Utility Infrastructure
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. ..
Mississippi Regulator Links to Utility Employment Pages
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The agency that regulates Mississippi utilities says people looking for work can now go to its website for links to dozens of utilities’ employment pages. Public Service Commissioner Cecil Brown says every community in the state needs well-qualified utility workers, and ..
New Mexico Electric Utility Agrees to Settle Rate Dispute
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest electric provider has reached a settlement with regulators, the state attorney general and others over a rate increase scheduled to take effect next year. The parties said the proposed settlement was filed Friday with the state Public Regulation Commiss..
Regulators Seek More Utility Work for Mississippi Companies
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi regulators want utilities to do more to hire companies based in the state, proposing an administrative rule that would require regulated private utilities to keep lists of interested companies and notify them of contracting opportunities. The Public Service Commiss..
Kansas Regulators Asked to Reconsider Rejection of Utility Sale
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas regulators are being asked to reconsider their rejection of the proposed sale of the state’s largest electric company to a Missouri firm. Kansas City, Missouri-based Great Plains Energy Inc. and Topeka-based Westar Energy Inc. announced Thursday that they made the r..
AGA Honors Utilities for Commitment to Safety
The American Gas Association today recognized natural gas utilities and transmission companies for their outstanding commitment to safety. During AGA’s annual Operations Conference in Orlando, FL, 21 AGA member companies received the 2016 Safety Achievement Awards for notable performance in worker s..
Oklahoma Utility Seeks Approval to Raise Rates
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – An Oklahoma City-based utilities company is asking the Arkansas Public Service Commission to approve a settlement in its case to change rates. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2p95PMY ) reports the settlement, reached last month, allows Oklahoma Gas and Electric..
Colorado Bill Would Help Utilities Produce and Store More Gas
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado Senate committee on Wednesday passed a bill to save a state energy agency from extinction — but with caveats that would drastically reduce the agency’s renewable energy portfolio and make it easier for some utilities to produce and stockpile natural gas. The latter provisio..
$850,000 Stolen from Rural Water Association in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former office manager is accused of siphoning some $850,000 from a rural drinking water system that serves thousands of people in southeastern New Mexico, the state auditor’s office said Tuesday. State Auditor Tim Keller confirmed that his office has forwarded information..
Water Utility Seeks Proposals for Energy Storage Project
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on Thursday authorized the water authority, in conjunction with the City of San Diego, to begin seeking detailed proposals for the San Vicente Energy Storage Project. The San Vicente Energy Storage Project includes the construction of an energ..
Consumers Energy Opens New Employee Training Center
Officials from Consumers Energy and Grand Valley State University today celebrated the opening of the John G. Russell Leadership Center on the school’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, which will train the next generation of leaders for the energy provider. “Consumers Energy has a 130-year history..
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..
Gunman kills 2 Laclede Gas Utility Workers, Turns Gun on Self
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A gunman opened fire on two utility workers in a residential St. Louis neighborhood Thursday, killing both of them before fatally shooting himself. The shooting happened around 11:15 a.m. on the western edge of the city. Police say the gunman walked up to the two male workers for L..
Kansas Regulators Reject $12.2B Utility Merger
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas regulators on Wednesday rejected the proposed sale of the state’s largest electric company to a Missouri firm, concluding that the $12.2 billion price was too high and would leave the combined utility financially weaker than the separate companies. The Kansas Corporation ..
40 U.S. Utilities Recognized for Environmental Excellence
40 U.S. utilities have been recognized as 2017 Environmental Champions by Market Strategies International’s Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential, a nationwide study of nearly 58,000 customers among 130 of the largest residential gas and electric utility providers. The study scor..
Report: 17 States Invest in Water Reuse as a Long-Term Supply Strategy
Traditional water supplies are no longer a certainty for many municipal water utilities across the U.S., sparking a wave of investment in water reuse and desalination projects exceeding $18 billion. A critical driver to their adoption are demonstrated cost declines and competitiveness with more trad..
