Over 50,000 Maine residents began their Monday morning in the dark, as high winds and heavy rains knocked down branches and trees.

How Many Are Without Electricity and When Will It Be Restored?

Both Maine electricity providers are reporting a number of outages after an overnight storm that saw high winds and heavy rain. As of 6:55 Monday morning, Versant Power was reporting 11,040 customers affected by outages, while Central Maine Power reported 45,138 households without power. With the winds continuing this morning, even more outages are possible before the storm subsides in the late morning.

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As with any storm that involves high winds, customers are being advised that crews are out working to restore power, but it could take some time. Many of the disruptions are being caused by downed trees and branches that are taking power lines with them. This means that repairs could include help from tree crews and replacing lines and/or utility poles. Residents are reminded to never touch a downed line or try to do any tree trimming if a line has intersected with the tree. Never, ever assume that a line is dead because power could be restored as you're touching either the line or a tree that's touching it.

How Do I Report My Outage?

Power outages can be reported online or via phone:

  • Versant Power - Fill out the online form or call 207-973-7211 or 1-855-363-7211
  • Central Maine Power - Fill out the online form or call 1-800-696-1000

Is There Anything I Need to Know About Staying Safe?

While no one wants to go stand in the rain to pour gas into a generator, it's still the best practice. Operating a generator in an enclosed area, even if it's a garage with the big door open, could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. If you are using a generator, make sure it's hooked up by factory specs, to avoid injuring line workers. Versant Power and CMP officials ask that residents give line workers plenty of space, when passing in their vehicles, to allow them to work safely.

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