The Tennessee Valley Authority has unveiled a redesigned website for tips and information about how consumers can conserve energy whether at home, at a business or in an industry.
The utility said in a news release Tuesday that the EnergyRight Solutions website has a simpler layout, more information and easier navigation. TVA supplies power to about 9 million people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
Bob Balzar, TVA vice president of energy efficiency and demand response, said the website represents a new direction for energy efficiency at TVA and one of several new steps they are planning to make efficiency more accessible.
The website address is www.EnergyRight.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Business of Service Conference coming up!
The MLGW Business of Service Conference is scheduled for Friday, November 11, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the MLGW Training Center (4949 Raleigh-LaGrange at Covington Pike.) The conference is an annual event coordinated by MLGW designed to provide training, networking and resource information for staff and volunteers coordinating activities at service organizations.
View the brochure here.
Register online here.
View the brochure here.
Register online here.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Smart Grid Concerns
As millions of smart meters are being deployed across the U.S., rumors and misperceptions are circulating among groups of individuals. In Shelby County, MLGW has deployed 1,000 electric smart meters at the homes of volunteers participating in our Smart Grid Demonstration. When our project concludes in December 2012, we will evaluate the demonstrated operational, customer service and consumer benefits to determine whether to pursue smart meter technology for all customers.
Safety
Smart meters emit small amounts of radio frequency (RF) to transmit their data. At MLGW, smart meters send their data nightly, in a transmission that typically lasts 30 to 120 seconds. To put this RF into perspective, it's important to recognize that RF is abundant in our society from millions of everyday sources, including cellphones, microwave ovens, wireless routers, radio and TV broadcast towers and even baby monitors. Several organizations have conducted and reviewed research on RF associated with smart meters, including the Electric Power Research Institute and the California Council on Science and Technology. As communications devices, smart meters are manufactured to meet Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards for RF. Even if a smart meter transmitted 24 hours per day and you were standing three feet from the meter, it would still emit far less RF than the average cellphone and less than a microwave oven.
Impact on utility costs
Smart meters are measurement and communication devices, so they alone cannot result in higher or lower utility bills. However, customers who choose to utilize the information provided by a smart meter can reduce electricity use and costs through energy conservation, energy efficiency and load shifting. MLGW volunteers are helping MLGW test web tools, In Home Displays and others resources to better understand when their homes use electricity. For many participants, this awareness is fostering new energy conservation habits to reduce electricity use and MLGW electric costs.
Security and privacy
Electricity consumption data collected by the smart meters is encrypted and transmitted to MLGW using industry-recognized security standards. In addition, it is subject to the same data privacy rules as all customer data.
Remote disconnection and connection
Fifty of the 1,000 smart meters installed among MLGW volunteers include a remote connection feature, which enables MLGW to test the effectiveness of issuing a disconnect and reconnect command from the office in real-time, rather than generating a service order, dispatching an employee and waiting while the employee drives to the property and performs the disconnect and, later, returns to perform the reconnect. This feature greatly expedites customer service, which is a benefit for residents moving in or out, as well as customers who find themselves disconnected for non-payment and often must wait hours before service can be restored.
MLGW recognizes that people are concerned about new technology, so our Smart Grid Demonstration is designed to gather participant feedback in addition to evaluating operational performance and customer savings potential. Read more about the Smart Grid Demonstration at www.mlgw.com/smartgrid
Safety
Smart meters emit small amounts of radio frequency (RF) to transmit their data. At MLGW, smart meters send their data nightly, in a transmission that typically lasts 30 to 120 seconds. To put this RF into perspective, it's important to recognize that RF is abundant in our society from millions of everyday sources, including cellphones, microwave ovens, wireless routers, radio and TV broadcast towers and even baby monitors. Several organizations have conducted and reviewed research on RF associated with smart meters, including the Electric Power Research Institute and the California Council on Science and Technology. As communications devices, smart meters are manufactured to meet Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards for RF. Even if a smart meter transmitted 24 hours per day and you were standing three feet from the meter, it would still emit far less RF than the average cellphone and less than a microwave oven.
Impact on utility costs
Smart meters are measurement and communication devices, so they alone cannot result in higher or lower utility bills. However, customers who choose to utilize the information provided by a smart meter can reduce electricity use and costs through energy conservation, energy efficiency and load shifting. MLGW volunteers are helping MLGW test web tools, In Home Displays and others resources to better understand when their homes use electricity. For many participants, this awareness is fostering new energy conservation habits to reduce electricity use and MLGW electric costs.
