Utility Infrastructure
Sewer District Awards $7.2 million for Infrastructure Improvements
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Trustees recently awarded $7.2 million to 12 communities as part of the agency’s newly-launched Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP). The MCIP assists communities with local infrastructure improvements — including new sewer infrastructure, repairs to..
Missouri Utilities Push Law Change to Address Infrastructure
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri utilities want lawmakers to pass a law to help them get money more quickly from customers to pay for infrastructure improvements. Ameren Missouri and other utilities told a panel of state senators Wednesday that a proposed bill to recover costs would enable moder..
Pennsylvania American Water Kicks Off Scholarship Program
Pennsylvania American Water is now accepting applications for its 2017 Stream of Learning Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance to high school seniors who are planning to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry. The program is designed to support outstanding students living..
Poisonous Manhole Fumes Claim Lives of 3 Utility Workers
KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Three underground utility workers have died while investigating a sewage backup. According to Monroe County spokeswoman Cammy Clark, one of the men working for the county’s contractor, Douglas N. Higgins, went down a drainage manhole Monday morning to investigate why a newly ..
Utility to Replace Aging Gas Pipelines in Ohio
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (AP) – Dominion East Ohio has announced plans to replace more than 15,000 feet of the utility’s aging gas pipelines in Cuyahoga Falls. The Akron Beacon Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2jxff50 ) the work will be split up into two projects totaling more than $3 million. The proje..
Houston Public Works Director Unveils Sewer, Water Plans
Dale Rudick, director of Houston’s Public Works and Engineering Division, discussed the department, current projects and its upcoming, five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) at the Dec. 7 luncheon meeting of the Underground Construction Technology Association Gulf Coast Chapter. As director, Rudi..
Henkels & McCoy Opens Midwest Pipeline Division Office
Henkels & McCoy Inc., a national utility infrastructure construction company, has opened a new Midwest Pipeline Division office in Monee, IL, providing the same services of all its Pipeline Divisions, with an emphasis on integrity management projects. “With boots on the ground in this important Mid..
Officials Probing After Several Manholes Explode in Massachusetts Town
BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) — An electricity distribution company is investigating a series of manhole explosions in Brockton. Officials say firefighters found six manhole covers had blown off their bases early Monday. Fire shot up from the ground. At least two businesses had to evacuate. National Grid s..
America Will Lose One-Third of its Electricity Generation Capacity Without More Infrastructure
A new report released by Consumer Energy Alliance found that rejecting pipeline infrastructure would remove almost one-third of U.S. electricity generation capacity by 2030, dangerously raising electric rates nationwide, especially for poverty-stricken households. The report, titled “Families, Comm..
Interior Gas Utility Board Approves Merger
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The board of directors for Interior Gas Utility has agreed to purchase Fairbanks Natural Gas from the state for more than $58 million. As part of the deal approved Tuesday, Interior Gas Utility would also get a processing plant in Point Mackenzie and transportation trucks. ..
Study Shows Feasibility of Large-Scale Regional Recycling Water Program
A new study has confirmed the feasibility of a proposed large-scale project to treat and purify wastewater and distribute it to groundwater basins across the region through a collaboration between the Metropolitan Water District and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. The conclusion of ..
SoCalGas to Use Fiber Optic Technology to Monitor Pipelines in Real Time
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) will be one of the first natural gas utilities in the United States to incorporate innovative fiber-optic cable technology to detect impacts and leaks along its transmission and high-pressure pipeline system. The technology uses fiber-optic strands to tran..
Eversource Files Appeal Over Gas Pipeline Capacity Agreement
Eversource has filed an appeal with the New Hampshire Supreme Court to overturn a regulatory decision on the company’s proposal to purchase natural gas pipeline capacity to be used to create electricity. The additional gas would be made available by the expansion of an existing pipeline and used to ..
Water Council Establishes ICE Institute Focused On Technology
The Water Council, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, launched a groundbreaking commercialization initiative that will match manufacturers, utilities and the agricultural industry with promising water and water-related technology research and innovations for advancement into the marketplace. The ICE (..
Houston To Build Massive Northeast Transmission Waterline
The city of Houston is building the 16.5-mile Northeast Transmission Waterline as part of its Surface Water Transmission Program (SWTP) to meet the region’s projected 2040 water demand. Ultimately, the waterline will provide up to 96 million gallons per day (MGD) to the city and 269 MGD to local wat..
