CMP Begins Sanford Area Transmission Line Upgrade

Upgrades will benefit more than 3,600 CMP customers in York County.

 

Augusta, ME — April 17, 2025 – Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., announced that crews have begun construction work to upgrade a transmission line serving more than 3,600 customers in the Sanford area.

 

These improvements include replacing all wooden poles with stronger poles made of steel, making this section of Maine’s energy grid more resilient to impacts from extreme weather. CMP will also install covered wire along the entire 1.4-mile line as part of this project. This will help prevent power interruptions from tree hazards like falling branches.

 

“We’re looking forward to bringing the reliability benefits of 21st Century materials and modern grid construction to these customers in York County,” said Jenna Muzzy, Senior Director of Projects for CMP. “Transmission lines are the backbone of our grid that serve large numbers of customers. Proactive investments like these are critical to ensuring Mainers have the energy they need for their homes and businesses today and in the decades to come.”

 

Aspects of this project also support Maine’s economic growth. The new wire used during construction will be larger, allowing lines to carry more electricity. This will proactively alleviate potential capacity constraints resulting from increased demand for energy on Maine’s grid and new grid uses.

 

This week, construction is progressing with the setting of new steel poles and preparation of work areas. CMP expects to complete this upgrade by the end of 2025.

 

B/Roll of steel pole assembly at this site in Sanford from the past week is available for news media to download at this link.