Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is experiencing power outages in southern Calvert County. Approximately 20,000 customers have been affected by a fault on the submarine transmission line that crosses the Patuxent River at the Thomas Johnson bridge. The fault occurred on the St. Mary’s County side of the Patuxent River near Solomons.
SMECO expects to restore power to all customers by this evening when power is re-routed by a transmission line located in the central part of the county near Prince Frederick.
Additional outages occurred at the Mutual and St. Leonard substations. Those customers are currently being restored. Customers who have power are asked to conserve energy to assist in the restoration process. When power lines are energized, restoration has to occur in sections to prevent overloading the power line and substation.
Calvert County emergency management has opened “warming centers” at Calvert High School and the Solomons Volunteer Fire Department for residents without power. Residents may call 410-535-3014 for more information.
Further information will be made available as repairs are made and customers are restored.