Nashville Electric Service to review storm response after outages

• Nashville Electric Service will conduct an accountability study after an ice storm left over 200,000 customers without power.
• NES CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin announced the utility is reevaluating its tree-trimming program, a primary cause of the outages.
• Republican leaders, including House Speaker Cameron Sexton, have criticized NES leadership and threatened a state-led overhaul.

Nashville Electric Service chief executive Teresa Broyles-Aplin says the utility will undergo an accountability study following the deadly ice storm that knocked out power for more than 200,000 customers.

“I am certain that there are things that NES could do better going forward in storm response,” Broyles-Aplin said, during a Feb. 7 press conference.

Fallen tree limbs were a primary cause of power outages, and a Nov. 20 risk management report illuminated ongoing concerns regarding vegetation management.

Additionally, at a Feb. 3 news conference, Broyles-Aplin characterized the utility’s tree-trimming program as “robust,” saying she was not aware of any unforeseen challenges related to vegetation management. 

Four days later, the utility leader said the company would review its tree-trimming segment. 

“Honestly, we’re reevaluating tree trimming,” Broyles-Aplin said on the company’s approach “to be more aggressive.” 

Leadership scrunity

Amid the fallout, Republican leaders have criticized the public utility, threatening a leadership overhaul. 

“It was a total disaster in a disaster in and of itself,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville told reporters on Feb. 5. “I don’t think the public wants to keep them in their leadership, based on what I see. The CEO needs to be replaced. I think the whole executive team needs to be replaced.”

Communication between the speaker’s office and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell remains ongoing, and Sexton said he is optimistic of “some type of solution.” 

“But at some point if the state needs to come in and do some intervention, we are prepared to do that,” Sexton said. 

When asked about her message to those who call for an NES leadership overhaul, Broyles-Aplin emphasized accountability and a post-disaster review.

“Accountability is important, I understand that everyone can agree our customers deserve the absolute best service,” she said at the Feb. 7 press conference. “And I think an after-action review and evaluation of what really could be improved is what’s necessary here.”

As of 11:20 a.m., on Feb. 7, less than 100 NES customers remain without power.

Vivian Jones contributed.