Utility Assistance Screenings Will Start May 2

Shelby County Community Services Agency will screen for applicants for two programs

Starting May 2, Shelby County Community Services Agency (CSA) will be visiting MLGW Community Offices to screen and approve applicants for two low-income utility assistance programs. CSA will visit MLGW Community Offices on a rotating schedule, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., until utility assistance funds are depleted.

The schedule is as follows:

• Monday- Downtown Community Office, 245 South Main Street
• Tuesday – North Community Office, 2424 Summer Avenue
• Wednesday - Whitehaven Community Office, 1111 East Shelby Drive
• Thursday – South Community Office, 2935 Lamar Avenue

CSA will be screening for two programs: Energy Assistance Program and the Energy Crisis Program. Applicants must meet the 150 percent Federal Poverty Guidelines and have an active utility account. Also, applicants can not have received funds from CSA since October 15, 2015; the average assistance is $350-600.

Additional guidelines and application are available on Shelby County Government’s website at: https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/index.aspx?nid=847

Shelby County Government Simplifies Process for Utility Assistance

People who need help from Shelby County Government to pay their utility bills now have a more convenient way to apply for assistance.

Individualized appointments will be scheduled for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Crisis Utility Assistance services.

“We continue to look for more efficient ways to serve the public. Having appointment times for utility assistance will alleviate long wait times,” said Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. Citizens who need utility assistance are urged to call (901) 222-4280 or (4281) for an appointment starting September 14th and continuing thru October 30th, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

Other appointments will be taken December 14th – January 29th 2016, February 15th – March 25th and June 13th – July 29th. All sessions will be conducted at the Community Services Agency office at 3772 S. Hickory Ridge Mall, near Winchester at Hickory Hill.

Applicants must have several documents at the time of their session:

 Social Security cards for all household members
 A recent utility bill
 Proof of income for everyone 18 years or older in the household (check stubs, etc.)
 Photo identification of applicant

“Last year, Shelby County Government received 9 million dollars from the federal government to assist 27,540 households,” said Shelby County Community Services Director Martha Lott.

Citizens facing utility shut-offs must also meet at least one of the following conditions:

 Be at least 60 years old
 Disabled
 Have a child under 6 living at the home
 Have a documented family emergency

For those unable to go to the County’s assistance center at the mall, applications can be mailed or printed on line at the Shelby County Government website www.shelbycountytn.gov starting October 1st, 2015.

MLGW Special Reconnect Program Ends Today

Normal Operations Resume on Wednesday

As cooler weather returns to the Mid-South and MLGW’s Special Reconnect program comes to an end, MLGW is glad to announce that more than 600 customers took advantage of this program.

Extremely high temperatures beginning in early July also resulted in no MLGW customers being cut-off for non-payment for over a month.


Normal operations will resume on Wednesday August 12 with the only exception being senior customers 60 years and older and customers with disabilities who, for the next several days, will not be disconnected for non-payment.

Randolph pays off $20K in utility bills

From Fox News

Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph paid up to $20,000 in MLGW utility bills for families who need their service restored.

The Grizzly forward spent his time after practice Thursday, visiting the homes he's hooking back up with service. While at the houses he signed autographs, cradled babies, and encouraged kids the neighborhood to stay focused.

"Come from single parent home, mom was on welfare, struggled myself so I know what it's like," Randolph said. "Been fortunate, blessed. Just like to give back because I think this something the Lord has served me to do, give back, brings me blessings in other ways. I'm here to tell you you're a blessing to me."

RAndolph donated $20,000 to Metropolitan Inter-Faith ASsociation (MIFA) to be allocated to 100 homes in the Memphis area, as part of their MLGW Plus-1 program, which is a program administered by MIFA to pay utility services for those in need.

Zach Randolph Gives to Plus-1 for Fourth Consecutive Year

In support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is giving back to the community, by covering utility payments for families who are in need of assistance.  For the fourth consecutive year, Randolph has donated $20,000 to Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) to be allocated to 100 homes in the Memphis area, as part of the Plus-1 program.

Plus-1 is a program administered by MIFA to pay utility services for people in need. MLGW customers fund the program through one-time donations or by adding a dollar or more to their utility bill each month. Since its inception in 1982, Plus-1 has provided millions of dollars in assistance to families in crisis in Memphis and Shelby County.

Be like Zach and give to Plus-1. Sign up online! 

