The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Utilities" ...
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Power Failure
Energy deregulation in the state of Texas is the subject as the Daily News reports the $40 billion yearly sales and consumer unhappiness with rates that continue to rise. "Most have seen their electricity rates increase between 67 and 114 percent since the retail market was deregulated five years ago." The investigation finds not only that supply and demand may does no apply to electricity, but also that "some power companies have appeared to engage in anticompetitive behavior and even outright manipulation." And the state's utility commission has done little to remedy the situation.
Tags: Energy; electricity; energy deregulation; energy rates; rising energy costs
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Power to the People?
This investigation reveals how rural electric cooperatives have become unregulated monopolies that often take advantage of their unknowing members. Many cooperatives haven't elected new board members for decades, and members are not aware of destructive changes made by the governing boards. Some cooperatives even outsourced work to for-profit companies.
Tags: utilities; electricity; power companies; business; local government
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N.Y. Power Authority
The New York Power Authority provides about one-quarter of NY state's electricity needs. Although it is a branch of state government, it acts as a corporation, giving away some of its profits to pet charities of the Board and the Directors, rather than lowering utility costs to customers. Almost 200 of the NYPA's 1600 employees make more than $100,000 a year.
Tags: NY State Public Authority; NYPA; patronage; energy-efficiency programs; U.S. Olympic Committee; Olympic Regional Development Authority's Congressional Winter Challenge; ORDA; Energy Services Program; Governor Pataki
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Water Worries
"This four part series found serious flaws in management of the Madison Water Utility and, as a result, troubling problems with safety of the city's water supply. The series showed that the utility's response to the contaminant manganese in the tap water of many Madison homes and the potential health impacts of exposure to the mineral was late and inadequate."
Tags: water; magnese; industrial carcinogen; aging wells; pipes; Board of Water Commissioners; Madison Water Utility
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Would you pay $840,925 for this house?
Colorado Springs Utilities has spent over $6 million to purchase property for a reservoir that has yet to be granted a federal permit. The purchase prices were much higher than the appraised and market values, while including additional payments for "relocation costs."
Tags: realty; housing; over priced; reservoir; grant; permit; rent; auditor; jimmy camp creek
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Trust Us
Laclede Gas uses estimating billing for customers, making it impossible to verify. "In the way the system is constructed, consumers basically had to trust Laclede and its billing practices." Further investigations found that new meter reader systems were imporperly installed causing the gas to leak.
Tags: gas; billing; utilities; Laclede Gas; Missouri; estimated billing; gas meter readers
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Dangerous Dams
There are several "high hazard" dams in Maryland which the state Department of the Environment considers unsafe and a threat to public safety. Some of these dams are in imminent danger of failing. A "high hazard" dam indicates that a collapse would cause loss of life and damage to residential, industrial or agricultural areas, public utilities and infrastructure. The story detailed lax enforcement of rules and regulations when a dam owner is told by state inspectors to fix problems.
Tags: Dams; safety; breach; unsafe; high hazard
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Our Tax Dollars at Work
A look at how the tax money in Kansas City is spent on street maintenance, police, fire/ambulance, water, sewer, parks and recreation, municipal courts, and solid waste removal.
Tags: Utilities; tax money; city spending; taxes; streets; emergency services; municipal courts; garbage pickup; solid waste removal
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Well Connected in the States
Well connected in the United States is an investigation into the political influence of the telecommunications industry at the state level.
Tags: telecommunications; lobbying; state government; Public Utility Board; SBC Communications; AT&T Corp.; utilities; FOIA; cable television; political contributions
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Liquid Assets--Turning water into gold
Due to a unique water ownership structure established nearly two decades ago, suburban Denver communities have been forced to pay the highest water connection fees in the country. According to this investigation, this has created a competition for resources to fuel the booming population growth in the suburbs, creating an "unregulated and often untraceable commodities market in Colorado."
Tags: Big Thompson system; utilities; population growth; economic growth; Denver; commodities