A resolution calling for the Nashville Electric Service (NES) board to include a representative from Sumner County passed its first procedural hurdle on Monday, when the county’s Legislative Committee voted to advance it after agreeing to additional changes that could see the county reevaluate its relationship with NES.
Sumner County Mayor John Isbell announced the resolution in a statement released last week, noting that the county’s NES customers currently have “no representation at the table” with the municipally owned power company, whose board members are appointed by the Mayor of Nashville, and can only be removed via a supermajority vote by the Metro Nashville Council.
“The devastating impact of Winter Storm Fern made this gap in representation painfully clear. Our families endured prolonged outages, our businesses suffered losses, and our most vulnerable neighbors were put at risk,” said Isbell (pictured above). “Throughout that crisis, Sumner County had no advocate on the NES Board to ensure our community’s needs were heard and prioritized.”
He stated, “This resolution sends a clear message: we will no longer accept taxation without representation when it comes to the governance of our electric utility.”
During the Monday meeting, commissioners and Isbel specified the resolution would request a change to the NES charter that would require a resident of Sumner County to be appointed to the company’s board. Such a process would likely require action by the Tennessee General Assembly, and could involve Metro Nashville officials.
In addition to seeking representation at NES, the commissioners determined the resolution would request a breakdown of NES assets within the county, and authorize Isbel to launch discussions with CDE Lightband and Tri-County Electric about the possibility of switching from NES to either provider. Such a sale would require a sale of assets from NES to one of the other companies.
The request to NES for Sumner County to be represented on the board will be included in the county’s resolution commending the work of linemen, tree crews, highway personnel, and first responders during Winter Storm Fern. It will receive a final vote on February 23.
In a statement to Hendersonville Standard, a spokesman for Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said the mayor would be open to appointing a board member from Sumner County, but that language in the NES charter restricted board members to Nashville residents.
Sumner County’s effort to secure representation on the NES board comes as the Metro Council considers a resolution calling for the board to fire the company’s CEO, Teresa Broyles-Aplin.
That resolution came after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called for Broyles-Aplin to resign in a post to social media, and earlier for other NES executives and board members to be fired and replaced during a speech on the Senate floor.
U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) also called for the General Assembly to take control over NES, dissolve the current board, and reshape the company’s governance to include his constituents in communities surrounding Nashville.
State House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) last week released a statement confirming state lawmakers were considering their options regarding NES.
Watch the Sumner County Legislative Committee meeting:
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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 “Mayor John Isbell” by John Isbell.