Utility: Old Power Lines Under Lake Champlain to be Replaced
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) —The Vermont Electric Power Company, which distributes electricity across the state, says construction is due to begin this week to replace power lines that run beneath Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York. The cables are part of VELCO’s Plattsburgh-to-Vermont line that ..
Texas Electric Regulators Nix $18B Oncor Sale
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas regulators have rejected the proposed more than $18 billion sale of Dallas-based Oncor Electric Delivery Co. to NextEra Energy Inc. The three-member Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday unanimously declined to accept the agreement as being in the public interest..
Budgets For EPA Water Infrastructure Grants Endangered
President Trump’s intention to drastically cut the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other departments and agencies, could have a major impact on the agency’s two key water infrastructure programs, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs). Early leaks of..
Utility & Communications Construction Business Update
EDITOR’S NOTE: The past 25 years has seen many changes in the underground utilities universe. Technology advances, regulatory activity and environmental requirements have dictated major alterations in the way companies are managed. Rating as one of the foremost changes is the evolution of the busine..
Utility Worker Saves Man's Life
NEW YORK (AP) — A utility worker is being credited with saving a man who fell onto a New York City subway track just before a train pulled into the station. Cellphone video taken by a Seattle teenager shows Jonathan Kulig, of Queens, picking up a young man who had fallen off a Manhattan station’s p..
American Water Acquires Shorelands Water Company
American Water has completed its acquisition of the Shorelands Water Company, a privately owned water utility that provides water services to more than 11,000 customers in Monmouth County, N.J. The acquisition was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on March 24, 2017. The purchased ..
Underground infrastructure Remains A Ghost In The Politics Of Infrastructure Stimulus Discussions
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief I’ve been waiting patiently. Listening intently, viewing all the footage, reading the reports and still I’m not seeing it. There has been virtually no mention of underground infrastructure in any of the coverage and discussions of the pending infrastructure stim..
Illinois American Water Employees Honored
Two Illinois American Water employees were recognized for their construction and safety efforts at the 30th Annual Peoria Area Labor Management Council and Tri-County Construction Labor Management Council award banquet on March 28, 2017. Roger Goodson, Illinois American Water’s senior manager of fi..
Illinois American Water Acquires Water System
Illinois American Water has officially acquired the Village of Sadorus water system, which will be incorporated into the company’s Champaign County District. The Village of Sadorus Board voted in favor of the sale in April 2016 and the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the sale for $240,000 on ..
Iowa Utility Regulator Confirmation Delayed
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate delayed the confirmation of Geri Huser as the Iowa Utilities Board chairwoman after The Associated Press reported on her extensive private legal work, lawmakers said Wednesday. The Senate commerce committee had been scheduled Tuesday to consider Huser’s appoin..
Utility Leaders Elevate Water Infrastructure at AWWA Event on Capitol Hill
More than 140 water utility leaders from throughout the United States embarked on 352 meetings with members of Congress this week to elevate the importance of investing in water infrastructure. The utility leaders were part of the American Water Works Association’s Water Matters! Fly-In, an annual ..
Study Shows How U.S. Utilities Can Help Improve Water Resources
In recognition of UN World Water Day, Barclays Bank PLC and the Columbia Water Center have released the second report of the Impact Series from the Barclays Social Innovation Facility. Titled The water challenge: preserving a global resource, the report explores the extent of the water challenge and..
Utilities Advocate for Investment in Water Reuse Infrastructure
WateReuse members from across the United States arrived in Washington, DC today to elevate water as national priority during the National Water Policy Fly-In, a highlight of Water Week 2017. WateReuse is participating with other water sector organizations to deliver a clear, consistent and unified m..
March 2017 Business News
RDO Vermeer RDO Vermeer, part of the RDO Equipment Co. network of heavy equipment dealerships, received five awards from Vermeer including top honors, the Pinnacle Dealer Award, which recognizes talents in sales and aftermarket support. Award criterion include dealer metrics, such as parts, service..
- 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