Central Maine Power Highlights Environmental Accomplishments in Advance of Earth Day

Smart meters, paperless billing, and electric vehicle grant programs
have enabled utility to reduce its carbon footprint and help customers do the same

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA, MAINE  April 20, 2017  As the region prepares to observe Earth Day this Saturday, Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), announced that enrollment in its Energy Manager program has reached a new milestone. At the end of March, more than 63,000 customers were enrolled in the free service, which is enabled by the company's smart meters and related technology.

Many of our customers share our commitment to the environment, and they tell us that our Energy Manager service really helps them use electricity more wisely, said Sara Burns, CMP president and CEO. "This service is just one of many ways that technology investments like smart meters are helping us deliver electricity to homes and businesses across central and southern Maine with less impact on the environment."

Energy Manager allows customers to view detailed usage data and gain a better understanding energy use in their own homes. Customers can download the data, set savings goals, and follow tips from Energy Manager and other sources to help meet those objectives. 

CMP"s smart meter system has also allowed the company to reduce its carbon footprint. Since completing installation of more than 600,000 smart meters and other equipment in 2012, the company has cut the number of miles traveled by an estimated 2 million per year, reducing fossil fuel use and eliminating 1,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The technology also helps CMP to be more efficient in service recovery following storms.

CMP is also a leader in paperless billing, with more than 200,000 of its customers -- nearly 35 percent -- enrolled in its eBill service.
Through its Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Grant Programs, CMP has awarded 25 organizations nearly $210,000 to help with the purchase or lease of a PEV and/or to install charging stations. The program raises the visibility of electric vehicle technology by creating a community of PEV users among Maine"s municipal governments and non-profit agencies. In its most recent round of grants, CMP"s program added 18 PEVs to Maine roads, and new charging stations have gone on line in key locations around central and southern Maine.

In addition to CMP"s grant program, the Avangrid Foundation provided the Greater Portland Council of Governments with $50,000 in 2015 to help various cities, towns, and businesses install PEV charging station technology. The initiative has added charging stations in many communities across central and southern Maine.

In 2015, CMP was named an Environmental Champion by Cogent Reports, the syndicated research division of Market Strategies International. Cogent's designation, based on more than 25,000 consumer performance ratings for 125 leading utilities nationwide, ranked CMP among the top three electric utilities in the eastern U.S.

AVANGRID affiliates in the Northeast and across the U.S. continue working to support the company's vision to provide clean energy through sustainable sources.

• In Connecticut, United Illuminating has completed its commitment under that state's Renewable Connections Program, building clean energy facilities capable of contributing 10 megawatts of renewable energy to the state's power grid. These include fuel cells in New Haven, Bridgeport and Woodbridge, along with a solar array in Bridgeport. A fourth AVANGRID fuel cell project in Glastonbury, which is not part of the RCP program, is also now in service, generating up to 3.4 megawatts of renewable power.
• New York State Electric and Gas is building an Energy Smart Community  a new energy infrastructure that will allow it to respond to outages more quickly, to seamlessly connect with cleaner energy sources, and keep the energy grid secure. The innovations will also give customers more control, greater flexibility, and more choice. 
• Avangrid Renewables added 280 megawatts of new wind generation in 2017, with another 536 megawatts of new wind projects and 66 megawatts of new solar projects under construction. It was recently declared the preliminary winner of the right to develop its first U.S. offshore wind farm off the coast of North Carolina. Avangrid Renewables operates 6.3 gigawatts of generation capacity, primarily through nearly 60 wind farms in 20 states, which makes it one of the country's leading producers of clean wind energy.

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About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a diversified energy and utility company with more than $31 billion in assets and operations in 27 U.S. states. The company owns regulated utilities and electricity generation assets through two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks comprises eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving approximately 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables operates 6.5 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 7,000 people. Iberdrola S.A. (Madrid: IBE), a worldwide leader in the energy industry, owns 81.5% of the outstanding shares of AVANGRID common stock. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

About 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 618,000 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. 

Media Contact:

Gail Rice 
gail.rice@avangrid.com
207.622.NEWS