MLEC Delegates Participate in Youth Co-op Event

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.

MLEC crews make progress; Broadband restoration has begun

(April 3, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Meriwether Lewis crews made significant progress in restoring power Thursday following early morning severe storms. As of 2 p.m., approximately 675 members remain without power with restoration efforts continuing across most counties. Additional crews are assisting in the hardest hit areas in Houston County to expedite repairs.

Current Outage Breakdown:

• Hickman County: Less than 20 outages remain.
• Lewis County: Around 50 members are still without power, primarily on Gay Road (due to broken poles and downed wires) and Tower Ranch Road.
• Perry County: Power has been restored to nearly all members with operations returning to normal.
• Humphreys County: Fewer than 100 outages remain, primarily in the Lakefront area.
• Houston County: Approximately 500 members remain without power in multiple locations, including Grices Creek, Reed Lane, Bethany Lane, Spring Street Loop, Mockingbird, Hagerville Hollow Road, and Fire Tower Road.

MLEC aims to restore power to all members by late tonight except in isolated cases where homeowners must make repairs before service can be reconnected. However, ongoing restoration efforts could be impacted by weather conditions and additional storms. If repairs cannot be completed tonight, crews will pause for safety reasons after more than 24 hours on the job and resume work early tomorrow.

With additional outages possible tonight, individuals who use special medical equipment may want to review their emergency plan and prepare to move to a location that has electricity if necessary.

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.

MLConnect Broadband Update

MLConnect fiber crews are actively restoring service in areas where power has already been restored. Repairs in other locations will follow as electrical crews move out, ensuring work can be completed more efficiently and safely. Some fiber outages may take several days to repair, and impending weather could cause additional disruptions.

Fiber outage areas include:

• Houston County: Multiple areas in Erin, including Magnolia to Cumberland City and Greenbriar.
• Lewis County: Rock House and Buffalo Roads in Hohenwald.
• Hickman County: Dodd Hollow in Centerville and Hidden Valley.
• Humphreys County: Turkey Creek in Waverly.

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.

Meriwether Lewis appreciates our members’ patience as crews work diligently to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. Another update will be provided later as progress continues.

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MLEC crews are working on restoration in all five counties

(April 3, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Severe storms and heavy rainfall from Wednesday night into Thursday morning have left about 3,500 Meriwether Lewis members without power due to fallen poles, trees and prolonged rain. The affected areas are scattered across our five counties but focused primarily on Houston and Lewis Counties with additional crews working in those areas.

• About 2500 members in Houston County are without power due to large-scale damage at the Highway 49 and 149 intersection with other outages scattered across the county.
• In Lewis County, about 400 members are without power on Grinders Creek, Rockhouse Road and Seiber Ridge with several hours of restoration work remaining. There are also outages on Morris Road, but the damage is less severe.

In Hickman, Perry and Humphreys Counties, outages are sparser with local MLEC lineworkers continuing work.

• Hickman County has less than 200 scattered outages. Some areas include Cavendars Branch, Hickman Spring Road, Dodd Hollow and Lowes Bend.
• Humphreys County also has about 200 outages scattered throughout the county.
• Perry County has less than 10 reported outages.

MLEC crews have worked throughout the night and are prepared for more outages today. As heavy rainfall continues and possible flooding, members should expect more service disruptions. 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.

As for broadband, MLConnect crews will evaluate fiber line damage and create a plan of action once electrical systems are restored and areas are deemed safe.

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/. Or, call your local MLEC office; then press OPTION 3, then OPTION 2.

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Next Update: 2:00 p.m. 4/3/25

MLEC shares safety tips for incoming storms and rainfall

(April 2, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – With severe storms Wednesday night and prolonged rainfall forecasted throughout the week, Meriwether Lewis is reviewing its emergency response plan and ready to act when needed. To keep members prepared and informed, here is what you need to know to stay safe.

• “Turn around, don’t drown.” Never walk or drive through floodwater. It only takes 12 inches to sweep away a vehicle.
• If your electrical panel is in a flooded basement, do not enter the water—contact MLEC immediately for guidance.
• If you see a downed line near standing water, do not approach and report it to Meriwether Lewis or 9-1-1.

Flooding may also impact your electric and broadband services:

• Washed-out areas or impassable roads may limit Meriwether Lewis’ ability to respond quickly.
• Flooding and heavy rain can bring down power and fiber lines. Even without strong winds, saturated soil can cause trees to fall on power lines, damaging poles and equipment.
• Extended rainfall will saturate the ground and can make poles more susceptible to breaking or leaning, leading to outages.
• Floodwater poses electrical hazards. Both above-ground and underground electrical equipment can be damaged by rising water, increasing safety risks.
• Rainwater can cause electrical faults. Moisture on insulators can lead to equipment failure and power disruptions.

Regardless of the situation, Meriwether Lewis is ready to respond as safely and swiftly as possible. Most importantly, make every moment matter by being weather aware and reviewing your emergency plans to make sure your household remains safe.

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High school students learn about leadership and state government

(March 28, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – East Hickman High School Junior Izzy Naragon and Waverly Central High School Junior Kyson Summers participated in Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Leadership Summit March 17-19 in Nashville, TN.

Each year, Meriwether Lewis works with high schools in the service area to sponsor two juniors on a rotational basis. Naragon and Summers joined by MLEC Marketing Coordinator Memori DePriest spent three days with 44 other high school juniors networking, developing leadership skills and learning about electric cooperatives and government.

During their stay, delegates heard about the importance of the member-owned electric cooperative business model, its impact on communities and how to become a leader. Governor Bill Lee and Secretary of State Tre Hargett joined the group and Representatives Jody Barrett and Jay Reedy met with MLEC delegates continuing the learning experience.

“YLS was an awesome opportunity to meet people from all over Tennessee and socialize, while also teaching about cooperative principles,” Summers said. “It’s an extremely friendly environment full of people excited about what they do.”

“I think YLS is an awesome experience that has personally helped me open up to people more,” Naragon said.

“The Youth Leadership Summit is a great opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zone to grow and meet other students from across the state,” DePriest said. “We’re building future leaders, and it’s an honor to see it happen. I look forward to the future Izzy and Kyson step into.”

Attendees also sharpened their team-building skills by visiting the YMCA Outdoor Center at Camp Widjiwagan and participating in scavenger hunt exercises. Students were also reminded about the importance of electrical safety through live demonstrations from Tennessee Job Training and Safety.

A night of Nashville classics also filled the agenda with a visit to the Goo Goo Cluster Store, the Country Music Hall of Fame and an Andy Grammer concert at The Ryman.

Cutline – MLEC Youth Leadership Summit Delegates Kyson Summers and Izzy Naragon meet their State Representatives Jay Reedy and Jody Barrett in front of the State Capitol Building. From left to right: Reedy, Summers, Naragon and Barrett.

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