NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Five months after a devastating ice storm crippled Middle Tennessee, Nashville Electric Service leaders said major changes are underway to better prepare the utility for future severe weather events.
The January storm killed two dozen people across Tennessee and left hundreds of thousands without power for days as temperatures stayed below freezing.
At Wednesday’s NES Board meeting, NES outlined a series of operational and infrastructure changes aimed at preventing a repeat of the widespread outages and communication breakdowns that frustrated many customers during the storm.
NES, which serves more than 450,000 customers, faced heavy criticism over its communication efforts during the storm response. In the months since, the utility has posted a job listing for a new Chief Communications Officer position — a role that has never previously existed within the organization.
Leaders also announced that four pilot neighborhoods across the NES service area have now been budgeted for undergrounding projects, which would move power lines underground instead of keeping them on overhead utility poles.
The neighborhoods selected for the pilot projects are:
- Old Hickory — Martingale Drive
- Cane Ridge — Pippin Drive
- Thompson Lane — Robert Burns Drive and Woodmere Drive
- Charlotte Park — the Thunderbird neighborhood, including streets such as Galaxy, Continental and Starliner
NES said the projects are budgeted between July 2026 and June 2027. The Thunderbird neighborhood in Charlotte Park is expected to be the first project to move forward, with work likely beginning later this summer or in the fall.
Utility leaders said the Thunderbird project will require community meetings and direct interaction with residents because much of the work will take place in backyards.
The other three neighborhoods remain in the design phase, and NES said construction timelines for those projects will be determined later. The utility added that customer impacts will vary by neighborhood and more information will be shared as designs near completion.
The update came as NES defended its aggressive vegetation management program, which has become a growing point of tension between the utility and some residents concerned about extensive tree trimming.
Metro Council recently passed a resolution urging NES to temporarily pause its “ground-to-sky” trimming policy. But utility leaders said Wednesday they have chosen not to follow that recommendation, arguing the risks posed by overgrown trees ahead of severe weather season outweigh frustrations over the trimming work.
NES said the areas currently being trimmed had not been trimmed in four years.
Officials also announced changes to the utility’s vegetation management practices. NES said trimming guidelines are being revamped, with crews now trimming trees in a horseshoe pattern 15 feet below power lines, up from the previous 10-foot standard.
NES leaders also said the utility is no longer trimming “ground-to-sky,” and is instead leaving lower vegetation and limbs where possible.
According to NES, 587 miles of vegetation were trimmed between July and December 2025. The utility also said 2,800 miles were assessed and cleared following winter storm damage, while another 630 miles have been trimmed since March 1.
NES said it is now 80% of the way toward its tree trimming mileage goal for the year and expects to reach 100% by June 30.
Young or old, we all love to play board and card games! Those games become even more important when you are indoors and don't have the ability to get outside, like patients in a hospital. Austin Pollack shares the story of students in a Nashville family who have helped re-launch the Red Wagon project to collect games for patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
- Lelan Statom
