Maine smart grid toolkit

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Smart grid projects

Central Maine Power AMI project

Central Maine Power Company’s (CMP) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project consists of territory-wide deployments of more than 600,000 smart meters to all of its residential, commercial, and industrial customers. This project is designed to create a technology platform for providing customers with electricity usage information and alternative electricity rates from third-party energy providers. Customers view their energy consumption through a Web portal and can use that information to help manage electricity bills. CMP can monitor real-time electricity demand and use that information to better manage peak loads. This project aims to reduce operations and maintenance costs and service restoration times for customers through quicker and more accurate location of faults and power outages. CMP plans to assess the load-shape and consumption impacts of providing customers with different types of information using Web portals and home area networks. Get details >>

Energy news and trends in Maine

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Vinalhaven, Swans Island to receive loans for electric grid upgrades

Two Maine island electric cooperatives have received nearly $1.8 million in federal loans to add distribution lines and make other infrastructure improvements. Fox Islands Electric Cooperative on Vinalhaven and North Haven will receive a $950,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service for construction of 4 miles of new distribution lines and to make improvements to 8 miles of lines. Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative will receive an $813,000 loan from the USDA program to construct 3 miles of new distribution lines and to make improvements to 4 miles of lines. Read more from the Bangor Daily News >>

Maine Wind Project Wins $102 Million U.S. Loan Guarantee

The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $102 million loan guarantee that will support construction of a 50.6-megawatt wind power plant and an 8-mile-long transmission line in Maine. The Record Hill Wind project plans to add advanced sensor systems and processing technology to 22-turbines, which will allow them to operate in rough weather when other turbines would have to shut down. Read more from Forbes >>

As installation of smart meters continues, so does consumer push back

Although Central Maine Power already has converted nearly half of its 620,000 accounts in the state to digital smart meters, some midcoast area customers are continuing to fight back against the change. Read more from the Bangor Daily News >>

Maine PUC gives meter opponents opt out choice

The Maine PUC has given consumers who think smart meters pose a health risk two choices for  opting out of Central Maine Power's (CMP) metering program. The catch is they have to pay for the privilege.  Read more from Smart Grid News >>

Wood pellets create green energy, jobs
By burning wood pellets instead of foreign oil, the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor saves $1.5 million each year. That means in two years, the lab will earn back its investment in the $4 million project. Read more from WLBZ2 >>

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