In the rural California community of Cool, residents like Stephanie Bus are frustrated with PG&E due to repeated power shutoffs, intended to prevent wildfires. Despite PG&E’s promise to bury power lines to improve safety, much of the work remains incomplete, with new poles and overhead lines still in place. Stephanie has experienced multiple power outages since May and feels the …
I intially missed this news (though it was probably covered by Utility Alert at the time) but back in January the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $34 million in funding for various projects aimed at reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency and safety of moving power lines underground. This funding is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) …
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is often hailed as a game-changer in the realm of infrastructure projects, and for good reason. The minimal upfront investment in SUE sets the stage for substantial economic returns over the lifespan of the project. The precise mapping and identification of underground utilities facilitated by SUE not only averts unforeseen interruptions that can throw timelines off …
Welcome to this week’s edition of Utility Alert, packed with the latest developments and insights in the world of underground infrastructure and damage prevention! Wellington launches platform to map underground infrastructure: READ Buffeting – Why damage prevention leaders should publish their own reports: READ Duquesne Light Company Crowdsources Underground Monitoring: READ Learn about FuzionView: WATCH Maui faces uncertainty over the …
Enhancing Underground Utility Mapping: The Journey of FuzionView In 2017, Gopher State One Call (GSOC) reached out to the Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) of the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council to explore ways to enhance the use of geospatial technology in the underground utility sector. This initiative sparked a series of discussions that led to the formation of the Underground Utilities …
I was reading through some Berkshire Hathaway Letter to Shareholders the other day (don’t ask) and I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I did this for my stakeholders?! Better yet, wouldn’t it be great if everyone did it?! Now I know, we’ve got the CGA’s DIRT Report which is eminently valuable but the BH Letter to Shareholders is more …
Hope you guys are fully rested and recovered after the holiday weekend! Here’s the latest damage prevention news to help bring you back up to speed: Underground water and sewer pipes are aging out: READ Are penalties enough for locate offenders? READ The Future of Underground Utility Mapping: READ 4 things the US is doing right! READ Predictive AI Is …
This happened just a few miles from Daryl’s house in Ireland! Pretty scary. The incident occurred during some roadworks when a gas main was struck. Here’s an extra shot for context: RECENT POSTSJan. 10, 2025VHS | HOW PRECISION UTILITY LOCATING ENSURED SAFE DEMOLITION OF A HISTORIC BALLPARKJan. 09, 2025WHY THE UTILITY INDUSTRY IS RUNNING ON OLD TECHJan. 06, 2025UA / …
When we talk about infrastructure, the conversation often revolves around what needs fixing. But in the spirit of Independence Day, let’s flip the script and focus on the positives – specifically, what the U.S. is doing right when it comes to protecting our vital underground utilities. From advanced technology to regulatory measures, here are four standout strategies keeping our subterranean …
Last Friday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a settlement with MidAmerican, Mediacom, and CenturyLink over violations of Iowa’s One Call law. The One Call law, crucial for the safety of both workers and underground utilities, mandates that anyone engaging in digging, excavating, or trenching activities must first contact the Iowa One Call center to locate and avoid damaging underground …