Due to the industry’s effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, customer trust in utilities – including a number of public power utilities -- has reached an historic high, according to a recent survey.

CPS Energy, the public power utility serving San Antonio, Texas, is moving ahead with plans for two substations designed to meet the needs of the growing metropolitan area.

Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., on July 8 unveiled the introduction of S. 4303, the American Infrastructure Bonds Act, which would allow the issuance of taxable direct payment bonds, akin to a Build America Bond.

The American Public Power Association is urging its member utilities to reach out to their congressional delegation in support of legislation that would provide direct COVID-19 pandemic-related aid for public power utilities.

The U.S. Department of Treasury last week released further guidance on the use of coronavirus relief funds (CRF) to states, counties, and localities authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

A bipartisan group of senators on July 1 introduced the Lifting Our Communities through Advance Liquidity for Infrastructure (LOCAL Infrastructure) Act, which would reinstate the ability to issue tax-exempt advance refunding bonds.