Nashville Electric Service Monitors Middle Tennessee Forecasts Ahead of First Alert Weather Day Nashville Electric Service announced on Tuesday that it is closely tracking weather forecasts for Middle Tennessee as the region prepares for a potential severe storm event. The utility emphasized its readiness to address power outages caused by the storm, which is expected to impact the area on Wednesday. Meteorologists at WSMV4 have designated Wednesday as a First Alert Weather Day, warning of a strong cold front that could bring strong to severe storms across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. NES stated that its crews are equipped to handle outages resulting from the storm, noting that high winds pose a risk of downed vegetation near power lines. Fallen trees or branches could lead to power interruptions, and damaged utility poles would require time to repair. Customers experiencing outages are instructed to report them through multiple channels, including calling 615-234-0000, texting “OUT” to 637797, logging into NESPower.com, or using the outage map at nespower.com/outages. NES also urged the public to avoid contact with downed power lines, advising individuals to treat them as live and immediately call 9-1-1 if they encounter such hazards. To prepare for the storm, NES recommended that customers charge mobile devices in advance, keep backup portable batteries on hand, and ensure access to a reliable weather app or website. The utility also encouraged households to assemble an emergency kit and develop a preparedness plan. For those reliant on life-supporting equipment powered by electricity, NES offered the option to apply for its Critical Referral program.#first_alert_weather_day #middle_tennessee #nashville_electric_service #wsmv4 #nespower_com
NES Faces the Fallout of Extended Power Outages Lisa Boyle remembers the trees cracking on Sunday morning. “We had so many trees fall, and I was getting scared of that too, because we kept hearing them,” Boyle tells the Scene. “We lost power Sunday and spent one night freezing our butts off under a million blankets, sleeping in our coats. It was Monday when we finally left around 6:30 in the evening. At 3 o’clock in the morning, I got the call.” For the second time in 13 months, Boyle’s house was on fire. “The reason I got the call is that I’ve become so friendly with my neighbors — they were able to alert me,” explains Boyle, who recently moved back to Nashville from Los Angeles. The Boyle family lost their home in the Pacific Palisades fire that tore through a residential section of the Californian coast in January of last year. Boyle had been in her new Forest Hills home for a few weeks when Winter Storm Fern— or as she calls it, the Great Freeze — swept across Davidson County. After losing power on Sunday, Jan. 25, alongside more than 200,000 Nashville households, she and her son lit the home’s fireplaces for the first time since moving in. They snuffed out the fireplace before leaving for a hotel, but a trapped ember stayed lit somewhere near the roof. The house burned from the top down. Winter Storm 2026 Our coverage of January's severe ice storm “The first time I lost my house in California, our whole community lost their homes together — it was painful, but it was a shared pain,” Boyle tells the Scene two weeks after losing her second house. “This is much more selective. But I did learn that I sure picked the right place to be. Even before the fire, my neighbors reached out in ways that I hadn’t experienced before — it was refreshing to get back here and to feel that neighborly love.#nashville_electric_service #lisa_boyle #winter_storm_fern #phillip_jones #bill_frist
NES clears itself in Green Hills ice storm damage probe Neighbors in Green Hills say Nashville Electric Service (NES) has concluded it is not responsible for widespread appliance damage caused by a severe winter ice storm, but they remain dissatisfied with the utility’s findings. Since initial reports of damaged appliances emerged, the number of affected residents has grown, with some spending thousands on repairs. Residents reported hearing loud explosions during power restoration efforts by an out-of-town crew hired by NES, only to discover costly damage to HVAC systems, outlets, and kitchen appliances after the power returned. NES initiated an investigation following media coverage of the issue but later sent neighbors an email stating it does not believe it is at fault. The utility has not responded to requests for comment. One neighbor, Carl Heinemann, emphasized that the matter is about accountability. He shared an email from NES’s attorney, which claimed there was no evidence of excess voltage reaching homes due to NES’s systems. Heinemann, however, argues that the utility’s self-investigation overlooked failed customer meters, which he says only blow up if something is coming back from NES. Other neighbors, like Jill Lindner, expressed frustration with NES’s handling of the situation. They believe the utility should have conducted a more thorough investigation, particularly after power was restored. Lindner noted that at least five customer meters failed during the process, suggesting a potential link to NES’s infrastructure. Despite the utility’s stance, residents are considering legal options, though experts warn that suing public utilities is difficult due to protective laws.#nashville_electric_service #green_hills #carl_heinemann #jill_lindner #tennessee_valley_authority
