Nashville Electric Service (NES) is being investigated by both the offices of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Tennessee Attorney General, who are determining whether its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies could rise to the level of discrimination, according to a source familiar with both investigations who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive legal matters.
Legislation passed last year notably authorized the Tennessee Attorney General to accept and act on discrimination complaints made under the Tennessee Human Rights Act and Tennessee Disability Act, and the source told The Tennessee Star that its investigation into NES came as a result of the new authority.
The federal investigation began, according to the source, some time after the U.S. Senate confirmed Braden Boucek to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District last December.
Neither investigation is reportedly related to NES’ performance during Winter Storm Fern. Though in line with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump after he reentered the White House last year, targeting DEI in organizations that receive federal funding, the source added that the investigations hinge on a strict reading of civil rights laws, and referred The Star to recent statements by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission chair Andrea R. Lucas.
“Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex?” Lucas questioned in a December 2025 post to social media, before declaring, “The EEOC is committed to identifying, attacking, and eliminating ALL race and sex discrimination — including against white male employees and applicants.”
NES did not respond to an inquiry from The Star, asking the utility to confirm whether it has been informed of an investigation, or whether either the offices of the Tennessee Attorney General or U.S. Attorney have requested the utility to provide information, prior to press time.
Asked to confirm the details of the investigation, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office told The Star, “AG Office investigations are confidential, and we cannot comment whether or not we have one ongoing.”
Similarly, a spokesman for Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office told The Star, “It is our general practice to not comment on whether we have opened an investigation or not.”
As recently as January, a meeting agenda published by NES showed the company was set to consider an extension for a DEI consulting contract prior to Winter Storm Fern. The company came under intense scrutiny after the storm, which saw about half of its 470,000 customers lose power, with thousands left in the dark for more than a week.
In 2024, NES notably reached settlements in three lawsuits brought by black employees who alleged mistreatment, including the loss of promotions and harassment, due to their race.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “NES Lineman” by Nashville Electric Service.
No surprise here. Trashville is simply another disaster created by liberal “leadership”.