A Nashville family says they were threatened with fines by their homeowners’ association for using a generator to heat their home during freezing temperatures that left much of the city in darkness.
Talia Caravello told WSMV that her generator did not meet the aesthetic rules of her townhouse in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood after she lost electricity during a severe ice storm on Sunday.
Caravello had purchased a $1,500 generator, extension cords, and space heaters to keep her family warm as indoor temperatures dropped to around 30 degrees. The storm, which left four people dead, knocked out power across the area.
“We were so happy, and we were able to have our friends here who also didn’t have power,” Caravello said. “Being together made it a lot better, but even sleeping at night was tough, no matter the layers.”
The generator was set up outside on the family’s porch, with cords running through the door to power space heaters inside. Caravello said she wanted to stay home rather than seek shelter elsewhere.
However, after just a few hours of use, Caravello received a message from the HOA management company, Metropolitan Properties, warning her to remove the generator immediately.
The letter, obtained by WSMV, read:
“Gas generators are not allowed due to a fire hazard. All exterior items must be approved. Please remove immediately.”
Metropolitan Properties said it had noticed the generator during a townhome inspection and threatened fines if it was not removed. The company, founded in 2009, manages over 400 communities and 25,000 homes across Middle and Eastern Tennessee and highlights maintaining the appearance of homes as a top priority.
Caravello criticized the HOA for prioritizing aesthetics over safety during the blackout.
“Why is that even a possibility right now? Why do they care so much when people are just trying to stay warm and survive?” she said. Despite lighting candles and keeping faucets running to prevent freezing, the family ultimately went to a friend’s house for warmth.
After public attention, Metropolitan Properties reversed its decision, granting a “one-time” exemption to allow the generator until power was restored.
As of now, more than 57,000 Nashville customers remain without electricity following Winter Storm Fern, which coated the city in up to two inches of ice between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26. Nashville Electric Services has not provided a timeline for restoring power to over 250,000 affected homes.