NES and TVA prepare for possible snowstorm power outages

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Power crews are getting ready to make sure your lights and heat stay on through Friday’s snowstorm.

Parts of Sylvan Park and West Nashville lost power on Sunday night, and people in the area said they’re concerned things could be much worse if the power goes out with the next winter weather blast.

People walking around McCabe Park on Tuesday were all bundled up in the extreme cold. They told WSMV the threat of snow is worrying after a forecasted three inches turned into eight inches during last winter’s major snowstorm.

First Alert Weather Day: Significant snowstorm expected Friday

Wes Finley’s family loved playing in the snow from that storm, but they were stuck at home for a week and had to walk to the grocery store. This past summer, he bought a small generator to ensure he and his family stay warm and safe if the power goes out.

“Everyone is a little cautious about when it is cold,” Finley said. “Not having power, and then when it comes back on in a few minutes, everyone is a little bit more relieved. But you never know because we have family in Crossville who went seven days without power. That was a real issue because their only source of heat was their fireplace.”

NES said crews are on standby and monitoring the snow leading into the weekend. NES tries to trim trees all year to prevent issues from branches falling on power lines.

“Ice can build up on power lines and trees near power lines,” an NES spokesperson said in a statement. “Eventually, those lines and/or branches can snap under the pressure and take down the trees. If trees or branches fall into lines, poles may come down and those take more time to replace.”

NES said if there is an outage, customers should report it by calling (615) 736-6900 or by logging into their account online. If there is a downed power line, assume it is live, stay away and call 911 immediately.

To prepare for the snow, NES recommends people charge their mobile devices, have backup portable batteries, check weather radios and stock emergency kits with food and water.

The TVA has also made several upgrades and improvements after hitting record demand last January. That includes heaters and other wiring to keep generators from freezing up in the extreme cold.

In the past year, TVA has added more than 1,400 megawatts of new generation and is building another 3,500 megawatts of generation.

“There’s been thousands of activities that have gone to make sure that we assess, enhance and repair any of the critical systems that are necessary to make our plants reliable for the winter months,” gas operations general manager Eric Grau said. “We also have the peaking ability to be able to make sure that on those cold winter mornings, we have reliable and resilient energy that can serve for the valley.”

NES recommends turning your thermostat down as close to 68 as is comfortable to reduce the strain on the power grid and save money on your bill during this winter weather.

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