Imagine an entire neighborhood left in the dark, not just because of a storm, but because of a single fallen tree. That’s the reality in Old Hickory right now, where residents are grappling with a prolonged power outage due to a massive tree that’s crashed onto power lines and a private home. While the Nashville Electric Service (NES) and city officials are working tirelessly to restore electricity to thousands, this one obstacle is holding up progress—and it’s sparking frustration and debate.
Here’s the catch: since the tree is on private property, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to remove it. Until that happens, NES can’t safely repair the damaged power lines. But here’s where it gets controversial: with the entire neighborhood’s power restoration at stake, should the city step in and take action? Metro Council member Jeff Eslick thinks so. He’s calling on the Mayor’s Office to intervene, arguing, ‘This should be taken down, and this should be fixed.’ While the rental property owner reportedly plans to remove the tree, progress has been slow, leaving residents in the dark—literally.
Eslick acknowledges that NES and city officials are doing their best under challenging circumstances, but he stresses that time is of the essence. We’ve reached out to the Davidson County Register of Deeds to contact the property owner and understand their plans. Meanwhile, Old Hickory residents join thousands of others still without power. If you’re affected, you can report outages by texting OUT to 637797 or calling (615) 234-0000.
And this is the part most people miss: situations like these highlight the complex interplay between private property rights and public welfare. Should there be exceptions when a private issue becomes a public crisis? We want to hear from you—do you think the city should have the authority to act in cases like this? Let us know in the comments.
Shifting gears, if you’re a student loan borrower, 2026 might bring significant changes to how you repay your loans. The landscape of student loan repayment has been in flux for years, leaving many borrowers confused. Thankfully, Robb Coles breaks down the latest updates and offers practical tips to navigate these changes. For more insights, check out his story—it’s a must-read for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Written by Nikki Hauser. Have more information about the Old Hickory story? Email me at nikki.hauser@newschannel5.com.
© 2026 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
