NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Even though Nashville Electric Service (NES) has restored power to about 92% of the customers impacted by widespread power outages after Friday’s strong storms, more than 9,000 customers are still in the dark, according to officials.

At 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, NES said 9,064 customers are without power.

“How NES restores power: We focus on the largest areas experiencing outages first. Once those are restored, we move to the next largest and so on until all customers once again have power,” the company explained. “We know how helpful predicted restoration timelines are to our customers, but for a variety of reasons and unexpected challenges it is very difficult for us to determine when all power will be restored.”

NES said its goal is to restore power to those impacted by the majority of the largest storm-related outages by Sunday evening. Even though that outcome is not guaranteed, every NES employee is reportedly working to return service for as many customers as possible by that time.

According to the company, 98 crews are working throughout the city to replace 126 broken power poles and reattach power lines as quickly as possible. However, multiple teams and extra time are required to replace and set poles.

NES said it has also brought in crews from outside the state — more specifically Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia — to help restore power to the region.

In addition, multiple vegetation management crews are reportedly clearing downed trees and debris. 

“NES crews are working as quickly as possible to safely restore power, putting our customers first even before their own families,” the company said in a statement. “In one example, a lineman, who lost power at his home, took his family including a 1-year-old child to a hotel so he could report to work to help with power restoration efforts. That dedication exemplifies the entire NES team.”

At the storm’s peak on Friday, March 3, over 115,000 customers were without power. NES said its crews have restored power to 105,936 customers since the severe weather hit Middle Tennessee.

Any customers who receive an NES message that power is restored, even though it is not, means there’s further damage near your home.

“For customers in small neighborhood clusters or individual homes and businesses, the process may take more time, but NES crews will not stop until all power is restored,” officials announced Sunday afternoon.

The company said it is also pausing disconnections for nonpayment through Thursday, March 9.

News 2 is actively tracking power outages across Middle Tennessee and will update this story throughout the day as more outages are reported.