Telecom/Electric
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.
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.
JCP&L begins work to install 2,000 ft of underground electrical lines in northern N.J.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has begun construction on a year-long project to upgrade overhead and install new underground electric service in portions of Sussex County. The $5.1 million project is expected to be completed in November.
HYLAN launches new gas & pipeline division to transform infrastructure solutions
HYLAN, a market-leading provider of full-service turnkey communications solutions, electrical infrastructure design, and utility construction services, is expanding its capabilities with the launch of its new Pipeline Division.
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.
National OnDemand expands in Texas with J. Tucker Construction acquisition
National OnDemand, a communication and utility infrastructure services provider, has acquired J. Tucker Construction, a Greenville, Texas-based company specializing in telecom and utility infrastructure.
Gigapower’s Arizona fiber rollout linked to infrastructure damage, CWA report says
In Mesa, Arizona, where Gigapower began fiber deployment in early 2023, subcontractors have reportedly caused over 40 underground utility hits, including damages to electric, gas, water, and telecommunications lines, totaling more than $135,000 in repairs.
PG&E buries over 800 miles of powerlines in high wildfire-risk areas
(UI) — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has undergrounded more than 800 miles of powerlines since launching its wildfire safety initiative in 2021.
UTGIS launches voltage testing service to prevent pipe corrosion in water and gas systems
Corrosion is frequently cited as a leading cause of damage to buried municipal water and gas systems. While there are several external conditions that can cause pipeline corrosion, electrical voltage is one of the leading culprits.
JCP&L moving power lines underground in portions of Somerset County, N.J.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is relocating and upgrading power lines in portions of Bernardsville, Somerset County, to enhance electric service for customers. The $1.75 million project is expected to be completed later this month.
Tachus Fiber celebrates 50,000 customers on 3,000-mile network in North Houston
Tachus has grown rapidly over the last five years to offer lightning-fast and incredibly reliable broadband services to more than 160,000 homes and businesses in a vast arc across the North Houston communities of Atascocita, Conroe, Huffman, Humble, Kingwood, Porter, Willis, and The Woodlands with current construction ongoing in the other Houston area communities.
Alectra Utilities invests $3.4 million to rehabilitate underground power infrastructure in Ontario
In 2024, Alectra plans to implement several key projects in Barrie, including $3.4 million to replace and rehabilitate underground cables through cable injection technology. This process will extend the life of existing underground cables, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent outages.
IQ Fiber to deploy fiber optic network in Georgia on over $50 million investment
IQ Fiber's expansion into Savannah marks its third major market, following successful deployments in the Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida metro areas.
altafiber expands Northeast Ohio fiber optic network to 100,000 new addresses
The regional fiber broadband expansion plan in Summit, Portage, Geauga, and Cuyahoga Counties includes Tallmadge, Kent, Hudson, Twinsburg, Solon, Streetsboro, Stow, Aurora, and other surrounding communities. Plans are being finalized to expand to additional communities in Northeast Ohio as well.
Fermaca Networks finds critical sponsor for first phase of Mexican fiber optic route
The Phase 1 route will run fully underground, parallel to existing natural gas systems in some sections, and will follow highway routes in others, aiming at optimizing asset security and performance.
Arelion connects Mexico’s top digital hub to underground fiber network amid expansion
This network expansion reduces the risk of service outages and improves customer experiences, supporting content localization in Querétaro. This new route also offers end-to-end connectivity on Arelion's fiber backbone to markets such as Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley, Dallas and Atlanta.
Duke Energy undergrounds 48% of Florida power lines with plans to expand as hurricane season peaks
Approximately 48% of Duke Energy Florida's primary power lines are underground and better protected from wind damage. The company will continue to install underground cable in areas that are identified as the most outage-prone areas.
NASA enlists Panhandle Power Solutions for $9.7 million transmission, distribution project at Kennedy Space Center
The awarded contract will involve the installation of 4.5 miles of both overhead (OH) and underground (UG) primary distribution lines, a crucial upgrade to the existing infrastructure at the preeminent launch complex for Government and commercial space access.
Frontier to expand fiber broadband network across California with over $23 million in grants
The three grants from the California Public Utility Commission will enable the company to expand its fiber-optic network in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Alaska Communications to extend 9,100-mile fiber network with $390 million infrastructure financing
Alaska Communications is currently developing a network that spans 9,100 miles of fiber, connecting business and wholesale customers throughout the state. The company has plans to further extend its critical infrastructure to enhance connectivity in Alaska.
Virginia’s Loudoun County to weigh in on Dominion Energy’s transmission line plans
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will hold a public hearing in Loudoun County on Sept. 5, to gather testimony on Dominion Energy Virginia’s proposed Aspen-Golden and Apollo-Twin Creeks electric transmission line projects.
PG&E resumes underground power line work in California’s Plumas County
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has resumed its efforts to bury power lines in Plumas County, California, after work was paused due to the Park Fire.
Telecommunications crew damages underground water main in Fort Worth, damaging at least 5 homes
The water, under high pressure, shot out forcefully, damaging at least 5 homes in the area. It took over an hour for the water department to stop the flow due to the pipe's size and configuration.
Lumos to build over 1,300 miles of fiber optic network in Kentucky with $150 million investment
Through Lumos’ 100% Fiber-Optic Internet, the following communities in Louisville and Jefferson County will have access to the internet with equally fast upload and download speeds: Jeffersontown, Saint Matthews, Shively, Lyndon, Middletown, Douglas Hills, Hurstbourne, Prospect, Graymoor-Devondale, Anchorage and other areas in the Louisville Metro.
Utah’s Park City Council greenlights $7 million project to bury power lines in Bonanza Park
Park City is advancing its long-awaited initiative to bury power lines in the Bonanza Park area, paving the way for future development in the district.
Kinetic launches investigation into underground fiber optic cable theft in Hazard, Ky.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the vandalism took place Aug. 8-9, affecting fiber-optic infrastructure that supports local communications services. The incident not only disrupted communication but also posed safety risks to the community by limiting access to emergency services and other vital operations that rely on constant connectivity.
Stantec to modernize Los Angeles underground electrical infrastructure in $104 million LADWP contract
Stantec has been awarded a $104 million contract by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) to modernize underground electrical infrastructure as part of the city's efforts to enhance power reliability and support the transition to clean energy.
Urgent need to recruit 180,000 workers to complete federal- and state-funded broadband networks, study finds
The study suggests that 28,000 more broadband construction workers and 30,000 more broadband technician workers are needed to execute the planned federal and state broadband funding. Moreover, the research predicts that an additional 119,200 workers will be needed over the next 10 years to compensate for retirement.
Eversource begins upgrade of outdated electric transmission infrastructure in central Connecticut
The series of upgrades will replace aging transmission infrastructure within the utility right of way with stronger steel structures, making the electric grid more resilient to increasing extreme weather caused by climate change.
Report: Fiber broadband is “paramount” to achieving zero carbon footprint
With fiber’s ability to scale to nearly unlimited bandwidth speeds, transitioning networks from HFC to fiber provides a far more sustainable option now and for decades to come. CSPs consider many factors when overbuilding an existing network with fiber, and the reduction in electricity consumption and overall carbon footprint are additional considerations.
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- 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.
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes