CMP’s outages were scattered throughout the utility’s service area.

PORTLAND (AP) – More than 11,000 utility customers across Maine lost electric service Saturday as high winds played havoc with power lines.

The National Weather Service posted a high wind warning through the evening for parts of eastern Maine and a wind advisory for most other areas of the state.

Central Maine Power said 7,010 customers were off line as of late afternoon, but that number was reduced to 4,540 a few hours later. Bangor Hydro Electric Co. said 4,500 of its customers were in the dark, with Hancock and Penobscot counties the hardest hit.

CMP’s outages were scattered throughout the utility’s service area, from York County to Farmington and along the coast, according to spokesman John Carroll.

Carroll said most customers should have their power back by evening, although some in the Bridgton and Brunswick areas may have to wait until Sunday for service to be restored.

A scheduled outage in York and Kittery, from midnight until 4 a.m. Sunday, was postponed until next week. The outage had been planned to accommodate work on a substation, but crews involved in the work were dispatched to help restore power to customers who lost service, Carroll said.