02 February, 2026 A Friend in Need: DREMC Sends Crews to Pickwick EC for “Mutual Aid”
Summary
Answering a call for assistance from a fellow cooperative, Duck River Electric is sending a third crew to assist Pickwick Electric Cooperative with ongoing storm restoration efforts.
Duck River Electric is mobilizing a third line crew today to assist Pickwick Electric Cooperative (PEC) as restoration efforts continue following significant damage from Winter Storm Fern.
Answering a call for help from a fellow electric cooperative, Duck River Electric initially sent two line crews last on Friday through long-standing mutual aid agreements between the cooperatives. As of Monday morning, a third crew is preparing to depart for PEC’s service area. The additional resources are being sent as Pickwick EC continues working to restore power to thousands of members affected by the prolonged winter weather event.
Supporting a Fellow Cooperative in Need
Pickwick Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Selmer, Tennessee, experienced extensive damage across its system due to heavy ice accumulation and freezing temperatures. At the height of the storm, PEC reported more than 9,400 members without power, nearly half of its total membership. While progress has been made, challenging conditions and widespread damage continue to slow restoration.
“Mutual aid is one of the strongest examples of the cooperative difference,” DREMC CEO James Wright said. “When a neighboring co-op is facing prolonged outages and difficult conditions, we step in to help. Our crews are proud to support Pickwick Electric and the communities they serve during this recovery.”
The Duck River Electric crews will assist with storm-related repairs, including replacing damaged poles and lines and clearing ice- and tree-related debris. Cold temperatures have persisted, placing ongoing stress on electrical infrastructure and requiring sustained manpower to safely complete restoration work.
Balancing Mutual Aid and Local Reliability
While providing assistance to PEC, Duck River Electric continues to prioritize system reliability for its own members. Crews are deployed for mutual aid in a way that ensures Duck River’s system remains stable and capable of responding to any new issues that arise locally.
Electric cooperatives across the country rely on mutual aid agreements to share crews, equipment and expertise during large-scale emergencies. These partnerships allow utilities to respond more quickly, work more safely and restore power more efficiently when storms exceed the capacity of a single system.
Duck River Electric asks members to keep all lineworkers involved in Winter Storm Fern restoration efforts in their thoughts and prayers as they continue working long hours in challenging conditions to restore power to affected communities across the region.
About Duck River Electric
Established in 1936, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation is the fourth largest electric cooperative in Tennessee and serves over 86,000 members across 17 counties in southern Middle Tennessee. Stretching from Maury County, TN, in the west and Franklin County, TN, in the east, DREMC provides essential electricity services, managing critical infrastructure across rural and rugged terrain, and driving economic development through energy innovation. Our mission is to empower our communities and enhance the quality of life for our members. Learn more at www.dremc.com or contact our Media Relations team at communications@dremc.com.
