CMP Highlights Benefits of Stronger Grid Infrastructure Built to Withstand Extreme Weather

Midcoast grid upgrade featuring steel poles and covered conductor nears completion, strengthening reliability and resilience for customers.

Augusta, ME - September 24, 2026 - As a major grid upgrade in Midcoast Maine nears completion, Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., is highlighting how investments in stronger, more resilient infrastructure are helping prepare Maine's electric grid for increasingly extreme weather and growing energy demands. By replacing aging equipment with modern materials such as steel poles and covered conductor, CMP is improving reliability for customers today while strengthening the grid for the future.

"Our customers count on electricity every hour of every day, and it's our responsibility to ensure the grid is ready for the future," said Linda Ball, President and CEO of CMP. "That's why we're investing in stronger, smarter infrastructure that can better withstand the impacts of increasingly severe weather while delivering the safe, reliable power Maine families and businesses depend on. Upgrades like steel poles and covered conductor not only help reduce the risk of outages during storms, they also provide the capacity needed to support growing communities, economic development, and Maine's evolving energy needs for decades to come."

One example of these modernization efforts is a transmission upgrade project in Midcoast Maine that is nearing completion. The project is replacing aging infrastructure with steel poles and covered conductor, two technologies designed to improve reliability and withstand the impacts of weather and environmental conditions. Steel poles offer greater durability and resilience than traditional wood structures, particularly in coastal environments, while covered conductor helps reduce outages caused by vegetation and other external factors. Transmission lines serve as the backbone of Maine's power grid, moving large amounts of electricity between substations and communities, much like state highways connect destinations across Maine.

Many portions of Maine's electric transmission system were built decades ago using materials that are reaching the end of their operational lifespans. In some locations, transmission structures are 50 to 60 years old. Replacing those aging assets with modern infrastructure helps reduce outage risks, improve resilience during severe weather, and enhance overall reliability as Maine experiences more frequent extreme weather.

These investments are already delivering benefits in areas where projects have been completed. For example, CMP's recently rebuilt transmission line serving Augusta, Vassalboro, and Winslow provides greater reliability for customers while strengthening the region's electric infrastructure. By continuing to modernize key portions of its transmission system, CMP is helping build a stronger, more resilient grid that will serve Maine communities for decades to come.

News media can download rights-free video of transmission infrastructure upgrades here.