CMP Prepares to Respond to Friday Windstorm

Staging field staff and resources

AUGUSTA, ME—December 21, 2022– Central Maine Power (CMP) is preparing to respond to outages that Friday’s windstorm may cause, immediately following a restoration effort from last weekend’s storm that brought more than two feet of wet, heavy snow across parts of the state.

“In addition to our own CMP crews, we currently have over 300 contractor crews and 220 tree crews positioned in Maine to be able to respond to Friday’s weather event,” said Adam Desrosiers, vice president Electric Operations for CMP. “ We expect that the high wind gusts forecasted to impact the entire service area, with especially strong gusts along the coast, will cause outages on Friday. We will be making roads and public areas safe from downed wires and trees and restoring power as quickly as we can. We all know it is a holiday weekend and CMP is planning to work through it.”

In preparation for every storm, CMP works closely with local Emergency Management officials to ensure local needs are prioritized for road and debris clearing, making sure emergency vehicles are not blocked by downed lines.

Customers may find storm preparation tips and a checklist on the CMP website.

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 resource.

If you lose service:

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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