Winter Storm Fern Update

TVA Crews Restore Power to Connection Points, Continue to Support Communities as Cold Temps Persist

Monday, Feb. 2

Since Jan. 23, the Tennessee Valley region has seen historic winter weather, with record-breaking precipitation in some areas.

The weather offered back-to-back punches of high energy demand in the past week, with a peak of 32,907 megawatts on Jan. 27, when the system average temperature dropped to 13 degrees. And then 32,045 megawatts on Jan. 31, at an average temperature of 17 degrees.

TVA and local power company crews worked around the clock in response to the storms, often in challenging, icy conditions. We called on every resource available: helicopters and drones in the air, and bucket trucks, dozers, track equipment, skid steers, UTVs and chainsaw crews on the ground.

While TVA has repaired its transmission lines, many residents in parts of Mississippi and Tennessee still await the restoration of power. We continue to work closely with local power companies and community partners to provide assistance.

As the extreme cold temperatures ease, TVA will focus on strengthening and repairing its systems, to ensure continued reliability and prepare for future demand.

Friday, Jan. 30

TVA’s transmission system is stable, and we’re prepared to keep power flowing reliably through the next round of winter weather this weekend.

Crews worked safely and around the clock to restore service after Winter Storm Fern, and all repairs are complete. All transmission lines damaged by the ice storm are back in service, and all customer deliver points have been restored to local power companies.

If you experience an outage, please report it to your local power company. TVA continues to work closely with local utilities to support safe and reliable service.

We’ll share updates if conditions change, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to stay safe during this extreme weather.

Wednesday, Jan. 28

TVA and local power company crews are making strong progress restoring power after Winter Storm Fern, working safely and around the clock in challenging conditions.

If you experience an outage, check with your local power company for updates.

Transmission restoration is complete. All high-voltage lines connecting TVA’s supply of electricity to local power companies have been restored. The last remaining line affecting Tishomingo County Electric Power Association was returned to service this morning.

All major 500-kV transmission lines have been restored, and helicopter inspections are underway to confirm there is no additional storm-related damage.

TVA crews are prioritizing reliability and supporting communities. Last night, pallets of bottled water were delivered to Pickwick Electric Cooperative, and today TVA four-wheel-drive vehicles and drivers are assisting Nashville Electric Service with damage assessments.

Crews continue to navigate fallen trees, icy roads and frigid temperatures, using bucket trucks, dozers, track equipment, skid steers, UTVs and chainsaw crews on the ground, with helicopters and drones overhead.

With restoration complete, TVA will focus on strengthening the transmission system and repairing remaining non-critical damage to ensure reliability and prepare for future demand.

Tuesday, Jan. 27

TVA and local power company crews continue to make progress on restoring power to areas impacted by Winter Storm Fern.

TVA has restored 23 delivery points since the storm began. There are currently eight delivery points out of service affecting four local power companies. Those delivery points are expected to be restored by tonight.

Two 500 kV lines and several lower-voltage sections remain out of service.

Crews continue to navigate fallen trees, deep snow, icy roads and frigid temperatures. No matter the challenge, we are finding a way. Helicopters and drones are helping to reach areas cut off by snow and ice, ensuring repairs continue in areas where access is limited. Crews are working in shifts on the ground and in the air to assess storm damage and repair transmission lines.

TVA teams continue to support communities and local power companies, delivering bottled water, generators to support critical infrastructure and bedding for restoration crews. Additional logistics support fuel deliveries, road clearing materials, ice melt and food transported by helicopter to impacted areas.

Once connections to local power companies are restored, TVA will focus on repairing non-critical damage to reinforce system reliability and prepare for future demand.

TVA has more than 16,000 miles of transmission lines connecting power plants to local power companies, who deliver power to homes and businesses.

Monday, Jan. 26

As Winter Storm Fern leaves the Tennessee Valley region and extreme cold moves in, TVA’s power-generation plants are performing well and are positioned to meet rising demand.

Due to heavy ice and high winds, many customers remain without power following the storm. TVA and local power company crews are working around the clock to restore service as safely and quickly as possible.

Crews are assessing storm damage, repairing TVA’s transmission lines, and also helping local power companies restore their distribution lines. We are making progress despite difficult conditions for workers, including fallen trees, deep snow, icy roads and frigid temperatures.

Currently, 17 local power company delivery points are out of service, affecting 12 of our 153 local power companies. Sixteen 161-kV line sections, four 69-kV sections and five 46-kV sections remain out.

TVA has deployed all available resources: bucket trucks, dozers, track equipment, skid steers, UTVs and chainsaw crews on the ground. And if we can’t reach lines by land, we’re reaching them by air, using helicopters and drones to support restoration efforts. To those waiting for electricity to return, help is on the way.

Ahead of the storm, crews and equipment were staged across the Valley and ready to respond. They continue working in continuous rotations until power is restored.

TVA is built for this. We have more than 16,000 miles of transmission lines connecting power plants to local power companies, who deliver power to homes and businesses, and we are trained to work in these conditions alongside local power companies.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Winter Storm Fern is moving out of the Tennessee Valley this afternoon, but extremely cold temperatures will persist throughout the week. While the storm is ending, icy patches and black ice remain a concern tonight, and temperatures will drop sharply into the single digits with wind chills near zero. These conditions will continue to drive high energy demand across the region.

TVA’s bulk power system remains stable and secure, and our generating assets are performing well. At the same time, crews are working around the clock to restore transmission service safely where outages have occurred as a result of mother nature.

We are also working closely with local power companies to coordinate restoration efforts and keep communities informed.

We prepare year-round for extreme weather with system upgrades and preventative maintenance to keep power flowing during severe conditions.

Also, we have become aware of a phishing email impersonating TVA regarding rolling blackouts. If you receive one of these messages, do not click on any links or share information; report it as phishing.

Stay safe as this cold weather moves through our region. Consider charging phones and devices, gathering blankets, flashlights and batteries and limiting travel during icy conditions. If you must drive, keep an emergency kit in your vehicle and watch for slick roads.