The embattled Nashville Electric Service bulked up its lobbying and crisis communications roster in the aftermath of last month's ice storm.

Why it matters: NES sought to increase its political clout following a surge of criticism over the power utility's storm response.

Driving the news: Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Cameron Sexton, bashed NES's communication and lengthy power restoration timeline following the storm.

What they're saying: An NES spokesperson told Axios in a statement that the team of consultants was hired after the utility "had numerous inquiries and requests for information from state and local government" following the storm.

• "Additional support ensures our staff stays focused on powering Nashville and improving our performance, without slowing down critical information to our customers and public officials," the spokesperson said.

Zoom in: NES hired Stones River Group, led by former Gov. Bill Haslam's chief of staff Mark Cate, as a consultant.

• The Stones River contract is for four months and totals $110,000.
• To help with Metro government lobbying, NES hired Hall Strategies, which is led by prominent local lobbyist and communications executive Joe Hall. The firm's six-month contract totals $30,000.

NES also hired Benchmark Communications to help with "short-term emergency communications support" in the early days of the storm. Benchmark will be paid on an invoice basis, because a "longer-term contract was not required," an NES spokesperson tells Axios.

Zoom out: Prior to the storm, NES had established a contract with Finn Partners, one of the city's largest public relations firms.

• Finn's three-year contract has a maximum value of $10 million. So far, Finn has billed $4.7 million, NES said.
• The firm provided winter storm-related communications support for free, according to NES.
• Similarly, the firm BHA — owned by Blake Harris, who previously worked as chief of staff for Gov. Bill Lee — gave pro bono crisis communications support during "the back half of the storm response," according to NES.

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Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced the members of the new commission formed to review the city's response to last month's ice storm.

• Phil Bredesen, the former Democratic governor and Nashville mayor, will chair the winter storm response commission, which also includes former House Speaker Beth Harwell, a Republican.

Why it matters: O'Connell formed the commission in the aftermath of the storm amid loud criticism over how Metro, and especially the Nashville Electric Service, responded.

Between the lines: The commission will review the city's performance in hopes of improving future storm responses.

• The commission has the power to demand documents and require officials to testify under oath.

Zoom out: At its meeting on Tuesday, the Metro Council delayed a vote on a symbolic resolution asking the NES board to fire its CEO, Teresa Broyles-Aplin.

• Some council members want to wait until the broader review is done before deciding on the resolution.

What he's saying: "Nashville's recent ice storm was a once-in-a-generation event," Bredesen said in a press release. "I believe that with any crisis, once things quiet down, it's important to learn from it: what went right, and where things could use some shoring up."

Zoom in: The other members of the winter storm response commission are Vice Mayor Angie Henderson, Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, Vanderbilt University director of emergency management Johnny Vanderpool, local NAACP President Timothy Hughes, laborers union executive Ethan Link, communications executive Cassandra Easley and Dickson Electric general manager Darrell Gillespie.

What's next: The commission will hold its first meeting Feb. 23. O'Connell gave the group a six-month deadline to file its report.

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☑️ State lawmakers advanced legislation to require police to help ICE with immigration enforcement and to mandate that local schools report the immigration status of students. (Nashville Banner)

👎 After initially confirming plans to purchase a detention center facility in Wilson County, ICE officials reversed course and said there is no land deal. (News Channel 5)

💲 The Airport Authority unanimously approved the Boring Company's proposal to dig tunnels to the terminal at BNA for the company's Music City Loop project. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

The Titans plan to make live music a prominent fixture throughout game days at the new Nissan Stadium.

Why it matters: The Titans will install the NFL's first permanent in-bowl stage at the new stadium.

Zoom out: The team will also host other live music performances in multiple parts of the stadium during games and special events.

Zoom in: To help make the live music happen, the Titans teamed with Guitar Center, which will be the team's official music gear retailer and AV integrator.