BIRDS CREATE POTENTIAL POWER ISSUE AT SUBSTATION

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Birds are creating potential problems at a Nashville Electric Service (NES) substation, and crews are hoping a loud sound cannon will scare the birds away.

Birds are roosting at the Hermitage Substation. NES is proactively trying to avoid possible power outages by using the cannon which produces a loud noise similar to firecrackers and disrupts the nesting pattern of birds that roost at the substation.

Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3, and for the next several weeks, NES will use the sound cannon between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Earlier this year, crews had to address the bird roosting issue at NES’ Central Substation which provides electricity for a third of downtown Nashville, as well as the Pennington Bend and Watkins Park substations.

“We have not experienced any recent power outages because of the increased number of birds at the substation, but the potential is there,” said Jack Baxter, NES Operations Manager. “The cannon should scare the birds and make them find someplace safer to roost.”

About NES
Nashville Electric Service is one of the 12 largest public electric utilities in the nation, distributing energy to more than 360,000 customers in Middle Tennessee. For more information about NES, visit www.nespower.com.