Overview
- Power started flowing on Jan. 16 as the 145-mile corridor connected at Lewiston, with Avangrid and Hydro-Québec confirming commercial operation.
- The line is designed to carry up to 1,200 megawatts under 20-year agreements and is expected to supply roughly one-fifth of Massachusetts’ electricity.
- Massachusetts officials project about $3 billion in net customer benefits, or roughly $50 million in annual bill reductions equating to about $18–$20 per household.
- Hydro-Québec has conserved water during multi-year droughts, and recent flows on the older Phase II link have often run north, while ISO New England’s chief expects contracted deliveries to be met.
- The project’s price tag rose to about $1.6–$1.65 billion after years of opposition and court fights, including a 2021 Maine referendum later overturned and federal permits upheld in 2025.