MLGW Music: Goes Rather Well with BBQ

Want to add a little sauce to your Memphis in May International Barbecue Festival dish? Try some MLGW music.

MLGW’s salute to Memphis Music in May continues this weekend on Beale Street to help raise funds for MIFA and Plus-1. Division musicians are featured in many of the bands performing this month. MLGW’s tent-covered stage is next to the Elvis statue on the north side of MLGW’s Administration Bldg. on Beale Street between Second and Main, and the music being served is quite tasty.

Midnite Train from Memphis is a blues band that features MLGW employees Steve Shepard on bass and Mike Lewis on guitar. Shepard works in MLGW’s Water Distribution department and Mike Lewis works in the Water Engineering department.

Bryant Miller performs acoustic music on guitar from 6-8 p.m. Friday night, May 18. Miller is an MLGW musician who works in the Meter Reading department.

My Brother’s Sister performs again from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. The brother and sister act plays country, Christian and rock on electric and acoustic guitar, fiddle and mandolin. It features Bethany Pope, 15 and Taylor Pope, 18, the kids of MLGW employee Robert Pope who works in Electric Distribution. Their mom, Tracey Pope, will sing backup with them. (Pictured are My Brother’s Sister and Shep Dog and the Da Fenders.)

Shep Dog and the Da Fenders, playing Saturday night from 9-11 p.m., is a blues band that features MLGW musicians Steve Shepard on vocals and guitar and Mike Lewis on guitar. Both are also members of Midnite Train from Memphis. Also in the band are MLGW employees Marty Bond, Rates/Regulatory Affairs, on guitar; Gary Carter, Electric Distribution, on drums and Gerald Sanders, IT, on bass.

Other bands playing on MLGW’s stage this weekend include Craig Davis playing Rock from 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Small Town Trio playing all genres from 6-8 p.m. Saturday. There will be no performances this Sunday.

Visitors to the MLGW music stage will be asked to make donations to help Plus-1, which is administered by MIFA to help those in need of one-time utility assistance. There will be donation buckets to benefit Plus-1 and tip buckets to support the performers who are donating their time for a good cause.

Come out and enjoy a little MLGW music during Memphis in May. Performances this weekend (May 17-19) are Thursday night from 7-9 p.m., Friday night from 6-11 p.m. and Saturday noon ‘til 11 p.m. A link for the music lineup, and bands featuring MLGW musicians are noted, can be found on MLGW’s website home page at www.mlgw.com under “Latest News.”

Zach Randolph's Generosity Continues

Memphis, Tennessee - Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is giving back to the community by covering utility payments for families who are in need of assistance.

For the third consecutive year, Randolph has donated $20,000 to Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) to be allocated to 100 homes in the Memphis area.

He plans to continue his support by visiting senior citizen residents on Saturday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m. to make a check presentation, sign autographs and pay utilities for the residents to avoid termination of their services.

“Ever since I joined the Grizzlies organization, the Memphis community has embraced me, and I continue to look for ways to give back to the community,” Randolph said. “I hope providing utility payments to those families that are less fortunate will give the opportunity to recover from their current situation and stay cool in the summer months ahead.”

Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, MIFA, is a unique organization designed to sustain the independence of seniors, transform the lives of families in crisis and equip teens for success.

Through thousands of volunteers and donors, MIFA engages the community to battle the challenges of poverty. MIFA serves more than 55,000 individuals annually with a number of programs throughout the year.

(Picture: Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph helps a family in 2010)

Ones really add up

One seems like a pretty small number. But we all know that ones add up. When the temperature soars during a sweltering Memphis summer, doesn’t 101° seem much hotter than 100°? And what about 102°, 103°, 104°?

Many of our neighbors have no defense against these rising temperatures—in fact, the number of people seeking assistance at MIFA has risen 32% since last month, and their total debt is up 9% per person.

But Plus-1 is here to help.

Plus-1 is a partnership between MIFA and Memphis Light, Gas & Water that provides utility assistance to eligible individuals and families in financial crisis. MIFA screens clients for eligibility and authorizes partial payments from the Plus-1 fund to their accounts. Clients are then referred to MLGW to arrange payment plans for their remaining balances.

Plus-1 depends entirely on contributions from the community. Many people give just $ 1 per month, and those ones add up.

