A family in Tennessee faced pressure from their homeowners’ association (HOA) to take down the generator that was heating their home during a recent power outage caused by frigid weather.
Talia Caravello reported that the HOA claimed the generator at her townhouse in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston area did not meet aesthetic standards. This situation arose after a severe ice storm led to widespread power outages in the neighborhood, as noted by WSMV.
In the aftermath of the storm that tragically claimed four lives, Caravello invested in a $1,500 generator, along with extension cords and a space heater, to keep her family warm as the indoor temperature plummeted to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It was great, and we even had friends who lost power come over to stay with us,” Caravello shared. “Being with family and friends makes a tough situation a bit better, but, honestly, no amount of layers makes sleeping in that cold comfortable.”
She decided to buy the generator so that her family could stay at home instead of evacuating to a safer location.
The generator was placed outside on the balcony, with a cord running through the door to provide heat indoors. This made it easier for her family to hunker down at home during the outage.
However, shortly after starting the generator, Caravello received an alarming notice from the HOA management company, Metropolitan Properties.
The notice stated, “Due to fire hazards, the use of common gas generators is not allowed. All cladding must be approved and removed immediately.” This message, obtained by a dealership, was alarming for Caravello.
Metropolitan Properties claimed they found the generator during a routine inspection of the home, which had no power, and warned Caravello that a fine would be imposed if the generator wasn’t removed.
The company prides itself on comprehensive property services, managing over 400 communities and serving around 25,000 households in Middle Tennessee. They emphasized the importance of maintaining aesthetic standards in their letter, which frustrated Caravello.
“I’m really upset. Why is this happening now? Why do they care so much when people are just trying to stay warm and make it through?” she expressed.
In a bid to stay warm, Caravello lit candles and let the faucets drip to prevent freezing, but ultimately, the family decided to go to a friend’s house for better warmth.
“I’m just trying to hang in there, but it feels unbearable,” she reflected. “It’s strange and frustrating because we really need electricity. I mean, obviously, everyone wants it back.”
After some pushback about the letter sent to Caravello, Metropolitan Properties changed their stance, allowing the use of generators as a “one-time” exception until power was restored.
Currently, over 57,000 customers in Nashville remain without power following the severe ice storm brought on by Winter Storm Fern, which dumped up to 2 inches of ice in the area from January 25 to 26, as reported by Nashville Electric Service.
As of now, the timeline for power restoration for the more than 250,000 affected customers has not been announced.
