Tens of Thousands of Mainers are Without Power this Morning

High winds and heavy rains overnight have left over 100,000 Mainers without electricity this morning.

As of 6:00 this morning, Versant reported 14,451 customers without power, while Central Maine Power had 86,701 outages. Both utility companies reported on Monday that they were prepared for the storm and had extra crews, at the ready, waiting to go to work. Line crews will be working throughout the day to restore power as quickly as possible, but the fact that many outages are caused by downed trees or branches is going to slow their progress. Tree crews will also be out today, clearing the lines so utility workers can do their work.

Mainers are reminded that no line is ever safe to touch, even if the power is out. In addition, residents should never try to remove trees or branches that are lying on power lines or in contact with them. Let the professionals take care of clearing the lines safely.

Anyone using a generator is reminded to make sure it's in an open area, for full ventilation. Putting it in a garage or shed, even with the door open, can lead to a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide. Set it away from buildings to avoid fumes entering through open windows and doors. And connect it per factory specs, to avoid hurting line crews as they restore power.

Consider using flashlights and battery-operated lamps, instead of candles during outages. Candles left near curtains, or in an area where excited pets can knock them over are common causes of fires, especially this time of year.

Versant customers can report outages via the online reporting tool or by calling 207-973-2000 or 1-855-363-7211,

CMP customers can report outages via the company's website or by calling 1-800-696-1000.