CMP Restoring Power after Fall Wind Event

Line crews and tree care crews were placed on double coverage on Friday evening in anticipation of wind event

 

Thousands of customers have already had their power restored as of Saturday afternoon

Augusta, ME — October 12, 2024 — CMP began restoring power to customers early Saturday morning after a strong windstorm caused widespread tree damage across its service area. The company began tracking and preparing for a possible wind event mid-week, going as far as to hold back from sending crews to support Hurricane Milton recovery efforts in Florida. Line crews and tree care crews were placed on double coverage on Friday evening and began working to respond to outages before 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. 

 

“This is the first strong windstorm since last spring, and crews were placed on standby overnight in anticipation of a possible event,” said Jon Breed, spokesperson for Central Maine Power. “Line and tree crews began working to respond to outages before 6 a.m. on Saturday morning and have already restored power to thousands of customers.”

 

CMP crews are joined by crews from Avangrid sister companies in New York and Connecticut, along with additional contractor crews from Canada. For safety, line crews are prohibited from raising bucket trucks when windspeeds are greater than 30 mph.

 

Most power outages on Saturday were attributed to tree damage. This is the first major windstorm in months and most trees are still full of leaves, meaning large trees are particularly susceptible to uprooting. 

 

Preparations leading up to today’s storm have allowed CMP crews to focus on making downed lines safe, clearing fallen trees from roads, and responding to storm impacts to its transmission lines and substations, which can impact large groups of customers. 

 

Customers can report outages quickly and easily, and track restoration times, using the CMP mobile app. To report an outage, visit our Outage Center or call (800) 696-1000. 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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