Should severe winter weather arrive, MLEC employees will be on alert to minimize and begin repairing any damage to the power system as quickly as possible. While MLEC makes proactive steps to prevent outages during severe weather, like right of way clearing and quality equipment and material, Mother Nature sometimes causes outages out of our control.

When those outages occur, rest assured that MLEC is working to restore electricity quickly. Here are a few tips and information for you. The key to make these outage times more safe and inconvenient for your family is to be prepared.

What causes winter outages?                          

What should my family do during a winter outage?

What should we do during an extended outage?

What do I keep in an outage kit?

What can I do to help?

Most winter outages are weather-related. High winds, snow or ice and traffic accidents can bring down electric lines and poles. This leaves large areas in the dark. Winter weather frequently causes trees to fall across power lines, leaving a home, a neighborhood or an entire area without power. MLEC works throughout the year to cut trees back from power lines and maintain the entire electric system. But the rugged, rural terrain of our service area means that outages will be possible.

• Keep an outage kit. MLEC offers tips on what to include in your kit on this site.
• Call MLEC to report an outage. If the lines are busy, your neighbors probably also are reporting the outage. Please be patient. Telephones are answered 24-hours a day, 7-days a week – even on holidays. The phone number and areas are:

Hickman County: (931) 729-3558
After hours & holidays 1-800-482-6553 (including Dyer Rd.)

Lewis County: (931) 796-3116
After hours & holidays 1-800-256-2807

Perry County: (931) 589-2151
After hours & holidays 1-800-316-2342

Humphreys County: (931) 296-2581 or 296-2582
After hours & holidays 1-800-893-8273

Houston County: (931) 289-3311
After hours & holidays 1-800-650-6814

• Leave your freezer and refrigerator closed unless absolutely necessary. Food will stay frozen for several days if left undisturbed.
• Turn off all appliances and lights and only leave on one light switch. That light will let you know when power is restored.

What should we do during an extended outage?

• If radio report indicate that power may be out for several days, or if your power has been out for several hours, consider moving in with a relative or friend who has heat.
• Dress warmly in layers when temperatures are low. Wearing a heat also helps conserve your body heat. Remember that the elderly and small children lose body heat quickly.
• If you have a fireplace, wood stove or generator-powered electric heater, move family members into one room and close the room off. NEVER USE A GAS OR CHARCOAL GRILL FOR HEAT. These devices use up the oxygen in the air and replace it with deadly, odorless carbon monoxide gas.
• Remember to check on the elderly and shut-ins in your community.
• If you use a portable generator, plug appliances directly into the unit. DO NOT plug the generator into a wall outlet, as that allows electricity to travel out of the house and onto electric lines. MLEC linemen working to restore power could be injured or killed from your electric generator. To have a diagram on using electric generators and installations instructions mailed to you, contact your local office or e-mail power@mlec.net.

What do I keep in an outage kit?

• Flashlights       
• Extra batteries              
• Candles and matches               
• Wood for fireplace or wood stove
• Kerosene, propane or oil lamp and appropriate fuel
• Paper plates and plastic utensils
• Battery-powered radio (and even more batteries)
• Wind-up or battery-operated clock
• Extra blankets or sleeping bags
• Containers for storing water and extra water
• Portable fire extinguisher
• Manual can opener
• Canned foods that don’t need to be cooked or other easily prepared foods: fresh or canned fruit, powered milk and dry cereals, canned tuna, meat spreads, cheese spreads, peanut butter and crackers

What can I do to help?

* Never try to move a downed line or the limb that has it pinned. Call MLEC immediately. Our linemen have the equipment and training to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.