Old Hickory Village residents report 14 power outages since January

Old Hickory Village, Tennessee residents have recorded 14 power outages in the neighborhood since an ice storm hit in January. Jemina Boyd, a local resident, began tracking the disruptions after a days-long blackout during that storm. Her list of outages reached 14 by Wednesday.

The frequent loss of electricity affects daily routines and health. Boyd noted that working remotely becomes difficult when the power fails, forcing her to switch to a mobile hotspot or change locations. She also warned that the instability poses risks for neighbors who rely on temperature-controlled storage for medication and food.

Village Rx supplies medication to the area. Pharmacist Thomas Heilman said he has a specific protocol for outages. He brings coolers from his home and transfers medicine from his personal refrigerator into them to maintain the required temperature.

Residents believe the neighborhood's age contributes to the problem. Boyd said Old Hickory has transformers installed in the 1930s. The community also has its own substation. Boyd said that even a light breeze can damage these older transformers, causing a blackout for the whole neighborhood.

Residents have tried to contact Nashville Electric Service directly but said they have not received a solution. When asked by reporters on Thursday morning, NES indicated that information would be provided soon, but no details were available before the news deadline.

Metro Councilmember Jeff Eslick has stepped in to help coordinate a response. He helped arrange a meeting for Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the community center. The session will give neighbors a chance to speak with an NES representative. Eslick said he hopes the issue is as simple as replacing wiring and transformers.

Boyd plans to attend the Tuesday meeting with a list of questions for the utility representative.