So if it seems that $ 1 doesn’t amount to much, just think of all the clients whose lives have been changed by Plus-1. Can’t you give one too?

Two easy ways to give:
1. Add a donation to your MLGW bill. The most common way to support Plus-1 is to add a dollar (or two, or five!) to your monthly MLGW bill, and MLGW will pass it to MIFA. Use the online sign-up form here.

2. Make an online donation directly to MIFA. You can make a one-time gift directly to MIFA here.

Weather-Related Reconnection Program for Residential Customers

The Lamar and Summer Community Offices will be open this Saturday, July 30th from 8:30am-5:00pm.

Weather-Related Reconnection Program for Residential Customers

For the second consecutive year, we will offer a hot weather-related reconnection program for residential customers who are currently without electric, gas and/or water services due to non-payment or failure to complete MLGW's required identification procedures.

These residential customers—no matter how much they owe—can pay $275 to re-establish service but are required to enter into a deferred payment plan (not to exceed five months) for their remaining outstanding balances.

MLGW’s reconnection program starts Friday, July 15, and will be available throughout the current heat wave. The program only applies to residential customers who have lost one or more services due to non-payment or failure to complete MLGW’s required identification process. Customers also have to have been disconnected within the past six months to be eligible for the program.

“This can be a dangerous time for customers living without utilities,” said Mayor Wharton. “This initiative is further proof of the commitment of the City of Memphis and MLGW to the welfare of our community.”

To participate, eligible residential customers must pay $275 at one of MLGW’s five community centers: 245 South Main Street, 2935 Lamar Avenue, 1111 East Shelby Drive, 2424 Summer Avenue or, in Millington, 5131 Navy Road. To help accommodate these customers, MLGW’s community offices are open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (with the exception of the Millington community office, which is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). In addition, MLGW will open all of its community offices on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. until the program ends.

“MLGW recognizes the current high temperatures are a challenge for the residents of Shelby County,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry R. Collins Jr. “Just as we did last year, we are providing temporary help for our residents so they can obtain relief from the heat wave.”

Last summer, 552 customers took advantage of the reconnection program.

Currently, MLGW enacts its weather-related moratorium policy whenever these conditions exist:

• (a) the forecast heat index will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time during a 24-hour period; or

• (b) the forecast heat index will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time in a 24-hour period for customers 60 years of age or older, physically challenged, or customers certified as life-support dependent.

MLGW’s reconnection program would require customers to complete a Hazardous Weather Agreement; to enter into a deferred payment plan (not to exceed five months) for the remaining past-due balance owed to MLGW; and to pay his or her first bill, following this reconnection, in full by the due date printed on the bill. If that first bill is not fully and timely paid, then the customer is subject to immediate disconnection without further notice.

Weather-Related Reconnection Program for Residential Customers

Weather-Related Reconnection Program for Residential Customers

For the second consecutive year, we will offer a hot weather-related reconnection program for residential customers who are currently without electric, gas and/or water services due to non-payment or failure to complete MLGW's required identification procedures.

These residential customers—no matter how much they owe—can pay $275 to re-establish service but are required to enter into a deferred payment plan (not to exceed five months) for their remaining outstanding balances.
MLGW’s reconnection program starts Friday, July 15, and will be available throughout the current heat wave. The program only applies to residential customers who have lost one or more services due to non-payment or failure to complete MLGW’s required identification process. Customers also have to have been disconnected within the past six months to be eligible for the program.

“This can be a dangerous time for customers living without utilities,” said Mayor Wharton. “This initiative is further proof of the commitment of the City of Memphis and MLGW to the welfare of our community.”

To participate, eligible residential customers must pay $275 at one of MLGW’s five community centers: 245 South Main Street, 2935 Lamar Avenue, 1111 East Shelby Drive, 2424 Summer Avenue or, in Millington, 5131 Navy Road. To help accommodate these customers, MLGW’s community offices are open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (with the exception of the Millington community office, which is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). In addition, MLGW will open all of its community offices on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. until the program ends.

“MLGW recognizes the current high temperatures are a challenge for the residents of Shelby County,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry R. Collins Jr. “Just as we did last year, we are providing temporary help for our residents so they can obtain relief from the heat wave.”

Last summer, 552 customers took advantage of the reconnection program.

