Bangor Hydro and Maine Public Service Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Monday, October 29, 2012

Bangor, ME -- With Hurricane Sandy making its way up the east coast, Bangor Hydro Electric Company and Maine Public Service are readying repair crews and preparing equipment for emergency restoration work. The companies are asking their customers, especially those in coastal areas, to take steps to brace for the storm.

"This storm has potential to cause widespread outages," said Kim Wadleigh, Vice President Transmission and Distribution for the utilities. "We're staging crews in outlying areas, especially Washington County, so they're where they are needed when the storm passes through."

Bangor Hydro will have 63 crews available to work the storm and 17 tree crews from Asplundh. Maine Public will have 24 crews available to work and five tree crews from Asplundh. Each utility will assist the other as needed once they've handled outages in their own service territory. In addition, our sister utility from Nova Scotia will assist as needed and local line contractors have been placed on standby as well.

Bangor Hydro and Maine Public Service remind customers to call our customer service centers in the event of outages or downed lines. The numbers are (Bangor Hydro) 1-800-440-1111 or (207) 973-2020 and (Maine Public Service) 1-877-655-4448 or (207) 760-2300. Call centers at both utilities will be staffed with additional employees this afternoon and through tomorrow morning.

Depending on the severity of the storm, power outages could last several days. Customers can prepare by taking the following steps:

• Locate your account number so it's readily available to report outages.
• Check to ensure contact information related to your account is up to date. This includes providing a cell phone number if that is the phone you would use to report an outage or other problem. This simple step will ensure immediate access of your account for faster reporting.
• Have emergency supplies such as water, flashlights, radios, extra batteries, medicine, cash and other critical items at hand.
• Those on oxygen or with other medical issues should make alternate plans for powering necessary devices. Although we attempt to restore service to these customers first, it is not always possible if the problem exists at the transmission or substation level.
• Have a plan for how you and your family will stay safe, how you will evacuate if necessary and where you might go. Also consider who else you might need to check on during an emergency.
• Stay informed during the emergency through news reports and official information.

Since hurricanes are unpredictable and Sandy's path can change suddenly, Bangor Hydro and Maine Public suggest customers pay attention to weather reports including those provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In anticipation of this severe weather condition, please take these steps to prepare for possible outages:

Preparing for the storm

• Read the hurricane information page available at the Maine Emergency Management Agency website - http://www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/prep_display.shtml?id=163477
• If you live along the water develop an emergency plan for any boats you own. Information is available at http://www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/prep_display.shtml?id=163477
• Make sure mobile devices are fully charged ahead of time. Should you lose power, avoid going on the internet on your mobile device in order to preserve battery power.
• Make sure you have a battery-operated radio, multiple flashlights and a battery-operated clock and fan, along with extra batteries.
• Have at least three gallons of fresh water per person on hand. This is especially important for those who rely on well water.
• Have a good supply of canned and other non-refrigerated foods available.
• If you have pets, make sure you have provided for them, as well.

During the storm, if electricity is interrupted

• Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and computers. This will prevent damage to appliances and possible overloads to the companies' electrical systems when power is restored.
• Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the number of times you open it.
• Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when power is restored.
• If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.

After the storm

• Listen to your local radio station on your car or battery-powered radio for regular news and weather updates. Don't rely on your neighbors to report your outage. Call our customer service centers.
• Stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized.
• Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
• Do not connect portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the work or plug appliances directly into the generator using the properly-sized extension cords.
• Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run your generator outside with proper ventilation. Store the fuel for your generator safely.
• Visually inspect the area around your electricity meter. If you detect or suspect any damage, call our customer service centers.

Some useful links for the public and media during the storm:

Bangor Hydro Electric Company www.bangorhydro.com
Maine Public Service www.mainepublicservice.com
Maine Emergency Management Agency - http://www.maine.gov/MEMA
Maine Prepares -www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/index.shtml
National Weather Service - www.nws.noaa.gov

Bangor Hydro Electric Company and Maine Public Service are regulated electricity transmission and distribution utilities wholly-owned by Emera Inc. Halifax, NS (EMA-TSX. Bangor Hydro serves 117,000 customers in an area encompassing 5,275 square miles in eastern and east coastal Maine, and is a member of the New England Power Pool and is interconnected with other New England utilities to the south and with the New Brunswick Power Corp. to the north. Maine Public Service serves approximately 36,000 electricity customer accounts in Northern Maine. To learn more visit our websites at www.bangorhydro.com and www.mainepublicservice.com.