CMP Power Restoration Now Focused in Western Maine

Company expects vast majority of customers to be restored late tonight

AUGUSTA, ME – December 19, 2022 – Central Maine Power has restored more than 109,000 customers impacted by the weekend snowstorm and is now focused on completing the most challenging restoration work in Oxford County and Western Maine today. More than 122,000 customers lost power in the storm. As of 3:00 PM, approximately 13,000 customers remain without power and the company now has more than 1700 lineworkers, vegetation and other support workers engaged in the effort including contractors from Canada, Pennsylvania, New York and New Hampshire.

CMP expects the vast majority of customers to be restored tonight with the exception of parts of Oxford County where heavy damage occurred.

“Our crews have been able to access more of the secondary and rural roads today as many more have now been cleared, allowing us to investigate damage and repair the system,” said Kerri Therriault, senior director, Electric Operations. “Some customers have experienced more than one outage as trees, loaded with snow, have broken, and we are having to go back to areas and restore again.

“With more access to the system we have been able to provide updates on restoration times, especially in Oxford County, and we will be working until all customers are back on.”

Customers may download the mobile CMP app at the App Store enabling them to report outages quickly and easily, and track restoration times. They may also enroll online in Outage Alerts to stay current in the event they lose power.

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 resources.


If you lose service:

  • For fast outage reporting, visit Outage Central or use the CMP mobile app.
  • 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 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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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 646,000 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 $3.5 billion in Maine system infrastructure.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $40 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns and operates 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 7,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021 and 2022 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2022, AVANGRID ranked second within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.


Media Contact:

Catharine Hartnett
Catharine.Hartnett@Avangrid.com
207.458.3510

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