Utility Infrastructure
Astound to build $34 million fiber-optic network in Orland Park, Ill.
Astound Broadband has begun a $34 million project to extend 285 miles of underground fiber-optic cable across Orland Park and nearby suburbs, the company said June 24.
SCE to bury 63 miles of new power lines in fire-damaged Altadena, Calif.
Southern California Edison will install 63 miles of underground electrical lines in Altadena, starting in 2025. The project targets fire-damaged areas and supports future clean energy needs.
Cansel adds radiodetection MRX range for subsurface utility location
Cansel, a North American distributor of Radiodetection technologies, has added the Radio Frequency (RF) Marker Ball (MRX) range to its portfolio of subsurface locating solutions. Designed to integrate RF marker detection and utility locating into a single device, the MRX Series is engineered to increase field efficiency and enhance safety across utility workflows.
Centuri awarded over $575 million in infrastructure contracts
Centuri Holdings, a North American utility infrastructure services company, has secured more than $575 million in infrastructure deals. The value largely encompasses a multi-year contract renewal with a natural gas utility customer in the Midwest, as well as additional scopes for the rebuild and construction of utility-scale transmission lines. Monday's announcement complements the previously announced $350 million in new awards on May 27, 2025.
Underground power line pilot cuts storm outages to zero in Michigan counties
Consumers Energy reports early success from its 9-mile underground power line pilot, with data showing zero storm-related outages in pilot areas so far in 2025—outperforming surrounding overhead systems.
Leica unveils DS4000 system for deeper underground utility detection
Leica Geosystems has launched the DS4000, a utility detection system capable of identifying underground assets up to 60% deeper than traditional methods, with improved clarity for both shallow and deep utilities.
Coastal Pipeline expands excavation, grading services in Monterey County, Calif.
Coastal Pipeline Inc. is expanding its excavation and grading services across Monterey County to meet rising infrastructure demands, offering trenching, utility work, and stormwater system support for both public and private projects.
Dominion Energy cuts storm outages in Virginia with 2,500 miles of buried lines
Dominion Energy has buried more than 2,500 miles of outage-prone power lines in Virginia, cutting average storm-related outage times from 11 hours to just 2 minutes in affected areas.
Subsite launches M10 beacon for underground utility installation
Contractors can more easily and reliably run short shots of fiber lines and other underground utilities using the new M10 HDD guidance beacon from Subsite. The M10 beacon is designed for use with compact Ditch Witch horizontal directional drills (HDDs) like the JT5 and small drills from other manufacturers.
SCE wildfire plan calls for 260 miles of new underground lines across Southern California
Southern California Edison’s $6.2 billion wildfire mitigation plan includes 260 miles of underground power lines to reduce ignition risk, alongside expanded covered conductor use and AI-driven grid monitoring.
Tyler Water Utilities to relocate 5,000 feet of sewer, water lines ahead of highway project
In collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Tyler Water Utilities will relocate approximately 1,800 linear feet of water line and 3,200 linear feet of sewer line to the edge of the existing right-of-way to clear the path for road crews to begin work along Old Henderson Highway.
Zeldin’s EPA moves to shield utilities, shift PFAS costs to polluters
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced new steps to tackle PFAS contamination, including testing, discharge limits, and a liability framework to hold polluters accountable.
ProStar, JAVAD partner to improve precision mapping for utility infrastructure
ProStar®, developer of the PointMan® Precision Mapping Solution, has entered into a partnership to integrate JAVAD GNSS receivers to the utility and critical infrastructure industry. The collaboration will allow customers to map the precise location of underground infrastructure even in the harshest environments, ProStar stated.
Las Vegas, Nev., dark fiber project underway as LSC expands network for AI, data centers
Light Source Communications (LSC) has started construction on a 60-mile dark fiber network in Las Vegas, marking its third major project in less than a year.
NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
The U.S. National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has published a preliminary report concerning a fatal gas pipeline explosion that occurred last month in Lexington, Missouri. The explosion occurred after a subcontractor installing a fiber optic line drilled into an unmarked section of a capped underground gas distribution main located near residences.
