DREMC preps as winter storm brings ice threat

4:01 p.m. Jan. 23, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation is keeping a close watch on Winter Storm Fern as ice and freezing rain move into southern Middle Tennessee. Crews are ready to respond if power outages happen.

In a news release Friday, Jan. 23, DREMC officials said 48 crews, made up of company linemen and contractors, are on standby. That’s about 188 workers ready to restore power when it is safe to do so. Office staff are also ready to help members and support restoration work. Thanks to a partnership with Southern TN Weather, Duck River Electric is receiving early weather updates to support planning.

Winter Storm Fern is expected to bring ice, freezing rain, sleet, and other dangerous winter weather to parts of Duck River Electric’s service area. Utility officials warned that dangerous roads and freezing temperatures could slow down power restoration, especially in places where ice keeps building up or refreezing.

“Our crews are prepared, but ice buildup can slow down repairs and make it unsafe to reach some areas,” said James Wright, President and CEO of Duck River Electric.

Ice storms are some of the most damaging weather events for electric systems. The weight of ice can break trees, poles, and power lines, which often means it takes longer to restore power than after other storms. Duck River Electric’s service area covers rural and rugged parts of southern Middle Tennessee, and the many trees in the area make repairs even harder.

DREMC says falling trees pose the biggest threat to maintaining power during ice storms. Branches heavy with ice can break, or whole trees can fall onto roads and power lines, even if they are outside the cooperative’s cleared areas.

Safety is the top priority for both the public and utility workers. Wright urged residents to be very careful if they come across storm damage.

“We’re asking everyone to treat any downed power line as if it’s energized,” Wright said. “Please keep your distance and report it right away. It could save a life.”

Duck River Electric urges members to follow safety steps during the storm. Stay at least 30 to 40 feet away from any downed power line, reduce energy use if asked, prepare for possible long outages, and follow advice from local emergency officials. If there is an emergency, call 911.

You can find the latest storm and outage information at www.dremc.com/storm. Weather updates are shared through a partnership with Southern TN Weather. Duck River Electric will continue to provide updates as the situation changes and as outages, restoration work, or conservation requests arise.