Cooperative Principles in Action

MLEC shares 2024 vegetation management schedule.

(APRIL 16, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is working to keep your lights on and the public safe through its vegetation management program currently underway.

This year, three counties will be prioritized in MLEC’s vegetation plan to improve power and broadband reliability. Trimming is underway in Humphreys County and will continue into 2025. Spraying is scheduled this summer for all of Perry County and neighboring sections of Hickman and Humphreys counties. (A map of impacted areas will be made available on mlec.com.)

Vegetation management also continues in Houston County from last year’s work plan but should be completed this summer. Other than hot-spot areas that need attention when discovered, no trimming is set for Lewis County.

Members in special situations may opt out of spraying only if the landowner commits to maintaining the right of way through personal investments and completes the necessary paperwork. Those interested must complete all requirements by May 15, 2024, to be eligible. Contact your local MLEC office if interested.

“MLEC responsibly balances the beauty and environmental benefits of vegetation while also emphasizing the importance of affordable electricity, public safety and reliability,” said President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “Through the 2024 vegetation management plan, MLEC maintains its dependable services to members and ensures proper trimming and spraying guidelines are followed.”

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 National 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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Temperatures cause Hickman Co. substation work time change.

(April 22, 2024) — Due to forecasted weather, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative’s scheduled maintenance outage set for April 23, at 4 a.m. in Hickman County has been moved to 8 a.m..

MLEC needs enough power supply to serve all members through one substation during the project. However, temperatures in the forecast could decrease the amount of available electricity. As a result, MLEC is changing the outage time.

The work is now scheduled for 8 a.m. and ends around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. Members served from the Hilltop Substation will experience an approximate one-hour outage at the beginning and end of the project. Here are some of the affected areas:

• Highway 100 East from Johnson Mine Road to Fantasy Drive, Brown Hollow Road, Highway 7, Primm Springs, Fairfield, Johnson Mine Road, Mill Creek Road, Bell Branch Road, Keys Branch and Hidden Valley
• Little Lot Road, Hassell Creek Road, Little Lot, Leatherwood Road, Highway 50 East from Gordon Road to Hickman/Maury County line, Duck River, Mobley Ridge Road, Sheboss Road. Nunnelly, Highway 48 North from Fairfield to I-40, Garners Creek Road, Pinewood, White House, Pretty Creek, Piney Road, Taylor Creek Road, Vernon, Dodd Hollow, etc

Areas not served by the substation will also experience a brief interruption, or blink at the beginning and end of the work. Some of these include Universal Drive, Murphree Avenue North, Defeated Creek, Puckett Hollow, Maryfield Avenue, Huddleston Road, Skyview, Grays Bend Road South, Camp Meribah area, Green Hill Drive, Highway 100 North out of Centerville, Rivers Road.

For MLConnect broadband subscribers, if internet does not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. Reach out to technical support by calling 931-729-3558, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2, if needed.

Should anyone have concerns, please contact MLEC at 931-729-3558.

MLEC Members in Parts of Perry County Affected

(April 8, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is planning a six-hour power interruption beginning at Noon on Thursday, April 18, for portions of Perry County. Power should be restored by 6 p.m. Crews will use this time to safely make upgrades that will increase capacity and reliability for impacted areas.

Some of the impacted areas include White Oak Road, Peters Landing, Eagles Bend, White Oak Landing, and Paradise Landing,

In the event of inclement weather, the outage will be postponed to April 25 for the same time. Any changes to the schedule will be shared with local media and on MLEC’s social media platforms.

Should broadband not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. Reach out to technical support by calling 931-589-2151, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2, if needed.

“We are working to increase capacity for growth, as well as improve efficiency and reliability,” says MLEC District Manager Mike Hickerson.

Should anyone have concerns, please call MLEC at 931-589-2151.

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MLEC postpones upgrade work in Hickman County due to weather.

(April 8, 2024) — Due to impending weather, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative has moved a maintenance outage formerly scheduled for April 10 involving the Hilltop Substation to April 16. The job will not take place on the original date, but the scope of work remains the same as follow-up to a March 6 project. The overall effort will take approximately 14 hours, but MLEC will attempt to keep the power on as crews shift the electric supply for impacted homes and businesses.

As work begins at 4 a.m. on April 16, certain areas will see a brief interruption, or blink, as MLEC shifts the load. Some of these include Universal Drive, Murphree Avenue North, Defeated Creek, Puckett Hollow, Maryfield Avenue, Huddleston Road, Skyview, Grays Bend Road South, Camp Meribah area, Green Hill Drive, Highway 100 North out of Centerville, Rivers Road.

