Courtesy / Central Maine Power
Central Maine Power dispatched more than 1,500 work crews after the Dec. 18 storm.
December 22, 2023
CMP, Versant report many customers have lights back on, but work continues
Courtesy / Central Maine Power
Central Maine Power said some of the areas hardest hit by the Dec. 18 storm were in Belgrade, Fairfield and Manchester.
Days after a Dec. 18 storm brought high winds and up to 6 inches of rain to parts of Maine, the state's two major power companies report that most customers have the lights back on.
But work remains.
As of Thursday night, Central Maine Power reported that about 56,000 customers are still without electricity, down from 435,000 after the storm.
Versant Power reported that 17,196 customers are still in the dark, down from a peak of 89,000 after the storm.
Team effort
Augusta-based CMP dispatched some 1,500 crews this week to tackle downed power lines and trees. It was more crews than the utility had working after the famous 1998 ice storm.
CMP said the hardest-hit areas were Belfast, Fairfield and Manchester. The "vast majority" of customers should have power back by Saturday evening.
“We have the hardest working line and tree workers in the industry out there cleaning up damage and restoring power,” said Jon Breed, spokesperson for CMP.
“Our crews are backed by hundreds of Avangrid and CMP employees who have been working around the clock responding to customer calls, organizing meals and lodging for crews, managing work plans, and coordinating with emergency response agencies like MEMA. It’s been an all-hands-on-deck effort since Monday.”
Lunch for 1,500
Feeding the utility and tree crews was a major undertaking in itself.
Some 5,600 lunches were produced for crews and support staff.
CMP said meals were provided by the Riverside Quik Stop, Flagstaff General Store, Bishop’s, Al’s Pizza, 100 Mountain Market and Amato’s.
With the weather turning colder this week, crews found a warm haven at the T&B Outback Tavern in Skowhegan, Governor’s Restaurant in Waterville, Calumet Club in Augusta and the American Legion in Farmington, CMP said.
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