Text Size: A A


Versant Power works to improve Orrington substation

Release Date:  02-06-2023

Untitled Design 59

Bangor, Maine
 – Over the past few years, major changes have been underway at Versant Power’s Orrington substation to improve system reliability. The substation serves the high voltage transmission system that transports bulk power through Versant's service territory. Improvements included a new control house and equipment within it, new circuit breakers and associated protective devices.


In 2020, a new control house was built at the substation along with new control panels, underground cable trenches and conduit banks. The control house has two ventilated battery rooms for backup power supply to control functions.


Cable trays are the mechanical systems that support electrical cables. “The cable trays at the Orrington substation became overloaded from decades of upgrades and additions,” said Versant Power’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Miller, “They needed to be ‘unloaded’ and returned to their rated capacity. This was accomplished by moving the controls for six circuit breakers to the new control house.”


Circuit breakers are electrical safety devices used for routine switching and to automatically shut off current flow when a fault is detected. Six circuit breakers at the substation dated back to the 1970s and were reaching end of life. They were also filled with oil, which Versant's Environmental team safely disposed of upon removal.


In 2021 and 2022, the breakers were replaced with more modern ones that are more environmentally friendly and require less maintenance. Upon replacement, the breakers’ controls were cutover to the new control house. New protective relays, devices designed to trip a circuit breaker when a fault is detected, were also installed.


The Versant team went through an extensive testing process to ensure the new equipment can be operated safely through SCADA, the tool that allows remote control of the electrical system by an operator.


Work at the Orrington substation is expected to be completed by Spring 2023. For more Versant Power news, please visit versantpower.com.

Please Identify Your Service Area

Click on your district on the map, or select a zip code or town from the lists.

Select Your District on the Map Below

Maine Public Service District Bangor Hydro District
or

or

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.
            The Maine Public District serves Aroostook County and a small piece of Penobscot County.

Because some information varies by District, please identify your District on the map above, or enter your town or zipcode. If you need information on both Districts,  switch back and forth at any time by selecting the district selector button.

If the browser you are using has cookies enabled, you will only have to make this selection once.( If your browser has cookies disabled your selection will be remembered until you close the browser, but not when you return to the site.)