Maritime Electric calls in New Brunswick crews to help restore P.E.I. power

Even with the help from nineNew Brunswick crews, some Islanders could be without electricity into Sunday, P.E.I.'s electric utility Maritime Electric told CBC News Friday evening.

• P.E.I. power outage now affecting 10,000 customers

• First winter storm takes toll on Island

• Snowfall drives Islanders to social media

• Maritime Electric phone scam reported

As of about 7:45 p.m., there werestill about 10,000 customers without power after poles snapped and about 300 lines were downed in the wake ofThursday night's heavy, wet snowfall.

Some 45 poles broke over the course of the storm and its aftermath.

"It's been a very very difficult time for our customers and our crews out there," Maritime Electric spokeswoman Kim Griffin told CBC News: Compass anchor Bruce Rainniein an interview.

"Our challenges are ... in some cases two, three, four thousand pounds of ice buildup on these lines," she said.

"It's pretty significant ice and snow that's built up on our power lines."

Griffin said Maritime Electric has called in nine trucks from New Brunswick to help its25 crews already on the job. They'll beworking through the nightFriday.

When will power be restored?

"Unfortunately, we could be into Saturday, maybeeven Sunday, if the current weather stays the same," Griffinsaid.

She said it's difficult to estimate, and the utility is asking people to prepare to be without power for a while yet.

She said there could also be power outages while they work on the system from Stratford to East Point.

She added Maritime Electricwill continue to update its website through the night, and staff its toll-free phone line.

And they got a shout-out on social media for their efforts:

Just to top it all off

"In addition to this very difficult day for our customers, we've had about 10,11 calls in the last couple of hours where someone has been calling customers, telling them if they didn't immediately doa pre-authorized Visa and give them personal information over the phone, that Maritime Electric was coming immediately and cutting off their power," said Griffin.

"That is not true," she said, noting it seems to be the same scam the utility heard about last week.

She said if people get a phone call like this, they should hang up and call Maritime Electric at 1-800-670-1012.