Regulatory
Fiber Broadband Association Releases White Paper on Fiber and 5G
The Fiber Broadband Association has released a new white paper, “The Road to 5G is Paved with Fiber,” on the necessity of fiber broadband for 5G networks. The paper explains how more wireline fiber—and a substantial amount of it—will be needed to support the next generation of our wireless networks...
Federal Judge Dismisses Legal Effort to Halt Gas Pipeline
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has delivered a blow to some Ohio property owners’ efforts to stop construction of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline. U.S. District Judge John Adams in Akron on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed in May by more than 60 property owners. They want the Federal Ener..
Indiana Utility Commission Chairman to Retire in January
NDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The chairman of the Indiana commission that oversees utility companies is retiring after less than a year on the job. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday that Jim Atterholt will retire on Jan. 12 as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Holcomb had appointed Atte..
Portland Water Bureau Proposes Settlement with Ratepayers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The city of Portland has reached a proposed $10 million settlement with water and sewer ratepayers who questioned spending ratepayer money on non-water-related programs. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the Portland Water Bureau and an attorney for ratepayers on Friday an..
Troubled New Orleans Sewer and Water Agency Facing Federal Audit
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The agency that oversees drainage, sewer and water systems in New Orleans faces an audit of its spending of federal money received following Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans news outlets report that the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General notified the Sewe..
Iowa City May Raise Sewer User Fees for Infrastructure Upgrades
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A city in central Iowa has approved a plan to spend $73 million over 15 years to improve the city’s sewer system, a move that could lead to rate increases. The Waterloo City Council unanimously approved a sanitary sewer improvement plan Tuesday in order to comply with a ..
Phase 1B of the Rover Pipeline Can Begin Operations
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place Phase 1B of the Rover Pipeline project into service. With the addition of the Phase 1B facilities, the Rover Pipeline is now capable of transporting up to 1.7 billion cubic feet per da..
Regulators Approve Utility's Rate Increase to Recoup Infrastructure Costs
The Maine Water Company (Maine Water), a subsidiary of Connecticut Water Service, Inc. (Connecticut Water), today announced that the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has approved a water rate increase for customers of Maine Water’s Biddeford and Saco Division, which serves 16,500 customers i..
Texas Water Development Board Now Accepting Applications for SWIFT Funding
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has opened the application period for the 2018 funding cycle of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program. The application period began on Dec. 8, 2017 and ends Feb. 2, 2018. “The TWDB has committed $5.6 billion in financial assistance to..
Texas Town Receives $2 Million for Water Pipeline Upgrades
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved financial assistance in the amount of $2 million, consisting of a $1 million loan and $1 million in loan forgiveness, from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the city of Gorman. The city will use the assistance to finance construction cos..
CPS Energy' COO Appointed Co-Chair of Puerto Rico's Transformation Advisory Council
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) announced today that CPS Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Cris Eugster, has been appointed co-chair of the Transformation Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC, comprised of 11 executive leaders from the public power and investor owned utility sec..
FERC Approves Oncor, Sempra Energy Merger
Sempra Energy and Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) today announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order authorizing Sempra Energy’s acquisition of Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH), the indirect owner of approximately 80 percent of Oncor. On A..
Settlement Approved in Pennsylvania American Water Rate Case
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today unanimously approved a settlement that allows Pennsylvania American Water to raise water and wastewater rates, effective Jan. 1, 2018. The primary factor behind the rate increase is the approximately $1.26 billion of investments to replace and u..
Construction Begins on Florida Water Storage Project
On Dec. 13, 2017, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined the city of Port St. Lucie, the South Florida Water Management District, and local officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the McCarty Ranch Extension Water Quality Restoration Project. The project will reduce the..
California Wildfires Prompt Talks on Tougher Utility Rules
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California utilities may face tougher safety rules for power lines, phone lines and utility poles in parts of the state most prone to wildfires. Under the proposed rules being considered Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission, tree branches would have to be kept..
