Utility Infrastructure
PSE&G CEO Calls for Regulatory Changes in New Jersey
Ralph Izzo, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Public Service Enterprise Group, today called for a set of regulatory reforms in New Jersey that would establish financial incentives for utilities to help their customers reduce at-home energy use, as well as expand access to renewable ..
PG&E Named One of the Best Employers for Veterans
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has been named as one of the best employers for veterans by Military Times. This is the second consecutive year the company has made the “Best for Vets: Employers” list in the ranking’s eight-year history. The survey, conducted by the publishers of the Army Times, N..
Global Water Resources Acquires Eagletail Water Company
Global Water Resources, Inc. has acquired Eagletail Water Company, a small water utility located west of metropolitan Phoenix. The transaction adds approximately 50 active water connections and six square miles of approved service area to Global Water’s existing regional service footprint. The acqu..
Corporation Commission Rejects Utilities' Plea for More Time
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission won’t allow Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy extra time to renegotiate a new merger. After the commission in April rejected the proposed merger, the two companies filed a petition asking for extra time to revise the deal to meet commi..
Missouri Lawmakers to Discuss Utilities Bills
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri House committee on Tuesday will begin considering legislation that Gov. Eric Greitens and supporters have called a job creator, but that critics call a veiled attempt to make it easier for investor-owned utilities companies to raise rates. The proposal allows s..
Utility Uses Fiber Optic Network to Modernize Electric Grid
Bandera Electric Cooperative has completed its first distribution circuit automation project to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. “This project involved the integration of a wide-range of electric equipment, apparatus and residential solar resources, along with real-time communication..
PG&E Wins Award for Innovative App
InformationWeek has named Pacific Gas and Electric Company as the winner of the 2017 IT Excellence Award in the Data and Analytics category. The annual award program recognizes leaders and companies that demonstrate outstanding innovation in information technology. PG&E was recognized for its Mobile..
Missouri American Water Acquires Water, Wastewater Systems
Missouri American Water has acquired the Wardsville water and wastewater systems for $2.75 million. Customers in Wardsville, located just south of Jefferson City, will have their meters changed beginning today and should receive their first invoice from Missouri American Water the week of June 26. ..
Fluke Unveils New Gas Leak Detector
Fluke Corp. has released the Ti450 SF6 Gas Leak Detector, which combines a high-quality infrared camera with an SF6 leak detector that visually pinpoints the location of SF6 leaks without shutting equipment down. The Ti450 SF6 allows utility crews to include it as a normal part of their maintena..
Pennsylvania American Water Files Request to Replace Lead Service Lines
Pennsylvania American Water has filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking permission to replace customer-owned lead service lines when removing company-owned lead service lines – and to bear the full cost of replacement. Pennsylvania American Water’s proposal allots $6 ..
New York American Water Rate Increase Approved
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved new rates for New York American Water, effective June 1, 2017. The PSC’s rate order reflects an annual revenue increase of $3.6 million for New York American Water’s service areas in Long Island and the Hudson Valley after a 13-month review o..
Tidewater Utilities Employees Honored
Tidewater Utilities, Inc.’s water and wastewater operators were recognized for their outstanding performances at a Delaware Technical and Community College ceremony earlier this month. The ceremony recognized deserving water and wastewater operators, on-site professionals, and the role they played ..
Illinois Owes $3.5 Million in Utility Bills
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The state is again racking up unpaid utility bills for its Springfield offices as Illinois nears two years without a full budget. Illinois owes about $3.5 million in past-due payments to City Water, Light and Power, City Water, Light and Power spokeswoman Amber Sabin ..
American Water Charitable Foundation Announces Funding and Support for Water Policy Network
The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created by American Water, today announced support for the recently created National Governors Association Centers for Best Practices Water Policy Learning Network. This unique partnership between the NGA and other partners l..
Report: Growing NatGas Supply Leads to More Pipeline Construction
ScottMadden, Inc. has released its spring Energy Industry Update, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” focusing on trends in the natural gas industry, such as infrastructure development and price risk management. According to the report, natural gas prices remain low across..
