Energy Incident Register
Register / Grid infrastructure / EIR-1564
← Back to the list
Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1564

Tornado damages North Substation in Madison causing explosion and outages

Dec 2023Published 29 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantMechanicalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Nashville Electric Service

What happened

On 9 December 2023, a tornado struck the North Substation on East Campbell Road in Madison, Tennessee. A high-voltage circuit breaker took a direct hit, and a large explosion was captured on cameras. Nashville Electric Service described the site as a transmission substation that supplies distribution substations. In the wider storm, about 48,000 NES customers lost power. At least 190 power poles were broken, and the substation serving Hendersonville was also hit. Using warehouse parts and equipment from other utilities, the North Substation was back in working order within a few days. Repairs were reported as almost complete one year later.

Contributing factors

EF2 winds from the tornado passed through the substation and struck equipment, including a high-voltage circuit breaker. Debris delayed crews reaching the site.

Lessons learned

  1. Pre-stocked spare parts and sharing of equipment between utilities can shorten restoration after storm damage.
  2. Owning excavation and heavy plant can speed debris clearance when outside resources are in demand.

More lessons on weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.

Source

newschannel5.com

Other entries that name Madison

Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

See the register's stories first in Google: add it as a preferred source.

Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States: 450 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: switchgear and breaker fires.

Browse the full register or submit an incident.