A 2008 Jacksonville Energy Authority (JEA) survey of residential electric rates from 55 public and private utilities shows that MLGW customers pay some of the lowest rates in the nation. Of the 55 utilities surveyed, MLGW rates were the ninth lowest. The survey compared the cost for 1,000 kilowatts of electricity (a universal standard of measure), and not average utility bills. The complete survey can be found at www.mlgw.com/newsroom.

MLGW customers pay $77.37 per 1,000 kilowatts, about $20.00 less than JEA customers. Other cities with higher electric rates than MLGW include Chattanooga, Tucson, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Baltimore, San Diego, and Philadelphia. Fairbanks, Alaska residents have the highest cost of cities surveyed, paying $178.07 per 1,000 kilowatts. AmerenUE customers in St. Louis have the lowest cost, at $58.85 per 1,000 kilowatts.

"There are few cities that can say they have lower electric rates than ours. That is something that every Memphian should be aware of and proud to say," said Jerry Collins, MLGW president and CEO. "While energy costs have risen nationwide in recent years, this shows that MLGW is doing a good job of controlling the impact to the customer."

While MLGW rates are among the lowest in the nation, weather and customer usage have the strongest impact on customer bills. Customers can help control their usage and costs by practicing smart energy conservation. MLGW offers several tools to help customers use energy wisely.

The My Account section at www.mlgw.com gives customers the opportunity to take an in-depth, customized energy evaluation of their home and recommends areas where customers can employ some energy saving tactics. The utility also has brochures available to the public with energy saving information that can be found on the Web site. In addition, the utility's Energy Doctor program offers a free in-home analysis of your energy usage and tips to make your house more energy efficient. Call 528-4188 to schedule an Energy Doctor appointment.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 420,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County. A 2007 survey of large metropolitan areas showed that MLGW has the sixth lowest combined rates in the nation.