Versant Power worked to improve reliability in 2021
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Bangor and Presque Isle, ME— Versant Power completed several large projects throughout our service territory this year in an ongoing effort to improve system reliability.
Among the work completed this year was a project in East Bangor where customers were moved to updated circuits and the system was equipped with new utility poles, wires, and animal protection. In Brewer, 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.
In the Old Town/Orono area, we continued work on a multiyear reliability effort by installing smart fault indicators and new remote operated switches that will help us isolate a problem and quickly restore as many customers as possible while repairs are made.
In communities from Bangor to Saint Agatha, Versant employees and contractors completed 13 covered conductor projects, in which insulated wire was installed to protect and strengthen the distribution system against falling trees and tree limbs. We rebuilt two sections of a power line reaching the end of its useful life that runs from Veazie to Ellsworth, as well as a line that connects the northern Maine system with New Brunswick, which was more than sixty years old. Crews also worked to replace four substation transformers as part of a long-term plan to replace aging equipment.
“We’re continuing to place a focused effort on improving our system’s safety and reliability by investing in necessary repairs and equipment before they reach end of life,” said Paul Miller, Versant Power’s Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “Likewise, we’ve made notable improvements to our vegetation management tree-related program in 2021, which will set the stage for short- and long-term benefits to customers.”
Our vegetation management team has been hard at work this year assuring the completion of more than 2,000 miles of tree-specific work across northern and eastern Maine. To improve service to customers, the team increased in size, streamlined their work approach, and used new equipment to remove ‘danger trees’ in a safer and more cost-effective way.
Additional highlights from the year include electrical system work to support the future Route 9 connector highway as well as distribution system re-construction work that was identified from our line inspection program. As we wrap up work in 2021, we ask customers for their help in 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.