MLGW Closed Good Friday

Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division offices will be closed April 19 in observance of Good Friday. Normal business operations resume Monday, April 22.                                                    

811 Demystified

Every time you have a project that requires digging on your property you have to call 811 first. It is mandated in every state in the U.S. It's a free service meant to ensure safety and prevent disruption of utility service. 

In short, calling 811 is free and it's the law. 

Still, more than 40% of Americans with plans to dig on their property this year WILL NOT call 811 first. 

Why? It is so very, very easy. We spoke to a (super friendly) Tennessee 811 operator and she helped de-mystify the whole process. 

Here's what you do: 

STEP 1: You must contact 811 at least three business days before you begin your project. You have three options. 

#1. Call 811. The call center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

#2. Use the mobile app. There's a TN811 mobile app for Android and iPhone. 

#3. Submit your request online here: online request.

811 takes it from there. They notify utility companies about your project, utilities send a crew to mark the underground lines on your property. 

STEP 2: Once lines are located the utilities input a "positive response" under your ticket number. Use the 811 app or website to confirm the status of your request. Here's what you'll want to look for: 

You can tell by the partial view of this ticket that all utilities provided a positive response. Either the site was "clear - no conflict" meaning there were no lines to mark, or, all underground lines were "located" and marked by the utility crews. 

**Your e-ticket also provides the date work can begin and the expiration date. In Tennessee, 811 markings are good for 15 calendar days.

Each color marking indicates a different service; there are eight total. MLGW locates and marks: red for electrical, yellow for gas and blue for drinking water. Other services are marked with other colors. 

STEP 3: Respect the markings and steer clear. In Tennessee you must observe a safety zone around each marked location. That zone is the width of the underground line plus two feet on either side. For your own sake, pay attention to it!

• Locating and marking lines is not an exact science.
• Pipelines may not follow a straight path from one location mark to another. 
• There is no indication of how deeply a line is buried. 

STEP 4: Dig! The operator we talked to at TN811 suggested starting slowly, with hand tools, just in case. Make sure you are well clear of the safety zone before you really start Hitting a buried line can be hazardous or deadly. 

Do you really need to call 811? YES. If you're digging a flower bed, call 811. You have a contractor doing the work, call 811 or make sure HE calls 811. For more FAQs and information visit the Tennessee 811 website or reach out to them over the phone. They are well-informed and uber-friendly. You will be glad to talk to them. 

#call811 #MLGW #ServingYouIsWhatWeDo

#SheCanSTEM: Meet Kelsey Seiter

 

MLGW has 2770 employees; 752 (27%) are women. Of the 752 women, 143 (19%) hold STEM positions. On the second Tuesday of every month, we will introduce you to a different woman working in STEM at MLGW.

Meet Kelsey Seiter. When she was younger, Kelsey participated in science fairs and was always interested in math and science. In high school she knew that she wanted to be an engineer like her father and grandfather. She enrolled in Mississippi State University and majored in Industrial Engineering. While there, she was a member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, the Society for Women Engineers and the EcoCAR3 team. She says, “My engineering classes along with my extra-curricular activities and internships while in college gave me the experience I needed to work at Memphis Light Gas and Water.”

We asked Kelsey a few questions to get to know her better.

What do you do in your current position?

I am currently working as a Project Engineer in the Performance Engineering Department. I work on projects that analyze business processes in order to present opportunities for optimization.

What's interesting or cool about what you do?

As a part of my job, I am able to work with many groups within MLGW. This has allowed me to learn about MLGW as an enterprise.

Why would you encourage girls to pursue STEM careers?

STEM careers are an important part of the economy, especially as technology changes. A career in STEM will make you indispensable in the work force along with having a career that can be very interesting and rewarding.

What advice would you give your younger self?

When I was younger, I was always stressed about having good grades in school. I would tell my younger self to focus on developing a good skill set such as problem solving and an ability to work with others. The most important qualifications for jobs are not always hard skills such as math and science, but soft skills such as public speaking and professionalism. These skills aren’t the focus of an engineering curriculum, but they are important because they allow you to work well with your colleagues to solve problems.

Did you miss our first installment of #SheCanSTEM? Meet Arnisa Davis here.

MLGW Closed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day

Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division offices will be closed Thursday, April 4 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day. Normal business operations resume Friday, April 5.

                                                  

April is Safe Digging Month

This April marks the 12th annual National Safe Digging Month, reminding residents to always call 811 before starting any digging project. National Safe Digging Month is formally recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and has traditionally earned the support from nearly every state governor across the country.

April is a time when many homeowners, residents and contractors dig, excavate, build, landscape and garden. If there are plans to dig on your property at any time, whether it’s for fence posts, trees, gardening, home addition or whatever, always call to get your utility lines located and marked first. Call 811 Before You Dig! Better safe than sorry…

A recent national survey revealed that 42 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year won’t call 811, putting their families, neighbors and their communities at risk.

So plan ahead! Call 811, the national safe digging hotline, before you dig. MLGW, cable and phone companies will come out and mark your utility and gas lines for free. Always allow 72 hours (three business days) for your lines to be marked before any digging. Take photos of the markings for your records, but call again for future digs.

Always check to make sure your contractor has called 811 and had your lines located and marked before you allow them to begin a job that involves digging. Striking an unmarked underground gas line or electrical line can be deadly, and utility lines could be at any depth.

MLGW will hold Natural Gas Safety Awareness Day on Friday, April 12 with information tables at area Lowe’s stores. Please drop by for some Call 811 and natural gas safety information, brochures and materials to help keep your family and community safe.

Always Call 811 Before You Dig. It’s the law! And it’s smart… For more details, visit www.mlgw.com/811. For more information about Tennessee One Call and 811, visit http://www.tennessee811.com/. More natural gas safety information can be found on MLGW’s website at www.mlgw.com.