Utility Infrastructure
Construction Industry Applauds PAB Legislation
Legislation that would open the door to private investment in water and wastewater infrastructure investment was introduced recently by U.S. Reps. John “Jimmy” Duncan (R-TN) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act, which would remove water and wastewater infrast..
Regulators Seek More Work for Mississippi Utility Companies
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi regulators have finalized an effort to push utilities to do more to hire locally based companies. The Public Service Commission voted 3-0 Tuesday to adopt its “Hire Mississippi” rule, after proposing it in May. The rule requires regulated private utilities to kee..
EPA Finalizes WIFIA Fee Rules, Congress Provides Additional Funding
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another major step toward issuing its first credit subsidies for water infrastructure projects. It published a final rule in June, specifying fees it would charge counties and cities expected to vie for money in the first round of funding under the Wate..
Asking The Question About Undergrounding
Driving home recently, I spotted electric company personnel diligently working in the extreme heat and humidity to replace wooden power poles. It looked like this was going to be a major project as most of the poles in the area were in poor condition. The poles’ tenants – power and telephone lines, ..
Startup Companies Selected for the Ameren Accelerator
Ameren Corporation has announced the seven companies that have been selected to participate in the Ameren Accelerator, an innovative public-private partnership with the University of Missouri System, UMSL Accelerate and Capital Innovators, that assesses, mentors and invests in energy technology ..
Former CoBank CEO Joins Alaska Power & Telephone
Bob Engel, former Chief Executive Officer at CoBank, has joined the Board of Directors of Alaska Power & Telephone Company, one of Alaska’s leading independently-owned utility companies. During his tenure at CoBank beginning in 2000, Engel employed his passion for what he considers two of our count..
Illinois American Water’s Lincoln District Celebrates Safety Milestone
llinois American Water’s Lincoln District today announced it has gone nine years without experiencing any lost-time accidents. Illinois American Water employees work around the clock to provide an essential service critical for daily life, public health and fire protection. The work performed can i..
Portland General Electric Announces CEO Succession Plan
Jim Piro, president and CEO of Portland General Electric (PGE), notified the company’s board of directors on July 26, 2017 of his decision to retire on Dec. 31. As part of the company’s leadership succession plan, the board of directors has appointed Maria Pope, senior vice president of Power Supply..
Bridge Builder Admits Cutting Cable on North Carolina Coast
BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — An estimated 10,000 tourists were ordered to evacuate an island on North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Thursday after a construction company caused a power outage, leaving people searching for a place to eat, stay cool or resume interrupted vacations. The Cape Hatteras Electric Coop..
Emera Proposes Construction of Subsea Transmission Line
Emera Inc. has formally proposed construction of the Atlantic Link project, a new 1,000 megawatt (MW) subsea transmission line directly connecting Atlantic Canada to the Boston load center. The Atlantic Link will deliver reliable and cost-effective, clean energy to Massachusetts from seven proposed ..
Lisa Duarte Joins Illinois American Water’s Board of Directors
Illinois American Water today announced Lisa Duarte has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Duarte is currently a partner in the government affairs group of Forde Law Offices and has extensive experience in government affairs in the state of Illinois. As a board member, Duarte will bring an in..
Utility Proposes Five-Year Program to Continue Natural Gas Infrastructure Upgrades
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, today unveiled a proposal for the second phase of its natural gas infrastructure modernization program. If approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the program will allow PSE&G to continue to accelerate..
UGI Corporation Elects Theodore A. Dosch to Its Board of Directors
UGI Corporation has elected Theodore A. Dosch to the company’s Board of Directors, effective July 25, 2017. Dosch currently serves as Executive Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Anixter International, a leading global distributor of network and security solutions, electrical and ..
American Water’s Dr. Mark LeChevallier Appointed to Water Science & Technology Board
American Water’s Vice President and Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Mark LeChevallier, has been appointed to the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies). The Water Science and Technology Board was established in the Nationa..
Democrat Stone Leaving Mississippi Senate for Utility Job
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) — A Democrat from northern Mississippi is leaving the state Senate to become manager of a local utility company. Sen. Bill Stone of Holly Springs tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that his resignation will take effect Monday. The Mississippi Constitution bans ..
