Electric
Swiss ABB to Buy Unit from General Electric for $2.6 Billion
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss robotics and industrial machinery maker ABB is buying the electrification services unit of U.S. conglomerate General Electric in a deal valued at $2.6 billion, boosting its presence in its crucial North American market. The deal between ABB, which provides high-tech equipment fo..
Companies Set Subsea Industry Benchmark for Fiber Optic Cable Capacity Reach
Infinera and Seaborn Networks have completed a successful subsea field trial demonstrating the industry’s highest spectral efficiency on an ultra-long-haul subsea cable. The 8QAM trial demonstrated 4.5 bits per second per hertz on Seaborn’s Seabras-1 cable, with a distance of more than 10,500 kilome..
Report: Global CIPP Market to Reach Nearly $2.5 Million by 2022
According to a new report from Stratview Research, the global Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) market is projected to reach $2,486.5 million in 2022. Reasons for the expected growth include: Aging potable and sewage water infrastructure Increased spending by municipalities and utilities on rehabilita..
Report: Fiberglass Pipe Market to Exceed $6 Billion by 2025
The global fiberglass pipes market is expected to grow to $6.19 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Reasons for the projected growth include: Robust growth in Asia Pacific’s shipping industry Increasing demand from the oil & gas, chemicals and irrigation indu..
Pipe Restoration Technologies Awarded Lead Pipes Patent
Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC, makers of the ePIPE®, Lead-Free, Leak-Free™ and LeadSmart® product lines, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patent #9764354. This patent is related to the ePIPE system of in-place pipe restoration which reduces lead leaching from underground water serv..
Indiana Regulators OK Vectren's Grid Upgrade, Rate Increases
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Indiana utility regulators have approved Vectren Corp.’s seven-year plan to upgrade its electrical grid and pass those costs onto its customers through rate increases. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the Evansville-based utility’s plan Wednesday. The grid ..
Power Back on in Florida, but Utilities Still Under Fire
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — After a massive restoration effort, most of Florida has power 10 days after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to nearly two-thirds of the state, mostly because of improvements made to the power grid since Hurricane Wilma 12 years ago. But that may do little to stem a g..
Utility Achieves Methane Capture Milestone
SmSouthern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the company has passed the one million cubic foot mark in its ongoing methane capture initiative. This innovative process allows for gas that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere during pipeline replacement work to be saved and reinject..
90% of Power Outages Restored in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are still without power more than a week after Hurricane Irma slammed into the state. The state’s emergency management division reported Monday that more than 407,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity. That’s nearly 4 per..
Furukawa Electric to Expand Fiber Optic Cable Production Capacity
Furukawa Electric Company today announced plans to nearly double its 2016 fiber optic manufacturing capacity by 2019 and to also increase its fiber optic cable manufacturing capacity. Between 2014 and 2016, the company increased its global fiber production capacity by 20% and initially planned ..
Hydro One and Avista File Applications for Regulatory Approval of Merger
Hydro One Limited and Avista Corporation have filed Applications requesting regulatory approval of the proposed merger of the two companies that was announced on July 19, 2017. The applications have been filed with state utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska, as w..
Water Technology Program Now Accepting Applications
Pipeline H2O announced it is now accepting applications for the 2018 class. Supported by a coalition of regional cities, utilities, universities, and startup organizations, Pipeline H2O is looking for companies working on water technologies that solve various aspects of the world’s water issues such..
Cross Bore Analysis Review of Best Practices And Changing Trenchless Market
Since the first cross bore discovery in Kenosha, WI, in 1976, investor-owned utilities and municipalities have completed substantial research and discovery into cross bore prevention, trenchless construction innovation and safety awareness. As trenchless technology has improved, the ability of the c..
Arcadis Acquires E2 ManageTech
Arcadis, the leading global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, has acquired enterprise technology solutions firm E2 ManageTech, which provides information technology and business services for the environmental, health and safety (EHS) information market. “Our clients around t..
$26 Million Construction Contract Awarded in Texas
Sterling Construction Company, Inc’s subsidiary, Texas Sterling Construction Co., has been awarded a $26.6 million construction contract for the City of Frisco Main Street project in Frisco, Texas. The City of Frisco Main Street project includes widening a three mile section of Main Street from FM 4..
Axalta Unveils Latest Addition to Internal Pipe Coatings Portfolio
Axalta Coating Systems has released the Nap-Gard 7-0015 Tan Internal FBE, a thermosetting epoxy powder designed to pass Saudi Aramco’s 09-SAMSS-091 (2011) specification that delivers high adhesion properties to effectively protect pipelines subject to H2S, CO2 and CH4 exposure. “Axalta is excited t..
