UI Invests in Student Energy Literacy by Hosting 80 Elementary School Students at Power Generation Facility

Interactive, hands-on activities at GenConn Devon Power Station focused on electricity production, distribution, and safety to foster students’ interest in the utility sector


MILFORD, Conn. — May 23, 2024 — United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), this week hosted 80 students who attend the Multi-Age Group (MAG) Program (grades 1-4) at the Town of Woodbridge’s Beecher Road School (BRS) at GenConn Devon power station, a Milford-based peaking plant that UI is a 50 percent owner of. GenConn Devon power station team members provided students with a facility tour to demonstrate basic concepts of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution as well as safety in the utility industry. Students spent half the visit in an in-person tour of the GenConn facility and half the visit with members of UI’s line crew, who hosted a “Touch a Truck” event to showcase their tools and equipment as they discussed the importance of safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in using them. Woodbridge First Selectman Mica Cardozo also joined the students to tour the facility.

“The generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity plays a huge part in all our lives, but not everyone understands how it makes its way into our homes,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of UI. “Partnering with schools and educators to provide students with in-person tours of our facilities and hands-on safety activities is one of the best ways we as utility professionals can break down these complex concepts into understandable frameworks. By allowing students to get out of the classroom to see a power generation plant in person and talk with our lineworkers about their roles and responsibilities, we hope to increase their energy literacy, and I look forward to future visits from students like them in the future.”

The Beecher Road School students’ field trip to the GenConn Devon power station was part of the Woodbridge district's Multi-Age Group (MAG) program study on Energy. The MAG program spans over four years, and each year, students are engaged in curriculum, workshops and project-based learning centered on key themes that relate to the world around us - Energy, Water, Bluebirds, and New Haven. This year's energy project revolves around the understanding that all motion requires energy, and that energy is transferable. Students will focus on studying renewable vs. non-renewable energy sources, electricity, sound energy, combustion, alternative energies, and the energy of life.

The GenConn Devon power station is a 200-megawatt power generating station that acts as a peaking plant for Connecticut electricity customers. Across the northeast, peaking plants are dispatched by the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) in times of high electricity usage, usually during very hot or very cold weather. When there is a capacity shortage, or too little available electricity supply relative to demand, peaking plants generate electricity to bridge the gap to prevent measures like rolling outages. The GenConn Devon power station, which utilized space and existing infrastructure from a long-retired power station on the same site, began operating in 2010 and is typically deployed for 300 to 500 hours per year. Over its lifetime, it has performed exceedingly well and provided significant value to Connecticut residents by avoiding electric system problems and increased reliability.

“I was pleased to see so many young students at GenConn learning about the important role peaking plants have in keeping the lights on 24/7, especially during periods of high demand,” said Devang Patel, Senior Vice President of GenConn Energy LLC and General Manager at UI. “As we transition to a greater reliance on renewable resources like solar and wind, we recognize those important resources are intermittent, so peaking plants like GenConn will be even more important to ensuring our customers have access to safe and reliable electricity when they need it. Teaching the next generation about power stations like GenConn is a critical aspect of what we do, and I hope to replicate this important work for other schools like Beecher Road School.”

"I really enjoyed the morning,” said Woodbridge First Selectman Mica Cardozo. “UI and our educators found a fun and engaging way for our students to learn how electricity is generated and sent to our homes."

Members of UI, Avangrid, and GenConn hosted students who are part of the MAG program at the GenConn facility to demonstrate how electricity is made and delivered to homes and businesses served by UI. During the field trip, the 80 students were split into two separate groups of 40. The first group took a bus tour around the perimeter of GenConn's facility as plant managers explained the different components used to operate and generate electricity, fuel sources used at the facility, the peak demand time, and why the facility is only operational during peak time. The second group of 40 students met with UI lineworkers and were introduced to a UI utility truck, learning about the tools, equipment, and materials required for lineworkers as they maintain and operate substations, poles, and wires. UI lineworkers provided a safety demonstration on the necessary PPE and equipment needed to be worn on every job site. Students could also ask the lineworkers about their roles, responsibilities, and training required for the job. Once the students completed their first rotation, they swapped places to complete the remainder of the field trip visit.

UI offers a comprehensive education program free to area schools that teaches students from kindergarten through middle school about energy and conservation, and then empowers them to take action. For more information on the curriculum currently available for grades K-8 visit, https://www.uinet.com/intheschools. 

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