Restoration Update: 8:30pm

MLGW crews are beginning to wind down the restoration process this evening in the wake of yesterday's winter storm that brought ice, sleet and snow to Shelby County. As of 8:30 p.m., about 700 customers remained without power. MLGW crews will continue to work throughout the evening to restore power to these customers. In addition, crews will be available tomorrow should any additional outages occur. Dozens of MLGW crews have worked around the clock since yesterday to restore power to those affected by the winter weather. Downed power lines and poles, as well as limbs and trees, caused approximately 30,000 customers to lose power at various times since the storm hit Friday morning.

MLGW encourages any customers still without power to call the automated outage hotline at 544-6500. Those with emergencies should call 528-4465.

Restoration Update: 4pm

MLGW crews continue to restore power to customers affected by yesterday's winter weather. As of 4 p.m., there are about 2,300 MLGW customers without power. MLGW crews have been working around the clock since yesterday to restore power to nearly 20,000 customers. There are currently 20 MLGW crews working, three contract crews, 24 trouble shooters, and 13 tree trimming crews. The outages continue to involve downed primary/secondary lines, downed utility poles, and tree trimming.

Restoration Update: 11am

MLGW crews continue to work to restore power to customers affected by yesterday's winter storms. Ice was the biggest factor in the outages, causing trees, limbs and lines to fall and contributing to accidents that knocked down MLGW poles.

In addition, about 9,000 customers in Collierville were affected last night when MLGW lost power to a substation feeding the area. Power was restored to the substation at about 3 a.m. this morning.

As of 11 a.m., about 5,000 customers, about one percent of MLGW's customer base, remain without power. MLGW crews will continue to work throughout the day to restore power to these remaining customers. MLGW currently has 26 MLGW crews working to restore these customers. In addition, MLGW has secured five contract crews that should arrive around noon. There are also 22 tree trimming crews and 20 trouble shooters working in the field at this time.

To report outages, customers are asked to call MLGW's automated outage reporting hotline at 544-6500. For emergencies such as downed power lines and gas leaks, customers should call 528-4465.

Outages

It's starting to look pretty scary out there! As of now, we have no outages. You can follow along throughout the day by checking our outage map.

Just a reminder to call the following numbers for problems:
--To Report an Outage: 544-6500
--To Report an Emergency (such as downed lines): 528-4465
--All Other Inquiries: 544-MLGW (6549)

Now might be a good time to call and make sure we have your correct phone number and/or locate your bill in case you need your account number.

Winter Weather

With winter weather expected to arrive in Shelby County as early as Friday morning, MLGW is preparing for the possibility of outages caused by the possible precipitation. A number of MLGW crews are on standby tonight and more are available tomorrow should ice or snow cause significant outages for MLGW customers. MLGW has also contacted some of its mutual aid agreement partners in case out-of-town crews are need to bolster a restoration effort. In addition, MLGW's Customer Care Center will be open overnight tonight to assist customers. Furthermore, a full complement of tree trimming crews are available if needed.

Communications & Public Relations has conducted several interviews with local media outlets today in order to assure customers that MLGW is ready to respond to any potential outages.

Customers are reminded to call the following numbers:

--To Report an Outage: 544-6500
--To Report an Emergency (such as downed lines): 528-4465
--All Other Inquiries: 544-MLGW (6549)

But I set my thermostat on 68!

I've had several people I know open their utility bill this month and go into shock. "But I set my thermostat at 68!" they say. I've also heard other variations like, "I set my thermostat on 63!" and "But I wasn't even warm!" (Okay maybe that last one came from me.)

Others, who may or may not have followed our advice to set the thermostat at 68, have asked, "Did rates go up?" I've also heard, "They must have estimated my bill."

I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that we've had a lot of requests to re-read people's meters this month.

This "sticker shock" happens every year, although usually a little later, like in February. Everyone take a deep breath and keep reading.

Remember our car analogy? If you drive 55 miles an hour (the recommended speed) you still have to pay more in gas if you drive to Nashville, rather than downtown Memphis. Sixty-eight is our recommended setting for the thermostat, but if it's 10 degrees outside it takes a whole lot more energy to achieve 68 than it does when its 45 degrees outside.

There is lots of good information to help you figure out why your bill is high right there on the bill. In addition to looking at the kilowatts used (or the ccf for gas), you can also see the average temperature and the days of service you are being billed for. The average temperature last month on my bill was 38 degrees. And chances are your bill was for more than 30 days service, due to the holidays and extreme weather. (Mine was 35 days, which is the maximum billing cycle.) Additionally, if your bill was estimated, it will say so on the bill. Just an FYI--97% of meters were read in December.

If you have enrolled in our My Account feature, you can go online and see your bills from this time last year and compare. The reality of the situation is that rates are actually lower, but the way colder weather has made our "savings" nearly impossible to enjoy.

The figures below show the average residential natural gas and electric usage during the cold spell compared to the same time in 2009.

Gas
2009 Avg ccf 119
2010 Avg ccf 196, 65% increase

2009 Avg Bill $139.81
2010 Avg Bill $159.14, 14% increase

Even though consumption has increased by 65% for this period, gas costs are much lower than last year, resulting in a 14% increase in the average bill.

Electric
2008 Avg kWh 1,173
2009 Avg kWh 1,372, 17% increase

2008 Avg Bill $114.13
2009 Avg Bill $110.10, 4% decrease

Hopefully we've seen our highest bills of the year. If you have any questions about your bill, I'm happy to investigate for you. Please email me your address: sgreenberg@mlgw.org.

Water Rights Suit Dismissed

The United States Supreme Court denied the State of Mississippi’s petition to appeal its lawsuit brought against MLGW and the City of Memphis, and also denied Mississippi’s request to file an original complaint against MLGW, the City of Memphis and the State of Tennessee in the Supreme Court. The Court’s ruling ends the five year-long suit over the water contained in the underground aquifer that runs beneath both states.

In its suit, the State of Mississippi claimed that MLGW and the City of Memphis were taking more than their share of water from the underground interstate aquifer. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that Tennessee had to be included in any lawsuit regarding the use of the interstate water source and that the lawsuit could be heard only by the Supreme Court. In today’s rulings, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of MLGW, the City of Memphis and the State of Tennessee by rejecting both Mississippi’s attempt to appeal the Fifth Circuit’s decision and also Mississippi’s request to file a new lawsuit against MLGW, the City and the State of Tennessee.

“We are beyond overjoyed in the Supreme Court’s actions today. It means that MLGW and its customers will still be able to enjoy some of the best tasting water in world. We believed that this case was without merit, and now the Supreme Court’s decision confirms our position,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr.

Save the environment or your relationship?

I just read an interesting story from the New York Times about green disputes among couples, and family members. I love this quote: "Her mother, who says she prefers the way food tastes when it is served on Styrofoam, notes that washing dishes has its own environmental costs."

Do you and your significant other argue about green issues? Where to set the thermostat? Do tell...

Therapists Report Increase in Green Disputes
By LESLIE KAUFMAN

Gordon Fleming is, by his own account, an environmentally sensitive guy.

He bikes 12 1/2 miles to and from his job at a software company outside Santa Barbara, Calif. He recycles as much as possible and takes reusable bags to the grocery store.

Still, his girlfriend, Shelly Cobb, feels he has not gone far enough.

Ms. Cobb chides him for running the water too long while he shaves or showers. And she finds it “depressing,” she tells him, that he continues to buy a steady stream of items online when her aim is for them to lead a less materialistic life.

Mr. Fleming, who says he became committed to Ms. Cobb “before her high-priestess phase,” describes their conflicts as good-natured — mostly.

But he refuses to go out to eat sushi with her anymore, he said, because he cannot stand to hear her quiz the waiters.

“None of it is sustainable or local,” he said, “and I am not eating cod or rockfish.”

As awareness of environmental concerns has grown, therapists say they are seeing a rise in bickering between couples and family members over the extent to which they should change their lives to save the planet.

In households across the country, green lines are being drawn between those who insist on wild salmon and those who buy farmed, those who calculate their carbon footprint and those who remain indifferent to greenhouse gases.

“As the focus on climate increases in the public’s mind, it can’t help but be a part of people’s planning about the future,” said Thomas Joseph Doherty, a clinical psychologist in Portland, Ore., who has a practice that focuses on environmental issues. “It touches every part of how they live: what they eat, whether they want to fly, what kind of vacation they want.”

While no study has documented how frequent these clashes have become, therapists agree that the green issue can quickly become poisonous because it is so morally charged. Friends or family members who are not devoted to the environmental cause can become irritated by life choices they view as ostentatiously self-denying or politically correct.

Those with a heightened focus on environmental issues, on the other hand, can find it hard to refrain from commenting on things that they view as harmful to Earth — driving an oversize S.U.V., for example.

Sandy Shulmire, a psychologist who lives in Portland, confesses that when she is visiting her sister in Abita Springs, La., she cannot resist bugging her about not recycling her plastic and cardboard, even though she knows she will be perceived as “bossy.”

Cherl Petso, an editor of an online magazine who lives in Seattle, says trips to visit her parents in Idaho can be “tense at times,” in part because she and her mother interpret each other’s choices as judgmental.

If Ms. Petso prepares a vegan meal for the family, her parents prepare hot dogs to go alongside. Her parents serve on throwaway Styrofoam plates; she grabs a plate that can be cleaned and reused. Her mother, who says she prefers the way food tastes when it is served on Styrofoam, notes that washing dishes has its own environmental costs.

Linda Buzzell, a family and marriage therapist for 30 years who lives in Santa Barbara and is a co-editor of “Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind,” cautions that the repercussions of environmental differences can be especially severe for couples.

“The danger arises when one partner undergoes an environmental ‘waking up’ process way before the other, leaving a new values gap between them,” Ms. Buzzell said.

Changing the family diet because of environmental concerns can be particularly loaded, Ms. Buzzell added. She warns wives and mothers not to move a family toward vegetarianism before everyone is ready.

“Food is such an emotional issue,” she said.

Christienne deTournay Birkhahn, executive director of the EcoMom Alliance, an organization based in Marin County that provides education to women who want to have their families live more sustainably, finds that disputes over how green is green enough often divide along predictable lines by sex.

Women, Ms. Birkhahn said, often see men as not paying sufficient attention to the home. Men, for their part, “really want to make a large impact and aren’t interested in a small impact,” she said.

That is certainly the case in her own marriage, she said. Her husband, Kurt, an engineer and federal employee, sometimes seems to be baiting her by placing plastic yogurt cups in the garbage or leaving the reusable shopping bags in the car and coming home with disposable bags instead.

In the ensuing discussions, Ms. Birkhahn said, her husband argues that the changes she is making may have a large effect on their lives but have little or no effect on the planet. He fought every step of the way against the gray-water system she installed in their bathroom to recycle water to flush the toilet, calling it a waste of time and money, she said. The system cost $1,200 to install.

Ms. Birkhahn said she found it hard to dispute his point but thought it was irrelevant. “I am trying to be a role model for my son,” she said.

Ms. Buzzell suggests that couples can overcome such differences if they treat each other gently. She advises partners who have a newfound passion for the issue to change only a few things at a time and provide lots of explanation.

“It is like exercise,” Ms. Buzzell said. “Take it slowly.”

Still, Robert Brulle, a professor of environment and sociology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said he had seen divorces among couples who realized that their values were putting them on very different long-term trajectories.

“One still wants to live the American dream with all that means, and the other wants to give up on big materialistic consumption,” Dr. Brulle said. “Those may not be compatible.”

Mr. Fleming, in Santa Barbara, said that he was not quite at that point, but that he was drawing some firm lines.

He continues to make purchases on eBay — although he immediately breaks down the delivery boxes and puts them in the recycling bin to “avoid scrutiny.”

And unless Ms. Cobb can make peace with his long, hot showers, the issue may someday be a deal breaker.

“I like to see the water pouring down,” he said, sounding utterly unrepentant.

It's Not Too Late to Get a Free TVA Kit

TVA announced they have extended the deadline for residential customers to qualify for a free energy kit when they complete a do-it-yourself energy audit through one of the channels described below. The deadline, which was 3/31/2010, has been moved to 9/30/2010. More than 15,000 MLGW customers have qualified through My Account so far, with an unknown number using other methods.


As a reminder, here are methods through which customers can qualify for their free energy kit:

1. Customers who register for My Account at www.mlgw.com , login and complete the "Home Profile" and "My Appliances" question sets under the "Home Energy Center" tab will automatically receive a kit at their home address within 2-3 weeks. This is the PREFERRED METHOD as it utilizes the customer's actual billing history and MLGW rates to provide their report and recommendations. (Process takes less than 10 minutes.)

2. Customers who complete the energy right audit at www.energyright.com will automatically receive a kit at their home address within 2-3 weeks. However, this method does not use billing history or local rates, so it is an inferior approach that will produce less accurate information in their report.

3. Customers without Internet access can request a printed energy audit form, complete and return it. They will receive their report and kit through the mail (perhaps in separate deliveries) with 2-3 weeks. Again, this method does not use billing history or local rates, so it is an inferior approach that will produce less accurate information in their report. Customers can request a printed audit form by calling Residential Services at 528-4188.

The free TVA kit contains:

* Compact fluorescent bulb
* Filter whistle that sounds when the HVAC system filter is 80 percent clogged and needs to be changed
* Outlet and light switch gaskets - insulation to help stop drafts and save energy
* Faucet aerators (two) - water-saving filters that improve efficiency
* Hot water temperature card that measures temperature of hot tap water and indicates if thermostat adjustment is needed to save money and prevent water scalds
* Energy use thermometer gauge that helps check energy costs for heating and cooling.

Research in summer 2008 found that, based on actions customers took after they completed the online tools and received their kits, the average household would reduce electricity use by ~ 1,700 kWh. That's about $120 annually--so it pays to participate!

Think Again

The following article (and photo) are from The Onion, a satirical newspaper, but in this case it is right on.

'How Bad For The Environment Can Throwing Away One Plastic Bottle Be?' 30 Million People Wonder


WASHINGTON—Wishing to dispose of the empty plastic container, and failing to spot a recycling bin nearby, an estimated 30 million Americans asked themselves Monday how bad throwing away a single bottle of water could really be.

"It's fine, it's fine," thought Maine native Sheila Hodge, echoing the exact sentiments of Chicago-area resident Phillip Ragowski, recent Florida transplant Margaret Lowery, and Kansas City business owner Brian McMillan, as they tossed the polyethylene terephthalate object into an awaiting trash can. "It's just one bottle. And I'm usually pretty good about this sort of thing."

"Not a big deal," continued roughly one-tenth of the nation's population.
Enlarge Image What America's Thinking?

According to the inner monologue of millions upon millions of citizens, while not necessarily ideal, throwing away one empty bottle probably wouldn't make that much of a difference, and could even be forgiven, considering how long they had been carrying it around with them, the time that could be saved by just tossing it out right here, and the fact that they had bicycled to work once last July.

In addition, pretty much the entire states of Missouri and New Mexico calmly reassured themselves Monday that they definitely knew better than to do something like this, but admitted that hey, nobody is perfect, and at least they weren't still using those horrible aerosol cans, or just throwing garbage directly on the ground.

All agreed that disposing of what would eventually amount to 50 tons of thermoplastic polymer resin wasn't the end of the world.

"It's not like I don't care, because I do, and most of the time I don't even buy bottled water," thought Missouri school teacher Heather Delamere, the 450,000th caring and progressive individual to have done so that morning, and the 850,000th to have purchased the environmentally damaging vessel due to being thirsty, in a huge rush, and away from home. "It's really not worth beating myself up over."

"What's one little bottle in the grand scheme of things, you know?" added each and every single one of them.

Monday's plastic-bottle-related dilemma wasn't the only environmental quandary facing millions of citizens across the country. An estimated 20 million men and women wondered how wasteful leaving a single lightbulb on all night really was, while more than 40 million Americans asked themselves if anyone would actually notice if they just turned up the heat a few degrees instead of walking all the way downstairs and getting another blanket.

