CMP Restores Power to More Than 34,000 Customers Following Nor’easter

Smart technology, stronger grid investment, dedicated crews credited for rapid response 

 

Augusta, ME – October 1, 2026 –Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., restored power to more than 34,000 customers within 48 hours after a nor'easter brought strong winds, heavy rain and scattered outages across Maine beginning Saturday. Strategic grid investments and advanced technology played a critical role in reducing customer impacts and supporting faster restoration.  

 

In York County, operators remotely isolated damage and rerouted power to more than 2,000 customers in just over 30 minutes using smart grid technology. Following damage to a power line in Fairfield, operators transferred more than 1,000 customers to an alternate power source, restoring service while crews focused on repairs. These automated capabilities helped keep customers connected, reduced outage durations and allowed restoration crews to focus on the areas with the greatest need. 

 

"When severe weather strikes, we need our grid to be ready to withstand the storm," said Linda Ball, President and CEO of Central Maine Power. "Throughout this nor'easter, skilled lineworkers and support teams from across CMP worked through challenging conditions. These investments are helping keep the lights on while reducing the costly damage and restoration work that can drive higher electric bills. We cannot control future storms, but we can prepare for them by continuing to make strategic investments that strengthen reliability, reduce restoration costs and help keep future customer bills lower than they otherwise would be. That's what resilience and affordability look like together." 

 

CMP's ongoing investments in stronger poles, covered conductor, automated reclosers and other grid modernization technologies helped reduce outage impacts and speed restoration efforts during the storm. Automated devices restored power to some customers within minutes, reducing the need for field dispatches and shortening outage durations. 

 

Ahead of the storm, CMP positioned additional crews and resources throughout its service territory to respond quickly to outages and ensure a coordinated restoration effort.  

 

During major storms, CMP works closely with local emergency management agencies and first responders to help clear roads blocked by fallen trees and storm debris. Trees remain the leading cause of outages on CMP's system, and road-clearing efforts can continue even when high winds temporarily prevent crews from making repairs from bucket trucks. 

 

For every storm, CMP follows a structured restoration process to assess damage, prioritize critical repairs, deploy resources, and restore power as safely and efficiently as possible. Customers can learn more about how CMP prepares for and responds to major storms by watching this short video.