Utility Infrastructure
American Water Names Brig. Gen. David Turner President of Military Services Group
American Water today named Brig. Gen. David Turner (retired) as the new president of the company’s Military Services Group (MSG), effective Nov. 20. Gen. Turner will replace Todd Duerr, who is leaving the business effective Jan. 1, 2018. “Todd has been a valued leader for the Military Services Grou..
Vermont Town Proposes Joint Venture Purchase of Telecom Utility
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Burlington officials have directed the two buyers vying for the city’s Burlington Telecom utility to figure out a joint venture proposal. The Burlington Free Press reports Councilor Ali Dieng proposed the joint venture Monday night after the two votes to decide a final buyer ..
Emera Makes Leadership Change
Emera Inc. today announced that Nancy Tower will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric upon Gordon Gillette’s retirement on Nov. 30. “Gordon has played a key role in integrating Tampa Electric into the Emera group of companies, and he is leaving the organization well po..
6 Missouri Utilities to Share $120 Million in Federal Loans
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Six Missouri utilities will use nearly $120 million in federal loans to upgrade the infrastructure for electricity in rural parts of the state. The Missouri grants are part of $2.5 billion in loans the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded for rural electricity projec..
Boil Water Notice Lifted in Rhode Island After Negative E. Coli Test
WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — A boil water notice has been lifted in Westerly, after new testing no longer showed the presence of the E. coli bacteria. The Westerly Water Department lifted the notice on Friday, saying a problem well has been taken offline, and the entire system has been disinfected. ..
U.S. Grid Narrowly Escapes Apocalyptic Attack
The American grid security story grows increasingly grim. Last week, security consulting firm Symantec warned that recent cyberattacks gave hackers direct access to the nation’s power grid on multiple occasions, according to a new report by Wired. This time, not only the United States was exposed, ..
Samples Clear, but Pennsylvania Customers Told to Continue Boiling Water
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pennsylvania American Water says it’s detected no contamination in sampling conducted after the company told 100,000 customers to boil their water. The water company said Wednesday the boil advisory will remain in effect until it gets results from a second round of sampling. Penn..
What A U.S. Electric Grid Attack Looks Like
Modern life has a woven-in thread of vulnerability that is peculiar to our times: electricity. It’s the cardiovascular and nervous system of life across the world, more so in the Internet Age than even 30 years ago. If the nation lost electricity, it would cause an instant and lethal paralysis that..
More than 100,000 Pennsylvania Customers Told to Boil Water
PITTSBURGH (AP) — More than 100,000 Pennsylvania customers are being told to boil their water before using it. At least two school districts canceled classes Tuesday after Pennsylvania American Water issued the advisory for parts of southern Allegheny and Washington counties. The company advised r..
EPA Head Names Oil and Gas, Utility Executives to Science Advisory Boards
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency has named a slate of new members to federal science advisory boards, including several who work for chemical and fossil-fuel interests. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced his appointments Friday, after saying he would block sci..
Trenton Water Works Asks Customers to Use Less Water
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The utility company that services Trenton is asking customers to use less water due to operational issues. The Trentonian reports the state Department of Environment Protection issued a release on Saturday requesting Trenton Water Works customers cut back on water use. Accordin..
Electric Utilities Band Together to Support Power Restoration in Puerto Rico
Following Tuesday’s request for assistance from Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) CEO Ricardo Ramos, senior executives from the electric power industry and federal government convened a call last night to discuss next steps for this new phase in the power restoration effort. ..
Audit Urges Changes to Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A state audit is urging changes to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, saying years of mismanagement and lack of leadership have led to financial problems and deteriorating infrastructure. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says the 82,000 city customers are “all too familiar..
Utility Settles Lawsuit with Former Manager out of Court
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts municipal power company has settled a lawsuit brought by a former manager who claimed he was owed more than $600,000 in wages and benefits. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that Wayne Doerpholz, former manager of the South Hadley Electric Light Co., dec..
PG&E Appoints New Vice President for Power Generation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has appointed Jon Franke as its vice president, Power Generation, effective Nov. 1. Franke, who currently serves as vice president, Generation Technical Services, will now lead PG&E’s Power Generation organization as vice president, Power Generation, with res..
