CMP Preparing for Potential Outages Ahead of Wednesday Storm

Thunderstorms, heavy wind and rain expected throughout service area Wednesday

AUGUSTA, ME — June 30, 2021 — Central Maine Power (CMP) is preparing to respond to potential outages with thunderstorms and heavy wind and rain expected throughout the service area Wednesday afternoon and into the evening. CMP has been monitoring the weather, raising awareness with internal and contractor resources and is ready to respond should outages occur.

“Heavy wind and rain paired with the soft ground can result in heavy trees and branches coming down onto power lines, resulting in outages,” said Kerri Therriault, CMP’s director of electric operations. “We know that any disruption in service during these hot weather conditions can be frustrating, which is why are prepared ahead of time, ensuring we have resources ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible.” 

CMP is raising awareness with the Maine Emergency Management Agency, County Emergency Management agencies, and local municipalities and will work closely with these agencies should outages occur to understand restoration priorities and any safety concerns. 

CMP has developed a variety of ways for customers to report a loss of service and to obtain information about the status of outages:

  • Using our mobile app (search for Central Maine Power in the App store), you can know if CMP is already aware of an outage for your home, report a new outage and see the current status of your outage, all from the home page.
  • Enroll in Outage Alerts and then you can simply text “OUT” to 267-898 (CMP-TXT) to report an outage.  You can also text “ON” to report power has been restored or “STATUS” for an update for your location.  Outage Alerts will also notify you if an outage occurs, when an estimated restoration time is established or changed for your outage, and when power is restored.
  • Online at www.cmpco.com.
  • Using our 24/7 automated phone system at 800.696.1000.  Use your account number, phone number or social security number to report your outage and to hear estimated restoration times specific to your location.

If you lose service:

  • Keep sensitive electronic appliances, such as computers and TVs, 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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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 636,000 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. In 2019, CMP was named Large Business of the Year by the Kennebec Valley United Way. For more information, visit www.cmpco.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns 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 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

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