Utility Infrastructure
Eversource Energy Acquires Aquarion Water Company
In an acquisition that will combine New England’s largest energy company with the region’s largest private water company, Eversource Energy has reached an agreement to acquire Aquarion Water Company for an enterprise value of $1.675 billion, comprised of $880 million in cash and $795 million of assu..
Construction Error Dumps up to 1,000 Gallons of Raw Sewage
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Construction in Vermont’s capital city hit a snag over the weekend after utility workers drilled into a sewer line Friday, dumping hundreds of gallons of raw sewage into the Winooski River. A Montpelier Public Works spokesman says the leak wasn’t discovered until Saturd..
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 ..
Carbon Emissions Rule in Washington State Under Fire
SEATTLE (AP) — Even as the Trump administration seeks to roll back Obama-era rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants, Washington state is forging ahead with its own rules to cap carbon pollution from big industrial facilities. But the state faces legal challenges as ..
Missouri Senate Committee Advances Utilities Rate Proposal
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ameren Missouri customers wouldn’t likely see a significant increase in their monthly electricity bills under a proposal allowing manufacturers that use a lot of electricity to negotiate lower rates, according to a Missouri Public Service Commission staff analysis presen..
Report: M&A Appetite Hits Seven-Year High in Power and Utilities Sector
Fifty-nine percent of power and utilities executive respondents expect to actively pursue an acquisition in the next 12 months, according to the latest biannual EY Power & Utilities Capital Confidence Barometer. That demonstrates a 12% increase in M&A appetite since the last Barometer (47%), and..
GridLiance Hires Utility Industry Veteran as VP of Corporate Development
GridLiance, the nation’s first independent transmission company primarily focused on working with Public Power, has named utility-industry veteran Kevin Donnelly as vice president of Corporate Development. Donnelly joins GridLiance with more than 20 years of utility industry experience, including i..
Infrastructure Upgrades Help Virginia American Water Receive Rate Increase
Following a 19-month review, the Virginia State Corporation Commission has issued an order that approves new rates for Virginia American Water. The new rates are for the company’s 60,000 drinking water and 20,000 wastewater customers in the City of Alexandria, the City of Hopewell, a portion of Prin..
Missouri House Passes Proposal for Lower Electric Rates
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House on Wednesday advanced a bill that would allow manufacturing companies to negotiate lower electricity rates than currently allowed, a measure supporters say could bring hundreds of jobs to the southeastern corner of the state but critics argue would raise..
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..
PSE&G CEO Calls for Regulatory Changes in New Jersey
Ralph Izzo, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Public Service Enterprise Group, today called for a set of regulatory reforms in New Jersey that would establish financial incentives for utilities to help their customers reduce at-home energy use, as well as expand access to renewable ..
PG&E Named One of the Best Employers for Veterans
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has been named as one of the best employers for veterans by Military Times. This is the second consecutive year the company has made the “Best for Vets: Employers” list in the ranking’s eight-year history. The survey, conducted by the publishers of the Army Times, N..
Global Water Resources Acquires Eagletail Water Company
Global Water Resources, Inc. has acquired Eagletail Water Company, a small water utility located west of metropolitan Phoenix. The transaction adds approximately 50 active water connections and six square miles of approved service area to Global Water’s existing regional service footprint. The acqu..
Corporation Commission Rejects Utilities' Plea for More Time
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission won’t allow Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy extra time to renegotiate a new merger. After the commission in April rejected the proposed merger, the two companies filed a petition asking for extra time to revise the deal to meet commi..
Missouri Lawmakers to Discuss Utilities Bills
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri House committee on Tuesday will begin considering legislation that Gov. Eric Greitens and supporters have called a job creator, but that critics call a veiled attempt to make it easier for investor-owned utilities companies to raise rates. The proposal allows s..
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..
Missouri American Water Acquires Water, Wastewater Systems
Missouri American Water has acquired the Wardsville water and wastewater systems for $2.75 million. Customers in Wardsville, located just south of Jefferson City, will have their meters changed beginning today and should receive their first invoice from Missouri American Water the week of June 26. ..
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..
Pennsylvania American Water Files Request to Replace Lead Service Lines
Pennsylvania American Water has filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking permission to replace customer-owned lead service lines when removing company-owned lead service lines – and to bear the full cost of replacement. Pennsylvania American Water’s proposal allots $6 ..
New York American Water Rate Increase Approved
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved new rates for New York American Water, effective June 1, 2017. The PSC’s rate order reflects an annual revenue increase of $3.6 million for New York American Water’s service areas in Long Island and the Hudson Valley after a 13-month review o..
Tidewater Utilities Employees Honored
Tidewater Utilities, Inc.’s water and wastewater operators were recognized for their outstanding performances at a Delaware Technical and Community College ceremony earlier this month. The ceremony recognized deserving water and wastewater operators, on-site professionals, and the role they played ..
Illinois Owes $3.5 Million in Utility Bills
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The state is again racking up unpaid utility bills for its Springfield offices as Illinois nears two years without a full budget. Illinois owes about $3.5 million in past-due payments to City Water, Light and Power, City Water, Light and Power spokeswoman Amber Sabin ..
American Water Charitable Foundation Announces Funding and Support for Water Policy Network
The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created by American Water, today announced support for the recently created National Governors Association Centers for Best Practices Water Policy Learning Network. This unique partnership between the NGA and other partners l..
Report: Growing NatGas Supply Leads to More Pipeline Construction
ScottMadden, Inc. has released its spring Energy Industry Update, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” focusing on trends in the natural gas industry, such as infrastructure development and price risk management. According to the report, natural gas prices remain low across..
FirstEnergy Receives Tree Care Award for 19th Consecutive Year
The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, has recognized FirstEnergy as a Tree Line USA utility for the 19th consecutive year. The award recognizes investor-owned and public utility companies – electric, gas and water – that promote the ..
Illinois American Water Announces Changes in Southern Illinois Leadership Team
Illinois American Water has promoted Karen Cooper to senior manager of field services and production for the company’s Southern Division serving the Metro East, Alton, Cairo and Hardin County service areas. Cooper, who previously served as operations superintendent for the Alton District service ar..
AWWA 2017 American Water Scholarship Awarded
American Water today announced that Alma Beciragic, a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been chosen as the recipient of the American Water Works Association 2017 American Water Scholarship. The scholarship is an annual award of $5,000 presented to a graduate le..
Lawsuit: Georgia City Illegally Restricts Utilities Access
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia city’s policies illegally restrict access to utility services, and those policies disproportionately affect black and Latino residents, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday. The lawsuit against LaGrange says the city, which is the only provider of basic utilities, ..
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