Central Maine Power Company (CMP) reports 170,000 customers without power as of 1 p.m. The company estimates that more than 275,000 accounts were affected by the storm as it passed along the western edge of the company’s service area on Sunday. The total includes 6197 accounts in Lincoln County.
Extra crews from Maine and Canada joined the effort this morning, bringing the number quickly to well over 1000 people involved in assessing damage and restoring service. This includes more than 200 two-man line crews and 150 two-man tree crews plus additional safety and supervisory staff in the field.
CMP is also using helicopters to make aerial inspections of the company’s transmission lines. The company’s expects to return its transmission system to service and complete a damage assessment of the primary roadside distribution lines by later today.
CMP warns customers that the restoration work is likely take several days or more. The company expects to be able to provide more information regarding the timing of the restoration once they complete their assessment of the damage.
