Central Maine Power to Begin Construction of New Underground Transmission Line and Substation in Lewiston

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Lewiston, Maine, May 9, 2016  Contractors working on behalf of Central Maine Power Co., a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc. (NYSE: AGR), are about to begin construction on a new 115-kilovolt underground transmission line and substation on Middle Street in downtown Lewiston. The new line and substation, in addition to an overhead transmission line currently under construction along with several minor upgrades, form the utility's $72 million Lewiston Loop project designed to address reliability in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

 

These upgrades will help to improve reliability and expand electrical capacity in the Lewiston-Auburn area, said Doug Herling, Vice President of Special Projects for Central Maine Power. The cities of Lewiston and Auburn have been active partners in the development and approval of this project, and Central Maine Power and AVANGRID thank both communities for their support while we work to maintain reliability into the future.

 

Underground construction will occur in Lewiston on Main, Chapel, Lowell, Canal, and Lisbon streets, as well as Strawberry Patch Road. Work on Main, Canal, and Lisbon Streets will occur at night and may involve traffic detours. Work on the other streets and at the Middle Street Substation site will likely occur during the day. 

 

We are working closely with the City of Lewiston on a traffic control plan, and we appreciate motorists patience and understanding as we work on this important upgrade to enhance services to local homes and businesses, said Herling.

 

Contactors working on the Lewiston Loop include project manager Burns & McDonnell of Portland, underground transmission contractor Sargent Corporation of Stillwater, Maine, and overhead transmission contractor Elecnor Hawkeye of Sanford, Maine. A substation construction contractor will be named soon.

 
Underground construction is expected to continue through mid-2017 and the Middle Street Substation is scheduled to be energized in 2018.

 

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About Central Maine Power Company (CMP): Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR). As Maine's largest electricity transmission and distribution utility, CMP serves 620,000 homes and businesses, representing about 80% of Maine's customer base. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the company #1 in customer satisfaction seven times. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com. 

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a diversified energy and utility company with $31 billion in assets and operations in 25 states. The company operates regulated utilities and electricity generation through two primary lines of business. Avangrid Networks includes eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.1 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables operates 6.3 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, across the United States. AVANGRID employs 7,000 people. The company was formed by a merger between Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings Corporation in 2015. IBERDROLA, S.A. (Madrid: IBE), a worldwide leader in the energy industry, owns 81.5% of AVANGRID. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

 

Media Contact:

Gail Rice
Central Maine Power
gail.rice@cmpco.com
207.622.NEWS (207.622.6397)