CMP Looks to Complete Outage Restoration Today

AUGUSTA, ME — March 3, 2021, 2021 — Following a wind storm Monday night and Tuesday, where the state was hit by both gusts over 60 mph in some areas, and sub-zero temperatures, Central Maine Power (CMP) expects to restore power today to the vast majority of customers who remain without service. High winds caused trees and limbs to fall onto the power system causing outages for more than 90,000 customers across the company’s service area. Because of the persistent and damaging wind gusts, outages continued to occur throughout most of Tuesday even as CMP crews worked to restore service.

“We understand it is a hardship to go without power in the winter- particularly on one of the coldest days of the season,” said Kerri Therriault, director Electric Operations for CMP. “We worked through last night and will be at work until all customers have been restored.”

This morning, just over 8,000 customers remained without power. The company has shifted crews and equipment to those areas most heavily damaged, including the Western mountains area, where 150 CMP and other field workers will reset 45 broken utility poles.

CMP is assisted today by 174 more field workers who arrived last night– more than 100 from AVANGRID sister companies UI in Connecticut and NYSEG in New York. Utilities from Baltimore, MD and MA are also assisting.

CMP will follow all COVID mandates for workers coming to assist from out of state; those workers from AVANGRID sister companies follow all the same health and safety requirements as CMP.

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 cmpco.com to report and monitor outages.

If you lose service:

• To report an outage, visit Outage Central . 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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