Regulators Give Go-Ahead for Study of Lake Powell Pipeline
Federal regulators are giving the go-ahead for environmental studies and public comment about a proposed 140-mile (225-kilometer) pipeline to draw water from the Colorado River to serve southwestern Utah communities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday formally accepted a stat..
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Receives Water Permit in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A panel of Virginia environmental regulators granted a conditional permit Tuesday for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, making its approval contingent on getting more information about the project’s impact on water quality. The Virginia State Water Control Board voted 4-3 t..
New York Announces Plan to Transform Puerto Rico's Electric Power Grid
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced a plan to rebuild and transform Puerto Rico’s electric power system, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in September. The envisioned system will be more resilient, efficient, advanced, and less dependent..
Hearing Postponed for Regulator Charged in Flint Water Crisis
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A hearing has been postponed for a state employee charged in the Flint water scandal who was to return to court for a possible plea deal with the attorney general’s office. The Flint Journal reports that a notice from Genesee District Court says Tuesday’s hearing for Adam ..
Indiana Addresses Potential Water Crisis
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Officials in Indiana are trying to prevent a water crisis as both supply and infrastructure are inadequate for future needs. A 2016 survey found that Indiana utilities have an immediate need for $2.26 billion to replace water meters, hydrants, water mains, treatment plants, well..
Virginia Regulators Weigh Key Approval for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — State regulators will soon decide whether to grant a key approval to the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Virginia State Water Control Board will meet for a second day Tuesday to consider whether to issue a water quality certification for the natural gas pipeline that woul..
Environmental Groups File Lawsuit to Try to Block Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A coalition of environmental groups has filed a federal lawsuit to try to block a natural gas pipeline planned for southwestern Virginia. The Mountain Valley Pipeline cleared its last regulatory hurdle and won state water permits Thursday. The lawsuit was filed Friday in the ..
New York Making Millions Available to Sewer, Water Districts in Push for Geothermal Systems
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state is making $3.8 million available in a clean energy challenge to push for more geothermal systems. The initiative by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Power Authority is aimed at helping stimulate financing and installation o..
INGAA Announces Leadership Changes
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) today announced the retirement of Terry Boss, senior vice president of environment, safety and operations, after a distinguished 33-year career in the pipeline industry, including 23 years with INGAA. Boss, who has led INGAA’s efforts on pip..
California Water Districts Don't Need Voter Approval on Fees
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The state’s water conservation districts don’t need the approval of property owners or voters to charge their customers fees to fund programs aimed at protecting groundwater, the California Supreme Court ruled on Monday. But the justices in a unanimous decision also said the ..
Virginia Water Board Certifies Mountain Valley Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Water Control Board has issued a certification for a proposed natural gas pipeline that will run through six counties in the state. The board voted 5-2 Thursday to issue a water quality certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Roanoke Times reports that at..
North Carolina Regulators Want More Information on Pipeline
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Another state permit needed for a proposed natural gas pipeline in eastern North Carolina is being slowed. The state Department of Environmental Quality asked Atlantic Coast Pipeline developers this week for more information for an air quality permit for a compressor station to..
West Virginia Weighs Permit for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia environmental regulators Wednesday announced two public hearings on issuing a construction stormwater permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would carry natural gas southeast from the center of the state. The 600-mile (965-kilometer) pipeline would exte..
FERC Officially Has New Chairman
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today swore in Kevin J. McIntyre as chairman. McIntyre was nominated to the commission by President Donald J. Trump in August 2017 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 2, 2017. Previously, McIntyre was the co-leader of the global Energy Practice a..
Idaho County Issues Disaster Declaration for Town Without Water
GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) — County officials approved a disaster declaration for a western Idaho town so it can apply for emergency state funding after losing its water wells. The Lewiston Tribune reports the water wells in the town of White Bird stopped working late last month, causing Idaho C..
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Phase 1 Alaska LNG pipeline advances with construction awards, pipe supply agreements
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- Gateway Tunnel construction faces shutdown next week as Trump withholds federal funding
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion