Customers should prepare as well

Memphis Light, Gas, and Water is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and reliability of services for customers across the region. With a focus on preparedness, MLGW is fully equipped to handle the challenges of cold weather and winter storms. MLGW’s top priority is ensuring our community remains safe and connected, regardless of weather conditions.

MLGW prepares for cold weather by tracking the weather, having additional crews on standby, and ensuring vehicles are equipped with necessary tools. Tree trimming crews cleared over 1600 miles in 2024 to help reduce electric outages caused by falling limbs.

To combat water main breaks (which can occur when temperatures drop) MLGW has made several capital improvements like installing additional wells. We’ve also been insulating water pump motors and conducting a system wide water valve survey that will keep water flowing from our pumping stations to the community.
 

To combat winter weather challenges, MLGW has implemented the following measures

· Fleet Maintenance: MLGW’s fleet vehicles receive monthly preventive maintenance, with extra attention paid to charging systems, tires, heaters, windshield wipers, and washer fluid in the winter months.

· De-icer Supply: Garages are stocked with de-icer for locks, door handles, and windshields, ensuring crews can work efficiently in icy conditions.

· Cold Weather Diesel Additive: To enhance vehicle performance, a cold weather diesel fuel additive is added to the tanks at MLGW fueling stations.

· Snowplows and Brine Spreaders: Six fleet vehicles are outfitted with snowplows and brine spreaders to clear access to MLGW facilities and community offices, ensuring essential operations can continue during winter storms.
 

MLGW asks that customers prepare their homes and businesses for the extreme cold by protecting water pipes and checking on automated sprinkler systems. Water pipes can burst anytime temperatures are below freezing. A burst water pipe or water heater is considered to be an emergency situation and could pose a danger of flooding. Customers can call 528-4465 to have water turned off.

Customers are asked to have an emergency plan and take precautions to prevent pipes from bursting at their homes and businesses. Here are a few tips:

· Allow faucets to drip, open cabinet doors, detach garden hoses and insulate outdoor pipes while temperatures remain low.

· Vacant property owners should turn off the water at the street. Call MLGW at 544-6549 if assistance is needed.

· Businesses that anticipate being closed for an extended time should check periodically for broken pipes and/or leaking fire suppression systems.

· Know where the main water shut off valve is inside the home in advance of an emergency. It could be in a closet or under the sink.

· If pipes burst, cut off water at the street using a meter key. (These can be purchased at a hardware store.)

· Have food, water (approximately 1 gallon, per day, per person), and medicines sufficient for a three day interruption in case of emergency.
 

MLGW’s general winter tips can be found here: mlgw.com/wintertips.

MLGW has an Outage Center on mlgw.com which includes information on reporting and tracking outages as well as a preparedness guide: mlgw.com/StormPrep

Follow MLGW on social media for outage updates: Twitter @mlgw, Instagram @mlgwofficial

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.