SUEZ Acquires Forest Park Water Group
SUEZ North America has completed the acquisition of the Forest Park Water Group, which serves approximately 4,000 people through 13 water systems in Putnam County and one system in Westchester County, New York. The water systems, which consist of 30 wells, serve mostly residential homes, condominium..
California Water Service Receives AWWA Larry C. Larson Safety Award
California Water Service has received the 2016-2017 Larry C. Larson Safety Award for Class IV utilities from the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) California-Nevada Section. The award for Class IV utilities, or those with more than 500 employees, recognizes a large utility’s commitment to it..
Black & Veatch and Aeryon Labs Launch End-To-End Aerial Pipeline Inspection Solution for Utilities
Black & Veatch and Aeryon Labs have launched an end-to-end asset management inspection solution leveraging drone technology for global energy clients. Aeryon’s commercial unmanned aerial system (UAS) hardware, software and services enable the capture of critical infrastructure condition data that is..
$12 Million Water Treatment Plant Upgrades Move Power Lines Underground
Illinois American Water’s Interurban (Metro East) District, which serves the communities of East St. Louis, Granite City, Belleville and surrounding areas, has completed a significant upgrade at its East. St. Louis Water Treatment Plant. The approximately $12 million investment helps to enhance reli..
International Plastic Pipe Conference Extends Deadline for Papers
The organizers of the International Plastic Pipe Conference and Exhibition have announced a two-week extension of the deadline for the submission of abstracts to Nov. 15, 2017. “We have already received some major proposals for presentations and are particularly interested to receive case reference..
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Approves Settlement in Rate Case
Hawaii Water Service, a subsidiary of California Water Service Group has received approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to increase annual revenues by approximately $771,000 in its Pukalani wastewater system for improvements made over recent years. The increase will become effective a..
Mammoth Energy to Help Rebuild Puerto Rico’s Energy Infrastructure
Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cobra Acquisitions LLC, has signed a contract to aid in the restoration of utility infrastructure on the island of Puerto Rico. The contract will commence immediately and is expected to generate revenue of up to $200 million over the initial 1..
Consolidation of Rural Water Systems Prompts Industry Dialogue
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division has released, When Rural Water Systems Combine, a report that examines key issues and considerations surrounding consolidation of rural water systems. “The pace of consolidations at agricultural cooperatives in rural America has picked up in recent years,” said ..
Aqua America Offers Tips, Video to Minimize Lead Exposure
To help raise awareness of potential sources of lead in drinking water during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 22 – 28, Aqua America has released a lead education video designed to help homeowners understand the important role they play in ensuring their water is lead free. “Each day, Aqua stri..
American Water Honored by National Association of Water Companies
American Water announced it has received two awards from the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) at the 2017 NAWC Water Summit honoring their commitment to innovation and passion to serving their customers and communities. American Water’s geothermal pilot was recognized in the “sustaina..
Puerto Rico Utility to Scrap $300M Power Contract
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The head of Puerto Rico’s power company said Sunday the agency is cancelling its $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings amid scrutiny of the tiny Montana company’s role in restoring the island’s power system. The announcement by Ricardo Ramos came hours af..
San Francisco PUC Awarded $625 Million Water Infrastructure Loan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $625-million WIFIA (Water Infrastructure and Financing Innovation Act) loan to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The loan, one of 12 issued nationwide, is expected to save ratepayers over $200 million. The $625-million ..
Water Utility’s Settlement Would Lower Bill Increases
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia water utility has filed a settlement with the state Public Service Commission that’d remove a $5 million proposal which upgrades infrastructure between two communities and raises bills. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported Sunday that independent Commission ..
Southern Company to Sell Utilities in $1.7 Billion Deal
Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, has entered into agreements to sell the assets of its utility operating divisions, Elizabethtown Gas and Elton Gas, to South Jersey Industries in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $1.7 billion. ..
Illinois American Water Announces Winners of “Imagine a Day Without Water” Art Contest
Illinois American Water has selected the winners of its annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” art contest. The company offered the contest to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms within the company’s service area. The contest is held annually in conjunction with the Value of Water Coalition’s “Imagine a..
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- $2.3 billion approved to construct 236-mile Texas-to-Gulf gas pipeline
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized