NES had only 160 linemen when January ice storm knocked out power to 230,000 customers, records show

What This Story Is About

• Internal records obtained by WSMV4 Investigates show NES had only 160 linemen working on Jan. 25 when more than 230,000 customers lost power. The documents also reveal NES had no inventory of some power poles in stock and a 14-page list of supplies that had to be ordered during the storm. Additionally, the records disclose the salaries of NES CEO Teresa Boyles-Aplin and Vice President Brent Baker.

Why It Matters

• NES CEO Teresa Boyles-Aplin has already acknowledged that the utility did not meet customer expectations during the storm. The internal records provide a documented basis for that admission — showing specific staffing numbers and supply shortages that contributed to prolonged outages for hundreds of thousands of customers.

What Happens Next

• WSMV4 Investigates is still reviewing the data and will report additional findings as they are confirmed.

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) — Internal records obtained by WSMV4 Investigates show Nashville Electric Service had only 160 linemen working on Jan. 25 — the day more than 230,000 customers lost power during January’s ice storm.

The following morning, that number climbed to 300, well below the 467 linemen working that day for Middle Tennessee Electric. It would take four days for NES to reach 1,021 linemen working on power restoration.

In an email to WSMV Investigates, a NES spokesperson wrote that before the storm, 345 line workers were activated. WSMV4 Investigates then followed up by asking if those 345 were simply activated and only 160 were working. By our deadline, they had not responded.

The NES spokesperson also wrote that two existing contract line construction companies committed 47 lineworkers to assist ahead of the storm, with an additional 135 ready to be en route. But that statement does not clarify if and when those extra workers actually started working in Nashville.

The spokesperson also wrote, “Due to the widespread nature of the storm, the 135 additional contractors who work on other systems were kept in place on other utility systems until after the storm passed.”

A records coordinator with NES told WSMV4 Investigates that the power company does not have documents showing how many linemen were brought in and put up in hotel rooms before the storm.

That records coordinator also said there were no records of how many linemen were rejected following NES’s vetting process.

Equipment shortages compounded the response

In response to an open records request asking how many power poles NES has in reserve prior to the storm, and what supplies NES has to send out for once the storm was underway, the documents show that NES was lacking critical supplies when the storm hit.

A 14-page list details inventory NES needed but did not have in stock, including zero inventory of fiberglass, wood and concrete power poles.

NES ultimately ordered 809 poles and more than 273,000 conductors to complete restoration efforts.

In an email to WSMV Investigates, a NES spokesperson wrote, “When supplies were depleted during the storm, we ordered more.”

CEO acknowledged falling short

NES CEO Teresa Boyles-Aplin said last month that NES did not meet the expectations of its customers.

Executive pay revealed

Records released to WSMV4 Investigates also show what NES ratepayers are paying the utility’s top executives. Boyles-Aplin earns more than $654,000 per year, plus a $700-per-month car allowance. Vice President Brent Baker receives the same car allowance and is paid more than $471,000 annually.

WSMV4 Investigates said it is continuing to review the data and will report additional findings as they are confirmed.

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