NES CREWS PREVAIL OVER ICE AND FRIGID COLD

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following 72 hours of around-the-clock storm restoration, Nashville Electric Service (NES) crews were already preparing for the arrival of arctic air and another round of winter precipitation.

More than 90 NES crews braved snow, sleet and freezing rain to safely restore electricity to thousands of customers in the dark in near record time. From 9:30 a.m. Monday through 5 a.m. Wednesday, crews worked a total of 1,618 individual power outages. Nearly 50,000 customers experienced some sort of power interruption during that period. The maximum number of customers that were out at any one time was less than 10,000 compared to the 370,000 customers that NES serves.

Despite the heavy ice accumulation, outages were kept much lower than what might have been expected, thanks in large part to regular tree trimming around power lines throughout the NES service area.

NES President and CEO Decosta Jenkins said, “I can’t tell you how proud I am of our employees for doing everything they could to help meet the needs of our customers. Needless to say, they went above and beyond the call of duty.” Jenkins continued, “While I’m proud of their efforts, I’m not surprised. Our team is second to none. I would also like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”

NES is now focused on keeping the power supply steady in spite of heavy electrical demands on its system over the next couple of days. As a precaution, the utility is asking customers to conserve where they can during peak hours (6-10 a.m. & 5-8 p.m.). NES does not anticipate any problems with its transmission or distribution system meeting the added demand for electricity.

Customers can help by setting their thermostat no higher than 68 degrees and putting off chores around the house that involve electric appliances, such as running the dishwasher, doing laundry and cooking, in the early morning and early evening. Additional resources for customers are available online at nespower.com/WaysToSave.html.

About NES
Nashville Electric Service (NES) is one of the 12 largest public electric utilities in the nation, distributing energy to more than 370,000 customers in Middle Tennessee. Founded in 1939, NES is proud to be celebrating 75 years as a community partner and service provider. For more information, visit www.nespower.com.