Utility Infrastructure
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..
Stanford Researchers Create ‘Living Map’ Of Innovative Water Financing
A team of Stanford researchers has created the “Living Map” to showcase successful, innovative water financing projects across the country. Presented as case studies, the examples cover a wide variety of mechanisms and are designed to be implemented at various scales. “We need a new playbook that e..
Major Infrastructure Events, UCT and ICUEE
In this issue, we preview two major underground infrastructure industry events, ICUEE and UCT. The International Construction & Utility Equipment Exhibition is a bi-annual event held in Louisville, KY. This year’s show is scheduled for Oct. 3-5. ICUEE historically focuses on the below/above ground ..
Appalachian Power Sending Hundreds to Florida, Georgia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Appalachian Power says it’s sending hundreds of employees and contract workers to Florida and Georgia to help areas affected by Hurricane Irma. The utility says more than 120 employees are departing Tuesday for Georgia, and more than 260 employees and contract workers will ..
Dominion Energy Mobilizes More than 700 Workers to Assist With Irma Restoration Efforts
Dominion Energy today announced it is mobilizing more than 700 employees and contractors to respond to what is likely to be one of the largest electric industry restoration efforts in United States history after Hurricane Irma devastated Florida and left millions without power. “We are making final..
Duke Energy Ramps Up Power Restoration, Damage Assessment Efforts in Florida
Duke Energy today announced that it has mobilized more than 9,000 workers and additional personnel to respond to power outages and assess damage left in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Florida. According to the company, Duke Energy outages totaled 1.2 million in Florida, with nearly 100,000 cust..
Hundreds of Illinois Utility Workers to Help After Irma
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Ameren Illinois officials say that more than 200 employees and contract workers are on their way to help with recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma. The storm struck Florida over the weekend and more than 7 million homes and businesses were without power in several states. ..
EPA Grants Pollution Waiver to Florida Utilities After Irma
WASHINGTON (AP) — State and federal environmental regulators issued a blanket waiver on Monday for Florida electricity companies to violate clean air and water standards without penalty for the next two weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency said the so-called No Action Assurance granted throug..
Study: Utility Customer Satisfaction Reaches All-Time High
Market Strategies International has published its latest Cogent Reports™study, Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential, which shows utility customer satisfaction in America is at an all-time high. According to the study, U.S. electric and natural gas utilities posted an average sc..
California Water Service Group Named Great Place to Work® for Second Consecutive Year
For the second year in a row, California Water Service Group, the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services, has been named a Great Place to Work® by the Great Place to Work® In..
Now a Tropical Storm, Irma Hits Florida with Wind, Flooding
TAMPA, Florida (AP) — A weakened but still dangerous Irma pushed inland Monday as it hammered Florida with winds and floodwaters that created hazards even for rescuers trying to help beleaguered residents. Irma was downgraded to a tropical storm over Florida, but it still had winds near hurricane f..
Orange County Water District Awarded Grant to Improve Water Quality
The Orange County Water District (OCWD), in a partnership with the University of Maryland and CosmosID, Inc., has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will aid the water industry in its continued effort to improve water quality. The $100k award will be used to apply metagenomics, ..
PG&E Crews Head to Florida in Advance of Hurricane Irma
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced it is sending crews to Florida help restore power to those impacted by Hurricane Irma. About 125 PG&E employees, including line workers, equipment operators, supervisors and support personnel, throughout PG&E’s 70,000-square-mile service area ..
FirstEnergy Crews Mobilize to Assist with Hurricane Irma Restoration Efforts
FirstEnergy Corp. today announced it will send nearly 900 linemen, damage assessors, electrical contractors, forestry crews and support personnel to help utilities in Florida with restoration efforts following expected power outages from Hurricane Irma. The crews are scheduled to leave ..
Kentucky Sending Hurricane-Relief Workers South
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is sending National Guard soldiers and utility workers to help in areas affected by Hurricane Irma. The Kentucky Air National Guard says it is sending about 25 soldiers to the Caribbean to help with search and rescue efforts in the wake of the Category 5 storm...
Tidewater Utilities Selected to Create Delaware's First Non-Profit Utility
U.S. Senator Tom Carper joined representatives from USDA, DNREC, Clean Water Solutions and Tidewater Utilities recently to announce federal funding to support the needs of small, aging rural community wastewater systems in Delaware. The announcement was made in a press conference held at the Country..
- Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
- Explosion in underground PG&E vault leaves one dead in Richmond, Calif.
- Sinkhole in Texas town accrues over $800,000 in sewer rehabilitation costs
- Water and Sewer Damage Awareness Week highlights infrastructure challenges
- Duke Energy undergrounds 48% of Florida power lines with plans to expand as hurricane season peaks
- 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
- New Portable Welding System From Miller
- GasTracker Accurately Locates Plastic Gas Pipes