Power and Broadband Restoration Update #3

Members interested in running for the MLEC Board should file by July 15, 2025.

(June 11, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Each October, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative holds official district meetings in each county where a Board of Director term is expiring. This year, elections will occur in the following counties: Hickman (incumbent Wayne Qualls), Houston (incumbent Sam Fussell), Humphreys (incumbent Larry Mayberry), and Lewis (incumbent Bill Webb).

Members interested in running for the MLEC Board in 2025 must meet the specified qualifications and submit a Declaration of Candidacy form by Tuesday, July 15, to have their name placed on the ballot in October. Candidacy declaration forms can be picked up from any MLEC location and found online at www.mlec.com/mlec-board-directors.

Qualifications include:

• Must be a natural person at least eighteen (18) years of age and a member in good standing now receiving residential electric service from the Cooperative.
• Must not be an employee nor the spouse of an employee of the Cooperative (or its subsidiaries), nor a child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew of an employee of the Cooperative (or its subsidiaries) related by blood, adoption, or marriage.
• Must not be a former employee nor the spouse of a former employee of the Cooperative (or its subsidiaries) unless employment with Cooperative (or its subsidiaries) was at least two (2) years previous to the date of the forthcoming district election.
• Is a continuous resident in the district from which election is being sought.
• Is a high school graduate or holds a GED certificate.
• Has never been convicted of a felony.
• If a candidate for re-election, must have received certification of completion of the Credentialed Cooperative Director Curriculum offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association or such similar cooperative director education and training program approved from time to time by the board of directors. If not a candidate for re-election, must understand that such will be a requirement for qualification to stand for any future re-election as such.

Official district meeting notices, including dates, will be in published in the local paper, The Tennessee Magazine and online at www.mlec.com/the-tennessee-magazine in September.

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Brief service disruptions are expected to enhance reliability

(June 10, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – MLConnect will conduct network maintenance that will further strengthen the reliability and security of its broadband service. As a result, all MLConnect subscribers will experience two brief, carefully scheduled service interruptions to minimize inconvenience:

• Subscribers will experience a single 15-minute interruption sometime between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on one of the following dates:
  • June 11: Hohenwald
  • June 13: Waverly and Hohenwald (remaining areas)
  • June 17: Linden and Tennessee Ridge
  • June 18: McEwen and Erin
  • June 19: Hickman County and Lobelville
  • June 20: New Johnsonville and Hickman County (remaining areas)

• All subscribers will experience a 60-minute outage between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on June 24 (Hickman County, Waverly, Erin, Hohenwald) or June 25 (McEwen, New Johnsonville, Linden, Lobelville, Tennessee Ridge) depending on your location.

 “We understand that even short outages can be inconvenient, which is why we’ve strategically scheduled these necessary upgrades during overnight hours,” Vice President of Emerging Technologies and MLConnect Ken Little said. “This allows us to deliver greater reliability and security while least impacting the daily routines of our valued home and business members. Thank you for your understanding as our team works to provide the best possible internet experience.”

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TVA adjusts rates to summer prices and accounts for fuel costs

(June 2, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – The price of electricity will be higher in June as the Tennessee Valley Authority moves to summer rates and their fuel adjustment cost increases. Meriwether Lewis members will pay about $7.68 more (a 4.5 percent increase) compared to May based on an average household that uses 1200 kilowatt-hours. The total residential kilowatt-hour price is $0.11114, which is slightly higher than the seasonal price a year ago. Members can find a complete rate schedule at www.mlec.com under the Community tab in the About MLEC section.

Meriwether Lewis understands that price increases can impact budgets and summer temperatures will likely increase energy use. To discover how your home is using energy and possible ways to save, contact MLEC today for a free online or in-person energy audit/evaluation. Heat pump financing and rebates on heat pumps, home insulation, and more are also available.

Visit Ways to Save under the Programs tab at www.mlec.com or email nathan.wagner@mlec.com to learn more about using energy wisely. View our top 10 simple steps to lower your energy bill this summer at https://mlec.com/ways-to-save/.

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Fourteen students receive scholarships

(May 21, 2025 – Centerville, TN) — Perry County Junior Rhonda Ledbetter is the five-county winner in Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative’s annual writing contest. She will receive a $1000 scholarship from MLEC, the Larry Stringer Memorial Scholarship for $2000 and could win additional funding through the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s statewide contest.

