What Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative does

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (MLEC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative founded in 1939 under USDA rural electrification programs and headquartered at 1625 Highway 100 in Centerville, Tennessee. The cooperative distributes electricity to more than 34,500 meters across five Middle Tennessee counties — Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis, and Perry — through its own substations (including the recently upgraded Hilltop Substation), distribution lines, smart meter infrastructure, and vegetation management programs that support a 99.96% reliability statistic.

MLEC's core product is electric power distribution, with electricity purchased wholesale from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and resold to member-owners under seasonal rate structures that are higher in summer (June-September) and winter (December-March) months and lower in transitional periods, with rates flowing through TVA's Fuel Cost Adjustment. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Meriwether Lewis Connect, LLC (MLConnect), the cooperative extends its service surface into fiber broadband internet, online billing, and free Wi-Fi hotspots in Houston and Lewis counties, with smart meters and broadband bundled alongside traditional electric service. Billing is monthly, and members access services through five district offices (one per county) plus an online member portal at billing.mlec.com.

Revenue mechanics are subscription-style recurring charges across electric and broadband lines, governed by a board of directors chaired by Dr. Jeff Peery, with Keith Carnahan serving as President & CEO. The cooperative's go-to-market is direct-to-member across a designated, franchise-style rural service territory, reinforced by community programs (Washington Youth Tour, Poster Contest, Youth Leadership Summit, 4-H Electric Camp, Adopt-A-School grants supported by CoBank, economic development initiatives, and contributions such as the $500 to the Perry County Veterans Association in June 2026) that align with cooperative principles including "concern for community." There is no parent company, no external equity ownership, and no public listing; the cooperative is capitalized through member equity, USDA programs, and lender relationships.

Name

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative

Legal name

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative

Website

https://mlec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility founded in 1939 that distributes electricity and fiber broadband to over 34,500 members across five rural Middle Tennessee counties through its core operations and MLConnect subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Electric distribution services
• Rural broadband internet
• Member-owned cooperative
• Fiber broadband network
• Electric utility services

Headquarters

HQ city

Centerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Distribution: Sale and distribution of electricity to residential and commercial members. Rates include seasonal pricing with higher costs in summer and winter months. Subject to TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment.
2. MLConnect Broadband Services: Broadband internet services provided through MLConnect subsidiary, including internet connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspots, and related services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to over 34,500 residential and commercial members across five Middle Tennessee counties (Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis, and Perry) on a recurring, usage-based subscription model. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary MLConnect (Meriwether Lewis Connect, LLC), the cooperative also delivers fiber broadband internet service, free Wi-Fi hotspots, and smart-metering infrastructure to its service territory.

Product overview

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative offers a unified product portfolio centered on two core services: electricity distribution and broadband internet. The electric power distribution service serves over 34,500 meters across five Tennessee counties, while MLConnect provides fiber broadband internet access as a complementary offering to members. Additional offerings include smart meter infrastructure (MLEC Meters) and free Wi-Fi hotspots through MLConnect. The cooperative operates on a member-owned, not-for-profit model focused on delivering safe, affordable, and reliable utility services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MLConnect: Broadband internet service offered by Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative to members in its service area.

Products and services

• Electric Power Distribution Distribution of electricity to more than 34,500 residential and commercial meters across Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lewis, and Perry counties in Middle Tennessee, serving member-owners of the cooperative on a monthly recurring subscription basis with usage-based seasonal rates.
• MLConnect Broadband Internet Fiber broadband internet service provided through the MLConnect subsidiary (Meriwether Lewis Connect, LLC) delivering fast, affordable, and reliable internet connectivity to residential and business customers across the five-county service area, billed monthly via the MLConnect online billing portal.
• MLEC Meters (Smart Metering) Advanced metering infrastructure deployed by MLEC to monitor member electricity usage, improve service efficiency, and support reliability across the distribution grid.
• Free Wi-Fi Hotspots Free public Wi-Fi access points provided by MLConnect in various locations across Houston and Lewis counties, extending broadband connectivity to community spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 34,500 meters with 99.96% uptime reliability

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1939TVA provides wholesale power supply to MLEC. TVA adjusts rates through the Fuel Cost Adjustment mechanism, affecting energy charges for all MLEC customers. This is a foundational partnership dating to MLEC's formation.
• USDA Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1939USDA programs and loan/grant mechanisms that support rural electric cooperatives. USDA loans and grants have been used to recruit and retain rural jobs in Tennessee communities.
• Perry County Veterans AssociationminorOthersMLEC contributed $500 to the Perry County Veterans Association as part of its concern for community principle, demonstrating cooperative values of supporting local organizations.
• Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association (TECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTECA coordinates the Youth Leadership Summit and Washington Youth Tour programs. MLEC sends student representatives to these annual events.
• University of Tennessee Extension ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with UT Extension Service to provide 4-H Electric Camp on UT's Knoxville campus for middle school students, with MLEC providing instructors and tuition grants.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gibson Electric Cooperative: Tennessee electric cooperative serving northwest Tennessee. Closely comparable rural distribution cooperative operating under the same TVA/NRECA framework as MLEC.
• Volunteer Energy Cooperative: Tennessee member-owned electric and natural gas cooperative serving southeast Tennessee. Operates with similar cooperative governance, distribution focus, and TVA-aligned wholesale power procurement.
• Ozark Electric Cooperative: Missouri-based member-owned rural electric cooperative offering fiber broadband through subsidiary. Comparable size, dual electric-plus-broadband service model, and rural service territory profile.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative: One of the largest electric cooperatives in the U.S., serving rural Texas territories. Member-owned distribution cooperative with broadband subsidiary (PEC Networks) — directly analogous business model to MLEC including the electric-plus-fiber dual offering.
• Duck River Electric Cooperative: Tennessee electric cooperative serving south-central Tennessee counties with similar rural, member-owned cooperative model and TVA wholesale supply relationship. Comparable in scale and service profile to MLEC.
• Middle Tennessee Electric: One of the largest electric cooperatives in Tennessee, also member-owned and serving residential/commercial members in the broader Middle Tennessee region. Directly comparable cooperative structure, TVA wholesale supply relationship, and member-services orientation.
• Cumberland Electric Cooperative: Tennessee electric cooperative serving multiple counties north of Nashville. Same cooperative structure, distribution-only model, and member-owned service mandate as MLEC, making it a close operational peer.
• Pickwick Electric Cooperative: Tennessee electric cooperative serving southwestern Tennessee counties. Direct rural electric cooperative peer with similar meter count scale, member-owned structure, and broadband-adjacent service offerings.
• Caney Fork Electric Cooperative: Tennessee member-owned electric cooperative serving eastern Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau counties. Comparable rural distribution cooperative with similar customer density and TVA power supply arrangement.

Others

• Tennessee Valley Authority: Federal wholesale power supplier and long-standing partner to MLEC. Not a competitor but the upstream ecosystem anchor — TVA's rate-setting, capacity programs, and flexibility initiatives directly shape MLEC's economics and growth runway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative