CMP News

Central Maine Power Company, 83 Edison Drive, Augusta, ME 04336 (207) 622-NEWS 

Corporate Communications - corpcomm@cmpco.com 

Release: Immediate - An Energy East Company

CMP tree care in Waldo County will enhance power-system reliability

AUGUSTA, Maine, October 5, 2007 — Nine cities and towns in Waldo County will benefit from Central Maine Power Co.’s tree care program from now through the end of December. The work along utility lines in Searsport, Frankfort, Knox, Lincolnville, Prospect, Thorndike, Union, Unity, and Winterport is part of an extra push by the utility to get ready for winter storms and winds. The company spends about $12 million annually for vegetation management to improve reliability throughout CMP’s 11,000-square-mile service area.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution when they encounter tree crews working alongside Maine roads.
“These crews play a key role in helping CMP provide the safe, reliable service that customers depend on,” says CMP spokesman John Carroll. “This kind of work can be difficult, and we urge motorists who pass these crews on the roadside to drive slowly and keep a safe distance away.”

Managing tree growth around power lines is a big job for the utility, according to Carroll.

“We have more than 23,000 miles of transmission and distribution line, and for most of it, trees are at risk of growing up into the wires or falling down onto them. Needless to say, it’s the most frequent cause of blinking clocks and power outages,” he says. “Our tree crews are well-trained in good tree-care practices to balance aesthetics and system reliability, and that’s especially important when they’re working around street trees and ornamentals.”

CMP’s team of licensed arborists and qualified contractors carefully prune and remove trees along hundreds of miles of public roads every year to help provide safe, reliable electric service. Because protecting the health of trees is important, our contractors adhere to standards endorsed by the tree care industry. Tree crews consider the shape, strength, growth rate, and appearance of a tree before working on it.

CMP notifies customers about its vegetation management activities every year with inserts in its bills. Customers can sign up to receive a notice when tree trimming is happening in their area. For more information call CMP at 1-800-750-4000.
Additional information about CMP’s tree care program, along with tips for tree planting and care, can be found on CMP’s web site at http://www.cmpco.com/services/treecare/index.htm.

About CMP: Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, operates more than 20,000 miles of power lines and other facilities that deliver electricity to 80 percent of Maine's population. Web site: www.cmpco.com.

About Energy East: Energy East Corporation [NYSE: EAS] is a respected super-regional energy services and delivery company that our customers can depend on every day. We are a motivated and skilled team of professionals dedicated to creating shareholder value through our focus on profitable growth, operational excellence and strong customer partnerships. We serve about 3 million customers throughout upstate New York and New England.

A worker for Lucas Tree prunes limbs from trees near a CMP distribution line

— CMP —