Likewise, had they not been so tired, and busy, and stressed, citizens making up the equivalent of three major metropolitan areas told reporters that they probably wouldn't have driven their minivans down to the corner store.

"Relax," thousands upon thousands of Americans quietly whispered to themselves as they tossed two articles of clothing into an empty washing machine and turned it on. "What are you so worried about?"

No Lines, No Waiting

You can make payment arrangements and pay your bill online. See below:


MLGW has multiple payment and payment arrangement options available 24 hours a day with no wait time. All the customer needs is his or her MLGW account number, last four digits of social security number, and for online payment arrangements - a working e-mail address.

Customers can pay their MLGW bill by telephone at 1-888-589-4868 or online at www.mlgw.com and at many retail payment locations.

Customers that have received a cut-off notice in the past 10 days and need to make a payment arrangement, can go to MLGW’s website at www.mlgw.com/payarrange. There they can complete an online form to request a payment extension. If the extension is granted, the customer pays 25 percent of the balance within four days after the due date of the disconnect notice. The balance of the bill is extended up to eight days past the due date of disconnect notice.

Individuals that prefer to use the phone can dial (901) 544-6549, select the language of choice (1 for English and 3 for Spanish) and enter the Quick Access code of 3-2-3-2 to be connected with MLGW's automated phone system for a payment arrangement.

Services that have already been disconnected are not eligible for a payment arrangement and the customer will need to pay the cut-off amount to have service restored.

North Office Re-Opens

The North Business Office, located at 2424 Summer Avenue, is open for business again after renovations were completed to better serve our employees and customers.

The following improvements were made to the office:

--Upgrades to the heating and air conditioning system
--Roof was replaced
--Credit Area was renovated for greater security
--Ceiling was lowered and new light fixtures were added
--Bathrooms are now handicap accessible
--Storage area was rewired and electrical boxes added
--Fresh paint applied to the entire office area

MLGW’s North Business Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 6 p.m. on Friday. Come see the new look!

How to Report a Gas Leak

If you smell a strong odor of natural gas (think rotten eggs) in or near your home, you should immediately call MLGW's 24-hour Emergency Line, 528-4465. If possible, call from another location, such as a neighbor's home, and do not re-enter your home until an MLGW representative has advised you that you can do so safely. Also remember: do not turn lights or other electrical appliances on or off, or use matches.

MLGW maintains staff around the clock in order to provide immediate response to emergencies such as natural gas leaks.

TVA Rates to Drop Again in February

Nothing wrong with a little good news on Friday, right?

The typical household electric bill will drop by 50 cents to $1 next month to lower fuel costs and higher hydroelectric power generation, TVA announced today.

The monthly fuel rate adjustment in February will be the eight cut in the past year for the federal utility. TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said the new rate should reduce the residential monthly bill by about a half percent from what it otherwise would be under the current rate.

TVA boosted its rates by more than 30 percent in 2008 when soaring fuel expenses and the drought pushed up the fuel cost adjustment. Since then, most of that increase has been offset by the recession-induced drop in fuel expenses and the end of the drought.

Source

Thanks again, Zach!

Water Reliability

You may have heard about the downtown flooding in Nashville, so I thought I'd update you on the state of our own water mains. As of now, we have had 117 main breaks due to the freezing weather.

For comparison here are our historical figures for the entire month of January:

2009 - 96
2008 - 135
2007 - 70

We have a total of 16 crews that are available to work and they are called in as needed. Through this severe cold spell, many of them have been working up to 14-hour shifts to do these repairs . Overnight, we generally have 1-2 crews working, but over the weekend we had 5 crews working at night due to the large number of water main breaks.

We repair all main breaks as they are reported to us. Most of the "main breaks" as reported on the news over the past few days have actually been customer property service leaks that we do not repair (anything from the meter to the customer is their responsibility).

Fitch Ratings

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA+' rating to the following Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) electric system revenue bonds:

--$141.94 million series 2010 electric system revenue refunding bonds

The bonds are expected to sell in January 2010 and are secured by MLGW's net
electric system revenues subordinate to the series 2002 senior lien bonds.

In addition, Fitch upgrades the following outstanding bonds to 'AA+' from 'AA':

--$11.490 million MLGW electric revenue (senior lien) refunding bonds, series 2002; and

--$1,028.52 million electric revenue bonds, series 2003A and refunding series 2008.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

RATING RATIONALE:

--The upgrade reflects MLGW's strong financial metrics, stable power resource base, manageable and internally funded capital plan, and relatively diversified customer mix.

--MLGW continues to increase its cash balances and maintain healthy days operating cash-on-hand, even though electric customer usage has moderately declined with the economic recession. The healthy liquidity combined with the rapidly amortizing debt over the past several years have well-positioned MLGW financially.

--MLGW benefits from the favorable terms of the electric prepay transaction with the Tennessee Valley Authority ('TVA'; rated 'AAA' by Fitch) which allowed MLGW to prepay for electric capacity and energy through 2018 and locked in a fixed monthly credit from TVA for the prepayment term.

--MLGW purchases all of its power supply from TVA. MLGW has contractual ability to pass any power costs from TVA automatically through to its customers, without the need for City Council approval.

KEY RATING DRIVERS:

--Ability to maintain strong financial and operational performance in-line with comparably rated electric distribution systems.

SECURITY:

After the issuance, the 2010 bonds will be secured by a subordinate lien on net general revenues, on parity with the outstanding 2003A bonds and the 2008 bonds (subordinate to the $11.490 million electric revenue bonds, series 2002).

CREDIT SUMMARY:

MLGW is owned by the City of Memphis and provides electric, gas and water utility services through three separate divisions. The electric division of MLGW owns and operates an electrical transmission and distribution system which served 427,541 customers in 2008 (down from 429,227 customers in 2007). The electric division purchases all of its electricity from TVA pursuant to a 1984 power contract.

In 2003, MLGW issued a series of bonds to fund a prepayment transaction with TVA. In exchange for the prepayment and a commitment by MLGW to purchase a specified minimum amount of electric power from TVA over the term of the supplemental power contract, TVA agreed to provide a lower cost specified supply of electricity to MLGW. TVA has established a credit to its wholesale power rates, which has resulted in approximately $13 million in annual savings to MLGW on their cost of power since 2003. As its largest customer, TVA in turn has secured MLGW as an electric distribution customer at least through 2018. The 928,671 KW prepaid capacity accounts for approximately 27% of MLGW's peak and 55% of MLGW's total energy needs on an annual basis.

The series 2010 bonds are being issued to advance refund a portion of the outstanding electric system subordinate revenue bonds, series 2003A and to pay the cost of issuance. The series 2010 bonds will be back-loaded into two maturities (2017 and 2018). However, when combined with outstanding subordinate debt, the combined debt service is still descending.

Applicable criteria available on Fitch's website.

Zach Randolph's Gift of Comfort

Memphis Grizzlies star Zach Randolph has donated funds through through MLGW's Gift of Comfort program to restore utilities for 15 Memphis families who were recently behind on their bills. As part of his generosity, Randolph will visit the home of a MLGW customer who is being assisted by his donation today.

“Since coming to Memphis this off-season I have grown to love this city and the people of Memphis have embraced me too, so I feel blessed that I am able to help restore power for the people in my community,” said Randolph. “Hopefully this will help give them the opportunity to get back on their feet and stay warm during these cold winter months.”

“The Memphis Grizzlies have been such a positive influence for the community this season, not only by their outstanding play on the court, but also for their leadership and tremendous efforts off the court,” said Jerry Collins, MLGW President and CEO. “Along with MLGW, and generous donations such as the one today by Zach Randolph, it shows that people care passionately about our community and the welfare of their neighbors.”

To find out more about MLGW’s Gift of Comfort program, click here.

Reminders

Last week's emergency restoration effort was independent of the Annual Moratorium, which ends on January 14. However, since MLGW does not cut off customers on the business day before a holiday, there will be no cutoffs on Friday (January 15) or Monday (January 18/Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).

MLGW's cold weather policy states that MLGW will not disconnect any residential accounts for non-payment whenever the forecasted wind chill factor is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below for a period of 24 hours or more.

