Smart Meter Update

MLGW Board Approves Share the Pennies Opt-Out Change

The Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Wednesday in favor of program changes that will make its Share the Pennies an opt-out program instead of opt-in, which it currently is.

The program change is expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2018. Prior to automatically enrolling all customers into Share the Pennies, MLGW is rolling out an education campaign in July 2017 to make customers aware of the change, highlight the program’s benefit to the community and explain options for opting out.

Customers who do not want to participate in the Share the Pennies program can opt-out beginning July 2017.

Started in 2013, Share the Pennies is a voluntary program that provides grants for home weatherization projects for low-income MLGW customers to help reduce wasted energy. Participating customers have their utility costs rounded up to the next dollar, and the extra change goes toward weatherization grants.

Currently, seniors and disabled customers who meet low-income and other requirements can apply for grants of up to $1,500 to reduce wasted energy in their homes. The board-approved changes expand Share the Pennies to include all low-income customers in MLGW’s service area as potential beneficiaries. Grant amounts could also increase, depending on how funding changes with higher customer participation levels.

Share the Pennies is not a bill assistance program. Funds for weatherization improvements are only available for residential homeowners. Rental properties are ineligible.

For more information about Share the Pennies and the changes approved by the board, visit http://mlgw.com/sharethepennies.

You Can’t Beat a Healthy Heart

What better day to do something good for your heart than Valentine’s Day. MLGW employees had the opportunity to attend an extra special healthy cooking seminar, which showed them how to prepare a meal for their loved ones on Valentine’s Day. This is one of many seminars that are part of the My Living Well program for MLGW employees, presented by Cigna. 

The menu included:

Salad

Rosemary shrimp (or chicken) scampi skewers

Lemon asparagus quinoa

Baked acorn squash with quiche filling

Dark chocolate jewel (superfood) bites

Employees were encouraged to take a Healthy Valentine’s Day Selfie of themselves and their finished dish. 

Debra Shettles, Administrative Systems shows off her healthy shrimp scampi.

Penny Wilson, HR/IS Support, said, “I cooked the Valentine's dinner and it was awesome!!”

Work at Piperton Gate Station May Release Gas Odor

Our crews are working on a gas main at the Piperton Gate Station, 455 Mann Dr. which could result in the release of the odorant, mercaptan, into the air, through this afternoon.  Mercaptan is the additive that gives natural gas its smell.

The work involves cutting out a section of 24" gas main that is in close proximity to the area where mercaptan is injected into the gas main. As a result, some mercaptan could be released and, depending on the wind flow, residents could smell gas and suspect gas leaks.

If a gas leak is suspected, customers should call (901) 528-4465 to report it.

This sectional cutting work is expected to be completed by the afternoon of Wednesday, February 22. The work at Piperton Gate will be ongoing until about the middle of March.  

Water Valve Work at Lamar/ Winchester Intersection on Feb. 12

Our crews will be re-routing traffic at the Lamar Avenue/Winchester Road intersection on the evening of February 12 in order to re-locate a water valve on Lamar.

Traffic control will begin late afternoon on February 12; the re-location is expected to start around 10 p.m. and continue until 6 a.m. on February 13.

The following lane closures will occur at the Lamar/Winchester intersection: double left westbound on Winchester towards Lamar; double left eastbound on Winchester towards Lamar; single left northbound on Lamar towards Winchester; and single left southbound on Lamar towards Winchester.

If inclement weather occurs, the project will be moved to Sunday, February 19.  

Excel TSD to perform operations involving mercaptan

Public may smell a sulfuric odor Feb. 9, 2017

Excel TSD, a waste management and environmental services company located on President’s Island, will be performing an operational process that utilizes mercaptan on Feb. 9, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Mercaptan is the same chemical odorant that MLGW adds to natural gas to give it the rotten egg/sulfur smell so it can be easily detected.  Mercaptan by itself is a harmless, pungent-smelling gas but it is not natural gas.

Depending on the wind/weather conditions, residents and businesses in various areas could smell this strong, sulfuric odor on this date.