CMP Conducting Aerial Inspections of Transmission Lines

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

AUGUSTA, Maine, April 26, 2016  Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc. (NYSE: AGR), has begun its spring inspections of its transmission lines by helicopter. The flights are an important part of the utility's annual inspection program to ensure safe, reliable delivery of power to homes and businesses throughout its service area.

 
Each spring and fall, CMP does a visual inspection of all of its transmission right-of-ways from the air. These flights help to spot potential problems with equipment, as well as signs of unauthorized use.

 
 Unauthorized uses in our corridors can pose a risk to our energy grid or the environment, said CMP spokesperson Gail Rice. We want to be a good neighbor by preventing abuses such as off-road vehicle use or disposal of trash or brush.

 

In addition to the spring and fall visual inspections, CMP also flies over its entire transmission system in the summer using a helicopter equipped with infrared thermal imaging equipment to detect hot spots that might need attention.

 

Our lines are exposed to the weather all the time, and extreme temperatures and precipitation can take their toll on switches, clamps, insulators, and other equipment, says Rice. These devices often heat up if there's been minor damage or wear, so inspecting the lines with infrared equipment lets us find and fix problems before they cause a power outage.

 

CMP owns nearly 2,500 miles of transmission line. Along with completing the semi-annual visual patrols and the yearly infrared inspections, the utility does aerial checks following major storms or when it detects an abnormality such as a momentary outage or a change in voltage.
 

 

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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)