Additionally, a boy and girl winner from seven high schools also received $1000 scholarships from MLEC. They include:

East Hickman High School: Mackenzie Cox and Christopher Batson

Hickman County High School: Mary Mitra and Tim Puckett

Houston County High School: Daniella Stringfield and Fisher Sutton

Lewis County High School: Geena Caprio and Aiden Wise

McEwen High School: Katherine Ross and Ryan Lynch

Perry County High School: Rhonda Ledbetter (Overall winner and $3000 in scholarships) and Edward Watson

Waverly Central High School: Marian Callicott and Kyson Summers

The theme for this year’s annual contest was “Energizing Every Moment.” High school juniors were asked to write about how electric cooperatives improve communities across their service areas while providing safe, affordable, reliable electricity and other services.

A winning student from each school, who resides with an MLEC member, has the opportunity to serve as an MLEC delegate on the 2025 Washington Youth Tour in June. Students who accepted the trip to Washington D.C. are Mitra, Sutton, Caprio, Lynch, Ledbetter and Callicott. MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong and Employee and Member Services Assistant Holly McKennon will serve as chaperones. Additionally, as the teacher of the overall winner, PCHS’s Kennedi Bates was also awarded the trip.

“The Washington Youth Tour invests in the future leaders of our communities,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “We are excited to further their education and bring a new group to our Nation’s Capital to learn more about electric cooperatives and our country’s history.”

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MLEC crews replacing equipment on April 14

(April 10, 2025 – Linden, TN) – Meriwether Lewis has scheduled a planned power outage on Monday, April 14 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The outage will affect members in the Cypress Creek, Marsh Creek and Spring Creek areas.

We apologize for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, a damaged piece of equipment must be replaced to maintain system reliability. Performing this work under controlled conditions now will help prevent an extended, unplanned outage in the future.

“We appreciate your understanding and patience as we improve our system to provide safe and reliable power to members,” District Manager Mike Hickerson said.

If your MLConnect broadband does not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. If needed, contact technical support by calling 931-589-2151, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2.

If anyone has concerns, please call your local MLEC office at 931-589-2151. In the event of inclement weather, the work will be postponed.

Contracted crews improving reliability with trimming and spraying

(April 8, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Meriwether Lewis’ yearly vegetation management plan has been finalized and is underway. The program keeps your lights on and the public safe while conserving the natural beauty of our communities. A map of the areas affected is available on mlec.com.

This year, trimming will mainly occur in these general areas in Humphreys County (other hot spot areas throughout our five counties could also be included):

• The northeast corner of Humphreys County
• Southeast between Bucksnort and McEwen
• Waverly area from Highway 70 to Gorman
• Highway 13 toward Buffalo
• Bakerville Road and Forks of River Road

Spraying is scheduled in Hickman County and parts of Lewis County. For special situations where the property owner would like to personally invest and maintain the right-of-way according to standards, options are available instead of spraying. Arrangements require a special form request available from MLEC that must be submitted by May 15.

“At Meriwether Lewis, we carefully balance the natural beauty and environmental benefits of vegetation with our commitment to safe, reliable and low-cost electricity,” said President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “Our 2025 vegetation management plan ensures proper trimming and spraying practices, helping us deliver dependable service to our members because every moment matters.”

MLEC’s program uses a variety of approved, environmentally sound methods to keep vegetation a safe distance away from power lines. Contracted crews maintain a 20-foot clearance on all sides of the power line through trimming, treating, spraying and removal, if needed. As a Tennessee Environmental Council member, MLEC follows recommended standards for good tree health set by the International Society of Arboriculture and the Arbor Day Foundation.

Similarly, licensed contractors registered with the EPA survey areas to be treated and prescribe an appropriate mix. The tree retardant application promotes a subtle transition of the right of way into native grass and flowering plants. These services are vital in providing affordable accessibility, environmental stewardship and multi-use of the land.

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Outages minimal after a week of severe weather

(April 7, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – After several consecutive days of severe storms and flooding, Meriwether Lewis crews are making a final push to fully restore outages. The past week has been a challenge, but as of this morning, less than 50 members are without power or broadband.

In Humphreys County, crews are currently repairing a broken pole on Highway 230 near Accurate Arms and one at Dry Creek. Beyond restoration efforts, lineworkers are also returning to locations where temporary fixes were made during the height of the storms to make more reliable repairs. There are also some isolated cases across the service area with damaged weatherheads, which will require action by the homeowner before service may be fully restored. If a member has a damaged weatherhead where an electricity service connects to their home, you need to contact MLEC to disconnect power and contact a licensed electrician to make repairs.

MLConnect is also working diligently to restore internet service. Repairs are underway in the West Front Street area in Houston County and Goad Road, Pennywinkle Branch, Croff Lane and Indian Creek areas in Humphreys County. Teams are also addressing numerous individual service drops scattered across the five-county service area.

