Memphis Light, Gas and Water will observe the first national Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day on Friday, March 18. This is a time when communities such as ours give recognition to employees who provide a valuable asset by working to provide natural gas service safely and reliably to homes and businesses.

The annual nationwide event is intended to build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees of natural gas utilities. March 18 is the date of the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937 that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety. Safety is a vital aspect to natural gas distribution and the employees of distribution companies endeavor to make natural gas delivery as safe as possible.

A major project MLGW’s natural gas employees have been working on since 1992 is the Division’s 30-year natural gas cast iron pipe retrofit program. MLGW has spent $77 million on this project over the past 24 years to replace more than 330 miles of cast iron pipes with polyethylene or steel pipes. It is scheduled to be completed by 2022. The retrofit program improves natural gas safety for the public and reinforces our infrastructure for MLGW’s future natural gas service reliability and integrity, and for earthquake mitigation.

“We are dedicating this Friday to celebrate the hard work of our natural gas utility workers in this community and across the country,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr. “MLGW and our customers depend on our natural gas workers to deliver reliable, affordable and safe natural gas service. Safety is a vital aspect of natural gas delivery, and our MLGW gas workers put safety first every day. They deserve a day to be recognized for their hard work and accomplishments. A big ‘Thank you!’ goes out to our natural gas workers!”

MLGW looks forward to continuing to bring safe, affordable and reliable natural gas into your homes and businesses. The Division also hopes customers will join in supporting natural gas as a premier energy source for the country. As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas can help achieve energy security and build a more competitive economy.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of natural gas and how your public natural gas system works, contact MLGW Communications and Public Relations at (901) 528-4557.