IRP Status Update: Your Power, Your Voice

Siemens Industry Inc. Senior Manager, Nelson Bacalao.

MLGW in consultation with Siemens Industry Incorporated is nearing the midpoint of the IRP (Integrated Resource Plan) evaluation. At a community meeting November 21, 2019 Siemens Senior Manager, Nelson Bacalao, outlined the strategies under consideration.

• Business-as-Usual is the first option. Under this option MLGW maintains its existing relationship with the Tennessee Valley Authority as its sole electricity provider. 
• The Full MISO is option #2. In this option MLGW contracts with MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) to provide all electric power to MLGW. 
• Option #3 is a combination of MLGW and MISO where MLGW supplies some of its own power and contracts with MISO to purchase the rest of its electric power needs. 

#MLGW customers asked questions about the IRP.

Each strategy will be run through multiple scenarios in order to predict how they will fare in varying situations (e.g., future regulations, changes in technology, climate crisis, etc.).

The MLGW IRP will evaluate transmission costs to integrate new supply side resources into the MLGW system, either new-build generation or imports from other utilities (like MISO for example).

At the conclusion of the IRP evaluation Siemens will recommend the optimal portfolio of generation; including renewable energy, that best meets MLGW's future energy needs. Those recommendations will be presented at the next "Your Power, Your Voice" community meeting in March 2020.

Visit us online for a look at the presentations given at each IRP meeting as well as notes. Information is posted here. #MLGWNews #ServingYouIsWhatWeDo

#SheCanSTEM Gwendolyn Redmond

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

Gwendolyn Redmond is currently the lead of Third Party Software Support. 3PSS is responsible for assisting with decision making processes to determine software needs; software evaluation, selection and installation; Level 2 support; and serving as the liaison between the user and the vendor. Gwen started working at MLGW in May of 1988 as a part time employee in Revenue Protection. She became full-time in September of 1990.

We asked Gwen a few questions to get to know her better:

How did you get started in STEM?

I originally found interest in STEM during my first year of college. However, after two years, I interrupted my undergrad studies and took a break to focus on making money, my daughter, etc. This so-called break lasted approximately 16 years. Although I was not in the technology field, it was always my desire to expedite cumbersome processes. This motivated me to utilize advanced application features and apply logic and troubleshooting skills. As a result, I was consistently asked to assist others with troubleshooting issues and automating processes. I was eventually asked to work on the IS ClientSoft GUI project. This experience helped me to recognize that I still had something vital to succeed in STEM—passion! As a result, I was allowed the opportunity to rotate in Desktop Systems Support (previously TIC). The rest is really history.

What's interesting or cool about what you do?

What’s really cool about what I do is that I’m always learning something new and I’m part of the solution. The accomplished feeling of resolving an issue, assisting a frustrating customer or watching a major project develop is priceless.

Why would you encourage girls to pursue STEM careers?

STEM is a rewarding, mind stimulating career. This career field will open your eyes to a new way of analyzing problems and invoking your critical thinking skills; not just with STEM but with issues in life.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self:

·         Believe in yourself.

·         Don’t let your fear of failure keep you from moving forward.  

·         Your passion, persistence and perseverance can take you beyond limits.

 

Did you miss our other installments of #SheCanSTEM? Meet Arnisa Davis, Kelsey Seiter, Debra Higgins, Kerry Roy, Cynthia Jones, Juanita Ford, Shleah Whitlock, Sandra Hicks
and Kimberly Griswold.

#SheCanSTEM Kimberly Griswold

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

Kimberly Griswold started working at MLGW in 2018. She is originally from St. Louis, Mossouri, and has lived in Memphis for the past eleven years. She graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and has worked in the Environmental Science field for her entire career in both water and wastewater. 

Currently, Kimberly is our Water Quality Assurance Officer. She ensures that the Water Quality Assurance Laboratory personnel are constantly learning.

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

Why would you encourage girls to pursue STEM careers?

A day in a STEM career is always different, I never get bored with my work because my day to day duties change based on the project I'm working on.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Always add the units!!

What do you do for fun?

I'm a member of the Memphis Runners Track Club. I am also a member of Friends of the Library and often volunteer at the library. I like to spend my free time reading and running.

Did you miss our other installments of #SheCanSTEM? Meet Arnisa Davis, Kelsey Seiter, Debra Higgins, Kerry Roy, Cynthia Jones, Juanita Ford, Shleah Whitlock, and Sandra Hicks.

MLGW Asks Customers for Feedback

We held our first community engagement meeting to discuss the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) August 20, 2019 at the Hollywood Community Center, 1560 N. Hollywood. The meeting could be broken up into two parts:

Part 1, an overview of the IRP. What is it? Why are we doing it? 

Lots of utility companies create integrated resource plans. It is often a requirement. An IRP is a plan utility companies use to figure out how they are going to provide power to customers for the next several years.

Before the plan is laid out several things must be considered. How much power do customers need now? Will they need more, or will there be more customers in the future? What regulations will impact our power supply? What kind of power do our customers want (solar? nuclear? hydro?)? How much would our ideal power supply cost? What is a reasonable price? What do customers consider the most important quality of an electric power supply?

Part 2, customer feedback and questions. 

Customer opinion is essential to an IRP. Without public input an integrated resource plan is like a GPS-ready car without a driver. #MLGW needs customer feedback to help steer the IRP process.

At the Aug. 20 meeting, MLGW consultant Siemens Industry Incorporated suggested seven objectives customers should consider when deciding which attributes of electric service are most important to them:

Those that attended the first "Your Power, Your Voice" community engagement meeting ranked objectives according to priority. Reliability took the #1 spot, affordability came in second. Customers also wrote out questions and concerns for MLGW leadership. All inquiries were addressed.

What is your #1 priority when it comes to service from a utility company? Customers are encouraged to share opinions during the IRP process and rank utility attributes based on what is most important to them. Complete the survey here.

MLGW leadership hopes you add your input at the next "Your Power, Your Voice" community engagement meeting. It is scheduled for Thursday, November 21 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Southwest Community College, 1234 Finley Rd. The meeting is in the Multi-purpose Room, Memphis.

If you would like us to email you about upcoming community meetings please add your email address to our list. We hope to see you Nov. 21. #ServingYouIsWhatWeDo

#SheCanSTEM: Meet Juanita Ford

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.

Juanita Ford grew up in Walls, Mississippi. She graduated from Horn Lake High School and later Christian Brothers University with a Bachelors of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Masters of Education in Instructional Design

She started at MLGW in 2003 as an Environmental Engineer in the Environmental Affairs Department. She was responsible for the environmental compliance for the Division

Currently Juanita is the Acting Supervisor of Water Operations (in the Water Engineering and Operations group). Along with her team, she is responsible for the operation and maintenance of MLGW's 10 water pumping stations, 20+ water booster stations, 16 water overhead storage tanks, 190+ wells and all the necessary equipment to treat the drinking water within each water pumping station.

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

What's interesting or cool about what you do?

I get to see our drinking water from the ground and prepare it for customer consumption. Most customers never think about what it takes to get drinking water from the aquifer to their homes. In Water Operations, I am able to see and improve this process every day.

Why would you encourage girls to pursue STEM careers?

Because why not?  The STEM industry needs more diversity and female perspectives. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

Two things -- 1) Get comfortable being uncomfortable and 2) ask questions until you understand -- it is very likely that some guy in the room has the same questions.

Did you miss our other installments of #SheCanSTEM? Meet Arnisa Davis, Kelsey Seiter, Debra Higgins, Kerry Roy and Cynthia Jones.