NES Outage Map Guide: What to Do When the Power Goes Out

NES Outage Map Guide: What to Do When the Power Goes Out

An NES power outage can happen without warning due to severe weather, damaged equipment, or an issue affecting only your home. The NES outage map helps Nashville Electric Service customers check current outages, see affected areas, and follow restoration updates. If you live in Nashville or another area served by NES, knowing where to find reliable outage information can save time when the power goes out. This guide explains how to use the NES outage map, report an outage, identify possible home electrical problems, stay safe during an interruption, and prepare for future power outages.

Quick Answer

  • The NES outage map shows current outages, affected areas, and available restoration updates across the Nashville Electric Service territory.
  • You can report an outage through the NES outage map, your NES account or app, by text, or by phone.
  • Estimated restoration times may change as crews assess damage and repair conditions.
  • If only your home is without power, check your breakers first before assuming it is a wider NES outage.
  • During an outage, avoid downed power lines and use backup power equipment safely.

What Is Nashville Electric Service (NES)?

Nashville Electric Service (NES) is a public electric utility that has served Middle Tennessee since 1939. It provides electricity to nearly 460,000 customers across a service area of about 700 square miles, covering all of Nashville and Davidson County as well as parts of six surrounding counties.
NES maintains nearly 5,900 miles of distribution and transmission lines across its service area. The utility does not generate its own electricity; instead, it purchases power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and distributes it to homes and businesses throughout the region.
When service is interrupted, customers can turn to NES outage resources to check affected areas, follow restoration updates, and report a power outage.

How to Use the NES Outage Map

The NES outage map helps customers check active power interruptions across the Nashville Electric Service territory and follow available restoration information. It can also help you determine whether the problem affects only your property or a wider area.
On the NES power outage map, you may find information such as:
  • Affected area: See where an outage has been reported across the NES service territory.
  • Customers affected: Check how many customers are associated with an outage event.
  • Outage status: Review the latest available information about an active interruption.
  • Estimated restoration time: See when NES currently expects power to return, when an estimate is available.
  • Updated outage information: Follow changes as NES receives new reports and crews assess conditions.
To use the map, open the official NES outage page, locate your area, and select the relevant outage event to review the available details. If an estimated restoration time is shown, remember that it is not a guaranteed deadline. It may change after crews inspect damage, identify additional repairs, or encounter changing conditions.
NES does not currently state a fixed refresh interval for its redesigned outage map. During severe weather or widespread NES outages, check the map again periodically for updated customer counts, outage information, or restoration estimates. If your home has lost power but no corresponding outage appears on the Nashville power outage map, report the interruption to NES rather than waiting for the map to change.

How to Report an NES Power Outage

If your electricity goes out, report the NES power outage as soon as possible, especially if it does not yet appear on the outage map. Nashville Electric Service provides several ways to report an interruption at any time:
  • Outage map: Use the Report option directly on the NES outage map.
  • My Account: Sign in online or use the NES mobile app to report the outage.
  • Text: Send OUT to 637797 (NESPWR) from a mobile number linked to your NES account.
  • Phone: Call 615-234-0000. Have the meter number or phone number associated with your account ready so the system can identify your location.
Reporting an NES outage helps the utility confirm which customers are affected and adds your location to the outage record. Keeping the phone number and email address on your NES account up to date can also make it easier to receive outage and restoration information.
If you see a downed or damaged power line, do not approach it or attempt to move it. Stay at least 30 feet away, treat every downed line as live, and call 911 to report the hazard.

What to Do First When Your Power Goes Out

When the power suddenly goes out, focus first on confirming the scope of the outage and protecting your home. A few quick checks can help you decide whether you need to wait for NES restoration or investigate a problem inside your property.
  1. Check whether nearby properties also lost power. Look at neighboring homes or streetlights and check the NES outage map for an active outage in your area. If nearby properties still have electricity and no outage appears on the map, the problem may be limited to your home.
  2. Check your breaker panel if the outage appears isolated. Look for a tripped breaker and reset it once only if there are no signs of damage. If it trips again immediately, or you notice heat, buzzing, scorch marks, or a burning smell, stop and contact a qualified electrician.
  3. Unplug sensitive electronics and major appliances. Disconnect computers, TVs, and other electronics that could be damaged by a power surge when electricity returns. Leave one light switched on so you can tell when service has been restored.
  4. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Avoid opening them unnecessarily to preserve cold air. A refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours without power, while a full freezer can maintain a safe temperature for around 48 hours if the door stays closed.
  5. Preserve lighting and communication. Use flashlights or battery-powered lights instead of candles where possible. Conserve your phone battery, keep emergency alerts enabled, and prioritize power for essential communication or medical devices.

How to Prepare for Future NES Outages

A little preparation can make the next NES power outage much easier to manage. Instead of waiting until the lights go out, prepare the essentials you may need for several hours or longer:
  • Build an outage kit: Keep flashlights, spare batteries, drinking water, nonperishable food, first-aid supplies, and necessary medications in an easy-to-access location.
  • Keep devices ready: Charge phones, power banks, and other essential electronics when severe weather is expected, and keep important emergency numbers available offline.
  • Update your NES account information: Make sure your phone number and email address are current so you can receive outage and restoration information when available.
  • Know your essential loads: Identify what you would need to keep running during a longer outage, such as refrigerators, lighting, Wi-Fi, medical equipment, heating or cooling, and water pumps.
  • Plan for backup power: If outages in your area can last for hours or days, consider a home battery backup sized around the loads and runtime your household actually needs.
For households that want broader protection than a portable backup source can provide, the Anker SOLIX E10 Whole-Home Backup offers a modular approach to home resilience. Its battery capacity can scale from about 6 kWh to 90 kWh, allowing homeowners to start with essential backup and expand as their energy needs grow. With a Power Dock configuration, it can also provide automatic switchover during a grid outage, helping keep selected circuits or wider household loads powered with less interruption.

Conclusion

The NES outage map is a useful starting point when the power goes out, helping you check whether an outage has been reported in your area and follow available restoration updates. If your home loses power, confirm the scope of the outage, report it when needed, and take basic steps to protect your household and essential devices.
For future NES outages, keep emergency supplies ready, make sure your NES contact information is up to date, and consider a backup power plan that matches your household needs. Being prepared can make a longer power interruption much easier to manage.

FAQs

Why is my house the only one without power if the outage map shows nothing?

If nearby homes still have power and no outage appears on the map, possible causes include a tripped breaker, an electrical problem inside your home, or an issue with the service equipment supplying your property. Check your breaker panel first. If your home is still without power and you cannot identify an internal problem, report the outage to NES.

Should I report a Nashville power outage if it already appears on the map?

If the outage is already shown on the map, you can continue following the available restoration updates there. However, report the problem if your home remains without power after service has returned to the surrounding area, since additional repairs may be needed at your property. NES notes that restoration to an area does not always mean every individual home or business has been restored.

How often does the NES outage map update?

NES does not currently publish a fixed refresh interval for the redesigned outage map. Outage information and estimated restoration times are updated as new details become available, so restoration estimates may change as crews assess damage and complete repairs.

What should I do if I see a downed power line during an NES outage?

Stay at least 30 feet away and assume the line is energized. Keep people, pets, and vehicles clear, and do not touch the line or anything in contact with it. Call 911 immediately to report the hazard.
Back to blog