Utility Infrastructure
Audit Urges Changes to Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A state audit is urging changes to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, saying years of mismanagement and lack of leadership have led to financial problems and deteriorating infrastructure. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says the 82,000 city customers are “all too familiar..
Utility Settles Lawsuit with Former Manager out of Court
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts municipal power company has settled a lawsuit brought by a former manager who claimed he was owed more than $600,000 in wages and benefits. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that Wayne Doerpholz, former manager of the South Hadley Electric Light Co., dec..
PG&E Appoints New Vice President for Power Generation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has appointed Jon Franke as its vice president, Power Generation, effective Nov. 1. Franke, who currently serves as vice president, Generation Technical Services, will now lead PG&E’s Power Generation organization as vice president, Power Generation, with res..
SUEZ Acquires Forest Park Water Group
SUEZ North America has completed the acquisition of the Forest Park Water Group, which serves approximately 4,000 people through 13 water systems in Putnam County and one system in Westchester County, New York. The water systems, which consist of 30 wells, serve mostly residential homes, condominium..
California Water Service Receives AWWA Larry C. Larson Safety Award
California Water Service has received the 2016-2017 Larry C. Larson Safety Award for Class IV utilities from the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) California-Nevada Section. The award for Class IV utilities, or those with more than 500 employees, recognizes a large utility’s commitment to it..
Black & Veatch and Aeryon Labs Launch End-To-End Aerial Pipeline Inspection Solution for Utilities
Black & Veatch and Aeryon Labs have launched an end-to-end asset management inspection solution leveraging drone technology for global energy clients. Aeryon’s commercial unmanned aerial system (UAS) hardware, software and services enable the capture of critical infrastructure condition data that is..
$12 Million Water Treatment Plant Upgrades Move Power Lines Underground
Illinois American Water’s Interurban (Metro East) District, which serves the communities of East St. Louis, Granite City, Belleville and surrounding areas, has completed a significant upgrade at its East. St. Louis Water Treatment Plant. The approximately $12 million investment helps to enhance reli..
International Plastic Pipe Conference Extends Deadline for Papers
The organizers of the International Plastic Pipe Conference and Exhibition have announced a two-week extension of the deadline for the submission of abstracts to Nov. 15, 2017. “We have already received some major proposals for presentations and are particularly interested to receive case reference..
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Approves Settlement in Rate Case
Hawaii Water Service, a subsidiary of California Water Service Group has received approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to increase annual revenues by approximately $771,000 in its Pukalani wastewater system for improvements made over recent years. The increase will become effective a..
Mammoth Energy to Help Rebuild Puerto Rico’s Energy Infrastructure
Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cobra Acquisitions LLC, has signed a contract to aid in the restoration of utility infrastructure on the island of Puerto Rico. The contract will commence immediately and is expected to generate revenue of up to $200 million over the initial 1..
Consolidation of Rural Water Systems Prompts Industry Dialogue
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division has released, When Rural Water Systems Combine, a report that examines key issues and considerations surrounding consolidation of rural water systems. “The pace of consolidations at agricultural cooperatives in rural America has picked up in recent years,” said ..
Aqua America Offers Tips, Video to Minimize Lead Exposure
To help raise awareness of potential sources of lead in drinking water during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 22 – 28, Aqua America has released a lead education video designed to help homeowners understand the important role they play in ensuring their water is lead free. “Each day, Aqua stri..
American Water Honored by National Association of Water Companies
American Water announced it has received two awards from the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) at the 2017 NAWC Water Summit honoring their commitment to innovation and passion to serving their customers and communities. American Water’s geothermal pilot was recognized in the “sustaina..
Puerto Rico Utility to Scrap $300M Power Contract
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The head of Puerto Rico’s power company said Sunday the agency is cancelling its $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings amid scrutiny of the tiny Montana company’s role in restoring the island’s power system. The announcement by Ricardo Ramos came hours af..
San Francisco PUC Awarded $625 Million Water Infrastructure Loan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $625-million WIFIA (Water Infrastructure and Financing Innovation Act) loan to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The loan, one of 12 issued nationwide, is expected to save ratepayers over $200 million. The $625-million ..
