NES clears itself in Green Hills ice storm damage probe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Neighbors in Green Hills say Nashville Electric Service (NES) has cleared itself of wrongdoing after an investigation into widespread equipment damage that adopted the winter ice storm — however the neighbors aren’t glad with that reply.

Since our first story aired with a group of neighbors on Draughon Avenuethe variety of broken home equipment has grown. At least one neighbor has spent $17,000 on replacements. Residents reported listening to two loud explosions on their avenue throughout energy restoration by an out-of-town line crew contracted by NES. When the ability got here again on, they found pricey damage to HVACs, retailers, kitchen home equipment, and extra.

Their interviews prompted NES to open an investigation. But on Friday, the utility despatched neighbors an electronic mail basically saying it doesn’t consider it’s guilty. NES has not responded to our requests for remark.

Neighbor Carl Heinemann mentioned the precept of the matter is what drives him to maintain pushing.

“It’s the principle behind it. My insurance is probably going to go up because of the claim,” Carl Heinemann mentioned.

Heinemann shared the message from the utility’s lawyer with me, which he says beforehand included a promise that NES would “step up” if it was discovered to be at fault. We learn that electronic mail collectively in his driveway.

The lawyer’s message learn, in half:

“Although electrical disturbances can occur during severe weather events, the evidence does not show that excess voltage was delivered to any of the customer’s homes due to any fault or improper operations on the NES system,” the e-mail mentioned.

As ratepaying prospects, the neighbors say NES owes them a extra thorough investigation. They say the utility investigated itself, blamed a close-by damaged crossarm, and ignored that no less than 5 buyer meters failed when energy was restored.

“Meters don’t blow up unless something’s coming back from NES,” one neighbor mentioned.

Neighbor Jill Lindner echoed that frustration.

“I think what Carl did was excellent. Reach out to NES and make them accountable for what happened, or try to make them accountable. I think that’s pretty much our only recourse at this point,” Kim mentioned.

Not till after my first report did I understand this was not an remoted difficulty. I heard from individuals in different neighborhoods in the town with comparable issues — together with East Nashville and the Charlotte Park and Battlemont neighborhoods.

So what choices do affected residents have? Legal consultants I consulted warned that it’s onerous to sue public utilities as a result of the legal guidelines defend them in some ways. The greatest choices are prone to work by means of your insurance coverage and, if obligatory, escalate concerns to the Tennessee Valley Authority.

For the neighbors on Draughon Avenue, the struggle is about greater than their avenue.

“We’re sticking up not just for our streets, but for everyone in Davidson County,” Heinemann mentioned.

Do you might have extra details about this story? You can electronic mail me at hannah.mcdonald@newschannel5.com.

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