MEMPHIS
42°
Friday
Clear Sky
MLGW crews will work until all outages are restored: early morning storms bring additional outages
July 21, 2023
Severe weather continues to cause outages. Following Tuesday evening’s severe thunderstorm, Memphis Light, Gas and Water restored 131,000 of the 141,000 customers impacted. In addition to the 10,000 remaining from Tuesday’s outages, 16,000 customers lost power from early Friday morning thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are expected to redevelop this afternoon which could slow progress and increase numbers. MLGW has a full complement of MLGW and contract crews working today through the weekend. There are 98 repair crews, 89 tree crews, 23 troubleshooters and 34 damage assessment teams identifying damage and repairing the system. They are supported by hundreds of logistics, administrative, safety and system operations personnel.
Full restoration is expected Sunday night to customers who can take power.
The utility’s plan is to improve system resiliency and reliability, and to make MLGW a more agile organization. Infrastructure updates like the installation of new transformers, modernized equipment and having fewer customers on a fuse tap have already impacted neighborhoods like Normal Station. “We saw an immediate 50% improvement in their reliability,” said MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen. “It gives me optimism,” McGowen told reporters Wednesday, “and it should give everybody hope that the work will make a difference.”
Customers should continue to call to report their outage and not assume we are aware of their outage. Often, an outage at the circuit or distribution line level will mask another outage at the fuse, transformer or service drop level. When the circuit is successfully repaired, the system may not automatically detect an outage downstream.
Further, customers may have a localized damage, like equipment down in their backyard or damage to their weatherheads. The weatherhead is usually located above the roofline or attached to the gable or side of the house where the customer's wiring connects to MLGW's electric lines. The weatherhead is the homeowner's property and therefore is not maintained by MLGW. If it is damaged, a customer must have it repaired by a licensed electrician and inspected by Code Enforcement before MLGW can restore power.
Important Notices/Reminders:
Thunderstorms are expected to redevelop this afternoon which could slow progress and increase numbers. MLGW has a full complement of MLGW and contract crews working today through the weekend. There are 98 repair crews, 89 tree crews, 23 troubleshooters and 34 damage assessment teams identifying damage and repairing the system. They are supported by hundreds of logistics, administrative, safety and system operations personnel.
Full restoration is expected Sunday night to customers who can take power.
The utility’s plan is to improve system resiliency and reliability, and to make MLGW a more agile organization. Infrastructure updates like the installation of new transformers, modernized equipment and having fewer customers on a fuse tap have already impacted neighborhoods like Normal Station. “We saw an immediate 50% improvement in their reliability,” said MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen. “It gives me optimism,” McGowen told reporters Wednesday, “and it should give everybody hope that the work will make a difference.”
Customers should continue to call to report their outage and not assume we are aware of their outage. Often, an outage at the circuit or distribution line level will mask another outage at the fuse, transformer or service drop level. When the circuit is successfully repaired, the system may not automatically detect an outage downstream.
Further, customers may have a localized damage, like equipment down in their backyard or damage to their weatherheads. The weatherhead is usually located above the roofline or attached to the gable or side of the house where the customer's wiring connects to MLGW's electric lines. The weatherhead is the homeowner's property and therefore is not maintained by MLGW. If it is damaged, a customer must have it repaired by a licensed electrician and inspected by Code Enforcement before MLGW can restore power.
Important Notices/Reminders:
- Call 211 for emergency shelter and other resources.
- Customers who currently receive SNAP can apply for replacement benefits at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html.
- An MLGW emergency response dashboard is online at http://www.mlgw.com/stormresponse.
- Please always call 528-4465 to report emergencies like downed powerlines and gas leaks. MLGW asks customers to stay away from downed powerlines. DO NOT TOUCH or cut limbs across powerlines. They could be energized (hot).
- MLGW customers can report power outages and check the status of their outage through My Account or by calling the automated outage number: 544-6500. Customers can also check the online outage map: mlgw.com/outagecenter.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving the residents of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee since 1939. MLGW consistently provides customers with rates that are amongst the lowest in the nation and stewards a water supply from artesian wells that is minimally treated. Actively engaged in promoting the prosperity of Memphis and Shelby County, MLGW supports the seven local chambers in its service area and makes doing business with local, minority- and women-owned business a priority. Deeply rooted in the community, its employees generously donate time and money in support of bettering the Greater Memphis area.
Memphis, TN 38103