Avangrid Expands Grid Modernization with 650 Smart Devices Installed Across Maine and New York in 2025
Avangrid, Inc., a leading sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, announced a major step forward in modernizing its electricity grid with the installation of more than 650 smart devices across its utility subsidiaries in Maine and New York in 2025. The initiative, led by Central Maine Power (CMP), New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), is designed to strengthen grid reliability, improve outage response, and support more than 1.3 million customers across both states.
This latest investment marks an important milestone in Avangrid’s broader mission to transform the U.S. energy infrastructure for a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient future. By integrating advanced technologies into existing distribution networks, Avangrid is ensuring that communities in Maine and Upstate New York have access to reliable power — even in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
Building a Smarter, More Resilient Grid
“Modernizing the grid is essential to delivering safe, reliable service to our customers, especially as weather events become more extreme,” said Avangrid CEO José Antonio Miranda. “These 650 new smart devices are a powerful example of how innovation can improve resilience, building a grid that responds faster, restores power quicker, and better serves the communities that depend on us.”
The newly installed smart devices, which include automated reclosers, sectionalizers, and switches, are designed to give Avangrid’s control centers real-time visibility into grid performance. These tools provide instant data on voltage, current, and network stability — enabling system operators to make rapid decisions when a fault or outage occurs.
Faster Outage Detection and Restoration
When outages occur, the devices can automatically isolate the faulted section of a circuit and reroute power to unaffected areas within minutes. This process, known as “sectionalization,” dramatically reduces the number of customers impacted by an outage and shortens restoration times.
According to Avangrid, these smart devices can restore service to most customers in as little as five minutes, compared to traditional manual restoration processes that can take several hours. This rapid response is especially valuable for customers in rural and remote regions, where physical access to damaged infrastructure can be time-consuming and challenging.
Moreover, the devices enhance operational efficiency by giving field crews precise information about where an outage has occurred. Rather than patrolling long stretches of line to locate the fault, crews can be dispatched directly to the problem area, saving both time and resources.
Strengthening Infrastructure for Future Challenges
The smart device rollout is a core component of CMP’s and NYSEG/RG&E’s broader grid modernization programs. These efforts aim to build stronger, more adaptive energy systems capable of withstanding the increasing frequency and intensity of severe storms, which have become a growing concern across the Northeast.
Beyond smart devices, Avangrid’s utilities are implementing a suite of complementary initiatives to reinforce their networks. These include:
- Deployment of tree wire: A specialized, insulated wire designed to prevent power interruptions caused by falling branches or vegetation contact.
- Upgraded pole infrastructure: Regular inspection, maintenance, and replacement of aging poles and crossarms to enhance structural reliability.
- Substation investments: Modernization of substation equipment to improve voltage control, reduce losses, and integrate renewable generation.
- Grid automation and analytics: Use of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics to anticipate equipment failures before they occur.
Through these initiatives, Avangrid’s utilities are not only enhancing reliability but also laying the groundwork for the integration of future clean energy technologies, such as distributed solar generation, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
A Broader Commitment to Modern Energy
Avangrid’s grid modernization investments align with the company’s long-term sustainability goals and commitment to the U.S. clean energy transition. With a generation portfolio exceeding 10.5 gigawatts (GW) across renewables and other sources, Avangrid is among the leading developers of wind and solar energy in the country.
The company continues to expand its investment in advanced grid technologies that support decarbonization while meeting the growing electricity demands of households, businesses, and public services. By reinforcing the grid’s digital backbone, Avangrid aims to enhance flexibility, improve reliability, and make its network more responsive to both customers and new energy sources.
Partnering for Progress
Avangrid’s efforts reflect the broader vision of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies and a pioneer in smart grid development. Together, Iberdrola and Avangrid are leveraging global expertise to advance grid resilience in the U.S. while accelerating the nation’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Through coordinated projects across its utility subsidiaries, Avangrid is turning innovation into tangible results. The 650 smart devices installed in 2025 represent just one part of a multi-year strategy to digitize the grid and improve customer outcomes. Over time, these investments are expected to yield measurable benefits, including reduced outage durations, lower operational costs, and increased system reliability.
Powering the Future
The installation of hundreds of automated devices across Maine and New York demonstrates Avangrid’s proactive approach to energy management. As climate patterns shift and electricity demand continues to rise, modernizing the grid is no longer optional — it is essential to ensuring energy security, reliability, and sustainability.
By combining smart grid technology with ongoing infrastructure investments, Avangrid is positioning itself — and the communities it serves — for a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient future. The company’s 2025 achievements underscore its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and its mission to power lives and drive progress in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
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