Latest Utilities News
Rural Texas towns report cyberattacks that caused one water system to overflow
A hack that caused a small Texas town’s water system to overflow in January has been linked to a shadowy Russian hacktivist group, the latest case of a U.S. public utility becoming a target of foreign cyberattacks. The attack was one of three on small towns in the rural Texas...
Judges orders Pennsylvania agency to produce inspection records related to chocolate plant blast
Pennsylvania utility regulators must turn over inspection records to the National Transportation Safety Board as part of the federal agency’s probe into a fatal explosion at a chocolate factory last year, a federal judge ruled this week. U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner...
Senate opposition leaves South Carolina energy bill with listless future
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Before a bill that supporters said will help South Carolina keep the lights on as the state rapidly grows could get debated on the Senate floor, several senators spoke out against the proposal. The lawmakers, including Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane...
Editorial Roundup: Illinois
Champaign News Gazette. April 14, 2024. Editorial: Team owners tell their fans to show them the money Taxpayers pay the price when owners of popular professional sports franchises play hardball. Sports fans love their teams, and owners of professional...
Oil and gas companies must pay more to drill on federal lands under new Biden administration rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil and gas companies will have to pay more to drill on federal lands and satisfy stronger requirements to clean up old or abandoned wells under a final rule issued Friday by the Biden administration. The Interior Department's rule raises royalty rates for oil...
'Forever chemicals' are found in water sources around New Mexico, studies find
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — So-called forever chemicals have been found in water sources across New Mexico, according to recent studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and state environment officials. The federal agency detailed the findings Wednesday, the same day the U.S....
Oklahoma sues natural gas companies over price spikes during 2021 winter storm
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two Texas-based natural gas companies are being sued by Oklahoma, which alleges they fraudulently reduced gas supplies to send prices soaring during Winter Storm Uri, making huge profits while thousands shivered across the state. The lawsuits are Oklahoma's...
Why is the EPA regulating PFAS and what are these 'forever chemicals'?
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized limits on certain common types of PFAS chemicals in drinking water. It is the first time a nationwide limit on so-called forever chemicals has been imposed on water providers. EPA Administrator Michael Regan called it the biggest action...
Biden administration sets first-ever limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent...
FirstEnergy made secret $1 million payment in 2017 to support ‘Husted campaign’ in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Akron-based energy company at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio gave a secret $1 million contribution to a dark money group backing Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in his 2018 bid for governor, cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday. ...
