Memphis Light, Gas and Water and other natural gas utilities will observe national Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day this week on Friday, March 18. It’s a day when communities such as Memphis and Shelby County offer recognition and gratitude to employees who work to provide natural gas service safely and reliably to area homes and businesses. MLGW would like to thank and honor our natural gas workers for their hard work and their dedication to safety. 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 with the odorant mercaptan and an increased emphasis on gas 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.

MLGW’s natural gas employees had reason to celebrate at the close of last year. The Division’s 30-year natural gas cast iron pipe retrofit program was concluded in December 2021, and a Cast Iron Replacement Celebration was held at Compass School on N. McLean. The $100 million project over the past 30 years replaced more than 330 miles of cast iron pipes with polyethylene or steel pipes. The retrofit program improves natural gas safety for the public and reinforces our infrastructure for reliability and integrity in MLGW’s natural gas supply service, and for earthquake mitigation.

“We dedicate this Friday to celebrate the exceptional work our natural gas utility workers do every day in Memphis, Shelby County and across the country,” said J.T. Young, MLGW President and CEO. “The completion of our 30-year cast iron replacement project was a huge milestone. MLGW and our customers depend on our natural gas workers to deliver reliable, affordable, and most importantly, safe natural gas service. Safety is a vital aspect of natural gas delivery, and our gas employees put safety first every day. They deserve a day to be recognized for their hard work, dedication and accomplishments. We all offer a huge ‘Thank you!’ to our natural gas workers!”

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of natural gas and how your public natural gas system works, check out our website at mlgw.com or go to aga.org/natural-gas/in-your-home/benefits-of-natural-gas/.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 437,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.