From Bucket Trucks to Kayaks: CMP Crews Restore Power to 101,000 Customers After Severe Storms

More than 200 line and tree crews restored service for customers, including lineworkers using kayaks in Newcastle 

 

AUGUSTA, ME – July 23, 2026 – Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., restored power to just over 101,000 customers in 56 hours following the severe storms that moved through Maine on Thursday, July 16. The restoration effort involved more than 200 line and tree crews working across the state, including crews that used kayaks to reach and repair storm-damaged electrical infrastructure. 

 

"When the storm hit, our crews immediately got to work and never let up until every customer was restored," said Linda Ball, President and CEO of CMP. "This storm caused significant tree damage and showed the ingenuity of crews reaching infrastructure in places that could not be accessed with traditional equipment. Whether they were working from a bucket truck along the roadside or launching kayaks to reach storm-damaged equipment across a waterway, they demonstrated their commitment to taking care of customers. That creativity, hard work, and dedication are what define our restoration efforts. I'm incredibly proud of what our entire team accomplished for our customers." 

 

One of the more unique restoration challenges involved reaching infrastructure on narrow waterways near Damariscotta Lake in Newcastle. To safely access storm-damaged lines, crews used kayaks to reach the work location and complete the necessary repairs. Once repairs were completed, power was restored to customers served by that line. 

 

The line and tree crews who responded to this storm worked around the clock to restore service and all customers affected by the storm had power restored by midday Saturday, July 18, 2026. 

 

Severe storms like this highlight the importance of continuing to strengthen the electric grid across CMP's 11,000-square-mile service territory. To improve reliability and reduce outages, CMP has been strategically installing covered tree wire and smart devices in locations where they can provide the greatest benefit to customers. 

 

Covered tree wire helps reduce outages caused by tree contact and storm debris, while smart devices automatically reroute power around damaged lines and can restore service to customers in as little as five minutes. CMP currently has nearly 500 smart devices on its system, benefiting more than 54,000 customers, and plans to install an additional 250 devices by the end of 2026.  

 

These targeted investments are part of CMP's broader effort to build a stronger, smarter grid that reduces outage frequency and severity, improves service reliability, and delivers long-term value for customers. Earlier this spring, CMP submitted plans for additional grid modernization investments to the Maine Public Utilities Commission and is currently awaiting review.