Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (STEMC) has completed power restoration to all members following a historic winter storm that caused widespread damage across the electric system. More than half an inch of ice was measured in some parts of the service area—levels not seen in this region in decades.

At the height of the storm, over 7,000 members were without power, making this one of the most significant winter storm restoration efforts in recent history. In response, more than 150 lineworkers and support personnel worked across the system to safely restore service.

The storm caused extensive damage, particularly in Chester, Henderson, and Madison counties, where heavy ice led to downed lines, broken poles, and widespread infrastructure damage. In many cases, repairs required rebuilding and replacing equipment across large portions of the system rather than performing isolated fixes.

“This storm caused the kind of widespread damage that takes a lot of time to repair,” said Clint Malone, President & CEO of STEMC. “We’re incredibly grateful to the lineworkers and support teams — both local and visiting — who worked long hours in difficult conditions to restore power. We’re also deeply thankful to our members for their patience and understanding throughout this process. The damage was intense, and so was the response.”

Preparation played a critical role in limiting the damage and the length of outages. Ongoing vegetation management — including proactive tree trimming — and routine system maintenance helped prevent additional damage and reduced the scope of outages in some areas. Just as important, the cooperative’s longstanding mutual aid network allowed crews from co-ops across the region to step in quickly when help was needed. Electric cooperatives regularly train and prepare for large-scale events like this, and that preparation proved invaluable during this restoration.

During the response, STEMC received assistance from Forked Deer Electric Cooperative, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, and Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, whose lineworkers and support teams worked alongside local crews to accelerate restoration efforts.

With service now fully restored to its own members, STEMC has begun assisting neighboring utilities by sending crews to Pickwick Electric Cooperative and Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, continuing the cooperative tradition of helping others when disaster strikes.

“Electric cooperatives are built on a foundation of neighbors helping neighbors,” President & CEO Malone added. “This storm tested our system and our people, and I couldn’t be more proud of how our team, our neighbors, and our members came together.”

STEMC encourages members to report any lingering issues or concerns to 1-888-440-1990 and reminds the public to continue exercising caution around electrical equipment following severe weather.

For more information, visit stemc.com or follow Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation on social media.

Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation provides energy to more than 50,000 residential and commercial consumers in Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton counties. We are a not-for-profit, consumer-owned cooperative whose purpose is to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy through innovation and a people-first culture. We exist to power thriving communities and enhance the quality of life of every member we serve.