MLGW Teams With City, County to Restore Power to Cut Off Customers

MLGW is teaming with the City and County to restore power to residential customers who were cut off between Dec. 1 and 15. The City and County are providing the funds to pay these outstanding balances.

These customers must agree to have their power turned back on, so MLGW is using its autodialer system to call them, starting at 5 p.m. today. MLGW employees will begin turning power back on for these customers tonight, with field employees working overtime in order to restore power to as many customers as possible, with senior customers being a top priority. MLGW will also be going door to door tonight in an effort to notify these customers. In addition, MLGW's Customer Care Center will stay open until 9 p.m. tonight.

Below is the news release issued by The City of Memphis, Shelby County Government, and MLGW this evening.

THE CITY OF MEMPHIS , SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT , AND MEMPHIS LIGHT GAS & WATER JOIN FORCES TO HELP CITIZENS MAKE IT THROUGH RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES

Historic collaborative effort will allow residents whose utilities have been “cut-off ” to be restored through the current cold spell

Memphis, Tennessee - In response to the inclement weather that has gripped the nation and the Mid-South, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. Shelby County (TN) Mayor Joe Ford, and Memphis Light, Gas, & Water (MLGW) President Jerry Collins this evening announced a plan to restore power to residents across the Memphis community whose utilities have been “cut-off ” for lack of payment.

This announcement comes as record low temperatures are expected in the coming days for Memphis and Shelby County.

Mayor Wharton remarked on the effort: “No amount of dollars will cause us to allow individuals to remain in peril due to their inability to pay their utility charges.” He continued, “This is life and death; we will take care of the people first and figure out the intricacies of paying for this later.”

Mayor Ford commented on the historic initiative: “When lives are at stake we must do as much as we can to protect those who are most vulnerable and most in need. We are doing just that.”

President Jerry Collins emphasized, “Working with the city and the county, MLGW is going to do everything in its power to make sure that no customer goes without heat during this unusually cold weather.”

Residents whose power has been terminated due to non-payment will receive automated calls to the telephone number associated with their MLGW account. Representatives of MLGW will be out tonight checking residences for those they are unable to reach. The “resident of record” - the individual officially listed on the MLGW account - will be able to grant permission to have their services reconnected. Currently, there are no limitations relative to past due amount.

Residents who are “cut-off” - or who think they are “cut-off ”- should call 901.544.MLGW, 901.544.6549