Cross-Sound Cable to Close for Repairs in October

The 330-megawatt transmission line will cease operations from October 19 through October 31, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Utilities

Cross-Sound Cable to Close for Repairs in October

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The 24-mile Cross-Sound Cable connecting New Haven, Connecticut to Shoreham, New York will be offline starting October 19, 2026. This outage is scheduled to last through October 31, 2026, as crews relocate and rebury sections of the line.

Why it matters

The outage is required to support the dredging project aimed at deepening the New Haven Harbor federal navigation channel from 35 feet to 40 feet. This infrastructure work is essential for improving maritime access to the harbor.

The Cross-Sound Cable operates with a 330-megawatt capacity, but it will maintain 0 MW of transfer capability during the upcoming outage. The project involves removing 1,250 linear feet of cable and installing 2,600 linear feet in a new location.

The players

ISO New England

The independent system operator manages the electric grid across the region and tracks energy transfers like those sent through the Cross-Sound Cable.

LIPA

The Long Island Power Authority holds a long-term agreement for transmission capacity that extends through 2032.

The details

Workers will lower 400 linear feet of the existing undersea line to accommodate the deeper navigation channel in New Haven Harbor. This transmission line has historically facilitated significant power sharing, having transferred 888 gigawatt-hours of electricity to Long Island as of August 31, 2026.

2000: LIPA entered an agreement to buy transmission capacity.
2023: The cable was out of service from July through October.
August 31, 2026: End date for electricity transfer reporting.
October 19, 2026 to October 31, 2026: Scheduled Cross-Sound Cable outage period.
2032: Expiration of the LIPA transmission capacity agreement.

Market Landscape

This cable relocation project mirrors the standard infrastructure management practices required for maintaining active federal navigation channels. Such utility maintenance is a recurring necessity for regional energy grids that rely on cross-water transmission hardware.

The temporary closure of this 330-megawatt line will not impact retail pricing directly but represents a short-term reduction in regional power transfer capacity. Residents should be aware that this work is a planned maintenance event essential for ongoing harbor development.

The takeaway

Large-scale utility maintenance often requires temporary service interruptions to accommodate regional infrastructure upgrades like channel dredging. Residents and business operators can expect these scheduled outages when critical infrastructure overlaps with maritime transport needs.