Downeast Reliability Project Brings Significant Improvements to Electrical System as Mainer’s Observe Ice Storm Anniversary
Monday, January 07, 2013
Bangor, ME -- As Mainer’s observe the 15th anniversary of the Ice Storm of 1998, Bangor Hydro
Electric Company announces the completion of the Downeast Reliability Project, a major transmission investment project serving the Downeast coastal region.
“The Ice Storm reinforced the critical importance of our electrical system,” said Kim Wadleigh, VP of Transmission and Distribution Operations. “This project is a game changer. If the Ice Storm happened again today, the impact on customers from our transmission system would be much different.”
The project bolsters reliability to the Downeast region by providing a second primary line with greater capacity. Should one line fail, the second line can handle the entire electricity load. This also allows important maintenance, upgrades, and repairs to be done on each line. The new facilities also strengthened the entire coastal system.
“Not only was the project completed on schedule, but it was also completed under budget,” Wadleigh noted. “That’s important to us as we work to provide the most efficient options and value for our customers.”
The project team thoroughly evaluated the system to determine the best solution that would provide the most reliable, efficient and safest option for Bangor Hydro customers. The five-year development and construction process for the 43-mile line and four substations was completed in late December.
The project is a once-in-50-year investment in the energy infrastructure of the coastal area, which brought major economic activity to the local economy and will strengthen the economic vitality of the region for the long term.
Caption: Damage to Washington County transmission lines during the Ice Storm of '98.
Bangor Hydro Electric Company and Maine Public Service are regulated electricity
transmission and distribution utilities wholly-owned by Emera Inc. Halifax,
NS (EMA-TSX. Bangor Hydro serves 117,000 customers in an area encompassing 5,275
square miles in eastern and east coastal Maine, and is a member of the New England
Power Pool and is interconnected with other New England utilities to the south and
with the New Brunswick Power Corp. to the north. Maine Public Service serves
approximately 36,000 electricity customer accounts in Northern Maine.
To learn more visit our websites at www.bangorhydro.com
and www.mainepublicservice.com.
Emera Inc. is an energy and services company with $7.4 billion in assets and 2011
revenues of $2.1 billion. The company invests in electricity generation, transmission
and distribution, as well as gas transmission and utility energy services.
Emera's strategy is focused on the transformation of the electricity industry to
cleaner generation and the delivery of that clean energy to market. Emera has
interests throughout northeastern North America, in three Caribbean countries.
More than 80% of the company's earnings come from regulated investments.
Emera common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and
trade respectively under the symbol EMA, EMA.PR.A, and EMA.PR.C. Additional
information can be accessed at www.emera.com,
www.sedar.com,
or on www.sec.gov.