Security and privacy
Electricity consumption data collected by the smart meters is encrypted and transmitted to MLGW using industry-recognized security standards. In addition, it is subject to the same data privacy rules as all customer data.
Remote disconnection and connection
Fifty of the 1,000 smart meters installed among MLGW volunteers include a remote connection feature, which enables MLGW to test the effectiveness of issuing a disconnect and reconnect command from the office in real-time, rather than generating a service order, dispatching an employee and waiting while the employee drives to the property and performs the disconnect and, later, returns to perform the reconnect. This feature greatly expedites customer service, which is a benefit for residents moving in or out, as well as customers who find themselves disconnected for non-payment and often must wait hours before service can be restored.
MLGW recognizes that people are concerned about new technology, so our Smart Grid Demonstration is designed to gather participant feedback in addition to evaluating operational performance and customer savings potential. Read more about the Smart Grid Demonstration at www.mlgw.com/smartgrid
Thursday, October 20, 2011
In Home Energy Display, Cold Snap Style
I am participating in our Smart Grid demonstration project. This means that I have an in-home display unit that shows my electricity usage in real time.
I took this picture at 6am when there were no lights or electronics on, just the (electric) heat. It was about 42 degrees outside, so it was working to make up 24 degrees to achieve the 66 setting on my thermostat. (MLGW's recommended setting for winter is 68 or lower.)
If you look back at my display from June, you can see that it is quite different! Even with our air-conditioner running, we were only using about .34 per hour. Our monthly bills were between $100-$200, which was fantastic. We have nice big trees that afford our house a lot of shade, so keeping it cool is pretty easy.
These same trees make it really hard to keep it warm in the winter. Throw in poor insulation and lots of windows, and well, we usually stay cold all winter long.
Now that we have the in-home display, it will be interesting to see if we can keep our bills down. I was definitely more aware of having extra lights on, running extra de-wrinkle cycles on the dryer, and having a TV playing to no one last night. These electronics use only a small fraction of the total electricity, but every little bit is going to help.
To alleviate the stress of our winter bills, I signed up for our Budget Billing program. This allowed me to pay a little extra over the spring & summer so that I won't feel the pain quite as much when the high bills hit this year.
Did you do anything to prepare for winter? It's not too late!
I took this picture at 6am when there were no lights or electronics on, just the (electric) heat. It was about 42 degrees outside, so it was working to make up 24 degrees to achieve the 66 setting on my thermostat. (MLGW's recommended setting for winter is 68 or lower.)
If you look back at my display from June, you can see that it is quite different! Even with our air-conditioner running, we were only using about .34 per hour. Our monthly bills were between $100-$200, which was fantastic. We have nice big trees that afford our house a lot of shade, so keeping it cool is pretty easy.
These same trees make it really hard to keep it warm in the winter. Throw in poor insulation and lots of windows, and well, we usually stay cold all winter long.
Now that we have the in-home display, it will be interesting to see if we can keep our bills down. I was definitely more aware of having extra lights on, running extra de-wrinkle cycles on the dryer, and having a TV playing to no one last night. These electronics use only a small fraction of the total electricity, but every little bit is going to help.
To alleviate the stress of our winter bills, I signed up for our Budget Billing program. This allowed me to pay a little extra over the spring & summer so that I won't feel the pain quite as much when the high bills hit this year.
Did you do anything to prepare for winter? It's not too late!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Energy Efficiency Programs
Just a reminder about the many energy-efficiency programs that we offer:
My Account
Our My Account program has the following features:
o Electronic Bill Payment
o View Bill
o Make Payments
o View Payment
o Analyze Charges
o Explore Usage
o Find Ways to Save
Home e-Valuation (in My Account)
Home eValuation is a combination of numerous web tools. To start, login to My Account at www.mlgw.com and click the Home Energy Center tab. Answer the Home Profile and My Appliances question sets, then click My Report to view the initial results. (At this point, you will have qualified for the free energy efficiency kit from TVA. MLGW will identify qualified users at the end of each month, then forward names and addresses to TVA, which will mail the kits directly to customers.) If you want to explore more energy saving opportunities for your home, click on the Find Ways to Save link to answer detailed questions on weatherization, heating, cooling, hot water, water use, kitchen, lighting, pool/spa and other categories.
