BANGOR and PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — As Mainers prepared for the Nor’easter expected to drop a foot of snow across much of the state on Thursday, Jan. 4, Emera Maine was preparing as well.
Employees spent Wednesday adjusting staffing plans and staging resources as the storm continued to develop; expected snowfall totals have increased farther inland as the storm has tracked west. The utility opened its Emergency Operations Center at 9 a.m. Thursday, pulling together leaders from across the company to monitor and respond to any power outages. They doubled the number of field crews and pre-staged a number of employees in areas they expected to be hardest hit.
Additional staff will be added to the Customer Contact Center as the need arises to respond to customer questions or concerns.
Of special concern, said Emera officials, is the arctic cold expected to return right on the heels of this storm. The public should monitor local media outlets for updated restoration times, which could change or vary depending on a number of factors, including the severity of the storm, damage to system, dangerous travel conditions and powerful winds.
Customers may also see updated information about estimated restoration times on the company’s Live Outage & Restoration Map.
Motorists are urged to slow down or move over and change lanes, when possible, if approaching utility crews working on roadways.
Customers who use generators or alternate heating sources are reminded to ensure they are used in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines at all times.
Customers may report outages via Emera’s website or by calling the Customer Contact Center at (207) 973-2000 or 1-855-EMERA11 (1-855-363-7211). Follow them on Twitter at @emerame.
