Nashville Electric Service, which has consistently led all U.S. electric companies in outages since the weekend winter storms, was accused by multiple union members and contractors of refusing additional help from available lineworkers, FOX 17 News reports.
Two members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the local Nashville news station, said NES declined offers for assistance during the lead up of the storm combining snow, ice and freezing temperatures.
“I’ve had a lot of people reach out trying to come to Nashville to help restore power,” the union member told via FOX 17 News. “They keep getting the same answer- that NES is full and doesn’t need help… I just don’t think they want to pay the union rates.”
NES, which has ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for outages by Utility since Sunday, according to Poweroutage.us, was reported to have less than 300 lineworkers in the field on Monday (January 26), hours after the outages in Middle Tennessee peaked at 230,000 and has since claimed to have 900 lineworkers as of Wednesday (January 28), with more than 109,600 customers still without power. The initial lineworker total was significantly less than neighboring Middle Tennessee Electric, which had 200,000 fewer outages, according to FOX 17 News.
Three deaths have been reported in Davidson County and 10 in the state of Tennessee amid the blistering cold temperatures that have continued through the week, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency via FOX 17 News. The southeast is expected to face another cold blast over the weekend as more than 100,000 customers still have no power.
“Before it gets warmer, it’ll only get colder. Another blast of cold air arrives this weekend, sending our temps below freezing until Monday,” the National Weather Service’s Nashville branch wrote on its X account. “There is a low chance for snow across the Plateau Friday – Saturday morning, but accumulations are expected to be minor at less than 1.”
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