PORTLAND — As blizzard conditions intensify across Maine, residents in Portland, Bangor and surrounding communities are being urged to conserve cellphone battery life ahead of potential overnight power outages.
Heavy snowfall and strong winds can strain power lines, particularly in areas where snow accumulates on trees and infrastructure. During an extended outage, mobile devices may become the primary source for emergency alerts, road updates and communication with family members.
Officials recommend taking the following steps immediately.
Lower Screen Brightness
Bright displays quickly drain battery power.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness and reduce the brightness level.
On Android, open Settings, tap Display and lower brightness using the quick settings panel.
Turn On Low Power or Battery Saver Mode
These features reduce background activity and extend battery life.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Battery and enable Low Power Mode.
On Android, open Settings → Battery and activate Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode, depending on the device.
Use Text Instead of Calling
Blizzard conditions can strain cellular networks. Text messaging typically requires less signal strength and battery usage than voice calls.
Disable Nonessential Features
Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi if unavailable, location services and background app refresh. Close unused apps running in the background.
Limit Constant App Refreshing
Repeatedly checking weather or social media apps can quickly reduce battery life. Officials advise checking updates periodically rather than continuously.
With heavy snow continuing across Portland and Bangor, conserving battery power now may help ensure continued connectivity if outages occur overnight.
