS classification society requirements. “As an ISO 9001:2008 company with over 10 years’ experience in the offshore marine cable industry, we manufacture cables that guarantee optimal performance in adverse conditions, saf..
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..
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..
Windstream Launches Five New Fiber Routes
Windstream today announced the opening of five strategically located fiber routes on its nationwide long-haul fiber transport network. Secured as part of Windstream’s recent merger with EarthLink, these new routes offer customers cost-effective access to greater network diversity options, improved ..
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..
Companies Sign Fiber Optic Cable Interconnection Agreement in Guam
Globe Telecom and Belau Submarine Cable Corporation have signed an agreement that would allow a submarine fiber optic cable spur, currently under construction from the Republic of Palau, to interconnect with the Southeast Asia-United States (SEA-US) cable for onward transport to Guam. “We are excit..
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..
Verizon to Accelerate Next-Gen Broadband Deployment with $3.1 Billion Acquisition
To scale and accelerate deployment of next-generation broadband services throughout the United States, Verizon Communications Inc. has agreed to acquire Straight Path Communications Inc. Verizon will purchase Straight Path for $184.00 per share, or a total consideration of $3.1 billion, in an all-s..
Verizon Awards $300 Million Fiber-Optic Cable Supply Contract
Prysmian Group has been awarded a $300 million contract from Verizon Communications to support the company’s US network expansion around a next-generation fiber platform that will speed the deployment of 5G services, while improving 4G LTE and other broadband capacity. The three-year contract wi..
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..
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..
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..
West Virginia Targets Broadband Growth, Flood Protection
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two newly signed laws in West Virginia are intended to extend broadband internet service to unreached parts of the state and help it better prepare for major flooding. The broadband measure acknowledges the Legislature and governor have set a primary goal of making ev..
Indiana Cities Rush to Control Wireless Equipment Installation
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Two Indiana cities are rushing to maintain control of where wireless equipment can be placed. The South Bend Tribune (http://bit.ly/2oENTxF ) reports that a plan approved by the Legislature will allow telecommunications companies to place equipment without a permit from loca..
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..
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- The EPA announces $6.2 billion in funding for Iowa and Kansas water infrastructure