DREMC crews push into hardest-hit areas

12:08 p.m. Jan. 27, 2026 • Update 3:16 p.m. Jan. 27, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation crews are working hard to restore power across southern Middle Tennessee. Winter Storm Fern has caused damage that is now pushing crews into the most remote and hardest-hit parts of the system.

As of 11:45 a.m. Monday, 1,196 DREMC members are still without power, according to a Duck River Electric statement. Since the storm’s peak, crews have restored service to nearly 8,000 members, down from 9,283 outages reported at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The remaining outages are proving to be the most difficult and time-consuming to repair. Crews are encountering broken utility poles, spans of power line lying on the ground, and access routes blocked by downed trees and debris – often in rural or off-road locations that require specialized equipment to reach.

Maury County is still feeling the worst effects of the storm, especially in Mt. Pleasant, Williamsport, Santa Fe, and Culleoka. Access has improved in some areas, and crews expect to make good progress today, but DREMC officials warn that repairs in the most remote areas may still take longer.

Widespread Damage Across Rural Terrain

Winter Storm Fern caused heavy ice that put a lot of stress on electric infrastructure in rough terrain. DREMC says crews are still facing many hazards, like broken poles, downed lines, repeated outages from falling limbs, and roads blocked by trees and debris. Often, crews must clear these obstacles before they can start repairs.

DREMC has mobilized every available resource to support restoration efforts. Approximately 360 personnel – including linemen, engineers, contractors, and internal staff – are engaged in the response. In Maury County alone, 30 crews are working simultaneously.

Contractor crews from multiple states are operating alongside DREMC crews from across the cooperative’s districts. Eight-track machines and other specialized equipment have been deployed to reach off-road locations inaccessible by traditional bucket trucks.

Crews restored power to several large areas over the weekend and overnight, and many of those places still had power Monday morning. As access improves, teams are moving deeper into the damaged parts of the system.

Still, DREMC officials emphasize that remaining outages represent the most complex repairs on the system. Some locations will require full pole replacements, reconstruction of line spans, or significant debris removal, which may extend outages by a day or more.

Community Support and Perseverance

James Wright, president and CEO of Duck River Electric, said the storm has shown the strong partnership between DREMC and the communities it serves.

“One of the things that makes me most proud to work at Duck River is our commitment to being a community partner,” Wright said. “During Winter Storm Fern, what I’ve seen is a commitment to the cooperative from the communities we serve. Restaurants have rallied to feed our crews at all hours, and members have offered encouragement to our linemen. Everyone has come together during this storm, and it makes me incredibly proud to serve the members we serve.”

Chief Operating Officer Rob Edde said that advance planning and pre-staging enabled power restoration to begin right after the storm. “Every department at Duck River, along with our contractors, spent time preparing by moving equipment and personnel into the area before the storm hit,” he said.

“We strategically pre-staged both right-of-way and construction crews in the areas we expected to be hit hardest. Despite everything Winter Storm Fern has thrown at us, the word that keeps coming to mind is perseverance.”

Safety Is Still the Top Priority

DREMC Safety Coordinator Brad Vincent said that dangerous conditions are still making work difficult for crews in the field. “Safety remains our number one priority,” he said. “Hazardous conditions are making restoration extremely challenging. This morning, one of our crews had to cut 41 trees along a short stretch of roadway just to reach the line they were working to repair.”

Vincent explained crews are working as fast as they can, while taking all the steps needed to make sure everyone gets home safely.

DREMC encourages members to check on restoration progress and use these resources:
• Outage Map: dremc.com/map
• Storm Resources: dremc.com/storm

The cooperative will keep sharing updates as restoration continues and thanks members for their patience and support as crews handle the final and most difficult repairs after Winter Storm Fern.

Update: Peak outages occurred on Sunday, not Saturday as first reported.