Persistent Winds Create New Outages as CMP Restores Power

AUGUSTA, ME — March 2, 2021, 2021 — Central Maine Power (CMP) has restored power to more than 58,000 customers today, but as strong wind gusts persist, damage to trees and limbs creates new outages.  More than 90,000 customers have been impacted overall, and at 4:00PM there were still 32,000 customers across the service area without power.

CMP will have 174 more field workers arriving tonight – more than 100 from Avangrid sister companies UI in Connecticut and NYSEG in New York – ready to work on the system early Wednesday. Utilities from Baltimore, MD and MA will also assist.

CMP projects that customers in areas impacted most by the wind – particularly York and Franklin counties – will have customers out of power overnight.

“Our crews have been working steadily in the frigid cold all day to restore power to as many customers as possible,” said Kerri Therriault, director Electric Operations for CMP. “While we have made great progress, new outages are occurring as the wind persists, breaking trees and tree limbs that damage our utility poles and wires. Our goal is to provide restoration estimates early this evening so that customers can make plans as needed if their power won’t be restored until tomorrow.”

CMP offers storm preparation tips and a checklist on our website cmpco.com.

CMP reminds customers to remember 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 range or outdoor stoves to heat your home.
• If you need shelter or food, reach out to 211 for available resource.

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

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

 

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