In-Home Energy Evaluation (IHEE)
MLGW and TVA are making it easier than ever to improve your home's energy efficiency while also saving money on your utility bill. With the new In-Home Energy Evaluation Program, you can reduce your energy usage and receive a cash incentive for installing certain home energy improvements.
Each recommended energy improvement you make is eligible for reimbursement of up to 50% of the installed cost, with a maximum rebate of $500 per household. These energy improvements also may qualify for up to $500 in Federal energy tax credits in 2011.
Green Power Switch
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in partnership with MLGW and other electric utilities, has created Green Power Switch, a green energy pricing program designed to fund new sources of electric generation. By converting the energy in the sun, wind and methane gas, TVA now generates a portion of our electricity from renewable resources. This clean, green energy gets mixed into the overall electric supply, reducing the need for traditional generation.
EnergySmart Workshops
Want to learn how to caulk your windows, weatherstrip your doors, repair duct work and more? Sign up for a free Energy Smart workshop. All participants will receive a TVA Energy Kit worth $40.
New Kill-A-Watt Program
For those wondering just how much it costs to run their home appliances, Kill-A-Watt Checkout will help identify electricity-gorging culprits. The Kill-A-Watt devices can be checked-out from area libraries with a valid library card.
Determining consumption using Kill-A-Watt is easy. The electricity usage monitors plug into wall sockets. Plug an appliance into the monitor to assess energy usage. Each Kill-A-Watt is pre-programmed with MLGW rates. Knowing how much electricity it takes to operate an appliance can help residents manage electricity usage—potentially saving hundreds of dollars.
My Account
Our My Account program has the following features:
o Electronic Bill Payment
o View Bill
o Make Payments
o View Payment
o Analyze Charges
o Explore Usage
o Find Ways to Save
Home e-Valuation (in My Account)
Home eValuation is a combination of numerous web tools. To start, login to My Account at www.mlgw.com and click the Home Energy Center tab. Answer the Home Profile and My Appliances question sets, then click My Report to view the initial results. (At this point, you will have qualified for the free energy efficiency kit from TVA. MLGW will identify qualified users at the end of each month, then forward names and addresses to TVA, which will mail the kits directly to customers.) If you want to explore more energy saving opportunities for your home, click on the Find Ways to Save link to answer detailed questions on weatherization, heating, cooling, hot water, water use, kitchen, lighting, pool/spa and other categories.
In-Home Energy Evaluation (IHEE)
MLGW and TVA are making it easier than ever to improve your home's energy efficiency while also saving money on your utility bill. With the new In-Home Energy Evaluation Program, you can reduce your energy usage and receive a cash incentive for installing certain home energy improvements.
Each recommended energy improvement you make is eligible for reimbursement of up to 50% of the installed cost, with a maximum rebate of $500 per household. These energy improvements also may qualify for up to $500 in Federal energy tax credits in 2011.
Green Power Switch
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in partnership with MLGW and other electric utilities, has created Green Power Switch, a green energy pricing program designed to fund new sources of electric generation. By converting the energy in the sun, wind and methane gas, TVA now generates a portion of our electricity from renewable resources. This clean, green energy gets mixed into the overall electric supply, reducing the need for traditional generation.
EnergySmart Workshops
Want to learn how to caulk your windows, weatherstrip your doors, repair duct work and more? Sign up for a free Energy Smart workshop. All participants will receive a TVA Energy Kit worth $40.
New Kill-A-Watt Program
For those wondering just how much it costs to run their home appliances, Kill-A-Watt Checkout will help identify electricity-gorging culprits. The Kill-A-Watt devices can be checked-out from area libraries with a valid library card.
Determining consumption using Kill-A-Watt is easy. The electricity usage monitors plug into wall sockets. Plug an appliance into the monitor to assess energy usage. Each Kill-A-Watt is pre-programmed with MLGW rates. Knowing how much electricity it takes to operate an appliance can help residents manage electricity usage—potentially saving hundreds of dollars.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Give to Plus-1
Be on the lookout for our new commercial promoting the Plus-1 program--a partnership between MLGW and MIFA. We hope that it will inspire you to give. $1 per month can make a big difference when we all chip in!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Check Issue
There has been some media attention regarding an issue we are having with our third-party payment vendors. Some of these locations have traditionally accepted payment by check with no extra fee, while others are cash only and require a $2 payment (this fee goes to the third-party vendor and not MLGW).
