PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Utility workers restored power to more than 125,000 homes and businesses in Maine following a weekend nor’easter, but tens of thousands of customers remained without Monday.
The storm brought heavy snow, sleet, rain and powerful gusts that knocked out electricity to more than 225,000 customers Saturday and Sunday in Maine, the hardest-hit state in New England.
Mike Fratus and Andrew Pires hike up Mt. Abram on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, for some hard earned skiing after a heavy wet snow blanketed the resort in Greenwood, Maine. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP) The Old County Road in Greenwood, Maine is covered in snow Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, after the first major winter storm of the season brought heavy, wet snow and high winds to the region. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP) Larry Poirier snowblows his driveway in Auburn, Maine on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, after the first significant snowfall of the season. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP) Stuart Hickey gives a big thumbs up after finishing his third run of the morning at Mt. Abram in Greenwood, Maine on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. He and his girlfriend hiked up the mountain to get fresh tracks at the yet to be opened ski resort. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP) Josh Rush shovels his driveway in South Paris, Maine Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, after the first major winter storm of the season brought heavy, wet snow and high winds to the region. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP)
About 80,000 Central Maine Power customers were without power Monday morning, along with 3,500 Versant Power customers in eastern and northern Maine. About 8,000 customers were without power in New Hampshire.
David Flanagan, CMP’s executive chairman, thanked the hundreds of utility crews and tree trimmers from around the region for their hard work.
“That being said, there is still work to be done and we won’t stop until we reach full restoration for all,” he said in a statement.
Wind and heavy snow toppled trees and branches onto power lines during the storm. Power won’t be fully restored for some customers in hard-hit areas until Wednesday night, the utility said.