CMP: Bizarre Forklift Incident Highlights Benefits of a Modern Grid

Most customers had their power restored remotely in ten minutes thanks to automated reclosers and remote operated switches

AUGUSTA, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Early Sunday morning, joyriding vandals stole an industrial forklift and drove its boom into high voltage transmission lines in the Lewiston-Auburn area, cutting power to nearly 7,000 customers. No one was hurt and police continue to investigate.

Despite this bizarre incident, Central Maine Power (CMP) crews were able to quickly restore power to more than 80% of affected customers in 10 minutes, thanks to investments in modern grid technology.

The fast restoration time represents a notable advancement in how the modern grid is capable of being managed remotely from CMP’s Energy Control Center. The installation of more automated reclosers and remote switches on the system is part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy. In this case, grid technology reduced the number of customers affected by this outage while utility workers dedicated more than six hours to making the scene safe, untangling the industrial forklift, and performing equipment repairs.

“This type of outcome is precisely why we continue to pursue strategies and investments to further enhance grid automation,” said Adam Desrosiers, Vice President of Electric Operations for CMP. “We know our customers are depending on the electricity we deliver to work, to drive cars and to heat homes. These devices can greatly reduce the scale and duration of power outages for our customers – no matter the cause.”

As part of its strategy to invest in more grid automation, CMP is working to identify additional funding resources to accelerate grid modernization strategies.

In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office announced that CMP had secured a $30 million grant, awarded under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program. This grant was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In July 2024, CMP was awarded a portion of the $6.6 million in grants announced by the Governor’s Energy Office as part of the Maine Grid Resilience Program to make upgrades, including adding automated devices to portions of its system in the Baldwin, Sebago and Standish area.

Below are links to downloadable video of a CMP automated recloser, the CMP Energy Control Center and pictures of the entangled forklift:

B/Roll of Automated Recloser

B/Roll of Energy Control Center

About Central Maine Power: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899 and based in Augusta, Maine, CMP serves approximately 646,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine. It operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines. Over the last decade, the company has invested approximately $3.5 billion in Maine system infrastructure. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $46 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens – in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.