Independent Review Finds Major Operational Failures at Nashville Electric Service

An independent review of Nashville Electric Service’s response to a deadly winter storm in January found that the utility failed to request outside assistance early or broadly enough for the incident. The storm left over 230,000 customers without power, and the restoration took nearly two weeks. The review also found that tree trimming had decreased by more than 50% over the five years preceding the storm.

The review identified four major areas for improvement, including incident command, emergency preparedness, and resource forecasting. These findings indicate systemic operational risks for Nashville Electric Service, which operates as the regulated power provider for Nashville.