Powering Eastport Forward

Eastport, ME - Eastport’s electric service is delivered through a single transmission line that connects the community to the mainland grid. Without a secondary supply route, any disruption along that line—whether from nor’easters, strong winds, or fallen trees—can result in outages affecting the entire city. Restoration requires crews to locate and repair the specific damage, a process that can take longer during large-scale storm events.

After many decades of service, the city’s World War I vintage backup diesel generator failed and was decommissioned in 2018 and not replaced. Since then, Versant Power upgraded more than 200 cross-arms on utility poles along the transmission line. These composite cross-arms are much more resilient than wooden cross-arms and are less likely to break in a number of situations, including inclement weather. The cross-arms replacement work continued in 2019 and 2020.

Other recent upgrades include installation of a new transformer, additional substation equipment, and line voltage changes - often referred to as a “cutover.” The redesigned substation will enhance redundancy across the three local circuits it serves, increasing overall circuit capacity and improving reliability for customers. These improvements also strengthen system safety and are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.

Versant Power continues to make targeted infrastructure upgrades designed to improve reliability across northern and eastern Maine. These efforts include replacing aging equipment, strengthening key components of the system, and modernizing infrastructure to better withstand severe weather.

As severe weather events become more frequent across Maine, communities like Eastport are recognizing the importance of grid modernization and resilience planning. Through a combination of infrastructure investment and forward-thinking energy strategies, Eastport is taking meaningful steps toward a stronger, safer, and more reliable electric future.

Versant Power is committed to delivering safe, reliable electric service. As the state's second-largest electric utility, the company delivers electricity to more than 165,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers across 10,400 square miles in northern and eastern Maine.