Utility Infrastructure
Cities Not Yet Paying Sioux City's Wastewater Service Charge
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three neighboring cities have yet to pay Sioux City’s long-overlooked wastewater service charge, lest they have to raise local sewage charges. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluf..
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..
Algonquin Power & Utilities to Acquire St. Lawrence Gas Company
Algonquin Power & Utilities’ regulated distribution utility business, Liberty Utilities Co., has entered into a definitive agreement with Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. , a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., to acquire St. Lawrence Gas Company, Inc., a regulated natural gas distribution utility located in..
Ameren Corporation Donates to Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
As the impact of Hurricane Harvey continues throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast, Ameren Corporation is donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with relief efforts. With an eagerness to help those affected by the flooding, Ameren employees are also providing individual contributions. “A..
West Virginia American Water Acquires Queen Shoals PSD Water System
West Virginia American Water has completed its acquisition of the Queen Shoals Public Service District water system. The transaction was recently approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and followed several years of discussions with the distressed public service district, which wa..
Illinois American Water to Invest $5.7 Million in Sewer, Water System Upgrades
Illinois American Water’s Peoria District today announced it will invest over $5.7 million to improve its distribution system. The investment includes installing over four miles of water main in Peoria, Limestone Township and Bartonville. In addition, 11 pressure-reducing valves will be installed in..
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..
Clean Energy Petition Targets Pollution in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and consumer advocates are petitioning state regulators to consider a new energy standard they say would protect utility customers and shareholders from the costs and risks associated with future environmental regulations. The propos..
Survey: U.S. Utilities Still Feel Underprepared for Weather-Related Outages
The Weather Company, an IBM Business, and Zpryme have released the results of a survey that found that U.S. utility companies still feel underprepared for weather-related outages and that their reactive approach to outage prediction leads to lost time and resources. Key findings include: The Challe..
Federal Utility OKs $10.4B Budget, 1.5 Percent Rate Increase
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A federal utility says it has included a 1.5 percent rate increase in its budget that takes effect in October. The Tennessee Valley Authority says its board approved a $10.4 billion budget and the rate increase Wednesday. The budget keeps operating and maintenance spending f..
California Senators Say Utility Regulators Must Restore Trust
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California Senate panel gave narrow approval Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown’s two recent appointees to a powerful utilities commission after imploring them to restore public trust in an agency that’s been damaged by scandals and environmental disasters, including the large..
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..
Robert P. Powers Named to ALLETE Board of Directors
Robert P. Powers, recently retired vice chairman of American Electric Power (AEP), has been elected to ALLETE Inc.’s board of directors, effective Aug. 23, 2017. Powers’ career in the energy industry spans 41 years through his retirement in August 2017. He most recently served as a senior adviser t..
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..
Xcel Energy Elects New Board Member
Xcel Energy has elected David K. Owens to the company’s board of directors effective immediately. An executive with extensive experience in public policies concerning energy and utility operations, Owens is recognized as an industry expert on business transformation. After 36 years of service, Owen..
Appointees to Powerful Utility Regulator Set to Testify
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Gov. Jerry Brown’s two most recent nominees to a powerful commission that regulates natural gas and other utilities are before lawmakers Wednesday for confirmation hearings. Commissioners Clifford Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves began six-year terms in January on th..
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..
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..
Ohio Utilities Board Signs off on FirstEnergy Rate Hike
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio regulators have rejected appeals of an earlier decision that allows FirstEnergy Corp. to impose electricity rate increases for three years. The move will give FirstEnergy an additional $204 million each year. Homeowners using an average of 750 kilowatt-hours of electricit..
Texas Utility May Lose Permit After Wastewater Violations
TROPHY CLUB, Texas (AP) — A north Texas utility district may lose its operating permit after receiving over 30 citations for state wastewater law violations over the last six years. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that an administrative hearing next month will determine if the Trophy Club Muni..
Arizona Regulators OK Utility Rate Hike
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona utility regulators elected with confirmed or suspected financial backing from the state’s largest electric utility on Tuesday approved a rate increase for the company and cuts to how much its new rooftop solar customers will be paid for excess power. The 4-1 vote by the Arizo..
Arizona Regulators to Ponder Rate Boost for APS
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona utility regulators are set to consider a rate increase for the state’s largest electric company that could go into effect as soon as next month. Tuesday’s planned meeting by the Arizona Corporation Commission comes months after Arizona Public Service reached a deal with..
Pennsylvania DEP Approves Utility's Source Water Protection Plan
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved a Source Water Protection Plan for Appalachian Utilities, Inc., which delivers drinking water to approximately 3,000 people in Avis Borough and Pine Creek Township, Clinton County. The plan, which Appalachian created with te..
New DIRT Report Estimates Damage to Buried Utilities Cost Society at Least $1.5 Billion in 2016
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) today announced findings from its comprehensive 2016 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report. The report, which is the sum of all 2016 data submitted anonymously and voluntarily by facility operators, utility locating companies, one call centers,..
Dominion Energy Ohio Reminds People to Call 811 Before Digging
In honor of National Safe Digging Day tomorrow, Aug. 11, Dominion Energy Ohio today announced a reminder that Ohio law requires property owners and contractors to call 8-1-1 — to have underground utility lines marked — at least two business days, but no more than 10 business days, prior to any diggi..
Utility Stresses Calling 811 Before Digging
In honor of National Safe Digging Day on Friday, August 11, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is asking all Californians to help prevent damage to gas pipelines and other underground utilities. With a free call to 811 or submission on 811express.com at least two working days ahead of any diggi..
CEO: Westar-Great Plains Merger Plan to Be Filed This Month
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The CEO of Westar says the utility and Great Plains Energy will file their new merger plan with Kansas regulators later this month. CEO Mark Ruelle says meetings will be scheduled later this year for a shareholder vote on the proposal. Ruelle updated investors Wednesd..
Fired Engineer Sues Utility
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A fired engineer at a now-aborted Mississippi Power Co. plant sued the utility’s parent company Tuesday, saying an order to reinstate him is being ignored. Brett Wingo of Homewood, Alabama, filed the whistleblower retaliation case in federal court in Birmingham, Alabama. Wingo..
Oklahoma Cites Several Counties for Water Systems Violations
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — In the last two years, Oklahoma has cited several counties for health violations at 36 water systems. The Oklahoman reports the violators in Cleveland, Canadian and Oklahoma counties range from those who operate single-well systems serving a handful of public users to municipal..
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
- $227 million Garnet Valley water project advances, set to create 73,000 jobs in Nevada
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
- 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