CMP plans major grid overhaul in greater Portland
Maine Public | By Peter McGuire
Published December 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM EST
Central Maine Power wants to overhaul outdated electrical transmission and distribution systems around greater Portland.
The utility has proposed spending nearly $547 million in the first phase of upgrades that would include replacing and expanding poles, wires and electrical substations according to documents filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
CMP spokesperson Dustin Wlodkowski said the region is Maine's economic engine, biggest population center and host of critical services.
But its electric infrastructure is insufficient to support more development or community climate goals that call to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by electrifying home appliances, heating and cooling, and transportation.
"In a nutshell, that's what we are saying we'd like to address," Wlodkowski said. "We physically need larger wire to address all the energy needs and the goals of these communities in years to come."
The proposal calls to build or expand new transmission lines and substations in Cumberland and Portland, according to the Public Utilities Commission.
"These lines really do so much more than just go through Falmouth or go through Yarmouth, they are really providing a foundation for the state's success," Wlodkowski said.
The agency is considering CMP's application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity the company needs to proceed with the development.
CMP is holding open houses over the next week as part of its outreach to residents who live near the proposed upgrades and may be directly impacted by the development.
Meetings will be held in:
Portland, Dec. 9 at Presumpscot Elementary School 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Westbrook, Dec. 11 at the Westbrook Community Center, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Cumberland, Dec. 15 at the Cumberland Town Hall, 5 p.m. - 7p.m.
https://www.mainepublic.org/2025-12-09/cmp-plans-major-grid-overhau...
CMP proposes major grid upgrades to boost capacity in Greater Portland area
It’s unclear how these upgrades may impact customers’ power bills.
If the project were approved, work is expected to begin in 2027 and would take three to four years to complete.
https://wgme.com/news/local/cmp-proposes-major-grid-upgrades-to-boo...
Greater Portland Transmission Upgrades Projects
Central Maine Power (CMP) is proposing the Greater Portland Transmission Upgrades Project, a multi-year initiative to build a modern network of substations, upgraded infrastructure, and strengthened grid sections stretching from Yarmouth through Greater Portland.
These improvements are designed to:
- Replace aging equipment.
- Expand capacity to meet growing electricity demand.
- Enhance the reliability of the electric system for more than 200,000 customers.
Although early in the process, this project aims to support this region’s future energy needs as more heat pumps, electric vehicles, electrified water transportation and renewable energy are utilized by our customers.
Our community partners:
- City of Portland
- Town of Falmouth
- Town of Yarmouth
- City of Westbrook
- Town of Cumberland
- Greater Portland Council of Governments
- Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Community Open Houses
CMP is hosting a series of Community Open Houses in towns along the proposed route — including Portland, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cumberland, and Westbrook. These events will provide opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and speak directly with project representatives.
Yarmouth
- Date: Monday, December 8
- Time: 5pm-7pm
- Location: Yarmouth Town Hall, Community Room, 200 Main Street, Yarmouth
Portland
- Date: Tuesday, December 9
- Time: 5pm-7pm
- Location: Presumpscot Elementary School, 69 Presumpscot Street, Portland, ME 04103
Westbrook
- Date: Thursday, December 11
- Time: 6pm-8pm
- Location: Westbrook Community Center
Cumberland
- Date: Monday, December 15
- Time: 5pm-7pm
- Location: Cumberland Town Hall, 290 Tuttle Road, Cumberland Center, ME 04021
Contact us
- Project Information Line: 1.888.267.0831
- Email: outreach@cmpco.com
- Please refer to Greater Portland Transmission Upgrades Project in your message.
https://www.cmpco.com/ourcompany/reliableservice/greater-portland-t...
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Comment
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Comment by Dan McKay 12 hours ago
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Stick a gigantic lithium battery on Congress Street and let them feel what is like using the government's selected power of last resort. Place bicycles with generating capacity next to the battery so Portland people can peddle charge them. MAHA
Maine as Third World Country:
CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power
Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.
Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT
******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********
(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/
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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law
Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future
"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."
https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/
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