NES Winter Storm Q & A - Archived from February 2, 2026
Damage from the historic, severe weather storm, Fern, which brought snow, ice, and freezing temperatures to Nashville, caused one of the largest power outages in NES history. We had 230,000 customers without power at the storm’s peak. For reference, the March 2020 Derecho tornado caused 130,000 outages.
Q: When will my power be restored?
A: 99.9% of customers will have power restored on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Current outages are shown on the outage map at nespower.com/outages. If you are without power and it is not showing on the outage map, please call (615)234-0000 to report your outage.
Q: Why did it take so long to restore power?
A: The amount of destruction across Nashville was extensive. Around 800 poles were broken, along with trees and branches on power lines. All available NES and contract crews worked around the clock to restore power.
Q: Why does someone on my street have power, but I don’t?
A: The equipment that allows connection of power to your home may be damaged. If repairs are needed to your weatherhead, power mast, or meter base, contact a licensed, registered electrician. Learn how to: Ensure Your Home Will Be Ready to Receive Power.
Q: What should I do if I don’t have power during this winter weather?
A: If you do not have power, we encourage you to find a friend, family member, hotel, or emergency shelter.
Q: How do you prioritize who gets their power back first?
A: Crews work to restore the largest outage areas first and work their way down a list to the single outages. One neighborhood is not prioritized over another.
Q: What did you do to make sure customers received power back on as soon as possible?
A: Our crews worked 14- to 16 -hour shifts around the clock in freezing temperatures to restore power to all of our customers. At the peak of restoration, we had nearly 1,900 lineworkers in the field.
Q: Did you need more workers to get the power on more quickly?
A: NES had crews from several states in the field. While other companies have offered support, which is greatly appreciated, we have been able to grow our workforce with current contracts and mutual aid partnerships.
Q: Why can’t you add more lineworkers faster?
A: Safely restoring power to all customers is always our top priority. In terms of utilizing outside crews, integrating new crews into a live electrical system is challenging. We will not and cannot compromise safety. Linemen must be qualified, trained on our system, insured, and integrated into our safety and operations protocols. Mutual aid ensures crews meet those criteria.
Q: There's a line down in my yard. What should I do?
A: Never go near a downed power line. Immediately call 911 to report the danger.
Q: Why did I receive a text message stating my power was restored when I didn't have electricity?
A: We are continually working on our systems and apologize for this error.
Green indicates areas where energy is restored. The red areas indicate outages. The white dots with trucks show where NES lineworkers are located based on vehicle locations. This map does not show contracted crews.
A Message from the CEO
Damaged Electrical Equipment: Homeowner Vs. NES Responsibility
Winter Storm Fern Outages
Restoration crews continue to make progress, but conditions remain dangerous and unpredictable as ice-related hazards persist and new risks emerge daily.
Click on the map to view current outages across the system and to report your power outage.
Disconnections Suspended
NES will suspend all disconnects and late charges effective immediately and until further notice due to the ongoing storm response.
Manage your NES account with ease through flexible account management options.
Storm Safety
Prioritize your safety.
- Downed power lines: Always assume downed lines are energized and dangerous — stay away and report them immediately by calling 615-234-0000 or 911.
- Generator safety: Never use generators indoors and never connect a generator directly to home wiring without proper transfer equipment.
- Carbon Monoxide: Know the signs of CO poisoning and take precautions to remain safe
- Heating safety: Never use ovens, grills, or outdoor heating devices to heat your home.
What to Expect
Crews are working in environments where energized power lines may be concealed beneath layers of ice and snow. As damage assessments continue, workers are replacing broken utility poles, reattaching downed and damaged wires, and repairing or replacing equipment that supports power lines.
If you don’t see crews working nearby, they may be repairing another part of the system that must be restored before power can safely reach your home.
For safety reasons, customers are asked not to approach workers at job sites, as these areas can be dangerous, and interruptions may slow restoration progress.
Be Ready
Make sure your home or business is ready for us to restore your power. Customers whose neighborhoods have been restored but who are still without power may have damage to electrical equipment attached to their home or business.
If weatherheads, power masts, or meter bases are damaged, our lineworkers cannot safely reconnect power. NES maintains and repairs the lines leading to a customer’s home, but homeowners are responsible for the equipment on the house.
To report an outage, call 615-234-0000. Check out storm Q & A for your information and safety.
Customer Safety and Community Resources
Customers should continue to prioritize safety while outages persist.
- Warming centers: Customers in need of shelter and warmth should consider local warming centers or shelters if it is safe to travel. To find a listing of available warming centers, visit Metro’s Warming Locations page or TN Department of Military Sheltering page.
- Road conditions: Please be aware that roads may be hazardous or closed during restoration efforts. Road conditions and closure information can be found here from Tennessee Department of Transportation.
- To support restoration efforts, TEMA continues to focus on clearing downed trees and debris to restore access for utility crews, emergency responders, and the public. To request assistance call 844-965-1386.
A huge thank you to the local restaurants and businesses that have stepped up to fuel our crews as they work through the freezing temperatures to restore power across Nashville. Your support keeps our teams going during these long days and nights.
A Special Thanks To:
- Big Bad Breakfast
- Brave Idiots
- Ed Ley's
- Five Points Pizza & Friends
- Flour & Forge
- Hattie B’s
- Hunt Brothers Pizza
- Jack’s BBQ
- Jimmy John’s
- Loveless Cafe
- Niko Moon
- Olive Garden
- Pancake Pantry
- Prickly Pear Coffee Co.
- Red Bull
- Shake Shack
- Subway
- The Pink Food Truck
- Traphouse Wings
- Waldo’s Chicken