CMP Makes Progress Restoring Outages While Winds Continue

Additional crews headed to Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine — September 30, 2020 (4 p.m.) – Central Maine Power (CMP) has restored more than 60,000 customer outages today out of a total of 128,000 caused by prolonged gusty winds. The peak number of outages was 107,000 and as of 3:30 PM there were about 67,000 outages remaining across the service area. In addition to its own 100 crews, CMP has 70 in-state contractors and 100 tree crews at work today, and dozens of additional crews from sister companies in New York and Connecticut are headed to Maine to assist. 

The prolonged winds have made it challenging to send lineworkers to repair overhead lines in buckets as it is unsafe to perform this work in high winds.

“CMP will be working around the clock to restore power outages,” said Kerri Theriault, director of Electric Operations. “We know that customers are challenged to work and learn from home and we are committed to working as quickly and safely as possible to get the lights back on. One of the advantages of being part of a larger organization is our ability to call up support from our sister companies on short notice. These crews are on their way and we will assign them to the hardest hit areas.”

CMP continues to observe all COVID-19 safety protocols in storm response including:

  • Working in separate teams to minimize contact
  • Restricting visitor access to company facilities
  • Entering a customer residence only in the event of emergency and after assessing risk
  • Maintaining appropriate social distancing in the field
  • Allowing one employee per vehicle
  • Wearing masks as situations require
  • Customers may use online tools, accessible at www.cmpco.com to report and monitor outages.

If you lose service:

  • To report an outage, visit Outage Central at cmpco.com. Customers may also report an outage using CMP’s 24/7 automated phone system at 800.696.1000.
  • 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.

#  #  # 

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 624,000 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 $2.6 billion in Maine system infrastructure. In 2019, CMP was named Large Business of the Year by the Kennebec Valley United Way. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

 

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $34 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

Media Contact:

  • Catharine Hartnett
    catharine.hartnett@avangrid.com
    207.458-3510 (cell)
  • 24/7 Media Hotline
    1.833.MEDIA.55 (833.633.4255) 
Node: liferay-3:8080