Nashville Mayor Expresses Dissatisfaction with Power Utility's Storm Response

Mayor Freddie O'Connell criticizes Nashville Electric Service's handling of widespread outages following winter storm

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:47pm

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Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has changed his tune, saying he is "not satisfied" with how the city's power utility, Nashville Electric Service (NES), has handled the restoration of power following a recent winter storm. This comes after O'Connell had previously defended NES's response, but as outages have stretched on for over a week and several storm-related deaths have occurred, the mayor is now pressing NES to provide clearer and more transparent updates to the public.

Why it matters

The mayor's shift in tone highlights growing frustration among Nashville residents who have been left without power for an extended period, raising concerns about the utility's preparedness and communication during a major weather event. The prolonged outages have taken a toll on the community, with at least four suspected storm-related deaths reported.

The details

Mayor O'Connell had initially described NES's response as successful, citing the utility's efforts to deploy a record number of line crews. However, as outages continued and more details emerged about the impact on residents, the mayor changed his stance, saying he is "not satisfied" and expects NES to "do better" in terms of providing clearer and more transparent updates. The city's communications team remains in close contact with NES, pressing the utility to share more data and information about its performance and restoration efforts.

  • The winter storm hit Nashville on January 24, 2026.
  • As of January 31, 2026, four people have died from suspected storm-related causes, and a fifth death is being investigated.
  • Tens of thousands of NES customers remain without power a week after the storm.

The players

Freddie O'Connell

The mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, who initially defended NES's response to the winter storm but has since expressed dissatisfaction with the utility's handling of power restoration efforts.

Nashville Electric Service (NES)

The public power utility that provides electricity to the city of Nashville and surrounding areas, and has faced criticism for its response to the recent winter storm.

Mary Mabry

A Nashville resident who is still waiting for power to be restored, describing a "desperate feeling" as her hope diminishes with each passing day.

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What they’re saying

“There's a desperate feeling that starts happening when your hope starts to diminish a little bit each day.”

— Mary Mabry, Nashville resident

“Yeah, I mean, I'm going to get to the point of repeating myself here, but no, I am not satisfied, have not been satisfied and continue to expect them to do better.”

— Freddie O'Connell, Mayor of Nashville

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.