Now a Tropical Storm, Irma Hits Florida with Wind, Flooding
TAMPA, Florida (AP) — A weakened but still dangerous Irma pushed inland Monday as it hammered Florida with winds and floodwaters that created hazards even for rescuers trying to help beleaguered residents. Irma was downgraded to a tropical storm over Florida, but it still had winds near hurricane f..
Orange County Water District Awarded Grant to Improve Water Quality
The Orange County Water District (OCWD), in a partnership with the University of Maryland and CosmosID, Inc., has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will aid the water industry in its continued effort to improve water quality. The $100k award will be used to apply metagenomics, ..
OFS Expands the AccuRibbon® DC Fiber Optic Cable Family
OFS announced it has expanded the AccuRibbon® DC Fiber Optic Cable product family to include fiber counts up to 864. These gel-free ribbon cables will be available in dielectric and metallic/armored versions. Currently, AccuRibbon DC cables are only offered in fiber counts up to 432. OF..
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Approves Sempra Energy-Oncor Merger Agreement
Sempra Energy today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved the merger agreement that Energy Future Holdings Corp. (Energy Future) entered into with Sempra Energy on Aug. 21, 2017. This approval is an important step in Sempra Energy’s proposal to acquir..
Patent Awarded for “In-place” Coating to Protect Pipes Against Water Loss Due to Leaks
Pipe Restoration Technologies, LLC has been granted U.S. patent #9744561. This patent is related to the ePIPE system of in-place pipe restoration, which provides protection to underground pipes against leaks and harmful lead and copper leaching. “ePIPE is providing superior solutions in response to..
American Water Resources Collaborates with Dispatch to Improve the Customer Repair Experience
American Water Resources has entered into an agreement with Dispatch to help deliver faster service when customers need repairs on their water and sewer service lines, in-home plumbing, and other home services covered under American Water Resources protection plans. Dispatch is an enterprise custom..
Ditch Witch, Utilicor Join Forces to Simplify Utility Repairs
Ditch Witch®, a Charles Machine Works Company, has partnered with Utilicor Technologies, Inc. to bring the benefits of advanced keyhole technology and reinstatement to contractors, municipalities and utilities globally. Due to the partnership, utility contractors will now be able to operate a nimbl..
NASSCO: Purdue's CIPP Report Flawed
The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has released its response to the Purdue University study, Worksite Chemical Air Emissions and Worker Exposure during Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Pipe Rehabilitation Using Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP), published July 26, 2017 in the Environ..
Drones to Detect Power Outages in Illinois
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — An electrical and natural-gas service company in central Illinois is using a fleet of drones to detect power outages, inspect power lines and poles and plan for construction projects. The News-Gazette reports that Ameren Illinois officials demonstrated the drones Tuesday in Urba..
SoCalGas Streamlines Processes to Support Renewable Gas Projects
Southern California Gas Co. has announced new initiatives that will make it easier for renewable gas production facilities to connect to the company’s natural gas pipeline system. First is the creation of a downloadable toolkit to help renewable gas producers and developers who are interested in in..
Juneau Utility's New Owners Say Company Not for Sale
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The company buying Alaska Electric Light & Power Company’s parent corporation said in a letter it is not interested in selling Juneau’s electric utility any time soon. KTOO.org reports (http://bit.ly/2xs20Gw ) Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt wrote a letter to the City and Bor..
Kansas City Selects Electro Scan Technology to Assess Sewer Mains
The City of Kansas City, Missouri has selected Electro Scan’s Next Generation leak detection technology for condition assessment of 15-inch and smaller diameter sewer mains as part of a pilot project. The partnership with Electro Scan will include the assessment of 100 pipe segments with an approxim..
Sempra Energy Bids $9.45B for Oncor, Topping Buffett Offer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Sempra Energy is buying Texas power transmitter Oncor for $9.45 billion in cash, wresting it away from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Sempra said Monday that it will also pick up $9.35 billion of the company’s debt. To gain possession of Oncor, Sempra will acquire the reorgan..
Buffett's Firm Maintains $9 Billion Bid for Oncor
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company is maintaining its $9 billion bid for Texas power transmitter Oncor despite competition from a private equity fund. Greg Abel, who leads Iowa-based Berkshire Hathaway Energy, said he doesn’t plan to increase the offer for Oncor, which serves about 10 mill..
- 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
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- 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