MLGW Resumes Normal Operations

Effective noon on Sunday, January 10, MLGW resumed normal operations in regards to the restoration of customers who had previously been cut off. With temperatures rising above freezing, the initiative to reconnect these customers has reached its completion. MLGW employees reconnected more than 760 customers during the bitter cold temperatures experienced last week.

MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr. said, "I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of the MLGW employees who were involved with this process, especially those in Customer Care and those field workers who worked 16 hour shifts every day in the freezing cold to bring warmth back to hundreds of MLGW customers. You have shown just how valuable you are to this community."

Space Heaters, Restorations, and Gas Prices

Space Heaters
After stories of our space heater donations to MIFA aired on all four TV stations, all 65 space heaters were quickly distributed and then a waiting list of 230 customers requesting was compiled. Yesterday we purchased the additional 230 heaters so that almost 300 people were helped!

Restorations
As of 1 pm this afternoon, we are up 752 previously cut off customers who have had their power restored. Our field employees have been working in 16-hour shifts to get this done.

Gas Prices
Daniel Connolly of CA has an article in today's paper with a good look at how low natural gas prices will help to counter the increased gas usage this week. With the extreme cold temperatures this week, MLGW customers are using significantly more gas compared to the same time last year. However, because gas prices are much lower this winter, customers may not see a large bill increase when comparing their bills to those of last year. Read the article here.

An Analogy for You

Setting your thermostat is like taking a trip in your car. When you set the thermostat, you set a destination for your heating system and it must use a certain amount of fuel to get there. When it is extremely cold, it's like you've extended your trip to a more distant destination, and it takes more gas to get there. The biggest difference with this analogy is that with utilities, you reach your destination first, then pay for the fuel later!

If you set your thermostat at 68 degrees, like we recommend, and it is 50 degrees outside, your heater must work to make up the 18 degree difference. If it is 30 degrees out, the difference is 38 degrees. If it's 9 degrees out (like they are predicting for tonight!), it's a difference of 59 degrees.

The colder it gets, the more energy you need to bridge the gap.

Make sense?

image courtesy of The Daily Green

CNN

Memphis made CNN's headlines when Mayor Lowery "fist bumped" the Dalai Lama. Now we're in the news again, this time for making a huge difference in people's lives.


CNN's Rob Marciano did a story last night on the collaborative between MLGW, the City of Memphis and Shelby County to restore power to cut off customers. Customer Jackie Mosley and MLGW employee Scott Campbell are featured in the piece, which also includes interviews with Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton and a representative from the Shelby County Sheriff's department. It began airing this morning. The story can be viewed here.

MLGW also received heavy coverage from local media yesterday as employees continued to work 16 hour days in order to restore power to customers whose power has been cut off. Several hundred customers have been restored at this point. MLGW also donated 65 space heaters to MIFA yesterday, all of which were distributed to customers in need.

MLGW Cut-Off Restoration Update

In the interest of public safety during these frigid temperatures, we are now restoring power to any customers who have been cut off due to non-payment, regardless of date. We are no longer requiring that they had to be cut off in the month of December.

Customers should contact us at 544-MLGW in order to have their power restored. Their balances will be paid by the City and/or County, and they will be responsible for their bills moving forward.

In addition, we are keeping the CCC open until 9 pm tonight again in order to help these customers.

MLGW/MIFA Space Heater Giveaway

MLGW will deliver 65 space heaters to the Metropolitan Interfaith Association (MIFA), today to be distributed to those in need.

To request a space heater, while supplies last, one must call MIFA Handyman at (901) 527-0208. Callers will be asked to complete a basic application over the phone to reserve their heater. They will then need to go to MIFA and sign a release form to pick up their heater. Seniors who cannot go to MIFA themselves may send a friend or family member but that person should bring the senior’s ID.

MLGW and MIFA have teamed up for several years to provide space heaters and electric blankets to those who need help to stay warm during the winter months.

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

Cold Weather Precautions

Cold Weather Precautions

--Open cabinet doors and turn water to a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.

--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) and call MLGW's emergency contact number at 528-4465.

--Space heaters should be used safely. Do not use overnight and when no one is home. Position space heaters so they are not near flammable objects.

--More information about winter safety and preparation is available here.