FirstEnergy Receives Tree Care Award for 19th Consecutive Year
The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, has recognized FirstEnergy as a Tree Line USA utility for the 19th consecutive year. The award recognizes investor-owned and public utility companies – electric, gas and water – that promote the ..
Illinois American Water Announces Changes in Southern Illinois Leadership Team
Illinois American Water has promoted Karen Cooper to senior manager of field services and production for the company’s Southern Division serving the Metro East, Alton, Cairo and Hardin County service areas. Cooper, who previously served as operations superintendent for the Alton District service ar..
AWWA 2017 American Water Scholarship Awarded
American Water today announced that Alma Beciragic, a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been chosen as the recipient of the American Water Works Association 2017 American Water Scholarship. The scholarship is an annual award of $5,000 presented to a graduate le..
Lawsuit: Georgia City Illegally Restricts Utilities Access
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia city’s policies illegally restrict access to utility services, and those policies disproportionately affect black and Latino residents, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday. The lawsuit against LaGrange says the city, which is the only provider of basic utilities, ..
UC Riverside and SoCalGas Announce Opening of Renewable Natural Gas Research Center
Southern California Gas Co. today announced the opening of a new Center for Renewable Natural Gas at the University of California, Riverside. The center is the first academic establishment in America dedicated to the study and applied research of renewable gas technologies. It was funded in part by..
PECO Named Philadelphia's Best Midsize Employer
For the second year in a row, PECO has been named Philadelphia’s best midsize employer in a new ranking from Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Employers 2017” list. The ranking represents PECO’s ongoing efforts to provide a rewarding workplace for more than 2,500 employees from the Greater Philadelp..
California American Water Has New VP of Operations
American Water recently announced it has named Garry Hofer the Vice President of Operations of California American Water, effective immediately. Hofer replaces Rich Svindland, who was named the President of California American Water last February. As the vice president for Operations, Hofer will no..
Entergy Names Rod West as Utility Group President
Entergy Corporation has named Rod West group president, utility operations, effective July 1. West succeeds Theo Bunting, who is retiring from the company after 34 years of service. West will be responsible for the operational and financial performance of the regulated utilities, including ele..
Utility Hires 18 Line and Substation Employees from Training Program
Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has hired 18 recent graduates of the company’s utility worker training program as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance service reliability for customers in Maryland and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The new employees include 11 line wor..
Utilities Technology Council Recognizes Individuals, Utilities at Awards Dinner
The Utilities Technology Council held its annual UTC Awards dinner last night in Charlotte at the UTC Telecom & Technology 2017 conference. The celebration dinner honored utilities and individuals who have shown extraordinary initiative throughout the past year. The 2017 UTC Award Winners are: I..
Aqua America Promotes Two to Vice President
Aqua America, Inc. announced today that Bill Jerdon and Bill Packer have each been promoted to vice president. “Under their leadership, both Bill Jerdon and Bill Packer have contributed to Aqua’s solid financial reputation, which ensures our continued ability to provide safe and reliable service to..
Utilities Technology Council Launches the UTC Foundation
The Utilities Technology Council has launched the UTC Foundation at the annual Telecom & Technology conference in Charlotte, N.C. The UTC Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of sponsoring educational incentives and programs to attract, retain and support top technology and t..
Dominion Officially Changes its Name
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Richmond, Virginia-based energy giant Dominion Resources Inc. has changed its name to Dominion Energy Inc. The company said in a news release that shareholders voted Wednesday to approve the new name. The proposed change was announced in February. Chairman, president and CEO T..
Water Organizations Release Guidance Manual on Fostering Innovation Within Utilities
The Water Research Foundation and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, in partnership with Birmingham Water Works Board and utilities from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, have published a guidance manual for innovation based on successful programs in the utility and commercial sectors. ..
Mississippi Regulator Links to Utility Employment Pages
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The agency that regulates Mississippi utilities says people looking for work can now go to its website for links to dozens of utilities’ employment pages. Public Service Commissioner Cecil Brown says every community in the state needs well-qualified utility workers, and ..
- 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