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MLGW News Release
 
Restoration process underway - Nearly 30,000 customers restored - At least one week before all power is restored
June 13, 2009
(June 13, 2009 - 11 a.m.) - Memphis Light, Gas and Water crews are working to restore power to more than 130,000 customers that lost power after strong winds and thunderstorms moved through Memphis and Shelby County yesterday afternoon. Due to the great extent of downed trees and power lines, MLGW estimates that it will be AT LEAST one week before power will be restored to all customers.

An additional 19 crews from Chattanooga and Nashville are on their way to assist MLGW crews as well as 61 tree trimming crews. In addition, MLGW is working to secure 11 additional out-of-town crews.

As of 11 a.m., MLGW had restored power to nearly 30,000 customers since the storm. The current number of customers without power is approximately 101,000.

For now, MLGW’s first priority for restoration is to restore all critical care facilities such as water pumping stations, hospitals and nursing homes. Restoration priority is then given to those repairs that will bring on the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.

Generator Safety
If customers are using a generator, it must be properly ventilated for customer safety. Place generators outside, not in an enclosed area. It is not safe to place generators inside a garage, even if the garage door is left cracked or open.

Weatherheads
Some customers may have damage to their weatherheads. The weatherhead is usually located above the roofline or attached to the gable or side of the house where the customer’s wiring connects to MLGW’s electric lines. The weatherhead is the homeowner's property and therefore, is not maintained by MLGW. If it is damaged, a customer must have it repaired by a licensed electrician and inspected by Code Enforcement before MLGW can restore your power. http://mlgw.com/images/weather_head.jpg

Updates
Customers should call 544-6500 to report outages and 528-4465 to report emergencies such as sparking electric lines or gas leaks. MLGW is also providing updates through Twitter at www.twitter.com/mlgw.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 420,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.