Sumner County committee urges charter change, local asset accounting and empowers mayor to explore power alternatives in NES resolution

The Sumner County Commission committee unanimously approved a resolution asking state and other authorities to pursue structural changes at NES and to give Sumner County greater local input on electricity governance.

The resolution, amended on the floor, asks the Tennessee General Assembly and other relevant authorities to consider reconstituting the NES board so that members representing NES customers who live outside Davidson County would be appointed by their local representatives rather than by the Nashville mayor. The committee also added a request that NES provide a breakdown of its assets located in Sumner County and empowered the county mayor to explore alternatives and engage other providers and the legislature if NES resists change.

County Mayor said the measure ‘‘speaks for itself’’ and asked the committee to pass the resolution and forward it to the state so ‘‘Sumner County citizens have a voice on that board.’’ A commissioner proposing the additional language argued the charter change was needed so, without state action, the Nashville mayor would still appoint representatives for customers outside Davidson County.

The committee approved several specific amendments before the final vote. One amendment reordered the resolution to open by commending linemen and frontline crews for recent storm response. Another amendment asked NES for a breakdown of assets within Sumner County—poles, miles of line and other infrastructure—so county leaders can understand local asset allocation. A further amendment authorizes the county mayor to ‘‘engage with other power providers within Sumner County and the general assembly to generate realistic options for local control of electric utilities’’ if NES is resistant to change.

A member who researched legal constraints cautioned that county authority is limited and that much of NES’s footprint lies within municipalities, noting any transfer or sale of assets would require willing buyers and sellers and might need state-level action. The committee framed the resolution primarily as a fact-finding and advocacy step rather than a commitment to an immediate sale or transfer.

The motion to adopt the resolution as amended carried by voice vote; the chair declared the motion carried unanimously.

What happens next: The committee will forward the resolution to the full commission and to the state as requested; the amendments request information from NES and ask the General Assembly to consider charter changes that would alter appointment authority.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the resolution and each amendment by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the committee transcript.

Sources: Committee meeting transcript (Feb. 10, 2026).