CMP reports 18,000 across state still without power
Staff reports 10 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine - Central Maine Power Company said today that about 18,000 Maine customers are without service as of 8 a.m. The winter storm that moved through the region Thursday night disrupted service to 138,000 homes and businesses. Outages from heavy snow and high winds peaked at more than 100,000 shortly before 8 a.m. Friday. "Our employees and contractors have put in a tremendous effort since this storm began on Thursday, restoring service to more than 120,000 homes and businesses safely despite some difficult working conditions," said Doug Herling, vice president for Electric Operation. "We appreciate our customers' patience, especially with the New Year's holiday this evening. We expect to restore service to the majority of the remaining outages by late tonight." According to a press release sent today, the storm damage was distributed widely across the company's service area with the heaviest damage in a broad band parallel to the coast, including large portions of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Sagadahoc, and Waldo counties. Difficult travel on secondary roads and deep snow banks made the task of restoring service more difficult. CMP has a team of more than 1,200 field and support personnel engaged in the restoration, including crews from AVANGRID's United Illuminating in Connecticut, as well as crews from, Maine, Connecticut, New York, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. A list of outages by county is on CMP's web site: m.cmpco.com. The company will update the web site with estimated restoration times as soon as more information is available. CMP urges customers to report outages on its mobile-friendly web site at m.cmpco.com or by calling 1.800.696.1000. Customers can also sign up for CMP's free Outage Alerts service, which provides the latest information about power outages by text message, email, or voice message. CMP offers customers the following tips to prepare for the storm and stay safe and comfortable during power outages: During a power interruption:
For customers with generators:
After Power Is Restored
The company urges customers to use caution if they see downed lines. "Everyone should stay clear of any downed power lines or fallen trees that may be tangled in the lines," said CMP Spokesperson Gail Rice. "All downed lines should be considered live and dangerous. Customers should leave the clean-up to our crews, who are trained and equipped to handle these situations safely." CMP also reminds drivers to use caution when approaching utility crews. The working conditions are difficult, and the workers appreciate everyone's consideration for their safety. Additional information on storm safety and restoration, including a town-by-town listing of outages in the CMP service area with an area map, can be found on CMP's web site atwww.cmpco.com. Residents can follow CMP on Twitter and like them on Facebook.
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