Avangrid Modernizes Substations Across Three States

The energy provider is upgrading over 40 facilities to improve grid reliability and meet future power demands.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration of a high-voltage electrical substation with steel towers and transformers, representing infrastructure grid upgrades. — Avangrid is modernizing over 40 electrical substations across Connecticut, Maine, and New York to bolster grid reliability and capacity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Avangrid is investing in the modernization of more than 40 electrical substation facilities across Maine, New York, and Connecticut. These infrastructure improvements include equipment replacements, flood mitigation, and automation upgrades designed to bolster grid resiliency.

Why it matters

These upgrades are intended to replace aging equipment and increase grid capacity to better meet long-term energy demands. By reinforcing these substations, the company aims to ensure the electric system remains reliable for customers for decades to come.

Avangrid is currently modernizing over 40 substation facilities, with NYSEG having already completed work at nine of those sites in New York. Projects include high-voltage infrastructure like the 34-kV switchyard at the Rock Row site.

The players

Avangrid

Avangrid is a major energy company that operates as a subsidiary of the Iberdrola Group.

Central Maine Power

Central Maine Power is an electric utility serving the state of Maine.

United Illuminating

United Illuminating is a regional electric utility providing service to parts of Connecticut.

NYSEG

New York State Electric and Gas is an electric and natural gas provider operating in New York state.

Rochester Gas and Electric

Rochester Gas and Electric is a utility company that serves the Rochester area in New York.

The details

Construction efforts are currently underway at locations such as the Old Town Substation in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the facility is being rebuilt. Additional work includes transformer replacements in Ansonia and reliability upgrades at the Sackett Substation in North Haven.

The modernization program for the facilities is scheduled throughout 2026.
Avangrid unveiled the investment plan in October 2026.

Market Landscape

This project follows a pattern set by the Department of Energy's Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants by focusing on infrastructure hardening. It positions Avangrid to maintain its regional market share by proactively addressing the aging electrical grid infrastructure.

Customers in Maine, New York, and Connecticut can expect improvements to the resiliency and reliability of their local electrical service. These upgrades are designed to reduce the risk of service interruptions and help the grid better handle increasing power demands.

The takeaway

Reliable electricity depends on consistent, long-term investments in aging physical infrastructure like substations and transformers. Residents should prepare for potential brief local work activity as these critical grid components are rebuilt and modernized.