Neighbors Powering What Matters

Community Energy: the benefit of Nashville Electric Service and TVA working together
Community Energy

Community Energy—In Our Region, Power Means More

Nashville Electric Service (NES) is powered by a public power model — owned by and accountable to the people who live here. So the initiatives we invest in through our power model serve one purpose: helping our communities thrive.

Because we support public power, we all benefit from Community Energy. It’s the progress our model enables — like more job opportunities thanks to thriving and growing communities, outdoor recreation thanks to our protected lands, cleaner energy sources, and much more.

A Partnership of Service

Nashville Electric Service and TVA work together to power not just our homes and businesses, but our potential too — by combining efforts to help create a future we all believe in.

Working Together to Make Life in Our Community Better

Sustainability and Community

Nashville Electric Service (NES) and TVA were founded on a mission to serve — through reliable and affordable energy, a safe and protected environment and thriving economic development.

As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction, NES joined TVA’s Green Invest program. Participation allows NES to help Vanderbilt University reach carbon neutrality by powering the campus solely with renewable energy. The university’s greenhouse emissions will be reduced by solar power generated from two farms, located in Bedford and Moore counties. Nashville-based Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the largest independent solar power producers in the U.S., will construct, own and operate the solar facilities. This partnership aims to encourage further economic development in the area by attracting and retaining jobs and investment in the community.

Resiliency, innovation and a commitment to community powers NES. As so many in this service area know, Nashville has been through some tough times over the past 10 plus years. Natural disasters and weather events have devastated the area, including the 2010 flood and the 2020 tornado.

Many in the area have struggled financially and emotionally, fell ill and lost lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the region was shocked by the Christmas Day bombing of downtown Nashville in 2020. But these difficult events haven’t stopped the city of Nashville or NES from staying “Nashville Strong,” as Paula Geruntino, NES customer relations manager says.

During these unprecedented times, NES has been there to get the power back on and customers back on their feet as quickly as possible. Geruntino said the partnership between NES and TVA has been an important part of recovery efforts, from restoring power after outages to volunteer cleanup after the tornado, to utility bill assistance for residents, business owners and employees affected by the Christmas Day bombing. “Our working together [with TVA] means a partnership of service that touches every single customer,” Geruntino said.

Assisting customers in crisis is a top priority at NES, so to provide them with easy access to resources, NES created NEShelps.com. The website provides a list of economic resources to customers, including $17 million in relief funds made possible by a partnership between NES and TVA. Part of the funding was used as a COVID-19 credit on customer bills during the pandemic and the remaining $7 million was managed by NeedLink Nashville to help those in need pay down past-due balances. Resources on the site also include links to the United Way of Greater Nashville’s Nashville Response Fund page and other social service agencies.

NES also participates in TVA EnergyRight’s Home Uplift Program to help income-qualified homeowners in the service area weatherize their homes. Geruntino says she is a “big advocate” for weatherization programs, and is proud that NES will soon have assisted 400 homes in the community through the program, which is supported by grants from TVA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

Not only does Home Uplift help ensure that customers’ homes are more energy-efficient and their power bills are lower, but it also has many other “non-energy benefits,” as Geruntino notes. Making these energy upgrades ensures better health and safety for customers, which allows them to stay in their homes and neighborhoods. From cleaner air that can help to improve respiratory conditions, to joint pain relief and fewer doctor visits, weatherizing a home can improve quality of life in many ways.

Geruntino says the core mission of NES, “To provide safe, reliable, and cost-efficient power to all customers,” is more important than ever.

Our energy has fueled progress in our region since 1933. See the ways it's helping shape our future.

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Resources for Your Home, Business and Life

Our partnership makes helpful programs like these possible.

Economic Development

NES works with TVA Economic Development to attract new companies and bring more jobs to the area and to help existing businesses and industries grow in a sustainable way.

In 2018, global electronic commerce and cloud computing company Amazon announced plans to locate an Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville, Tennessee. Plans for this project included a 5,000-person operations center with positions in information technology, customer interface and research & development. Their projected capital investment is approximately $230 million and annual power use 5 MW.

Amazon has now opened the doors at its new southeastern U.S. headquarters, just north of The Gulch neighborhood in downtown Nashville. As of August 2020, the company had hired 1,000 employees for the new headquarters, ahead of its schedule to bring 5,000 new jobs to the area. This announcement represents the single largest initial jobs announcement in TVA Economic Development history. Economic development partners include Nashville Electric Service, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Also in 2018, EY, formerly known as Ernst & Young LLP, a global professional services firm, announced plans to establish a new tech hub in Nashville, including 600 new jobs and more than $20 million in capital investment. Economic development partners include Nashville Electric Service, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Accenture, a global professional services company, specializing in consulting, technology and operations, announced plans in 2020 to expand operations in Nashville. Plans for the project include the creation of 165 new jobs. Economic development partners include Nashville Electric Service, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Genesco, a leading retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel and accessories, announced plans in 2020 to expand the company’s Nashville headquarters operations. Plans for the project include adding 60 new jobs to the existing workforce of more than 750 and investing $31 million in the Davidson County facility. Economic development partners include Nashville Electric Service, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

CloudOne, a customer service provider for the automotive industry, announced plans in 2020 to move its operations to Nashville. Plans for the call center include creating 320 new jobs and $2 million in capital investment. Economic development partners include Nashville Electric Service, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

TVA Economic Development serves the seven states that make up the TVA service area—almost all of Tennessee and parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. TVA partnerships with other economic development organizations, help to foster capital investment and job growth in the region.

Discover all the resources designed to help you manage your energy use and boost your bottom line.

Education

Nashville Electric System (NES) and TVA work together to support community-wide learning about energy efficiency, meet STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) objectives and provide opportunities to develop skills that can prepare students for careers in technical fields. 

TVA STEM Grants

Teachers in public schools that receive power from a TVA distributor can win STEM grants up to $5,000. In 2022 alone, TVA distributed $1 million, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated, a TVA retiree organization, and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. TVA gives preference to applications covering its primary areas of focus–environment, energy, economic development, and community problem solving.

NES is proud of TVA STEM grants in 2019 Cedar Grove Elementary School, Chadwell Elementary School, Cockrill Elementary School, John Overton High School, Rose Park Magnet Math and Science Middle School, Tennessee School for the Blind, Whitsitt Elementary STEAM Magnet School, Antioch High School and John F. Kennedy Middle School and 2018 winners Antioch Middle School, School Explore! Community School, Head Magnet Middle School, and Hillsboro High School.

TVA EnergyRight® School Uplift 

Schools enrolled in TVA EnergyRight® School Uplift receive infrastructure upgrades to reduce energy costs and improve the quality of the learning environment. Heating, cooling and lighting improvements are the tip of the iceberg, however as the program’s focus is long-term learning for communities. Students and faculty at chosen schools receive behavior-based strategic energy management (SEM) training and learn easy, actionable energy saving tips and energy efficiency practices.  

TVA EnergyRight Educational Workshops

Eye Spy Energy Kids’ Workshop

TVA EnergyRight and Npartner to bring Spark, Bolt, Zap and their other EnergyRight Monster friends to elementary schools across the community, teaching students where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can continue the energy-saving fun with their families using Eye Spy Energy Kits.

EnergyRight® Energy Monsters

TVA and local power companies partner up to bring EnergyRight® Energy Monsters workshops to schools to teach where energy comes from, how we use it and ways to save at home. Students can take home Eye Spy Energy Kits to continue the energy savings fun with their families.

Education

Electric Vehicles

They make for a smoother and more efficient ride, are easier to maintain and they’re better for the environment.

With a goal to move from 14,000 EVs in the Valley to 200,000 by 2028, TVA is partnering with NES and other local power companies to develop a network of charging stations along major highways.

At NES, we’re excited to join forces with TVA to support the future of electric vehicles. See what it’s like to own an electric vehicle in the first episode of TVA’s In Charge: Life with an Electric Vehicle video series. Ride along in a Nissan Leaf with series host Raven Hernandez, CEO of Earth Rides, and Nashville singer/songwriter and host of Apple Music’s “Today’s Country” Kelleigh Bannen and catch a glimpse of some familiar Nashville-area sites.

We’re partnering with TVA EnergyRight to make it easier for drivers to decide whether or not making the switch to an electric vehicle makes sense for them.

From an EV comparison tool that helps you decide which EV fits your needs, to a charger map that helps you locate charging stations along your route, all the information you need is here.

Plugging in an electric vehicle

Residential

NES partners with TVA to help customers make smart energy decisions and save money through TVA EnergyRight programs.

Our partnership with TVA EnergyRight offers you resources to help with your home’s energy needs. From DIY energy-saving advice to finding a local contractor you can trust, TVA EnergyRight resources can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money on your power bill.

As of June 2021, 1,155 customers in the NES service area have participated so far this year in TVA EnergyRight residential programs.

NES also has assisted 87 qualified customers in the NES service area this year with energy efficiency upgrades through TVA EnergyRight’s Home Uplift program.

TVA EnergyRight’s Home Uplift helps families with limited means achieve a better home life by making energy upgrades that not only save money on their monthly bills, but also improve their quality of life.

Limited-income customers often reside in residences that are older and less energy efficient, which typically means higher power bills. Comfortable, safe living conditions help reduce colds and sickness and help seniors to age in place in their homes.

Currently, TVA EnergyRight’s Home Uplift program is available in select areas with plans to offer it more broadly across the Valley in the future.

 

Community Energy - Residential