Utility Infrastructure
President Trump Nominates 4 to Serve on the Board of the Nation's Largest Public Utility
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump is nominating people from four states to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors. Trump will name Kenneth E. Allen of Kentucky and James R. Thompson III of Alabama for terms that expire in 2021. Allen is retired ..
Indiana Regulators OK Vectren's Grid Upgrade, Rate Increases
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Indiana utility regulators have approved Vectren Corp.’s seven-year plan to upgrade its electrical grid and pass those costs onto its customers through rate increases. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the Evansville-based utility’s plan Wednesday. The grid ..
Power Back on in Florida, but Utilities Still Under Fire
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — After a massive restoration effort, most of Florida has power 10 days after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to nearly two-thirds of the state, mostly because of improvements made to the power grid since Hurricane Wilma 12 years ago. But that may do little to stem a g..
Utility Achieves Methane Capture Milestone
SmSouthern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the company has passed the one million cubic foot mark in its ongoing methane capture initiative. This innovative process allows for gas that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere during pipeline replacement work to be saved and reinject..
Water District Recognized for Commitment to Safety
Illinois American Water has announced the company’s Cairo District has gone 18 years without experiencing any lost-time accidents. According to Michael Brown, Illinois American Water Cairo District’s Operations Superintendent, ensuring employees complete every job safely requires a daily commitment..
New Jersey American Water Files for Rate Increase Due to Infrastructure Improvements
New Jersey American Water has filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to increase rates by approximately $129.3 million in response to the significant investment the company has made into its water and wastewater infrastructure since its last rate adjustment in 2015. “In less..
Whistleblower Complaint Targets California Utility Regulator
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The former chief administrative law judge at California’s powerful utility regulator said Tuesday she was fired for cooperating with investigators looking into collusion between regulators and executives from Pacific Gas & Electric. Karen Valentia Clopton announced that sh..
90% of Power Outages Restored in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are still without power more than a week after Hurricane Irma slammed into the state. The state’s emergency management division reported Monday that more than 407,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity. That’s nearly 4 per..
Hydro One and Avista File Applications for Regulatory Approval of Merger
Hydro One Limited and Avista Corporation have filed Applications requesting regulatory approval of the proposed merger of the two companies that was announced on July 19, 2017. The applications have been filed with state utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska, as w..
New Jersey American Water Investing $6.5 Million in New Water Mains in Camden County
New Jersey American Water today announced it will invest approximately $6.5 million for the installation of new water mains in its Voorhees and Oaklyn service area. The company will be installing approximately 32,850 feet of new main in this area, replacing water main that was installed around the 1..
Illinois American Water Acquires Piasa Township Sanitary District
Illinois American Water President Bruce Hauk today announced the company’s acquisition of the Piasa Township Sanitary District. The purchase of the system adds approximately 120 customers to the company’s customer base in the Alton District. In a public referendum on April 4, 2017, residents of Pia..
Georgia Power Announces Estimated Restoration Times, Says Efforts Ahead of Schedule
Georgia Power today announced regional estimated restoration times (ERTs) for all areas of the state following Hurricane Irma. The hurricane, one of the strongest and largest storms to strike Georgia in decades, brought high winds, heavy rain and flooding to every county in the state and impacte..
Ameren Sends Second Wave of Workers to Assist Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts
Ameren announced it will send more crews to Florida, bringing the company’s total to approximately 1,000 employees and contractors assisting in the restoration and rebuilding efforts in response to Hurricane Irma. The company also announced an additional $25,000 donation to aid Red Cross relief..
Illinois American Water's Pekin District Celebrates 7 Years of Safety Excellence
Illinois American Water announced the Pekin District has gone over 7 years without experiencing any lost-time accidents. “Safety is on our minds every minute of every day,” Cord Crisler, Illinois American Water’s Operations Superintendent, said “There is nothing more important than ensuring our emp..
South Carolina Consumer Groups Demand Lawmakers Watch Utilities Closer
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A group of small businesses and community leaders say South Carolina lawmakers must take several steps to more closely watch utilities after $10 billion was spent on the abandoned construction of two nuclear reactors. The group called Stop the Blank Check said Wednesday that l..
CPS Energy Sends Crews to Florida to Help With Irma Power Restoration Efforts
CPS Energy today announced it is sending crews to assist Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) with power restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma. “Our response exemplifies our commitment to people and now extends to restoring a community in need,” said Paula Gold-Williams, CPS Energy Pre..
