CMP Continues Storm Restoration

87% of customers affected by Monday's storm have been restored, with more expected this evening 

AUGUSTA, ME — December 21, 2023 — As of 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, 379,000 of 435,000 customers impacted by Monday’s storm have had their power restored. 1,500 crews spent the day working in brisk weather conditions across CMP’s service area, redeploying to areas hardest hit like Belgrade, Fairfield, and Manchester as work finishes in other areas. CMP expects to restore power to the vast majority of customers by Saturday evening. 
 
B/roll: CMP Restoration work 12/21/23
 
“We have the hardest working line and tree workers in the industry out there cleaning up damage and restoring power,” said Jon Breed, spokesperson for Central Maine Power. “Our crews are backed by hundreds of Avangrid and CMP employees who have been working around the clock responding to customer calls, organizing meals and lodging for crews, managing work plans, and coordinating with emergency response agencies like MEMA. It’s been an all-hands-on-deck effort since Monday.”
 
Today alone, Maine businesses like Riverside Quik Stop, Flagstaff General Store, Bishop’s, Al’s Pizza, 100 Mountain Market, and Amato’s produced 5,600 lunches for crews and support staff. Other restaurants and organizations like the T&B Outback Tavern in Skowhegan, Governor’s Restaurant in Waterville, Calumet Club in Augusta, and the American Legion in Farmington have opened their doors and offered crews hundreds of warm meals as well.
 
Safety continues to be a top priority for Avangrid and CMP leadership. There have already been instances of vehicle accidents involving our crews who are working roadside. The company cannot emphasize enough how important it is to slow down and to provide crews with plenty of room when motorists pass by so no one is hurt or killed.

CMP would like to remind customers of the following if they have lost power:

  • Stay away from downed lines. No line is safe to touch.
  • Turn off or unplug major appliance and sensitive electronics.
  • Never use ranges or outdoor stoves to heat your home.
  • If you need shelter or food, reach out to 211 for available resources

If you lose service:

  • For fast outage reporting, use the CMP mobile app or visit Outage Central.
  • Keep sensitive electronic appliances such as computers, TVs and stereos plugged into a surge protector, or unplug them. They could be damaged if a power surge occurs when electricity is restored.
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. For information about food safety, visit http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html.

For customers with generators:

  • Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.
  • Properly ground all portable generators.
  • Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator’s operating manual.
  • Never run a generator indoors, or even in an open garage.
  • If your carbon monoxide detector goes off – get out of the building immediately and call 911.
  • Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running.
  • Refer to CMP’s web page on generator safety.

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About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899 and based in Augusta, Maine, CMP serves approximately 646,000 customers across 346 communities in central and southern Maine. It operates approximately 23,500 miles of distribution lines and 2,900 miles of transmission lines. Over the last decade, the company has invested approximately $3.5 billion in Maine system infrastructure.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, AVANGRID owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, AVANGRID owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2023, AVANGRID ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. AVANGRID is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit https://www.avangrid.com.

Media Contact:

Jon Breed
Jonathan.Breed@avangrid.com
207.458.3510

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