At the same time, everyone receiving power from the Hilltop Substation will see their power interrupted at 4 a.m. for approximately one hour as their power load is redirected. Some affected areas are:  

• Highway 100 East from Johnson Mine Road to Fantasy Drive, Brown Hollow Road, Highway 7, Primm Springs, Fairfield, Johnson Mine Road, Mill Creek Road, Bell Branch Road, Keys Branch and Hidden Valley
• Little Lot Road, Hassell Creek Road, Little Lot, Leatherwood Road, Highway 50 East from Gordon Road to Hickman/Maury County line, Duck River, Mobley Ridge Road, Sheboss Road.
• Nunnelly, Highway 48 North from Fairfield to I-40, Garners Creek Road, Pinewood, White House, Pretty Creek, Piney Road, Taylor Creek Road, Vernon, Dodd Hollow, etc.

MLEC estimates work will finish around 6 p.m. on April 16. As the electric supply shifts back, the impacted areas will experience the same interruption (blink or hour-long outage) as they did at the beginning. If conditions are not favorable, the load shift will take place closer to midnight or early the next morning.

“Based on predicted forecasts, MLEC officials have determined conditions may not be suitable to conduct maintenance while still powering all these areas from one substation,” says MLEC District Manager Matthew Chessor.

MLEC will watch the forecast closely leading up to April 16. Any changes to the schedule will be shared with local media and on MLEC’s social media platforms.

For MLConnect broadband subscribers, if internet does not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. Reach out to technical support by calling 931-729-3558, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2, if needed.

Should anyone have concerns, please contact MLEC at 931-729-3558.

Upgrade work continues for MLEC crews.

(April 2, 2024) — As follow-up to the March 6, maintenance outage, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative has additional work set for April 10, in the Hilltop Substation. The job will take approximately 14 hours, but MLEC will attempt to keep the power on as crews work by shifting electric load for impacted homes and businesses.

As work begins at 4 a.m. on April 10, certain areas will see a brief interruption, or blink, as MLEC shifts the load. Some of these include Universal Drive, Murphree Avenue North, Defeated Creek, Puckett Hollow, Maryfield Avenue, Huddleston Road, Skyview, Grays Bend Road South, Camp Meribah area, Green Hill Drive, Highway 100 North out of Centerville, Rivers Road.

At the same time, everyone receiving power from the Hilltop Substation will see their power interrupted at 4 a.m. for approximately one hour as their power load is redirected. Some affected areas are:  

• Highway 100 East from Johnson Mine Road to Fantasy Drive, Brown Hollow Road, Highway 7, Primm Springs, Fairfield, Johnson Mine Road, Mill Creek Road, Bell Branch Road, Keys Branch and Hidden Valley
• Little Lot Road, Hassell Creek Road, Little Lot, Leatherwood Road, Highway 50 East from Gordon Road to Hickman/Maury County line, Duck River, Mobley Ridge Road, Sheboss Road.
• Nunnelly, Highway 48 North from Fairfield to I-40, Garners Creek Road, Pinewood, White House, Pretty Creek, Piney Road, Taylor Creek Road, Vernon, Dodd Hollow, etc.

MLEC estimates work will finish around 6 p.m. on April 10. As load shifts back, the impacted areas will experience the same interruption (blink or hour-long outage) as they did at the beginning. If conditions are not favorable, the load shift will take place closer to midnight or early the next morning.

“Before switching everything back, we’ll evaluate temperatures and load,” says MLEC District Manager Matthew Chessor. “Conditions must be ‘just right’ to power all these areas from one substation. If temperatures are too hot or cold, power demand will increase, so we’ll hold shifting load back until late night or early morning.”

MLEC will watch the forecast closely leading up to April 10, and work will be postponed to April 11, if load shifting is not an option. Any changes to the schedule will be shared with local media and on MLEC’s social media platforms.

For MLConnect broadband subscribers, if internet does not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. Reach out to technical support by calling 931-729-3558, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2, if needed.

Should anyone have concerns, please contact call MLEC at 931-729-3558.

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MLConnect schedules network maintenance

(March 8, 2024) —  In efforts to continue a high quality of service, Meriwether Lewis Connect will conduct system maintenance between the hours of 11:50 p.m. on March 12, and 2:00 a.m. on March 13.  Connectivity will go out and come back on for all broadband and phone subscribers at some point during the two-hour service window.

“We will keep the outage window as brief as possible,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “We hope the advanced notice allows everyone to prepare and keep the inconvenience to a minimum.”

If service does not return to normal after the allotted outage time, subscribers should disconnect power to their modem for a few minutes to reset. If this does not fix the issues, subscribers should call their local MLEC office and choose Option 3, then Option 2, for technical assistance.

