Utility restores 202,000 customers following last week’s storms

 (July 23, 2023, 9:30 a.m.) – On Saturday, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, alongside contractors made headway in restoration efforts. Severe storms last week impacted around 216,000 customers and 202,000 have been restored. As of 9 a.m. Sunday, 14,000 remained without power.

Today’s priority is tackling 1,000 smaller outages which tend to be more complex and require additional time. We understand our customers' frustration and we are making every effort to rectify it.  Our full complement includes repair and tree trimming crews, troubleshooters, and damage assessment teams, work tirelessly to identify and repair damages. We have additional logistics, administrative, safety, and system operations personnel to support them effectively. We are resolutely committed to returning things to normal as quickly as possible.

In this challenging time, we thank you for your patience and understanding. MLGW is dedicated to providing you with the best service, and together, we will overcome this setback. Please ensure crews have access to powerlines at the rear of your property to help expedite the restoration process. Thank you for being part of the MLGW community.

Customers should continue to call to report their outage and not assume we are aware of their outage. An outage at the circuit or distribution line level will often mask another outage at the fuse, transformer or service drop level. When the circuit is successfully repaired, the system may not automatically detect an outage downstream.

Further, customers may have localized damage, like equipment down in their backyard or 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 power.

Important Notices/Reminders:

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.