CMP Preparing for Late Season Winter Storm

CMP is pre-staging crews ahead of the storm’s arrival overnight Friday

Augusta, ME — March 22, 2024 —  CMP is closely monitoring and preparing for a late season winter storm forecasted to arrive overnight Friday. The storm system is expected to bring heavy snow, ice, and rain to much of CMP’s service area, and has the potential to persist into Sunday. Storm response and tree care crews are pre-staging and will be ready to respond if outages occur.

“Our lineworkers and tree crews will be pre-staging across our service area overnight and will be prepared to respond to any storm damage that may occur.” said Jon Breed, spokesperson for Central Maine Power. “Road conditions could be hazardous due to ice and snow conditions on Saturday. If you see crews working roadside, please give them plenty of space to do their jobs safely.”

In every storm, CMP assists local emergency management agencies should road closures or coastal flooding occur. For safety reasons, CMP crews are prohibited from raising bucket trucks when windspeeds are greater than 30 mph.

For more information about CMP’s storm restoration process, listen to this episode of the company’s podcast, “On the Line,” which includes an interview with Adam Desrosiers, CMP Vice President of Electric Operations, about the steps we take to prepare for and respond to storms.

Customers can report outages quickly and easily, and track restoration times, using the CMP mobile app. Download from the App Store or text APP to 267.898 for a downloadable link. Customers may also enroll in Outage Alerts to stay informed in the event they lose power.

Customers may find storm preparation tips and a checklist on the CMP website. 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 appliances and sensitive electronics.
  • Never use ranges 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, use the CMP mobile app or visit Outage Central.
  • 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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Media Contact:

Jon Breed
Jonathan.Breed@avangrid.com
207.458.3510

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