BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 29, 2021
Maine continues to top most other states in the number and duration of power outages caused primarily by severe weather and downed trees, but regulators and utilities are aiming to improve upon that dubious distinction. CMP and Versant have been repeatedly criticized by consumers and lawmakers for slow restorations after major storms. That history has affected the public perception of CMP, which is trying to push ahead with a contested $1 billion hydropower corridor through western Maine, as many question whether it can handle such a large project if it falls short in its core electricity business. CMP asked regulators in 2018 to allow it to trim trees as high as needed, but the request was rejected because of high cost. Instead, regulators allowed the company to try out the concept in Jackman.