We are in the process of changing one of our third-party payment vendors (for paying agents) from Check Free/APS to First Tech. Here's what you need to know:
• Check Free/APS is continuing to take payments during the transition, which will take place over the course of the next few weeks.
• Check Free/APS has decided not to take checks during the transition period and is charging an additional $2 fee for cash payments. This is not an MLGW decision.
• The decision of Check Free/APS to stop taking checks and assess a $2 fee is a new one and MLGW was not aware that APS was going to implement these changes.
• First Tech is in the process of meeting with all of MLGW's paying agent in order to make the transition.
• Once the transition is complete, customers should once again be able to pay at paying agent locations with checks.
• Some non-MLGW payment agents are cash only and have never accepted checks. These agents do charge a fee and will continue to do so (in other words, they aren't affected by this transition). The best thing for customers to do is to ask the business what types of payment they accept for MLGW payments.
• In the meantime, MLGW is encouraging its customers who need to pay by check to visit a community office, pay by phone, and online during the transition:
MLGW COMMUNITY OFFICES
The following community and business office locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 6 p.m. on Friday unless otherwise noted.
Main Office
245 South Main
North Community Office
2424 Summer Avenue
South Community Office
2935 Lamar Avenue
Whitehaven Community Office
1111 East Shelby Drive
Millington Community Office
5131 Navy Road
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
PAY BY MAIL
Memphis Light, Gas and Water - Accounts Payable
P.O. Box 388
Memphis, TN 38145
PAY BY PHONE:
You can pay your MLGW bill by phone by calling 1-866-315-0277.
PAY ONLINE
www.mlgw.com
Here is a list of the merchants temporarily affected by this transition. Starting next week, some of these merchants will once again begin to accept checks, with full transition expected by the end of the month.
Boatwright Drug Co., 7899 C. Street
Gordins Butcher Shop Highland, 1781 Prescott
Heights Pharmacy Lucky 7, 3423 Summer Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 56, 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd
Piggly Wiggly # 107, 3362 Summer Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 121, 1620 Madison Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 164, 3665 N. Watkins
Piggly Wiggly # 276, 3071 S. Perkins
SAV-A-LOT # 6601, 1170 Bellevue
SAV-A-LOT # 6610, 999 Jackson Avenue
SAV-A-LOT # 6615, 5110 Summer Avenue
Super Value # 6679, 3942 Macon Road
Superlo Foods # 2, 4744 Spottswood
Superlo Foods # 3, 2155 Covington Pike
Superlo Foods # 4, 3327 N. Watkins
The Minute Man, 6532 Winchester Road
We are in the process of changing one of our third-party payment vendors (for paying agents) from Check Free/APS to First Tech. Here's what you need to know:
• Check Free/APS is continuing to take payments during the transition, which will take place over the course of the next few weeks.
• Check Free/APS has decided not to take checks during the transition period and is charging an additional $2 fee for cash payments. This is not an MLGW decision.
• The decision of Check Free/APS to stop taking checks and assess a $2 fee is a new one and MLGW was not aware that APS was going to implement these changes.
• First Tech is in the process of meeting with all of MLGW's paying agent in order to make the transition.
• Once the transition is complete, customers should once again be able to pay at paying agent locations with checks.
• Some non-MLGW payment agents are cash only and have never accepted checks. These agents do charge a fee and will continue to do so (in other words, they aren't affected by this transition). The best thing for customers to do is to ask the business what types of payment they accept for MLGW payments.
• In the meantime, MLGW is encouraging its customers who need to pay by check to visit a community office, pay by phone, and online during the transition:
MLGW COMMUNITY OFFICES
The following community and business office locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 6 p.m. on Friday unless otherwise noted.
Main Office
245 South Main
North Community Office
2424 Summer Avenue
South Community Office
2935 Lamar Avenue
Whitehaven Community Office
1111 East Shelby Drive
Millington Community Office
5131 Navy Road
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
PAY BY MAIL
Memphis Light, Gas and Water - Accounts Payable
P.O. Box 388
Memphis, TN 38145
PAY BY PHONE:
You can pay your MLGW bill by phone by calling 1-866-315-0277.
