Central Maine Power Makes Progress Restoring Power Following High Winds Overnight

Western mountains and foothills among hardest hit areas 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA, MAINE  May 5, 2018  11:30 a.m. Crews from Central Maine Power Co. (CMP), a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc. (NYSE: AGR), are out in full force on Saturday, repairing damage from strong winds that came through Maine overnight. The company reports fewer than 20,000 outages at 11 a.m., down from a peak of 33,700 just before 8 a.m. CMP estimates nearly 48,000 customer accounts have lost power at some point over the past 12 hours. Most of the outages are in Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties, where wind gusts greater than 45 miles per hour have caused tree limbs from outside the utility's right of way to come into contact with lines.

 
Crews are working to restore service as safely and efficiently as possible. CMP is bringing in additional personnel and equipment, including crews from AVANGRID affiliate United Illuminating in Connecticut. It is also coordinating with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management personnel. 


CMP's first priority is to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. Early recovery efforts also address the needs of hospitals, nursing homes, fire and police stations, as well as any other critical infrastructure.


CMP first repairs the backbone of the electricity system " transmission lines and substations " that bring electricity to the local distribution system that serves our customers. Crews then make any necessary repairs to the distribution system that includes the poles and power lines along streets and roads, focusing first on those circuits where we can restore power to the largest number of customers. Next are secondary lines that serve smaller neighborhoods, followed by repairs to service lines to individual homes and businesses. This is a time-proven process that ensures we safely restore service as quickly and efficiently as possible.


CMP offers customers the following tips to prepare for the storm and stay safe and comfortable if power outages do occur.


During a power interruption: 

  • Bookmark the Outage Central page at CMP Outage (mobile friendly at https://m.cmpco.com/mt/www.cmpco.com) and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for current outage and safety information.

  • When using an emergency heating source, like a wood stove, fireplace, or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly. 
  • Never use grills or camp stoves indoors they can give off dangerous gases 
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours or longer if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors. 
  • Turn off or unplug major appliances to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored.

After power is restored:

  • Turn on appliances and sensitive electronic equipment one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
  • If a basement or home was flooded, have an electrician check the home before contacting CMP to have services turned on.
    Replenish any emergency supplies used during the storm.
  • CMP urges customers to stay clear of any downed power lines or fallen trees that may be tangled in lines. It also reminds drivers to use caution when approaching utility crews. The working conditions are difficult, and the workers appreciate everyone's consideration for their safety.


Additional information on storm safety and restoration, including a town-by-town listing of outages in the CMP service area with an area map, can be found on CMP's web site at www.cmpco.com.


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About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a diversified energy and utility company with more than $31 billion in assets and operations in 27 states. The company owns regulated utilities and electricity generation assets through two primary lines of business, Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks is comprised of eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving approximately 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables operates more than 6 gigawatts of owned and controlled renewable generation capacity, primarily through wind and solar, in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,800 people. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

 
About CMP: Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR). As Maine's largest electricity transmission and distribution utility, CMP serves 618,000 homes and businesses, representing about 80% of Maine's customer base. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the company #1 in customer satisfaction seven times. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

 

Media Contact:

Gail Rice 
gail.rice@avangrid.com
207.622.NEWS

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