Water Utility’s Settlement Would Lower Bill Increases
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia water utility has filed a settlement with the state Public Service Commission that’d remove a $5 million proposal which upgrades infrastructure between two communities and raises bills. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported Sunday that independent Commission ..
Southern Company to Sell Utilities in $1.7 Billion Deal
Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, has entered into agreements to sell the assets of its utility operating divisions, Elizabethtown Gas and Elton Gas, to South Jersey Industries in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $1.7 billion. ..
Illinois American Water Announces Winners of “Imagine a Day Without Water” Art Contest
Illinois American Water has selected the winners of its annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” art contest. The company offered the contest to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms within the company’s service area. The contest is held annually in conjunction with the Value of Water Coalition’s “Imagine a..
Utility Worker Cleaning Storm Debris in North Carolina Dies
TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff says a utility worker has been killed after cutting a tree which had fallen on a power line following a severe storm. Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman told local media outlets that 31-year-old Brian Keith Wilmoth was cutting the tree Wednesday..
Illinois Attorney General Sues Gas Company Over Leak
MAHOMET, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois attorney general is suing a Chicago gas company over an underground natural-gas leak that has affected water wells near the central part of the state. The News-Gazette reports the lawsuit filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan against Peoples Gas is based on a refe..
Four Union Utility Workers from New Jersey American Water Travel to Puerto Rico for Relief Work
Four New Jersey American Water employees joined a team of more than 300 AFL-CIO volunteers who traveled to Puerto Rico on Oct. 4 to help with Hurricane Maria relief efforts. The employees who volunteered to join this two-week assignment are Utility Mechanics Al Archila, Karl Engallena and Jorge Pere..
PSC No Longer Copied on Boil Water Advisories in Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Utility regulators in Kentucky say water utilities are no longer required to send copies of “boil water” advisories to the state Public Service Commission. The PSC says it will now be informed of such advisories through a daily report from the Kentucky Division of Water...
Arizona Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Reverse Electric Hike
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court rejected a bid by a utility regulator to reverse a monthly electric rate hike for customers of the Arizona Public Service Co. The Arizona Republic reports that the court on Monday declined to accept jurisdiction for the matter, and it did not provide reasoni..
Oklahoma Audit Says $1.7 Million in Utility Revenue Never Deposited
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s top auditor says the FBI and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office are interested in a critical audit that indicates more than $1.7 million in utility revenue collected by a small southeastern Oklahoma city was never deposited. State Auditor & Inspector Gary J..
Newest Member of Arizona Utility Regulator Takes Office Monday
PHOENIX (AP) — The newest member of the state commission that regulates utilities takes office Monday. A swearing-in ceremony for former state Rep. Justin Olson is scheduled before the commission holds a regular monthly meeting in its offices in Phoenix. Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Olsen to fill the..
Connecticut Regulators Investigating Gas Utilities for Withholding Pipeline Capacity
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut officials have launched an investigation into allegations of market power abuse by two of the state’s largest energy providers. The Office of Consumer Counsel says the investigation began after university researchers claimed Eversource and Avangrid companies inte..
Oracle Utilities, Navigant Research Unveil Dual Innovation Blueprint Study for Utilities
Oracle Utilities today unveiled a new research paper, titled ‘Utility Innovation Blueprint: How to Manage the Challenge of Dual Transformation,’ which explores how utilities can approach innovation across their people, processes and technology. Commissioned from Navigant Research, the paper comb..
Arizona Governor Appoints Former Lawmaker to Utility Regulatory Panel
PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Doug Ducey has appointed a former Republican lawmaker to an open seat on the state commission that regulates utilities. Ducey on Tuesday named Justin Olson to the seat vacated by Doug Little. Little stepped last month down to take a job with the U.S. Department of Energy. Olson..
Water Utility Sues Company over Possible Contamination
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — A utility that provides water in southeastern North Carolina has sued a company it accuses of polluting the Cape Fear River, where the utility gets its water. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on Monday afternoon accusing Chemour..
Public Meetings Set on Montana Utility's Proposed Gas Rate Increase
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators have scheduled public meetings on a request by Montana Dakota Utilities to raise its natural gas rates. The proposed increase is for $5.9 million annually over current rates, or a 5.4 percent overall increase. The average residential customer would see ..
- 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