Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is getting ready for a winter storm forecast to come through the area Wednesday.
“We are expecting mixed precipitation, including some icing, along with strong winds on Wednesday. This combination can be tough on our crews and equipment,” said CMP spokesman John Carroll. “People see the damage storms like this can do, and they understand they can cause outages. Our crews will be there to put things back together, but we hope people will also take some simple steps to keep themselves safe and comfortable.”
CMP offers customers the following tips to stay safe and comfortable if power outages do occur.
• Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and non-perishable foods.
• When you use an emergency heating source, like a wood stove, fireplace, or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly.
• Never use grills or camp stoves indoors – they can give off dangerous gases.
For customers with generators:
• Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator’s owner manual.
• Don’t run a generator indoors, even in an open garage.
• Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.
• Make sure portable generators are properly grounded.
• Don’t store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running.
Refer to CMP’s web page on generator safety: http://www.cmpco.com/UsageAndSafety/electricalsafety/GeneratorSafety/default.html
The company urges customers to use caution if they see downed lines.
“Everyone should stay clear of any downed power lines and fallen trees or limbs that may be tangled in the lines,” said Carroll. “These should all be considered live and dangerous. Customers should leave the clean-up to our crews, who are trained and equipped to handle these situations safely. I know we say this over and over, but it’s a simple lesson that could save someone’s life.”
CMP also reminds drivers to use caution when approaching utility crews in the roadway. The working conditions are difficult, and they will 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 at www.cmpco.com.
About CMP: Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, operates more than 25,000 miles of power lines and other facilities that deliver electricity to 80 percent of Maine’s population. Web site: www.cmpco.com.
