Electric
Sen. King urges FERC to reject $67 billion NextEra-Dominion merger
Sen. Angus King is urging FERC to reject NextEra Energy's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy, arguing the merger would concentrate too much market power and reduce competition in U.S. electricity markets.
Study projects $1 trillion needed for U.S. energy infrastructure by 2052
A new industry-backed study estimates the United States will require more than $1 trillion in new midstream energy infrastructure by 2052, including thousands of miles of pipelines to meet rising demand.
Malibu begins underground power line project to reduce wildfire risk
Southern California Edison has begun undergrounding power lines in Malibu as part of a wildfire mitigation and grid reliability initiative expected to continue through 2027.
Nashville weighs underground power line mandate for new developments
Nashville officials are considering a proposal that would require new developments with new streets to install underground power lines, aiming to improve reliability and reduce storm-related outages.
$6 billion Canada-New York underground power line enters service
A 339-mile underground and underwater transmission line linking Canada and New York City has entered service, delivering hydropower through what is considered North America's longest buried and submerged power cable system.
Austin launches downtown duct bank upgrade beneath Lady Bird Lake
Austin Energy has begun construction on the Waller Beach Duct Bank Upgrade, an underground electric infrastructure project designed to improve reliability and support growing power demand in downtown Austin.
Park City, Utah, undergrounding project moves forward with conduit installation
Park City’s transmission line undergrounding project is progressing in April 2026, with conduit installation underway along key corridors as part of a multi-phase utility upgrade.
New York PSC opens proceeding on grid upgrades tied to large-load projects
The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has opened a formal proceeding to review how large-load projects — including data centers — connect to the electric grid and how associated transmission and distribution upgrades are funded.
Altadena residents rebuilding after fire face new costs from undergrounding plan
Altadena residents say SoCal Edison’s wildfire mitigation plan to bury power lines is leaving homeowners with unexpected bills of up to $40,000, sparking backlash as rebuilding continues after the Eaton Fire.
Riverside, Calif., power reliability project advances with new underground transmission line
Riverside is advancing a major power reliability project that includes new underground transmission lines and substation upgrades to add a second connection to California’s electric grid.
New York City targets buried utility conflicts with high-security digital map
New York City is developing a secure, limited-access 3D map of underground utilities to reduce construction delays, cut costs and improve emergency response.
Dominion weighs underground option for Virginia 230-kV power line
Prince William County is pressing Dominion Energy to underground a proposed 230-kV transmission line, citing concerns with all overhead route options ahead of an SCC filing expected in 2026.
PUC cracks down on One Call violations tied to underground utilities
Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission issued more than $232,000 in penalties and education requirements tied to underground utility damage violations reviewed during its December enforcement meeting.
Dominion proposes 186-mile underground HVDC power line across Virginia
Virginia officials have backed Dominion Energy’s proposal for a 186-mile underground HVDC transmission line designed to boost electric capacity into Loudoun County as regional demand continues to surge.
New York approves buried power line for Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor facility
New York has approved a two-mile underground transmission line to connect National Grid’s Clay substation with Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor megafab in Onondaga County — a key step toward powering the largest private investment in state history.
Transmission shortfalls leave India’s renewables underutilized, IEEFA warns
India’s renewable energy boom is stalling as transmission projects fall behind. An IEEFA and JMK Research report warns more than 50 GW remain stranded due to grid delays, underutilized corridors, and slow expansion.
339-mile Quebec-to-NYC hydropower line enters last stage of construction
The Champlain Hudson Power Express, a 339-mile underground and underwater power line designed to deliver Canadian hydropower to New York City, has entered its final installation phase.
Sumitomo begins $546 million, 186-mile underground cable in Germany
Sumitomo Electric has started installing a $546 million, 186-mile HVDC underground cable for Germany’s Corridor A-Nord project, boosting renewable integration and grid reliability.
Grain Belt Express awards $1.7 billion contracts for U.S.’s largest transmission line
Grain Belt Express has awarded $1.7 billion in contracts to Quanta and Kiewit for the nation’s largest transmission project—an 800-mile HVDC line spanning four states. Construction is set to begin in 2026, creating thousands of jobs and boosting U.S. grid reliability.
PUC faces pressure to consider underground option in Texas power line fight
A yearslong fight over moving a high-voltage transmission line closer to homes in Driftwood, Texas, has reignited. Landowners say the PUC must step in, but the commission has delayed its decision again amid safety, cost and property rights concerns.
Norwalk, Conn., transmission lines relocated underground for CTDOT bridge upgrade
Eversource has moved two high-voltage transmission lines from Norwalk’s WALK Bridge to underground tunnels beneath the river, enabling the next phase of the bridge replacement and improving grid reliability.
Plan for single Americas energy network gains momentum amid political push
Plans are taking shape to link power grids across the Americas — a project that could span from Alaska to Patagonia and reshape the continent’s energy future. Political leaders are reviving interconnection efforts as renewable power surpluses in Latin America grow.
Centuri awarded $550 million in infrastructure contracts
North American utility infrastructure services company Centuri Holdings, Inc., today announced more than $550 million in new customer awards. The revenue value of the announced awards largely reflects a significant multi-year contract renewal for one of the largest regulated combination utilities in the U.S. with strategic expansion into adjacent territories, Centuri stated.
Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
Pasadena, Calif., may need 500 more years to complete its underground utility project, citing cost, complexity, and coordination delays.
Underground cable caused manhole explosion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., officials say
A manhole explosion in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York on Saturday, April 19 narrowly missed a grandmother walking with her two grandchildren, the Times Union reported. City officials noted the explosion was caused by an electrical fault in an underground cable, and was not related to natural gas systems.
Rosemead, Calif., utility to bury power lines in fire-hit Altadena, Malibu rebuild
Southern California Edison plans to underground over 150 circuit miles of power lines in Altadena and Malibu as part of a wildfire recovery effort, aiming to boost resilience and reduce future fire risks.
California fast-tracks underground utility rebuild after Los Angeles fires
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the rebuilding of critical underground utility systems in fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.
Editor’s Log: Old problems, redux
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter delves into the growing tension between fiber optic installations and aging underground infrastructure in Katy, Texas. As the city halts fiber projects over repeated water line strikes, Carpenter explores the broader implications for utility safety, contractor responsibility, and the need for better locating practices nationwide.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
Eversource breaks ground on nation’s largest underground electrical substation in Cambridge, Mass.
Eversource has begun construction on the nation’s largest underground electrical substation in Cambridge, Mass. The 35,000-square-foot facility, located 105 feet below a new public green space, will help meet growing electricity demand and upgrade grid reliability.
- Utility strike at center of Dallas explosion investigation
- Gas line strike destroys three homes in Ohio neighborhood
- $1 billion Ohio River Tunnel project awarded in Pittsburgh
- Buried utility damages hit record high in 2025, CGA reports
- Why excavation damage remains a major threat to Texas gas pipelines