PAY ONLINE
www.mlgw.com
Here is a list of the merchants temporarily affected by this transition. Starting next week, some of these merchants will once again begin to accept checks, with full transition expected by the end of the month.
Boatwright Drug Co., 7899 C. Street
Gordins Butcher Shop Highland, 1781 Prescott
Heights Pharmacy Lucky 7, 3423 Summer Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 56, 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd
Piggly Wiggly # 107, 3362 Summer Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 121, 1620 Madison Avenue
Piggly Wiggly # 164, 3665 N. Watkins
Piggly Wiggly # 276, 3071 S. Perkins
SAV-A-LOT # 6601, 1170 Bellevue
SAV-A-LOT # 6610, 999 Jackson Avenue
SAV-A-LOT # 6615, 5110 Summer Avenue
Super Value # 6679, 3942 Macon Road
Superlo Foods # 2, 4744 Spottswood
Superlo Foods # 3, 2155 Covington Pike
Superlo Foods # 4, 3327 N. Watkins
The Minute Man, 6532 Winchester Road
President Collins Available for Public Speaking Appearances
President Jerry Collins Jr. is available to speak to various organizations. Interested organizations can contact Terre Johnson at 528-4470 or tljohnson@mlgw.org.
Here's a list of where he's been and where he's going:
Sunday, January 2
Kirby Pines Retirement Community (Speaking Engagement)
Wednesday, March 16
6th Annual Conference of Emergency Preparedness & Service Restoration – Fogelman Executive Conference Center (Opening Remarks)
Saturday, April 2
M2 (Math Squared) Program – Ridgeway Middle School (Presenter)
Tuesday, April 12
Crye-Leike Realtors – 6525 Quail Hollow (Speaker – re: MLGW Updates)
Wednesday, June 1
American Heart Association Kickoff – Civic Center Plaza – Downtown Mall (Told survivor story)
Tuesday, July 12
National Association of Women Business Owners – MLGW Auditorium (Welcome)
Thursday, September 8
FedEx Retirees Association (National Golf Course Country Club – Collierville (Speaker)
Tuesday, September 13
American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) – Memphis Chapter – U of M Holiday Inn (Speaker)
Saturday, September 24
MLGW Family Day Celebration – McCord Pumping Station (Welcome)
Friday, September 30
Mayor Wharton and Ministers’ Luncheon Meeting – City Hall, (Speaker)
Wednesday, October 5
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) – Chickasaw Country Club (Speaker)
Saturday, October 22 – Friday, October 28
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Annual Civil Engineering Conference – Cook Convention Center (Panelist)
Here's a list of where he's been and where he's going:
Sunday, January 2
Kirby Pines Retirement Community (Speaking Engagement)
Wednesday, March 16
6th Annual Conference of Emergency Preparedness & Service Restoration – Fogelman Executive Conference Center (Opening Remarks)
Saturday, April 2
M2 (Math Squared) Program – Ridgeway Middle School (Presenter)
Tuesday, April 12
Crye-Leike Realtors – 6525 Quail Hollow (Speaker – re: MLGW Updates)
Wednesday, June 1
American Heart Association Kickoff – Civic Center Plaza – Downtown Mall (Told survivor story)
Tuesday, July 12
National Association of Women Business Owners – MLGW Auditorium (Welcome)
Thursday, September 8
FedEx Retirees Association (National Golf Course Country Club – Collierville (Speaker)
Tuesday, September 13
American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) – Memphis Chapter – U of M Holiday Inn (Speaker)
Saturday, September 24
MLGW Family Day Celebration – McCord Pumping Station (Welcome)
Friday, September 30
Mayor Wharton and Ministers’ Luncheon Meeting – City Hall, (Speaker)
Wednesday, October 5
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) – Chickasaw Country Club (Speaker)
Saturday, October 22 – Friday, October 28
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Annual Civil Engineering Conference – Cook Convention Center (Panelist)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Public Power Week
We're celebrating Public Power Week this week along with more than 2,000 other electric utilities that collectively provide electricity on a not-for-profit basis to 46 million Americans across the nation.
Public Power Week is a chance for MLGW to articulate why the public power formula works in Memphis and Shelby County.
Benefits of Public Power
• Lower electricity rates
• Equal or greater reliability
• Efficient service – lowest cost consistent with reliability, community goals and sound business practices
• Responsiveness to customer concerns – every citizen is an owner with a direct say in policies
• Emphasis on long-term community goals
• Quick response from crews located in the community
• Not-for-profit status – lower costs and no split allegiance between customers and stockholders
• Greater portion of revenues stay in community
• Utility purchases from local establishments, including use of local financial institutions
• Local employment
• Economic development – not-for-profit electricity attracts and keeps businesses
• Tax payments, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes , and / or transfers to the community's general fund
• Access to tax-exempt financing for capital projects
• Cash flow of the utility, which may be channeled through local government treasury
• Opportunity for efficiency through integrated utility operations (e.g., operation with electric, water, sewer, garbage, gas, cable, telecommunications)
• Improved local government efficiency through sharing of personnel, equipment and supplies
• Local management and operations bring added community leadership for innovation and development
• Recognized commitment to conservation, safety and the environment
• Local control over special programs (energy conservation, rate relief for certain customer classes, etc.)
• Local control over the electric distribution system aesthetics and design
• Local control that allows matching local resources to local needs
• No economic bias toward high cost, capital intensive techniques or technologies
• Innovative techniques and technology to meet energy needs
• Primary mission of providing least-cost, reliable service over maximizing profit
• A competitive standard against which the service of all utilities may be measured
Public Power Week is a chance for MLGW to articulate why the public power formula works in Memphis and Shelby County.
Benefits of Public Power
• Lower electricity rates
• Equal or greater reliability
• Efficient service – lowest cost consistent with reliability, community goals and sound business practices
• Responsiveness to customer concerns – every citizen is an owner with a direct say in policies
• Emphasis on long-term community goals
• Quick response from crews located in the community
• Not-for-profit status – lower costs and no split allegiance between customers and stockholders
• Greater portion of revenues stay in community
• Utility purchases from local establishments, including use of local financial institutions
• Local employment
• Economic development – not-for-profit electricity attracts and keeps businesses
• Tax payments, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes , and / or transfers to the community's general fund
• Access to tax-exempt financing for capital projects
• Cash flow of the utility, which may be channeled through local government treasury
• Opportunity for efficiency through integrated utility operations (e.g., operation with electric, water, sewer, garbage, gas, cable, telecommunications)
• Improved local government efficiency through sharing of personnel, equipment and supplies
• Local management and operations bring added community leadership for innovation and development
• Recognized commitment to conservation, safety and the environment
• Local control over special programs (energy conservation, rate relief for certain customer classes, etc.)
• Local control over the electric distribution system aesthetics and design
• Local control that allows matching local resources to local needs
• No economic bias toward high cost, capital intensive techniques or technologies
• Innovative techniques and technology to meet energy needs
• Primary mission of providing least-cost, reliable service over maximizing profit
• A competitive standard against which the service of all utilities may be measured
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
MLGW Expands Call Center Hours for Weekdays, Saturdays
To better meet customer call volume, we have expanded our weekday hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Service advisors in our Customer Care Center will also be available to take calls from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 15. The expanded call center hours will be in effect until at least Oct. 21, when we will reassess our hours of operation to determine if expanded hours are still necessary.
Alternative Options for Contacting MLGW
MLGW offers alternative options for customers, as well. Customers can request payment arrangements through MLGW’s automated phone system (901-544-6549) or online by visiting www.mlgw.com/payarrange.
Payment arrangements can also be made via MLGW’s iPhone app, which is available for free at the iTunes store.
Inquiries can also be directed through MLGW’s Web Chat function at www.mlgw.com as well as MLGW social media channels such as Twitter (www.twitter.com/mlgw) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/mlgw1).
Customers should have their MLGW Account numbers available for faster assistance and access.
Reaching MLGW by Phone
Emergencies should be reported at 528-4465. This number should only be used for 911 types of emergencies involving utilities, such as gas leak, an odor of natural gas, downed or sparking electrical lines, burst inside or outside water lines or unsafe MLGWstreet barricades. Using the emergency line for non-emergency inquiries could potentially hamper the ability of MLGW representatives to respond to life-threatening situations of other customers.
• To report electrical outages, call 544-6500.
To reach an MLGW Customer Service representative:
o For billing, payment & reconnect issues, call 544-6549.
o To start, stop or transfer service, report streetlight outages, schedule a pilot safety inspection, call 820-7878.
Tips on using MLGW’s Automated Phone System (544-6500 and 820-7878):
• Listen closely to the menus. Listen to each menu option.
• Press 9 to hear menu options again.
• Select the menu option that most closely matches your need.
• Almost every prompt in the IVR can transfer you to a live agent. Listen at the end of the menu for “Press 0 to speak to a customer service representative” after second or third time through the menu.
Alternative Options for Contacting MLGW
MLGW offers alternative options for customers, as well. Customers can request payment arrangements through MLGW’s automated phone system (901-544-6549) or online by visiting www.mlgw.com/payarrange.
Payment arrangements can also be made via MLGW’s iPhone app, which is available for free at the iTunes store.
Inquiries can also be directed through MLGW’s Web Chat function at www.mlgw.com as well as MLGW social media channels such as Twitter (www.twitter.com/mlgw) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/mlgw1).
Customers should have their MLGW Account numbers available for faster assistance and access.
Reaching MLGW by Phone
Emergencies should be reported at 528-4465. This number should only be used for 911 types of emergencies involving utilities, such as gas leak, an odor of natural gas, downed or sparking electrical lines, burst inside or outside water lines or unsafe MLGWstreet barricades. Using the emergency line for non-emergency inquiries could potentially hamper the ability of MLGW representatives to respond to life-threatening situations of other customers.
• To report electrical outages, call 544-6500.
To reach an MLGW Customer Service representative:
o For billing, payment & reconnect issues, call 544-6549.
o To start, stop or transfer service, report streetlight outages, schedule a pilot safety inspection, call 820-7878.
Tips on using MLGW’s Automated Phone System (544-6500 and 820-7878):
• Listen closely to the menus. Listen to each menu option.
• Press 9 to hear menu options again.
• Select the menu option that most closely matches your need.
• Almost every prompt in the IVR can transfer you to a live agent. Listen at the end of the menu for “Press 0 to speak to a customer service representative” after second or third time through the menu.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Upgraded Online Bid Notification Service
Our Online Bid Notification Service is designed to automatically notify registered users of competitive bids for materials, equipment, supplies and contracted services. All competitive bids are now being handled through this online system.
Once registered, companies will be notified via e-mail on any solicitations for bids/proposals that we release that involves any materials or services the company provides.
Our Online Bid Notification Service also provides:
• Quick access to competitive bids
• Up-to-date information
• Manage your own bids
• Quick access to information
Companies can register via www.mlgw.com/bids
Once registered, companies will be notified via e-mail on any solicitations for bids/proposals that we release that involves any materials or services the company provides.
Our Online Bid Notification Service also provides:
• Quick access to competitive bids
• Up-to-date information
• Manage your own bids
• Quick access to information
Companies can register via www.mlgw.com/bids
Monday, October 3, 2011
MLGW Releases iPhone App Upgrade
A new upgrade of MLGW’s iPhone application is now available at the iTunes store.
Upgrades include:
• The Outage Map updates every five minutes. In the event a user wants to update the map before the update time a refresh button has been added.
• In this update if the Outage Map is continuously loading, the user is now able to navigate away from the map and continue to explore the application. In the past, you could not navigate away from the screen while it was loading.
• An Alert has also been added to notify users that an Internet connection could not be detected. Some of the functionality on the application requires an active Internet connection.
• Last but not least, a new Alert has been added to the login screen to assist users that are having issues logging into the Account section of the application.
• MLGW is continuing to pursue future enhancements, including streetlight outage reporting, electric outage reporting, bill payment, mapping of payment locations, and Android and Blackberry versions of the app.
Upgrades include:• The Outage Map updates every five minutes. In the event a user wants to update the map before the update time a refresh button has been added.
• In this update if the Outage Map is continuously loading, the user is now able to navigate away from the map and continue to explore the application. In the past, you could not navigate away from the screen while it was loading.
• An Alert has also been added to notify users that an Internet connection could not be detected. Some of the functionality on the application requires an active Internet connection.
• Last but not least, a new Alert has been added to the login screen to assist users that are having issues logging into the Account section of the application.
• MLGW is continuing to pursue future enhancements, including streetlight outage reporting, electric outage reporting, bill payment, mapping of payment locations, and Android and Blackberry versions of the app.
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