Restoration efforts are ongoing in Maine after a storm caused power outages for nearly 200,000 Central Maine Power customers. Half of the affected customers have been restored, but more than 78,000 outages remain in Cumberland and York counties. The power company has over 350 crews working to assess and repair the damage, with additional personnel arriving to help. Restoration efforts are expected to extend into late Tuesday or possibly Wednesday, particularly in coastal counties. Central Maine Power advises against attempting to remove trees or limbs with power lines and urges reporting outages online.
A powerful snowstorm and ice storm in Maine left nearly 141,000 customers without power, with Cumberland County being hit the hardest. Central Maine Power (CMP) has been working to restore service, but it may take until Tuesday evening to fully restore power due to downed trees and falling ice. CMP has deployed additional crews to assist with the restoration efforts. The storm also led to numerous car accidents, but operations at the Portland International Jetport are returning to normal. A warming shelter has been opened for those without power, and temperatures are expected to drop over the next two days.
Central Maine Power (CMP) announced that restoration efforts for electricity will begin overnight after a wind and rainstorm caused extensive damage, surpassing that of the 2022 Christmas storm. More than 400 line crews and 200 tree crews will be involved in the multi-day restoration effort. As of 7 p.m., over 340,000 customers were without power across multiple counties. CMP advises customers to visit their website for updates and manage account preferences. Safety reminders include staying away from downed lines, turning off major appliances, and seeking shelter or food resources if needed.
Central Maine Power is reporting that about 350,000 customers are without power following a powerful storm on Monday, which is more than half of their customer base. The high winds and tree damage are causing delays in the repair efforts, as many large trees need to be removed before line crews can restore power. CMP has brought in additional line and tree crews to assist with the restoration, but it is expected to be a multi-day effort. Some residents are hopeful to have power restored before Christmas.
Central Maine Power and Versant are reporting power outages in Maine following the impacts of tropical storm Lee. Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power, brought in around 500 crews from out of state to respond to the outages. Restoration efforts are expected to take multiple days, with Versant Power hoping to resolve the issue within 72 hours and Central Maine Power estimating restoration to extend until Monday or Tuesday. Customers are advised to report outages online and to avoid attempting to clear trees from power lines for safety reasons.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has approved a reduction in the "standard offer" supply rates for residential, small, and medium-sized customers of Central Maine Power and Versant Power's Bangor Hydro District. The reduction of 1 cent per kilowatt-hour will result in a monthly savings of about $5.50 for an average residential customer. However, this reduction comes after recent price hikes for both utilities, with Central Maine Power customers seeing an increase of over $10 a month and Versant Power customers expecting a combined average rate hike of $17.59 a month. The rate cut goes into effect on July 15.
A jury has ruled that New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) can resume construction on its electricity transmission line, a major victory for Central Maine Power's affiliate. The decision comes after a legal battle that lasted for years and involved multiple regulatory agencies and courts. NECEC still faces legal challenges in state and federal court, including appeals of a permit granted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Opponents of the project expressed disappointment following the verdict and said they would continue to evaluate their options.
