Central Maine Power Company (CMP) reports it has restored power to more than 90 percent of the homes and businesses that lost service after a storm packing torrential rain and high winds came through the area Monday.
At 8 a.m. this morning an estimated 1600 customers were without service. That follows a peak of 20,325 customer accounts just before 8 p.m. Monday when wind gusts of up to 60 mph were reported along the coast.
CMP moved crews into the hardest hit communities along the coast, and additional contractors are being brought in to clear fallen trees and limbs and repair downed lines. The company expects to have service restored to all customers by this afternoon.
While the bulk of the damage happened when high winds blew tree limbs and branches into power lines, the company reports animal activity played a part as well.
“A squirrel got into the Freeport substation, causing a lot of damage and disrupting power to hundreds of customers Monday evening,” said company spokesperson Gail Rice. “And crews in our Penobscot Service area reported a beaver had chewed into the base of a tree, sending the tree down onto power lines on Upper Falls Road in Orland.”
Outages in Lincoln County reported this morning were 161, down from a high last night of over 2800.
For more information, visit cmpco.com.
