Our restoration efforts have continued through the day and will continue until we have every customer restored.  We increased the number of repair crews to 90 today, and will be adding 10 more tomorrow, and others as we can get them.   They are joined by 79 tree trimming crews who are clearing debris away from damaged infrastructure, 50 damage assessment teams and 40 troubleshooters, all of whom are supported by hundreds of system operators, logistics personnel and engineers who are providing information, supplies and equipment necessary to effectuate repairs. 

It is fair to say that we have completed all the “low-hanging fruit” restoration work:  rerouting power where and when possible and getting substations and large circuits restored:  each of those actions restores power to thousands of customers per repair.  This leaves us to repair hundreds of other outages, each of which will impact only a few hundred or a few dozen customers per repair– this is the “hand to hand combat” part of the restoration effort that takes longer and takes more resources.

Our priority is to restore power as quickly as possible to everyone and to ensure that we do not precipitate another emergency, and so we focus on ensuring water and sewer systems continue to function and that hospitals can stay open.  The MLGW water system has returned to normal operations and is maintaining normal pressures throughout the system.   We anticipate lifting the boil water advisory that was in place for a small portion of northern Shelby County by tomorrow afternoon. 

I do not have a firm estimate on full restoration given the magnitude of the damage and volume of work that remains.  I continue to ask that everyone presently without power plan to be out for several days’ time, and that our customers who do have power help their friends and neighbors where and when you can.  I am aware that temperatures will dramatically increase after Wednesday, and there is urgency to get as much power restored as quickly as we can.  I ask for similar urgency for all of us to check on the welfare of neighbors and family.

While many of our customers were unaffected by this storm, it ranks as the 6^th most impactful storm in the history of MLGW.  You have my commitment to seek every resource necessary to get your power restored as quickly as we possibly can.
Sincerely,

Doug McGowen 
 

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.