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TECA Hosts 2024 Legislative Conference in Nashville

(March 8, 2024) —Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and President and CEO Keith Carnahan joined more than 175 electric cooperative leaders from across the state in Nashville on Feb. 20 and 21, for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s 2024 Legislative Conference.

“The Legislative Conference is a time where our Board Directors spend time with legislators to share local needs and discuss issues impacting our industry and communities,” Carnahan said. “The General Assembly is a great partner with Tennessee Electric Cooperatives, and we appreciate their time to hear what matters to MLEC.”

MLEC leaders heard from political strategists and policy advisors as well as Tennessee leaders, including advisors to Gov. Bill Lee and Secretary of State Tre Hargett. Reliability, new policies and industry challenges were the main discussion points with legislators. From cybersecurity to EPA regulations, MLEC co-op leaders advocated for specific legislation that supports rural electric cooperatives and protects the energy supply.

MLEC Board Directors Ronny Averett, Johnnie Ruth Elrod, Sam Fussell, Tommy Graham, Dr. Zack Hutchens, Jessie Wallace and Dr. Jeff Peery attended this year’s conference. Visits with Senator Kerry Roberts, Representative Jody Barrett, Senator John Stevens, Senator Joey Hensley and Representative Kirk Haston were scheduled while they were at the Capitol.

 “The partnerships formed at the state level allow MLEC to better serve our members and keep the cooperative prepared for future obstacles,” Carnahan said. “The decisions made by local lawmakers are of great importance to all Tennessee electric cooperatives, and MLEC is proud to have a seat at the table when discussing the future of the industry.”

MLEC Members in Parts of Hickman County Affected

(February 28, 2024) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is planning a power interruption at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, to conduct time-sensitive upgrades. The outage, which will also affect MLConnect broadband service, is expected to take about three hours and affect those receiving power from the Hilltop Substation.

Some of the impacted areas include:

• Highway 100 East from Johnson Mine Road to Fantasy Drive, Brown Hollow Road, Highway 7, Primm Springs.
• Little Lot Road, Hassell Creek Road, Little Lot, Leatherwood Road, Highway 50 East from Gordon Road to Hickman/Maury County line, Duck River, Mobley Ridge Road, Sheboss Road.
• Fairfield, Johnson Mine Road, Mill Branch Road, Bell Branch Road, Keys Branch and Hidden Valley.
• Nunnelly, Highway 48 North from Fairfield to I-40, Garners Creek Road, Pinewood, White House, Pretty Creek, Piney Road, Taylor Creek Road, Vernon, Dodd Hollow, etc.

In the event of inclement weather, the outage will take place the next night (March 7) at the same time. Any changes to the schedule will be shared with local media and on MLEC’s social media platforms.

Should broadband not return when power is restored, unplug the router for a few minutes instead of pressing the “Reset” button. Reach out to technical support by calling 931-729-3558, and selecting Option 3, then Option 2, if needed.

“We are working to increase capacity for growth, as well as improve efficiency and reliability,” says MLEC District Manager Matthew Chessor. “This is the first of two outages needed for the work being done.”

Should anyone have concerns, please contact call MLEC at 931-729-3558.

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MLEC begins project to upgrade meters in Humphreys County

(February 20, 2024) — In ongoing efforts to serve its members more efficiently and reliably, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is upgrading meters across its service area. Work in Humphreys County is expected to begin in early March and finish in June.

“Like any technology, meter upgrades come along as older equipment becomes unreliable and has less manufacturer support if something goes wrong,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “We are replacing the unsupported meters with an upgraded model and combining its technology with MLConnect broadband to provide safe, affordable, reliable power to our members.”

The advanced meters improve reliability by pinpointing and responding to power outages more effectively, creating opportunities for grid improvements, and diagnosing and resolving issues before they occur. Ultimately, it saves outage time and the costs associated with unexpected power interruptions.

The installation only takes a few minutes, creates a momentary outage, and only involves outside equipment. The property owner does not need to be present. MLEC understands members might question someone unfamiliar on their property, so employees are always in clearly marked vehicles and have photo id badges.

For additional details, contact your local MLEC office or visit the “Services” tab on www.mlec.com/mlec-meters/. 

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MLEC Contributes Funds to Local Football Program

(February 9, 2024) — MLEC put Co-op Principle Number 7, Concern for Community, into practice by giving $2,250 to the McEwen High School football team. MLEC Board Directors David Daniel, Larry Mayberry, Andy Porch and Jessie Wallace made the contribution to purchase gym equipment for the football program.

Pictured above: MLEC Board Director Andy Porch (left) presented the funds to team representative Charlie Gill (right).