“When severe weather hits, it’s a team effort—not just among our crews, but with our members too,” said MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “This past week has been extremely difficult for our communities and your understanding and encouragement make a real difference. We hope that your family remains safe as we focus on restoring full service as quickly as possible.”

As restoration efforts wrap up, Meriwether Lewis thanks the community for all your kind words as we navigated these unprecedented weather events. Difficult times make strong people, and we are proud to stand beside our communities as we move forward. ###

MLEC crews working through treacherous conditions

(April 5, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – About 1500 members are affected by outages across the Meriwether Lewis service area, mainly in Humphreys, Pery and Hickman Counties. Crews are responding but conditions are treacherous and getting worse. With a confirmed tornado touching down in Humphreys County, rising flood waters and ongoing rain across our territory, it will be at least tomorrow (potentially longer for flooded areas) before we can safely reach some locations to restore power.

Broadband restoration has been suspended for the day due to weather conditions. They will resume tomorrow for areas that have power.

For now, our lineworkers and support team are pushing forward tonight to work as quickly and safely as possible. We can’t thank you enough for your patience and understanding as fatigued crews, who have worked diligently this week to serve, push forward tonight because every moment matters.

An update will be provided tomorrow afternoon or sooner if needed. Most importantly, you are in our thoughts and prayers as we come together during this challenge. Our team and families appreciate your support as well.

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MLEC restores power from storms, addressing new outages

(April 4, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Meriwether Lewis crews resumed power restoration efforts Friday morning and have resolved most outages caused by weather events Wednesday and Thursday. However, new outages have been reported Friday morning.

• Perry County- A fallen tree has caused outages in these areas but is not limited to Crooked Creek, Driftwood and Roan Creek.
• Houston County- Outages are present in these areas but not limited to Kiser Ridge Road, Bethaney Road, Fire Tower Road, Hagerville Hollow Road, Dancer Branch and more. These are mainly due to broken poles or flooded roads limiting access.
• Humphreys County- We are experiencing an outage on Highway 13 South. Both Cuba Landing and Richland Harbor are also without power.

Pop-up outages could continue into the weekend due to saturated soil, weakened trees and additional rain and flooding. Regardless, our crews are prepared to work to ensure our members stay connected.

“This week has tested our communities with severe weather, but it has also showcased the dedication of our crews and the resilience of our members,” President and CEO Keith Carnahan said.” “Despite downed trees, broken poles, and flooding, our teams have worked tirelessly—often in challenging conditions—to restore power and broadband as quickly and safely as possible. We appreciate our members’ patience and support as we continue working to keep you connected.”

If you are a member experiencing a power outage, please report the situation to MLEC, so we can better serve you. To report a power outage during regular business hours, please contact your local office. For outage reporting after-hours, weekends and holidays, please call 1-888-879-6038.

In some cases, a homeowner may have experienced damage with their weatherhead where MLEC connects electrical service to your home. If that is the case, you need to contact MLEC to disconnect power and work with a licensed electrician to make repairs before we can fully restore service to your home.

Broadband Update

MLConnect crews have made progress on restoring broadband now that electrical issues from Wednesday and Thursday have almost been resolved. Here are the latest updates on current service disruptions.

• Hickman County- Nunnelly and Hidden Valley
• Lewis County- areas near Rock House, Buffalo Road and Morris Road
• Perry County- Kelly’s Landing and Crooked Creek areas
• Humphreys County- Cuba Landing, Box Hollow Road and Richland Harbor areas

If you are an MLConnect subscriber and power has returned but internet has not, unplug the router from the power source for a few minutes instead of using the reset button. If this does not restore service, submit a ticket online at www.mlec.com/mlconnect/contact-us/. Or, call your local MLEC office; then press OPTION 3, then OPTION 2.

Thank you to our members for their patience as we continue to battle the elements. We are responding as quickly as possible and working hard to restore service to our communities.

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MLEC crews make progress while battling conditions

(April 3, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Relentless rain and wind have made power and broadband repair efforts difficult over the past 24 hours. Meriwether Lewis crews have worked tirelessly through the elements and have seen their progress fluctuate since the issues last night. It is estimated that less than 200 members, mostly in Houston County, remain without power currently. Outage numbers may vary throughout the night considering flood conditions and forecasted weather.

These weather patterns have been truly difficult for those we serve and those serving. For the safety of our crews and the community, power and broadband restoration efforts will pause overnight and resume at first light. We are grateful our communities have had only a few minor accidents and appreciate your patience and understanding as we diligently work to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

We will provide our next update by 10:00 a.m.