A news release from Central Maine Power: CMP, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, reports that 64,000 customer accounts are without service as a result of an ice storm that started Monday. Utility crews worked through the overnight to keep the public safe from downed lines and damaged equipment as the impact phase of the storm extended into Tuesday morning. Outages from the storm peaked at 87,000 in late morning. The company estimates that more than 120,000 customers have lost power at some point in the latest phase of the storm which began Monday morning. The damage is concentrated in central and coastal portions of the company’s service area including Androscoggin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, and Waldo counties.

The company made progress on restoration during the day, but the heavy coating of ice made working on the roadside more hazardous. Crews had to stay alert for falling limbs as they worked, and the weight of ice-coated limbs and trees made it more difficult to cut them away from poles and wires. In addition, fallen trees and slippery roads made travel difficult, and wires and switching devices had to be chipped free of ice for many routine tasks.

“In addition to the make-safe work that was our priority last night, our crews were able to restore service to critical facilities and assess the damage on the three-phase trunk lines,” said CMP spokesman John Carroll. “We also moved personnel and materials into the hardest hit areas during the night, so we were well positioned to begin the restoration in the morning. We made a good start, but with more than an inch of ice in many areas, every task takes more time and requires more precautions to stay safe.”

CMP reports that more than 1,000 personnel were directly involved in the restoration, including contract crews from Maine, Canada, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. By mid-day, the restoration effort included 285 two-man line crews and 330 tree crews. The utility also expects another 170 crews to arrive in Maine overnight.

The company repaired most of the damage to its three-phase trunk lines during the day, and made good progress assessing the damage on its single-phase secondary lines as well. Even with the restoration underway, the company warns that progress may be slowed by continued new outages and hazardous working conditions.

“We have a goal to restore service to every customer by Thursday night, but that may change based on the weather and a fuller assessment of the damage,” said Carroll. “The one thing we know for certain is this will be the first time everyone in the company will be working through Christmas, and we appreciate the help of all the contractors and emergency response officials who will be working along with us.”

Here is a list of outages by county

(as of 7 p.m.)

Related stories:

• Waldo County EMA director seeking individual ice storm impacts for disaster declaration application
• Snow-packed Waldoboro driveway hinders firefighters' attempt to save home
• Red Cross provides comfort, cots to those in need
• UPDATED: CMP crews restore power to more than 100,000 customers as ice storm recovery continues
• Snow in the forecast: Iced-up Midcoast to get the most
• Christmas Eve fire destroys garage at Lincolnville home
• Central Maine Power issues power restoration update, 7 p.m., Christmas Eve
• Storm damage lingers with extensive power outages; Waldo and Knox county shelters, warming centers open
• UPDATE: Belfast, Lincolnville called to help battle overnight house fire in Northport
• UPDATE - Fire heavily damages Union home; family says cat knocked over a candle
• Waldo County EMA, Red Cross shelter open at Troy Howard Middle School
• UPDATED - Storm closings and cancellations; Ice storm warning extended to 7 p.m.
• UPDATED: Lincolnville bearing brunt of power outage, trees falling onto wires, into roads
• It's icy out there, be careful
• UPDATED: Ice storm warning - Freezing rain on snow, make way for a big mess