(July 22, 2023, 4 p.m.) –Memphis Light, Gas and Water and contractor crews are making some headway in restoration efforts Saturday. Severe storms this week impacted approximately 216,000 customers.

Despite multiple weather interruptions, significant progress has been made and the number impacted reduced to just under 23,000 by 4 p.m. Saturday.

To expedite the restoration process, MLGW crews are prioritizing outages that will bring back the largest number of customers and customers who have been without power since Tuesday. MLGW reminds customers who have power lines at the rear of their property to make sure crews have access to their backyards.

MLGW is dedicated to resolving the situation quickly. Over the weekend, we've got a strong team working hard, including repair crews, tree crews, troubleshooters, and damage assessment teams. Their focus is identifying damages and making essential repairs to the system. To back them up effectively, we've brought in logistics, administrative, safety, and system operations personnel. We're all putting in non-stop efforts to bring things back to normal for our affected customers.

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 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:

 

 

 

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.