UI Completes Underground Infrastructure Connection for Major Complex in 52-Acre Development in Bridgeport
New customer connection at Steelpointe Harbor lays groundwork for new 420-unit mixed-use residential/retail complex set to open in 2026
Additional photos available HERE
A member of UI’s underground distribution team prepares to descend into a splice chamber in the Steelpointe Harbor area, across from Bass Pro Shops
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — May 6, 2025 — Today, United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., completed a new customer connection at Steelpointe Harbor that will enable the development of the new residential/retail complex that will be a cornerstone of the 52-acre Steelpointe Harbor development area. The complex, which is set to open in 2026, will include 420 residential units, 25,000 square feet of commercial space, and EV charging stations, all of which require several electric infrastructure connections into the existing underground distribution system at Steelpointe Harbor. Over the course of five business days, UI completed the de-energization, evaluation, and re-energization work needed to connect the new customer to the company’s distribution system, ensuring the complex is on track to open next year.
“The further development and revitalization of Steelpointe Harbor has the potential to bring enormous economic development to the Bridgeport waterfront, right at the heart of UI’s service area,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of UI. “With more than 100 years of UI’s history intertwined with the Steelpointe Harbor area, it feels like we’ve come full circle as we lay the groundwork for this exciting new legacy for Bridgeport. As this development continues to take off, we at UI will be here every step of the way to enable the safe, reliable electricity that powers economic development across our service area.”
From April 30 to May 6, UI’s Transmission & Substation (T&S) team and underground crews completed all terminations, splicing, and energization work necessary to connect the new customer to the company’s underground distribution system in the area. Adding the new load to the distribution system required UI to deenergize the circuit for several days. To avoid any outage or service interruption for other customers on the circuit, UI switched all customers’ load from one circuit to its alternate circuit. Then, after an evaluation was completed to ensure all customers were switched onto the alternate circuit, UI deenergized and grounded the circuit to allow its crews to work on it safely.
Over the course of two days, UI’s underground workforce safely connected the new customer to the distribution system in the splice chambers. Following the connection work, UI’s T&S workforce performed a hypot test (also known as a dielectric withstand test) to introduce limited voltage into the cable to test the integrity of the new cable and its insulation. Following the successful completion of this test, UI then reenergized the circuit, which is now capable of serving the new customer at Steelpointe Harbor.
“No matter what economic development might look like for an area, whether it’s new businesses or new residential buildings, UI is the undercurrent powering that progress,” said Chuck Eves, Vice President of Electric Operations at UI. “Our commitment – to the owners of Steelpointe Harbor, the City of Bridgeport, and all our stakeholders – is always to provide safe, reliable, and resilient electricity service to all our residential and business customers. All of us look forward to working with companies, residents, and municipal officials across our service area to continue energizing the future of south-central Connecticut.”
UI’s history at Steelpointe Harbor dates back to 1923 with the commissioning of Steel Point Generating Station, a 16-story power generating facility located along the Bridgeport harbor located approximately where Boca Oyster Bar now stands. A corresponding substation, known as East Main Street Substation, was also located in Steelpointe Harbor and distributed the electricity generated by the power station into Bridgeport’s distribution network. UI decommissioned the generating station in 1983, and it was imploded in 1996. Afterwards, UI worked with City of Bridgeport officials to deenergize East Main Street Substation and have the facility removed, which allowed for the further redevelopment of the prime waterfront real estate.
The new residential/retail complex that UI connected into the distribution grid this week will be followed by additional development at Steelpointe Harbor, with the potential for a hotel, sports complex, additional residential units, and more. For more information on development at Steelpointe Harbor, please visit https://www.bldsteelpointe.com/.