AVANGRID Announces Comprehensive $2.5 Billion Resiliency Plan to Harden its Power Grid and Help Minimize the
Impact of Future Storms on Customers in Maine and New York
Advanced Metering Infrastructure, a Vital Part of the Plan, Will Enable Customers To Better Manage Their
Energy Use
AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR), a diversified energy company, today announced that the Company’s Networks division is developing a
comprehensive and robust resiliency plan – Transforming Energy – to address the impact severe storms have on infrastructure
throughout AVANGRID’s utilities’ service territories. The plan includes measures that will harden the power grid to better
withstand storms while also utilizing technology that will help customers better manage their energy consumption.
The frequency and severity of storms continues to increase, and recent storms have packed a powerful punch, inflicting serious
damage to electrical infrastructure. AVANGRID is committed to meeting this challenge head-on by investing in solutions to mitigate
the hardships these storms impose on our customers.
“Over the past 16 months alone, Avangrid Networks’ utilities in Maine, New York and Connecticut have incurred over $450 million
in storm damage and restoration costs,” said Bob Kump, CEO of Avangrid Networks. “As these weather patterns become the new norm, it
is imperative that we implement a long-term plan to harden our grid and help ensure that our customers experience the level of
reliability they expect from their energy company regardless of the weather.”
Key elements of AVANGRID’s Transforming Energy plan include:
- Accelerated replacement of wood poles based on a specific list of criteria including physical
condition, structural deficiencies and recent circuit performance;
- Increased use of insulated spacer cable or “tree wire” to minimize outages in the instance of tree
contact;
- An analysis of areas where electrical infrastructure hardening, including undergrounding or new
technologies such as batteries or microgrids, would be cost beneficial based on circuit performance;
- More aggressive “ground to sky” tree trimming and the identification and remediation of hazardous
trees outside the right-of-way along critical infrastructure;
- Targeted distribution circuit upgrades to improve grid structure to minimize impact and provide
alternative sources of supply to speed up restoration flexibility; and
- Full implementation of Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to provide our energy companies with
greater visibility to identify issues during storms faster.
Transforming Energy will address Avangrid Networks companies including NYSEG, RG&E, and Central Maine Power. The extent and
scope of hardening and remediation efforts will differ by company based on each company’s specific needs and criteria, and will
require regulatory approval.
“As we develop our plan, a key focus will be on tree-related interruptions, which are the leading cause of outages,” Kump added.
“Eighty percent of storm-related outages are caused by trees, over half of which are outside of our right-of-way. That’s why we
will look to improve our vegetation management protocols, working collaboratively with local municipalities, public works entities
and individual customers to tackle potential problems both inside and outside of our right-of-way.”
Under the plan, AVANGRID anticipates investing about $2.5 billion over the next 10 years. This includes an existing $500 million
proposal in New York for the full rollout of AMI by NYSEG and RG&E. AMI provides numerous benefits including faster response to
storm restoration and the ability for customers to better manage their energy use through access to hourly usage data. Customers
can also participate in innovative rate options and take advantage of other smart solutions in their homes. This infrastructure is
already in place at Central Maine Power, as well as United Illuminating in Connecticut.
As AVANGRID continues to refine and fine tune the resiliency plan, the Company will also analyze financial and personnel
requirements. “We are committed to meeting our customers’ expectations, and will work closely with regulators and elected officials
in the states where we operate, to ensure our plan advances that objective in a cost efficient manner,” Kump said.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with $31 billion in assets and
operations in 24 U.S. states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid
Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid
Renewables owns and operates 7.1 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states
across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainability Development
Goals, received a Climate Development Project climate score of “A-,” the top score received in the utilities sector, and has been
recognized for two consecutive years by Ethical Boardroom as the North American utility with the “best corporate governance
practices.” For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
AVANGRID, Inc.
Michael A. West, Jr., 203-499-3858
Michael.West@avangrid.com
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