Utility Honored for Commitment to Environmental Excellence
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has been recognized by the Southeastern Electric Exchange (SEE) with its Chairman’s Award for the company’s response to numerous environmental challenges encountered during an important transmission line project. The recognition marks the second time FPL has recei..
Oncor, Sharyland to Swap Assets
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC has entered into an agreement with Sharyland Utilities, L.P. and Sharyland Distribution & Transmission Services, L.L.C. to swap assets in a transaction valued at approximately $400 million. After successful close of the transaction, Sharyland Distribution & T..
Avista Sale Needs Approval from Stockholders and Regulators
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The sale of Spokane-based Avista Corp. to a Canadian energy company must still win approval from shareholders and regulators. Hydro One, based in Toronto, Canada, announced Wednesday that it would pay $5.3 billion cash to buy Avista, which supplies electricity and natural gas ..
Hydro One Acquires Avista Corp.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Hydro One Limited of Toronto, Canada, has purchased Spokane-based Avista Corp. for $5.3 billion, creating one of North America’s largest regulated utilities. The combined companies said Wednesday they will have $25.4 billion in assets. The companies will serve more than 2 mil..
Tests Find No Detectable Levels of Toxins in Memphis Drinking Water
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A water utility company in Tennessee says tests on drinking water revealed no detectable traces of arsenic and lead after the toxins were found in groundwater at a coal-fired power plant. Memphis, Light, Gas & Water said in a statement Thursday that tests conducted by an indep..
New Jersey American Water Publishes Interactive Pipeline Map
New Jersey American Water has published an interactive Infrastructure Upgrade Map on its website to share details about its pipeline renewal projects. The user-friendly map allows customers to view details about the company’s water and wastewater pipe renewal or replacement projects across its 190 ..
California American Water Acquires Oxbow Marina Mutual Water Company
California American Water has completed its acquisition of the Oxbow Marina Mutual Water Company in Sacramento. Under the terms of an agreement approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, California American Water will be providing its newly welcomed customers with state-regulated potabl..
12 New Mechanics Join PECO's NatGas Workforce
PECO yesterday welcomed 12 new apprentice mechanics to the company’s field force as they celebrated their graduation from a comprehensive natural gas training program. The new apprentices, along with 12 mechanics who graduated in April 2017, will join the utility’s front lines – helping to ensure sa..
Vortex Infrastructure, Stag Technologies Partner To Expand Offerings
Vortex Infrastructure, a leader in civil infrastructure trenchless solutions, has established a strategic alliance with Salt Lake City, UT-based Stag Technologies, a manufacturer of epoxies, urethanes and other 100-percent solid specialty coatings for the municipal and industrial marketplace. This ..
Former FERC Member Releases White Paper Addressing Problems in the Nation's Electricity Markets
Tony Clark, a senior advisor at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP and a former member of the Federal Energy Commission, has released Regulation and Markets: Ideas for Solving the Identity Crisis, a white paper which shows that almost 20 years after restructuring many of the nation’s electricity market..
Illinois American Water Acquires Forest Homes-Maple Park Public Water District
Illinois American Water has acquired the Forest Homes-Maple Park Public Water District. The purchase of the system adds approximately 500 customers to the company’s customer base in the Alton District. In a public referendum on Nov. 3, 2016, residents of Forest Homes-Maple Park Public Water Distric..
3 Magic Numbers For Underground Construction, Maintenance
Take a moment and flip back to read the title of this magazine. It’s Underground Construction, and deals with – well, underground construction. Water, sewer, gas, telecom and electric; that pretty much covers all the bases. It also covers a lot of miles. According to the Common Ground Alliance, ther..
House Committee Considers Drinking Water Spending
The House committee with authority for approving drinking water infrastructure funding has begun a legislative effort to reauthorize the 1996 law which created the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said both Rep..
Utility & Communications Construction Business Update
By Daniel Shumate Director, FMI Capital Advisors Inc. EDITOR’S NOTE: The past 25 years have seen many changes in the underground utilities universe. Technology advances, regulatory activity and environmental requirements have dictated major alterations in the way companies are managed. Rating as on..
DTE Energy Names Robert Skaggs to Board of Directors
DTE Energy has named Robert Skaggs to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. For more than a decade, Skaggs served as chief executive for both the Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. and NiSource Inc., a Fortune 500 energy holding company engaged in natural gas and electric utilities and the ..
- 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