Utility and communications construction update
While the final plan for tariffs from the Trump Administration is unknown, the initial rollout shocked investors and caused a flurry of market activity. This will likely continue until a stable plan that is being strategically implemented has been negotiated.
Water losses cost U.S. utilities $6.4 billion annually, new report says
Nearly one in five gallons—19.5%—of treated drinking water in the U.S. is lost before it reaches customers or is improperly billed. This growing challenge, commonly known as non-revenue water (NRW), results in more than US$6.4 billion in uncaptured revenues annually for utilities, according to a new report from Bluefield Research.
Thousands in Central Texas face water curtailment during main line tie-in
More than 265,000 people in Central Texas could face reduced water access as Bell County WCID #1 prepares to shut down a major pipeline for tie-in work, prompting a 30% usage cut under Stage 3 drought measures.
Vortex acquires Prism to expand trenchless capability, service portfolio
Vortex Companies, a global leader in trenchless water and sewer infrastructure solutions, has acquired Prism Contractors & Engineers, Inc., in a strategic move that will enhance its trenchless technology applications for infrastructure across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. regions. Prism's core service offerings include civil engineering & surveying, trenchless rehabilitation, and utility construction.
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.
Cyberattacks on U.S. water utilities worsen, posing growing threat to infrastructure, study finds
A new Semperis study reveals that 62% of utilities in the U.S. and U.K. faced cyberattacks last year, with over half suffering permanent data loss. Nation-state actors, including China's Volt Typhoon, are increasingly targeting power and water systems.
Dubuque, Iowa, plans $130 million sewer expansion; residents could see higher bills
Dubuque is moving forward with a $130 million plan to expand sewer capacity in the Catfish Creek sewershed. The upgrades aim to prevent overflows and support future growth, but could raise residential utility bills by 9%.
Repairs begin on struck ANR pipeline, but more work ahead for Michigan Gas Utilities
TC Energy is responding to a third-party line strike that damaged a section of its ANR Pipeline System near Fennville, Michigan, on April 9, causing a gas outage in the area.
Astound completes 108-mile underground fiber build along Oregon’s Highway 6
Astound Broadband has finished constructing a 108-mile underground fiber route along Highway 6, delivering high-speed internet access to rural areas of Tillamook County for the first time.
Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
Ditch Witch West has sold its first Bulldog trencher, designed by UK manufacturer Mastenbroek, to Cox and Cox Construction, a full-service underground utility contractor licensed in California and Nevada. Mastenbroek designed the Bulldog for underground utility installation, particularly in areas where overhead electrical cables could cause or be destroyed by forest fires.
Griffolyn pre-liners improve reliability in trenchless pipe lining
Griffolyn reinforced pre-liners offer added protection and reliability during CIPP trenchless pipe rehabilitation, helping prevent resin washout, liner buckling, and installation delays in water and sewer infrastructure projects.
Dresser Utility Solutions acquires pipe-pulling tech firm Kobus
Dresser Utility Solutions has acquired Kobus, a U.S.- and U.K.-based provider of gas and water pipe pulling technology, in a move aimed at expanding Dresser’s infrastructure repair capabilities for utility customers.
CenterPoint finalizes sale of Louisiana, Mississippi gas utilities to Bernhard
CenterPoint Energy has completed the sale of its natural gas utilities in Louisiana and Mississippi to Bernhard Capital Partners. The transfer includes 12,000 miles of pipeline and 380,000 customers, with Delta Utilities assuming operations.
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.
Vermeer launches Verifier™ G1 to simplify utility detection for crews
Vermeer has introduced the Verifier™ G1 utility locator, a reliable and straightforward solution designed for utility contractors, utility owners and municipalities. The Verifier G1 locator eliminates complex menus and settings, enabling crews to locate utilities quickly and confidently.
- NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- Ripple Fiber breaks ground on $140 million project, expanding into central Mass.
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
- Gehl and Mustang offer world’s largest skid loader
- Growing Pains and Gains
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish