MLEC Continues Storm Restoration

MLEC connects Waverly to Fast Charge TN and regional network

(June 28, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis has prepared our service area for more electric vehicles as automakers retool their factories to bring more EVs on the roadways in the next decade.

MLEC has officially opened two EV fast chargers at its Waverly District office at 210 West Main Street as part of Fast Charge TN, a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Seven States Power Corporation. Through the program, TVA and TDEC provided 80 percent of the project cost and made fast chargers possible in the community.

“We moved quickly to participate in Fast Charge TN because we want to make EVs a choice for our community so members can enjoy the environmental and economic benefits of electric transportation,” said MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “MLEC now has four EV chargers located in its service area. With Waverly’s addition and Hohenwald’s existing chargers, driving electric is easier than ever for members.”

MLEC’s participation expands the regional Fast Charge Network that will cover major travel corridors across TVA’s seven-state service area and will complement the broader efforts of the National Electric Highway Coalition, which seeks to enable long-distance EV travel by placing fast chargers along interstates and major highways throughout the United States.

TVA and TDEC have brought together local power companies, state and local government partners, and others to pave the way for over 200,000 EVs on Tennessee Valley roads by 2028. The benefits that these EVs bring to the Tennessee Valley region are significant:

• Attracting high-quality jobs – $17.2 billion in EV and battery manufacturing has helped create over 14,000 EV-related jobs in the past 10 years
• Reducing carbon emissions from gasoline vehicles by almost 1 million metric tons per year or the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 1 million acres of U.S. forests in one year
• Reinvesting $120 million in the local economy every year from electric refueling
• Saving drivers up to $1,000 in fuel and maintenance costs every year

“At TVA we’ve moved far beyond connecting communities with power lines,” said TVA EnergyRight Vice President Monika Beckner. “Today, EVs use our clean, low-cost, reliable electricity to connect communities and commerce across our region. Taking a leadership role in EV charging infrastructure allows TVA to save drivers money and attract good jobs and tourism– all powered by electricity from TVA and your local power company.”

“Tennessee’s air is cleaner as measured by federal air quality standards than it has been in generations, and a clean environment helps drive economic development,” TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young said. “TDEC is partnering with TVA and MLEC on the development of this station to continue Tennessee’s environmental and economic momentum while further entrenching our state as the epicenter of the electric vehicle transition.”

“Seven States is trusted by local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to deliver EV charging technology for their consumers,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation. “Impactful partnerships like this benefit the local community, regional economy and global environment for years to come.”

To learn more about the Fast Charge Network, calculate how much money an EV could save you or locate EV charging stations on your travel route, check out  https://energyright.com/ev/.

Learn more about Fast Charge TN here:  www.tn.gov/EVFastCharge.

Student Delegates Gain Knowledge and Skills at Weeklong Trip

(June 27, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis’ group has returned home from a successful Washington Youth Tour after seven student delegates and two chaperones spent a full week at the nation’s capital.

(Pictured from back left: MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong, Delegates Charlsie Strech, Jacob Young, Jaxon Fite and MLEC Marketing Coordinator Memori Depriest. From front left: Delegates Sage Clendenion, Kari Byrd, Bailey Hickman and Lilli Istre.)

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, MLEC and other electric cooperatives from across the state sponsor the annual event and provide an all-expenses paid, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington D.C. for high school juniors. Students were selected by writing a short story titled “Electric Cooperatives Connect” explaining how co-ops link Tennessee communities with energy, education, broadband, economic development and more.

The trip kicked off on June 14 and concluded on June 20. MLEC was represented by East Hickman High School’s Sage Clendenion, Hickman County High School’s Lilli Istre, Houston County High School’s Charlsie Strech, Lewis County High School’s Jaxon Fite, McEwen High School’s Jacob Young, Perry County High School’s Kari Byrd and Waverly Central High School’s Bailey Hickman. MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong and Marketing Coordinator Memori Depriest served as chaperones. In total, 185 students, teachers and chaperones attended.

During the trip, Delegate Charlsie Strech won first place in the statewide short story contest and earned the Robert McCarty Memorial Scholarship worth $3,000 from TECA. She competed against the top story from each Tennessee electric cooperative out of thousands submitted.

“The Washington Youth Tour is an investment in future members that MLEC is proud to sponsor,” MLEC CEO and President Keith Carnahan said. “Through this trip, delegates explore our nation’s history, meet elected officials and make lasting connections. The knowledge and skills gained are valuable and create future leaders of our communities.”

While in Washington, D.C., Tennessee’s Youth Tour delegates saw memorials to past presidents Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as well as monuments honoring the sacrifices of veterans of World War II and the Vietnam and Korean Wars. During visits to the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the touring Tennesseans saw and experienced natural, historical and artistic treasures. Other fun stops included historic homes of former presidents — George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s Monticello — as well as the US Marine Corps War Memorial, the Washington National Cathedral and a boat cruise down the Potomac River. The group also paid a solemn and sobering visit to Arlington National Cemetery where the delegates laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Delegates were also welcomed to the U.S. Capitol by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, who spoke to MLEC delegates, answered direct questions and took a group photo.

View photos from this year’s Youth Tour on our Facebook page ✨2024 Washington Youth Tour✨

MLEC Contributes Funds to Local Sports Program

(June 13, 2024) — MLEC put Co-op Principle Number 7, Concern for Community, into practice by sponsoring the Three Rivers Clay Commanders with $1,000 for their upcoming state tournament. On behalf of MLEC, Board Directors Andy Porch and David Daniel presented the contribution to the clay shooting team comprised of Humphreys County students.

Pictured above: Coach Ralph Greenwell (Left) and Porch (Right).

MLEC Board Candidates should file by July 15, 2024

(June 5, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative bylaws require that eligible members wishing to run for the cooperative board of directors file a Declaration of Candidacy and Statement of Qualifications form by close of business day on July 15, 2024. Each position is for a four-year term.

Elections are held in districts where a director’s term expires. For 2024, the only expiring term is currently held by Andy Porch, who has expressed an interest in re-election. Candidacy declaration forms can be picked up from the MLEC office in Waverly or 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, nor a child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew of an employee of the Cooperative related by blood, adoption, or marriage.
• Must not be a former employee nor the spouse of a former employee of the Cooperative unless employment with Cooperative was at least two (2) years previous to the date of the forthcoming district election.
• Is a high school graduate or holds a GED certificate.
• Has continually resided in the district from which election is being sought.
• 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.

The election will take place during the MLEC District Membership Meeting in Waverly in October. More details will be announced later.

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TVA adjusts rates to summer prices and accounts for fuel costs

(May 31, 2024) — 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 $7.93 more (a 5 percent increase) compared to May based on an average household that uses 1200 kilowatt-hours. The total residential kilowatt-hour price is $0.09927, which is slightly lower than the seasonal rate compared to the previous two years. Members can find a complete rate schedule at mlec.com in the “About MLEC” section.

Meriwether Lewis understands that price increases can impact a member’s budget and summer temperatures will likely increase energy use. As your local cooperative, we offer these rebates to help manage costs long-term:

1. Free energy audits and evaluations to find what home improvements you need
2. Heat pump financing and rebates (up to $1500)
3. Home insulation rebates (up to $1000)
4. Duct system rebates ($300)
5. Air sealing and window rebates

Visit mlec.com under the “Ways to Save” tab 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 Ways To Save – Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (mlec.com).

MLEC helps neighboring electric cooperative restore power following storm

(May 30, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis lineworkers assisted Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation on May 27, after their service area experienced storm damage.

Those who responded to the area are pictured from left to right: Lewis County Journey Lineworker Chris (Chopper) Carroll, Houston County Lead Lineworker Nick Bush, Perry County Journey Lineworker Will Dunnebacke, Hickman County Journey Lineworker Spencer Totty and Perry County Apprentice Lineworker Forrest White.

Steve Skelton Celebrated for 25 Years of Service

(May 28, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis celebrated the retirement of Engineer Technician Steve Skelton on May 10. Skelton resides in Lewis County and served several communities during his 25-year tenure. His team members honored him with a farewell party where he received an engraved cutting board and photo book.

Pictured: MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan (left), Steve Skelton (middle) and MLEC System Engineer Brent Warf (right).

More than 180 Stories Submitted, 14 Receive Scholarships.

(May 13, 2024) — Houston County High School Junior Charlsie Strech 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: Caroline Luna and Eric Pantoja

Hickman County High School: Lilli Istre and Jake Tidwell

Houston County High School: Carlsie Strech ($3000 Overall Winner) and Braden Roberson

Lewis County High School: Jaxon Fite and Jayden Moore

McEwen High School: Jacob Brown and Kylie Elliott

Perry County High School: Kari Byrd and Zach Riley

Waverly Central High School: Bailey Hickman and Jaden Lambdin

Each school’s overall winning student also has the opportunity to serve as an MLEC delegate on the 2024 Washington Youth Tour in June. Students who accepted the expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. are Istre, Strech, Fite, Byrd, Brown and Hickman. An alternate delegate, Sage Clendenion, will represent East Hickman High School. MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong and Marketing Coordinator Memori Depriest will serve as chaperones.

“The Washington Youth Tour invests in the future leaders of our local 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.”

The theme for this year’s annual contest was “Electric Cooperatives Connect.” 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.

Gary Cunningham Celebrated for 16 Years of Service

(May 10, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative celebrated the retirement of Hickman County Material Handler Gary Cunningham on April 30. He worked at the co-op for 16 years and filled many roles during his employment. His team members honored him with a personalized print and photo book.

Image Cutline: MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan (right) and Hickman County District Manager Matthew Chessor (left) say farewell to Gary Cunningham (center) with a parting gift from MLEC.

Outage numbers are getting lower. (May 9, 2024– Centerville, TN) — MLEC crews have made significant progress on outages today and anticipate all members to have power by late tonight. Less than 500 remain without electricity in Hickman County and a few isolated cases need repair in Perry County.

In Hickman County, the majority of work has been focused on the Beaverdam/Brushy/Aetna area. Lineworkers from multiple MLEC counties and two outside contractors have worked throughout the day in rough terrain and wet conditions to restore power.

Less than 200 MLConnect subscribers are currently without service. These are mainly in Perry County. MLC crews have spent the day surveying the damage and have pinpointed areas of need. For safety and efficiency, power restoration is concludes before broadband repairs can begin tomorrow.

MLEC would like to remind members about these safety tips while crews continue work:

• If you do not have electric service, or know of someone who does not have electricity, please call your local office. Have your phone number, address and name on the MLEC account ready. If you are calling after hours, please call 1-888-879-6038. Email and social media are not linked to our outage management system, so these should not be used to report issues.
• If you or someone in your home uses special medical equipment, follow your emergency plan and make arrangements to be moved to a location that has electricity if necessary.
• Contact MLEC if you see power lines on the ground or caught in trees and do not try to move them. If touched, they could cause electrocution or serious injury.
• Use extreme caution when using a generator. If you own a generator, contact MLEC. A generator can send electricity back through electric lines and electrocute linemen or others involved in restoration efforts. See www.mlec.com for proper generator installation and use.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible to retain the inside temperature.
• If the weatherhead at your home is torn down, an electrician will need to repair this before MLEC can restore power.
• If you are an MLConnect customer 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. Once power lines are back in service, broadband crews will begin repairing fiber.

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