More than 1,000 Central Maine Power customers in Kennebec County remained without power Thursday morning after powerful storms blew through the area.

CMP Spokeswoman Gail Rice said the company was still trying to restore electricity to 1,028 customers in Kennebec County as well as 761 customers in Franklin County and 298 in Somerset County.

A total of 3,491 customers were without power in CMP’s coverage area, Rice said.

CMP crews worked through the night to restore power to about 80 percent of the company’s customers who lost power Wednesday evening when severe storms pelted the area with high winds, lightning, heavy rain and hail.

“The strong gusty winds brought trees, limbs, and branches into power lines, knocking out service to thousands Wednesday evening,” Rice said.

Roughly 18,000 customers were left in the dark Wednesday evening.

“Crews from lesser-hit areas have been moved to some of the harder-hit areas in Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset, Penobscot and Kennebec counties,” Rice said. “They are helping local crews fix the damage.” 

CMP also is flying over transmission lines that experienced faults during the storms and inspecting the lines for damage, Rice said.

“The utility expects to have service restored to all remaining customers by late Thursday evening,” Rice said.