FirstEnergy Sending More Crews to Help Restore Power in Florida
As the damage continues to be assessed following Hurricane Irma, FirstEnergy Corp. today announced its utilities will send additional linemen and support personnel to help utilities in Florida with restoration efforts following large-scale power outages. The crews are scheduled to leave for Florida..
PSEG Selected for Top Sustainability Index for 10th Year in a Row
Marking a decade of sustainability leadership, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for the 10th consecutive year. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) recognize forward-thinking companies based on an appraisal of the c..
New Jersey American Water Investing $1.5 Million in New Water Main in Millburn
New Jersey American Water will be investing approximately $1.5 million for the installation of 2,200 feet of new water main in its Millburn service area this fall. The company will replace water main that was put into service as long ago as the 1930s. The aging 24-inch water line will be replaced wi..
Arizona Utility Regulator to Join Trump Administration
PHOENIX (AP) — A member of the state commission that regulates utilities is resigning to take a job with the Trump Administration in Washington. Commissioner Doug Little announced Wednesday that he has accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Energy and will step down Sept. 29. Little is one of ..
Duke Energy Announces Estimated Power Restoration Times for Florida
Duke Energy has announced the following power restoration times for specific areas in Florida following the damage from Hurricane Irma: By midnight Friday, Sept. 15: The western portion of its service area. This includes Pinellas and Pasco counties By midnight Sunday, Sept. 17: centr..
Study: Gas Utility Customer Satisfaction Improves for Sixth Straight Year
J.D. Power has released its 2017 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study,SM, which shows customer satisfaction has increased for the sixth consecutive year on a nationwide basis. “The residential gas utility industry has committed significant resources to customer engagement..
Water Utility Asks Ratepayers to Refrain from Water Usage
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A water utility in Vermont’s Chittenden County says it is asking customers to refrain from using water for most of the day this Wednesday. The conservation notice is from Champlain Water District, and lasts from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Burlington Free Press repo..
Vermont Utility Sending 30 Workers for Irma Recovery
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont’s largest electric utility is sending 30 line workers and others to Georgia to help with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. Green Mountain Power’s Kristin Carlson says 30 line workers, supervisors and mechanics who left Tuesday will help restore power to some of the est..
More Michigan Utility Crews Joining Irma Restoration Effort
JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — More utility crews from Michigan are heading to help assist with power restorations following Hurricane Irma. Consumers Energy says it is sending an additional 130 employees and contractors Wednesday to help restore power in Georgia. Crews are leaving from Jackson for the Atla..
Water Service Slowly Returning to Florida Keys
MIAMI (AP) — Monroe County officials say water service is slowly being restored to the Florida Keys. County officials said in said in a Facebook update Wednesday: “MORE WATER IS COMING” Water would be turned on for two-hour spurts Wednesday morning and evening in Key West, but officials ..
Utility Says Florida's East Coast Could Have Power by Sunday; Other Areas to Take 10 Days or More
MIAMI (AP) — Florida’s largest utility says much of the state’s east coast could have power back by Sunday, but other areas could take 10 days or more. Rob Gould, vice president and chief communications officer for Florida Power & Light, said Tuesday that the utility expects to have power on for mo..
House, EPA Move To Address Water Infrastructure
Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress took steps to address additional funding for water infrastructure projects. A House committee unanimously passed a bill on July 29 which would raise the authorization ceiling on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and make some..
ASCE Publishes Books For Underground Infrastructure
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has published three new technical books related to underground infrastructure construction and rehabilitation. They can be purchased online by visiting “Publications” at asce.org. Standard Practice for Direct Design of Precast Concrete Pipe for Jacking..
TWDB Approves $1+ Billion For Improvement Projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved more than $1 billion in financial assistance from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program to be distributed to 10 project sponsors across the state. The projects, all recommended in the 2017 State Water Plan, include water line..
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- Hudson Tunnel Project set to generate 95,000 jobs during construction phase, report says
- Charleston Water System settles huge lawsuit over sewer system damage caused by non-flushable wipes
- Boring machine 'Chessie' resumes drilling at Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel site after anchor incident
- Aegion continues western expansion with acquisition of underground utilities company Toncco
- Ditch Witch 1030
- 24th Annual Directional Drilling Survey
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- House passes Rep. Duarte's legislation to streamline water permitting processes in the Valley
- Court approves 3M settlement over ‘forever chemicals’ in public drinking water systems