Business
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..
CMS Energy and Consumers Energy CFO to Retire, Successor Named
CMS Energy and Consumers Energy Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Thomas (Tom) J. Webb has been reassigned to the position of Vice Chairman and will retire, effective Nov. 1, 2017. Webb served in the CFO role since joining the company in 2002. For the past 15 years, he helped..
California Utility to Use Echologics Leak Detection Technology
San Jose Water Company has selected Echologics’ EchoShore®-DX leak detection technology to continuously monitor its pipeline network to help the utility measure and reduce water loss. “This is truly a game-changing smart technology that will become a critical part of our water loss control program ..
Water Pipeline Project Receives Financing
Cadiz Inc. has entered into a strategic transaction with Apollo Global Management, LLC to initiate financial arrangements for the construction and implementation of the Cadiz Water Project. Under the terms of the transaction, Cadiz’s senior secured mortgage debt will be replaced and refinanced and $..
Gulf Publishing Company Acquires 109-Year-Old Oildom Publishing
Creates Largest Energy Media Company Serving Upstream, Midstream, Downstream Sectors Gulf Publishing Company announced today the acquisition of Oildom Publishing Company of Texas, Inc. to create the world’s largest independent media company devoted exclusively to the international energy industry. ..
Plastics Firm to Pay for Water Design Work in Vermont Town
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A plastics company that once used a chemical that has been found in local private water systems is going to repay the state of Vermont about $760,000 for engineering studies of extending municipal waterlines to affected homes in Bennington and North Bennington. The chemical P..
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..
FERC Member Won't Pursue Another Term
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the two remaining members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says she will not seek a second term, a move that could leave the five-member panel with a single commissioner and further hobble its ability to make decisions. Democrat Colette Honorable said Friday ..
West Virginia American Water to Pay $126 Million Over Chemical Spill
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Residential customers and small businesses could receive thousands of dollars under a proposed settlement with the companies sued for a chemical spill and resulting water crisis in West Virginia’s capital area three years ago. If the federal court approves, the settlement f..
California American Water to Acquire Fruitridge Vista Water Company
California American Water has entered into an agreement to acquire the operating assets of the Fruitridge Vista Water Company for $20.75 million. Fruitridge Vista is a family owned Class B Water Utility in south Sacramento County and is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Fruit..
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..
Hydro One Begins Search for New CFO
Hydro One Limited today announced that Michael Vels, Chief Financial Officer, will be leaving the company effective May 19, 2017 to assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Empire and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. “We appreciate Michael’s many con..
Google Fiber Prepares to Start Construction in Louisville
Google Fiber today announced it will soon file its first permit for building its network in Louisville. The network construction will be done in phases, which will allow a more efficient build and reduce disruption. “Many have eagerly waited to hear these words: Google Fiber is coming to Louisville..
NW Natural Hires New CFO
NW Natural has hired Frank Burkhartsmeyer to serve as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer, effective May 17, 2017. Burkhartsmeyer comes to NW Natural from Avangrid Renewables where he served as president and CEO. Previously, he was senior vice president of Finance at Iberdrola Renewables US. ..
Industry Leaders Launch Fiber Optic Sensing Association
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association, the nation’s first trade association dedicated to fiber optic sensing, launched today with a focus on educating industry, government and the public on the benefits of this cutting-edge technology. The organization was formed with the mission to provide great..
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 ..
Utility to Put Sewer Biogas in Pipeline
NW Natural has agreed to work with the City of Portland to put renewable natural gas converted from the city’s largest wastewater treatment plant on its pipeline and into vehicles. In a vote yesterday, the Portland City Council authorized the construction of a RNG production facility at the Columbi..
Aqua Pennsylvania to Spend $300 Million on Infrastructure Upgrades
Aqua Pennsylvania today announced the company will make $292 million in infrastructure improvements in the state throughout 2017, after completing $234 million of similar projects in 2016. Multiple projects will take place in several areas across the state to improve customers’ water and wastewater ..
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..
Utility to Use Recycled Sewer Biogas in Natural Gas Pipelines
HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu officials say they are moving forward with plans to sell biogas produced at the city’s sewage plant to Hawaii Gas Co. The gas company says it plans to spend about $5 million on equipment to clean the sewage plant’s biogas before adding it into their pipelines. It also wants..
Xylem Builds Emergency Sewer Bypass in Record Time
Xylem today announced that the company recently designed and built a major emergency sewer bypass in Memphis, Tennessee in just six days. During spring 2016, sixteen inches of rain fell on the city, half of which fell during two days. This unprecedented rainfall eroded the soil supporting a 96-inch..
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 ..
PLCAC Works To Promote Industry
The Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada (PLCAC) and its members generally had a good, solid year in 2016, believes the association’s President Neil K. Waugh. The PLCAC represents pipeline contractor members in labor relations with the four craft unions (whose members are involved in pipelin..
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..
PECO Welcomes 12 New Apprentice Mechanics
PECO today announced they have welcomed 12 new apprentice mechanics to the company’s field force following their graduation from a comprehensive natural gas training program. The new apprentices will join the utility’s front lines – helping to ensure safe and reliable natural gas service for more th..
Woolpert Chosen to Design Sewer Rehabilitation Project
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District has selected Woolpert to provide study, design and administration services for a project to rehabilitate about one mile of sanitary sewer infrastructure in Newport News, Va. The project includes 4,800 linear feet of gravity sewer pipeline and associated manhole..
Digging Safely Starts With A Call To 811
Whether you are a professional excavator, contractor, engineer or utility owner, you play an important role in keeping people safe with every dig. Laws governing excavation vary by state, and they can be confusing. Answering the question, “Do I have to call 811?” can be difficult if you don’t unders..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds