Photo: Pretty pink polyclinidae
3 hours ago
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
How Cold Weather Affects Your Bill
We’ve experienced one of the coldest winters in the Mid-South in 20 years. Unfortunately, that means you will probably see a higher than average utility bill this month. That’s not due to higher rates; it’s due to the extended cold weather days and the increased consumption of energy.
Even if you’ve kept your thermostat setting low, your heating system used more energy to heat your home and/or business.
Key factors related to this winter’s higher bills:
• The coldest January in 20 years.
• Prolonged cold weather days will result in bills being at least 22 percent higher.
• Increased consumption of energy resources to heat our homes and businesses.
• This winter the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has experienced some of its all-time-high daily electric-generating days.
• Many TVA distributors set all-time electric heat usage records except MLGW – MLGW was not close to setting a record, which is good for MLGW customers.
Though our bills seem high after all the cold weather, they are lower than most others in TVA’s service region. MLGW’s utility rates are some of the lowest in the country. Find ways to conserve at www.mlgw.com.
Set your thermostat at 68° to save energy. Each degree over 68° increases your heating cost by 4%.
Even if you’ve kept your thermostat setting low, your heating system used more energy to heat your home and/or business.
Key factors related to this winter’s higher bills:
• The coldest January in 20 years.
• Prolonged cold weather days will result in bills being at least 22 percent higher.
• Increased consumption of energy resources to heat our homes and businesses.
• This winter the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has experienced some of its all-time-high daily electric-generating days.
• Many TVA distributors set all-time electric heat usage records except MLGW – MLGW was not close to setting a record, which is good for MLGW customers.
Though our bills seem high after all the cold weather, they are lower than most others in TVA’s service region. MLGW’s utility rates are some of the lowest in the country. Find ways to conserve at www.mlgw.com.
Set your thermostat at 68° to save energy. Each degree over 68° increases your heating cost by 4%.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
MLGW Restoration Update: 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2014
4,000 without power
As of 4 p.m., about 4,000 customers remain without power. MLGW employees will work into the night to restore services.
MLGW crews and mutual aid crews continue to work heavily in the northwest part of Shelby County (Frayser, Shelby Forest, Millington), where the storm’s damage was heaviest.
MLGW is asking customers who are still without power to call the MLGW Outage Hotline at 544-6500 to make sure their outage is logged in the system. To report an outage, customers will need to have their account number or the phone number that's associated with their account.
To report an emergency such as downed wires or gas leaks, please call 528-4465. This number should be treated like 911 and only used for these types of emergencies.
Downed Power Lines
MLGW is reinforcing the need for safety around downed power lines and other potential hazards. Customers should avoid contact with downed power lines—even if their home or area has experienced a loss of power the lines could still be energized
Customers are also asked to avoid the immediate area where MLGW crews are working. These work sites can be extremely hazardous.
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
As of 4 p.m., about 4,000 customers remain without power. MLGW employees will work into the night to restore services.
MLGW crews and mutual aid crews continue to work heavily in the northwest part of Shelby County (Frayser, Shelby Forest, Millington), where the storm’s damage was heaviest.
MLGW is asking customers who are still without power to call the MLGW Outage Hotline at 544-6500 to make sure their outage is logged in the system. To report an outage, customers will need to have their account number or the phone number that's associated with their account.
To report an emergency such as downed wires or gas leaks, please call 528-4465. This number should be treated like 911 and only used for these types of emergencies.
Downed Power Lines
MLGW is reinforcing the need for safety around downed power lines and other potential hazards. Customers should avoid contact with downed power lines—even if their home or area has experienced a loss of power the lines could still be energized
Customers are also asked to avoid the immediate area where MLGW crews are working. These work sites can be extremely hazardous.
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
Musical Birds on a Wire
Here's a nice escape from the weather...
Jarbas Agnelli is a Brazilian multimedia artist who uses film, photo, illustration and music to communicate ideas. One morning while reading a newspaper, Agnelli saw a photograph of birds on an electric wire. He cut out the photo and was inspired to make a song using the exact location of the birds as musical notes. Listen to the results:
Jarbas Agnelli is a Brazilian multimedia artist who uses film, photo, illustration and music to communicate ideas. One morning while reading a newspaper, Agnelli saw a photograph of birds on an electric wire. He cut out the photo and was inspired to make a song using the exact location of the birds as musical notes. Listen to the results:
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
MLGW Restoration Update: 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2014
As of 4 p.m., about 8,500 customers remain without power. MLGW employees will continue to work tonight to restore services to customers without power following Sunday’s storm. Power has been restored to nearly 74,000 customers to this point and it will be several more days before power is restored to all customers.
More than 50 crews are currently in the field working to repair MLGW's electric system. There are now 12 outside crews that are working alongside MLGW employees – three other mutual aid crews have been delayed due to icy roads. MLGW will have a heavy presence in the northwest (Frayser, Shelby Forest, Millington) part of Shelby County through the end of the restoration process, where the storm’s damage was heaviest. MLGW crews continue to work in 16-hour shifts.
MLGW is asking customers who are still without power to call the MLGW Outage Hotline at 544-6500 to make sure their outage is logged in the system. To report an outage, customers will need to have their account number or the phone number that's associated with their account.
To report an emergency such as downed wires or gas leaks, please call 528-4465. This number should be treated like 911 and only used for these types of emergencies.
Downed Power Lines
MLGW is reinforcing the need for safety around downed power lines and other potential hazards. Customers should avoid contact with downed power lines—even if their home or area has experienced a loss of power the lines could still be energized
Customers are also asked to avoid the immediate area where MLGW crews are working. These work sites can be extremely hazardous.
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
More than 50 crews are currently in the field working to repair MLGW's electric system. There are now 12 outside crews that are working alongside MLGW employees – three other mutual aid crews have been delayed due to icy roads. MLGW will have a heavy presence in the northwest (Frayser, Shelby Forest, Millington) part of Shelby County through the end of the restoration process, where the storm’s damage was heaviest. MLGW crews continue to work in 16-hour shifts.
MLGW is asking customers who are still without power to call the MLGW Outage Hotline at 544-6500 to make sure their outage is logged in the system. To report an outage, customers will need to have their account number or the phone number that's associated with their account.
To report an emergency such as downed wires or gas leaks, please call 528-4465. This number should be treated like 911 and only used for these types of emergencies.
Downed Power Lines
MLGW is reinforcing the need for safety around downed power lines and other potential hazards. Customers should avoid contact with downed power lines—even if their home or area has experienced a loss of power the lines could still be energized
Customers are also asked to avoid the immediate area where MLGW crews are working. These work sites can be extremely hazardous.
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
Restoration Update: March 4, 2014
MLGW crews continue to work to restore power to customers. Since noon on Sunday, March 2 MLGW crews have restored power to more than 62,000 customers. Around 13,000 customers are still without electricity. MLGW crews will continue to work today to restore power. MLGW is estimating it may take several days to have power restored to all customers.
Storm Restoration Updates:
Currently, there are about 13,000 customers without power.
MLGW has restored power to more than 62,000 customers.
Downed trees weighed with ice and power lines are the primary cause of these outages; damage is spread across Shelby County with more damage occurring north of I-40, in the Raleigh/Frayser and Shelby Forrest areas.
MLGW is estimating full restoration to take several days.
MLGW crews are working 16-hour shifts in an effort to restore power.
Nine mutual aid crews are currently assisting MLGW crews. Additional crews have been delayed due to icy road conditions in Missouri and Indiana.
MLGW's Customer Care Center at 544-6549 will also be open until 7 p.m. to assist customers.
Customers are reminded to call the following numbers:
To Report an Outage: 544-6500
To Report an Emergency (such as downed lines or gas leaks): 528-4465
Bill Payment Inquiries: 544-6549
To stop, start, transfer services and trouble calls such as water leaks and flickering lights: 820-7878
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
Winter Safety Information:
Water Pipes: 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 the building.
Customers should open cabinet doors and turn water to a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Customers can also wrap pipes either in pipe insulation (available at hardware stores) or with towels, clothes, etc... to prevent pipes from freezing.
If your pipes freeze, turn off the main valve inside your house (if possible).
Space Heaters and Gas Appliances: To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, make sure that all natural gas appliances, such as your water heater, furnace and space heaters, are vented outside. Keep chimneys and flues clear of all debris, and use gas space heaters only according to manufacturers' instructions. We also recommend that you have your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed professional.
Do not use space heaters overnight and when no one is home. Position space heaters so they are not positioned near flammable objects. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical assistance immediately and move the victim, if possible, to a well-ventilated area, then call our 24-hour emergency number, 528-4465.
Portable Generators: Portable Generators are a great way to back up your power in case an outage hits your home, but using one can be dangerous unless you follow these important safety tips:
Never use a generator indoors or in an enclosed area such as a garage. Generators emit toxic carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust.
A generator should only be operated in a well-ventilated and dry area, away from air intakes to the home. It should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport.
Do not attempt to restore power to your entire house by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. The electricity produced by a generator cannot only ruin your home's wiring and start a fire, it can also feed back into the utility system and energize a line thought to be without power possibly killing utility workers trying to restore power. It can also cause damage to the generator when electric service is restored.
Handle fuel carefully. Turn the generator off prior to refueling. Gasoline, kerosene and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled safety containers.
Turn off or disconnect all appliances prior to operating a portable generator. Once the generator is running, appliances powered by the generator can be turned on one at a time.
For additional safety and energy-saving tips, visit mlgw.com
Storm Restoration Updates:
Currently, there are about 13,000 customers without power.
MLGW has restored power to more than 62,000 customers.
Downed trees weighed with ice and power lines are the primary cause of these outages; damage is spread across Shelby County with more damage occurring north of I-40, in the Raleigh/Frayser and Shelby Forrest areas.
MLGW is estimating full restoration to take several days.
MLGW crews are working 16-hour shifts in an effort to restore power.
Nine mutual aid crews are currently assisting MLGW crews. Additional crews have been delayed due to icy road conditions in Missouri and Indiana.
MLGW's Customer Care Center at 544-6549 will also be open until 7 p.m. to assist customers.
Customers are reminded to call the following numbers:
To Report an Outage: 544-6500
To Report an Emergency (such as downed lines or gas leaks): 528-4465
Bill Payment Inquiries: 544-6549
To stop, start, transfer services and trouble calls such as water leaks and flickering lights: 820-7878
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
Winter Safety Information:
Water Pipes: 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 the building.
Customers should open cabinet doors and turn water to a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Customers can also wrap pipes either in pipe insulation (available at hardware stores) or with towels, clothes, etc... to prevent pipes from freezing.
If your pipes freeze, turn off the main valve inside your house (if possible).
Space Heaters and Gas Appliances: To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, make sure that all natural gas appliances, such as your water heater, furnace and space heaters, are vented outside. Keep chimneys and flues clear of all debris, and use gas space heaters only according to manufacturers' instructions. We also recommend that you have your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed professional.
Do not use space heaters overnight and when no one is home. Position space heaters so they are not positioned near flammable objects. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical assistance immediately and move the victim, if possible, to a well-ventilated area, then call our 24-hour emergency number, 528-4465.
Portable Generators: Portable Generators are a great way to back up your power in case an outage hits your home, but using one can be dangerous unless you follow these important safety tips:
Never use a generator indoors or in an enclosed area such as a garage. Generators emit toxic carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust.
A generator should only be operated in a well-ventilated and dry area, away from air intakes to the home. It should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport.
Do not attempt to restore power to your entire house by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. The electricity produced by a generator cannot only ruin your home's wiring and start a fire, it can also feed back into the utility system and energize a line thought to be without power possibly killing utility workers trying to restore power. It can also cause damage to the generator when electric service is restored.
Handle fuel carefully. Turn the generator off prior to refueling. Gasoline, kerosene and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled safety containers.
Turn off or disconnect all appliances prior to operating a portable generator. Once the generator is running, appliances powered by the generator can be turned on one at a time.
For additional safety and energy-saving tips, visit mlgw.com
Monday, March 3, 2014
MLGW Crews Respond to Power Outages
MLGW crews began restoring power at noon on Sunday, March 2 to customers without power. Crews will continue to work into the night to restore power to customers. MLGW is estimating it may take several days to have power restored to all customers.
Space Heaters and Gas Appliances:
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, make sure that all natural gas appliances, such as your water heater, furnace and space heaters, are vented outside. Keep chimneys and flues clear of all debris, and use gas space heaters only according to manufacturers' instructions. We also recommend that you have your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed professional.
Storm Restoration Updates:
· Currently, there are about 30,000 customers without power.
· MLGW has restored power to more than 25,000 customers.
· Downed trees weighed with ice and power lines are the primary cause of these outages; damage is spread across Shelby County
· MLGW is estimating full restoration to take several days.
· MLGW crews are working 16-hour shifts in an effort to restore power.
· Fifteen mutual aid crews from Alabama , Indiana , Missouri and Tennessee are scheduled to arrive today and tomorrow to assist in restoration efforts.
· MLGW's Customer Care Center 7 p.m. to assist customers.
Customers are reminded to call the following numbers:
- To Report an Outage: 544-6500
- To Report an Emergency (such as downed lines or gas leaks): 528-4465
- All Other Inquiries: 544-MLGW (6549)
Outage numbers can be tracked via MLGW's outage map at www.mlgw.com/outagemap.
Winter Safety Information:
Water Pipes:
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 the building.
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 the building.
· Customers should open cabinet doors and turn water to a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
· Customers can also wrap pipes either in pipe insulation (available at hardware stores) or with towels, clothes, etc... to prevent pipes from freezing.
· If your pipes freeze, turn off the main valve inside your house (if possible).
Space Heaters and Gas Appliances:
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, make sure that all natural gas appliances, such as your water heater, furnace and space heaters, are vented outside. Keep chimneys and flues clear of all debris, and use gas space heaters only according to manufacturers' instructions. We also recommend that you have your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed professional.
Do not use space heaters overnight and when no one is home. Position space heaters so they are not positioned near flammable objects.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical assistance immediately and move the victim, if possible, to a well-ventilated area, then call our 24-hour emergency number, 528-4465.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical assistance immediately and move the victim, if possible, to a well-ventilated area, then call our 24-hour emergency number, 528-4465.
Portable Generators
Portable Generators are a great way to back up your power in case an outage hits your home, but using one can be dangerous unless you follow these important safety tips:
Portable Generators are a great way to back up your power in case an outage hits your home, but using one can be dangerous unless you follow these important safety tips:
- Never use a generator indoors or in an enclosed area such as a garage. Generators emit toxic carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust.
- A generator should only be operated in a well-ventilated and dry area, away from air intakes to the home. It should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport.
- Do not attempt to restore power to your entire house by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. The electricity produced by a generator cannot only ruin your home's wiring and start a fire, it can also feed back into the utility system and energize a line thought to be without power possibly killing utility workers trying to restore power. It can also cause damage to the generator when electric service is restored.
- Handle fuel carefully. Turn the generator off prior to refueling. Gasoline, kerosene and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled safety containers.
- Turn off or disconnect all appliances prior to operating a portable generator. Once the generator is running, appliances powered by the generator can be turned on one at a time.
For additional safety and energy-saving tips, visit mlgw.com
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