New Year, New Hope For Underground Infrastructure
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief Despite assurances for several years now by the President that our country’s economy was in great shape, I never bought into that. There always seemed to be a dark cloud following our markets. The November presidential election proved that many people of the Un..
Colorado Governor Fills Public Utility Commission Vacancies
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has appointed two people to fill vacancies on the Public Utilities Commission after the sudden resignation of two members. The Pueblo Chieftain reports (http://bit.ly/2j8LgNc ) that Commissioner Glenn Vaad and former Chairman Joshua Epel have ste..
Company Increases Use of Drones to Inspect Electric Transmission Lines
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy is increasing the use of drones for such things as inspecting equipment, navigating remote areas and managing some emergencies, as the utility tries to improve safety and efficiency while also saving money, company officials said. Westar and Kansas State University..
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. Acquires the Empire District Electric Company
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. has announced that a subsidiary of Liberty Utilities Co., Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. wholly-owned regulated utility business, successfully completed its acquisition of the Empire District Electric Company for an aggregate purchase price of approximate..
Unique Bypass Pumping Solution Provides Significant Savings For Memphis
The city of Memphis, TN, like all major cities across the U.S., is faced with aging infrastructure that requires constant attention and proactive initiatives for upgrades and rehabilitation. In September 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environm..
Fitch Ratings: U.S. Water and Sewer Outlook Stable Despite Uncertain Regulatory Environment
Fitch Ratings has released the “2017 Outlook: Water and Sewer Sector.” According to the report, the 2017 rating for the municipal water and sewer sector is Stable. “Despite significant news this year related to lead water service lines in Flint, MI, the municipal water and sewer industry is otherwi..
Arizona Utility Regulator Wants Nuclear Energy to Count as Renewable
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona utility regulator has suggested that nuclear energy should count as a renewable power source, allowing it to compete with solar and wind. Environmental advocates don’t generally consider nuclear power plants renewable because the uranium that fuels them must be mined, repo..
Utility Business Customer Relationships Strengthen to Record Levels
Utilities have strengthened their relationships with their business customers to a record high score of 780 (on a 1000-point scale), according to Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Commercial, a Cogent Reports™ study from Market Strategies International published today. This is a signifi..
New Power Lines in Western U.S. Receive Federal Approval
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Two power line projects that won federal approval Tuesday will give a big capacity boost to the Western energy grid, including power for up to 1 million homes from what’s on track to become the biggest wind farm in the U.S. The TransWest Express project will help Califor..
Michigan Legislators Focus on Energy Laws
LANSING (AP) — With just days left in the two-year term, the Michigan Legislature may be inching toward votes on what is billed as a comprehensive rewrite of state energy laws — legislation that Gov. Rick Snyder has made clear is his highest priority. The bills, which have divided majority House ..
Study: Electric and Gas Utilities Post All-Time High Customer Satisfaction
According to the 2016 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential study from Market Strategies International, customers are satisfied with electric and natural gas utility service but don’t trust their advice or digital competency. Consumers also doubt the industry’s ability to keep tr..
Energy Company Plans to Close Michigan Nuclear Plant in 2018
COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — An energy company announced plans Thursday to permanently close the Palisades nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan in 2018, which could mean hundreds of job cuts for a major employer in the region if regulators approve the closure. New Orleans-based Entergy Cor..
Chairman of Colorado PUC Announces Resignation
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — The head of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has announced his resignation. The Pueblo Chieftain reports (http://bit.ly/2gCzQkc ) that Chairman Joshua Epel announced Tuesday that he will resign two years ahead of the end of his most recent term. His last day will be Jan..
New York Regulators Seek to Reform Energy Service Market
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York regulators are launching a comprehensive review of energy service companies, saying the competitive residential market created by utility deregulation hasn’t lived up to its promise. The Public Service Commission filed a notice Friday saying it will solicit sworn testim..
What Does Donald Trump's Election As President Of The United States Truly Mean?
By Robert Carpenter Editor-in-Chief That’s a common question being tossed around not only domestically, but internationally as well. There are endless considerations with not much more than a vague concept of an answer right now. From social issues to immigration to terrorism, Trump has spewed rhet..
- 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