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Versant Power worked to improve reliability in 2022

Release Date:  01-10-2023

Swan Background

Bangor and Presque Isle, ME
— Versant Power completed several large projects throughout our service territory last year in an ongoing effort to improve system reliability.

Among the work completed was a project along Route 1A in Dedham and Ellsworth where crews rebuilt a 6-mile section of transmission line previously located in wetlands that contained some equipment dating back to the 1930s. The project is part of long-term reliability improvement effort that includes rebuilding most of the old line, which is 23 miles long and runs from Veazie to Ellsworth.

In Ellsworth, crews installed devices that will directly communicate the location of an issue on the line, isolate the fault location, and automatically restore the rest of the customers from a nearby circuit.

“We know that reliability of service is more important now than ever to our customers,” said Paul Miller, Versant Power’s Chief Operating Officer. “We plan reliability improvements to our system thoughtfully with the help of technology and our skilled team of engineers.”

To better identify vegetation concerns such as narrow clearances and danger trees, we completed an aerial survey of our transmission lines with a helicopter equipped with LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology. Our vegetation management team has also been hard at work this year assuring the completion of more than 2,000 miles of tree work across northern and eastern Maine. 

To take further action against vegetation related outages, Versant replaced 13 miles of bare wire with covered wire with an insulated coating that acts to prevent faults and outages when trees and branches come in contact with the line.

Work began this spring on a meter replacement project for all residential, small and medium commercial customers that will carry into 2023. The new metering systems will allow us to identify power issues more quickly and respond to them sooner.

Later in the year, Versant completed two undersea cable installations to replace cables reaching the end of their useful lives after years of damage from movement on the rocks caused by tidal action. The new cables to Islesford and Swan’s Island contain electrical conductors as well as fiberoptic cable that can transport internet connectivity to the island.

Additional highlights from the year include substation decommissioning work in Machias and improvements to equipment at the Orrington substation.  As we continue reliability projects in 2023, we ask customers for their help ensuring the safety of our crews on the road.  Please remember to slow down in work zones and give our crews the space they need to work safely.

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Versant Power provides electric delivery service to two areas – the Bangor Hydro District and the Maine Public District.

            The Bangor Hydro District includes Hancock, Piscataquis and Washington Counties and most of Penobscot County.
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