For Four Consecutive Days, Maine Led the Nation in Power Outages

There's a new normal when it comes to storms in Maine, and nobody is all that pleased about it. That new normal consists of a heavy dose of power outages across the state, from rural towns to neighborhoods inside Maine's largest cities.

Maine Topped the Nation for 4 Days in December

According to poweroutage.us, Maine led the entire country in power outages from Friday, December 16, through Monday, December 19. That may not seem like a huge surprise on the surface until you consider Maine's population size and that winter weather, cold snaps, and rolling blackouts are continually happening throughout the rest of the nation.

Has It Ever Happened Before?

It's only the second time Maine has led the nation in power outages for more than 3 consecutive days since poweroutage.us was launched. The October 2017 windstorm was the other instance. That powerful windstorm knocked down trees and power lines and left people from every corner of the state without power for more than a week.

A Concerning Trend

With the oldest average population in the nation, consistent and lengthy power outages have become a major concern for Maine. Last weekend's nor'easter wasn't viewed as a particularly strong one, with modest wind gusts and snowfall that equates to a "normal" nor'easter. Still, some customers in all four corners of the state spent four full days without electricity. As of this writing on Wednesday, December 21, nearly 300 customers are still without power.

Why is It Happening?

If it feels like there are more power outages and those outages are lasting longer than in the past, you're correct. According to WMTW, Maine, California, and Louisiana have seen a 50% spike in outage during over just the last few years. Two reasons are targeted as to why: the aging power grid in the northeast and the cost to repair it, as well as an increase in powerful storms making their way up the east coast.