Currently, MLGW enacts its weather-related moratorium policy whenever these conditions exist:

• (a) the forecast heat index will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time during a 24-hour period; or

• (b) the forecast heat index will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time in a 24-hour period for customers 60 years of age or older, physically challenged, or customers certified as life-support dependent.

MLGW’s reconnection program would require customers to complete a Hazardous Weather Agreement; to enter into a deferred payment plan (not to exceed five months) for the remaining past-due balance owed to MLGW; and to pay his or her first bill, following this reconnection, in full by the due date printed on the bill. If that first bill is not fully and timely paid, then the customer is subject to immediate disconnection without further notice.

Happy Social Media Day!

June 30 is Social Media Day! Events are planned throughout the country; Memphis has a couple of events planned.

We love social media! In honor of the day, why not donate to help families in need? Plus-1 provides one-time utility assistance to those experiencing hardships.

MLGW ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

MLGW began its foray into social media in 2008 with the launch of this blog. Since then, the utility has developed significant customer outreach with its presence on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mlgw) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/mlgw1). Its Twitter account recently reached 5,000 followers and its Facebook page currently has about 1,900 "likes." MLGW also offers a variety of informational videos through its YouTube page at www.youtube.com/mlgwwaystosave.

In addition to social media, MLGW is reaching customers via mobile technology. Through its MLGW Mobile Alerts program, customers can receive text message alerts for bill due dates or impending cut-offs. Customers can register at www.mlgw.com/mobilealerts. In April, MLGW launched an iPhone app that provides individual outage and account information, as well as other utility-related information. The app was downloaded more than 3,000 times in its first month. The iPhone app is available for free download in the Apple iTunes app store at www.apple.com or through iPhone, iPod, or iPad devices.

Plus-1

Last month, 579 people sought utility assistance through MIFA's Emergency Services department--a 48% increase over the same time period last year. Rent and mortgage requests were up 64% and 40%, respectively.

MIFA's Emergency Services staff hears stories every day of parents who work but struggle to keep the lights and heat on, of individuals who have been laid off and can't afford their rent, and of seniors on fixed incomes for whom rising costs have made basic necessities unaffordable.

You can assist MIFA in helping those in need by adding $1 (or more) to your monthly utility bill. Read more about the Plus-1 program and sign up here.

Tri-State Defender Editorial on Utility Assistance

The following is an editorial by Sen. Reginald Tate that discusses various types of utility assistance. It recently ran in the Tri-State Defender...

Help with heating bills relies on generosity

This week, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division offers its annual month-long reprieve from cutting off utilities for customers who don’t pay their bills. The delay is designed to provide relief for low-income families during the holidays, which have proven exceptionally cold this year.

But while the program has its benefits, the underlying problem facing Memphis residents when it comes to covering the bills can’t be solved by simply putting off a payment. According to media reports, MLGW sends out more than 1 million notices and conducts 100,000 utility cutoffs a year - including multiple cutoffs at the same property. For a family struggling to make ends meet, if the utilities are cut off, they may not come back on for a long time.

There is longer-term assistance available to residents who need help. Through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, homeowners and utilities customers who live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line are eligible for assistance with heating and cooling bills. Households with elderly or disabled family members and/or children under six have top priority for this funding, and eligibility for the program was expanded this year.

Under LIHEAP, funds go directly to the utility provider - meaning there’s no need to worry about how to get the right check to the right people. To find out if you’re eligible for LIHEAP, you can call the Shelby County Community Services Agency at 545-4630, or the Hickory Ridge Mall location at 545-3220.

Other charitable organizations, including the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, also provide families with energy assistance. MIFA runs the Plus-1 program, which asks MLGW customers to add a dollar to their monthly utility bill to donate to its energy assistance fund. To be considered for assistance, applicants must document a temporary unavoid­able loss of income, including job layoff, illness, a reduction in pay or house fire. Preference will be given to those who have experienced such a crisis in the last three months. To find out if you can receive assistance, call 527-0208.

Finally, those who have been fortunate this year cannot simply count on others to give to these funds. The Salvation Army’s Utilities Assistance program has been unable to help anyone for three months, for instance, and LIHEAP and MIFA funds are also limited. To find out how you can help others with their energy bills, visit www.plus1memphis.org or call the Salvation Army at 543-8586. I humbly ask that you join in and help provide a warm home for our neighbors this season. It’s a gift worth giving.

MLGW offers weather-related payment options

Recognizing that the recent weather-related moratoriums and high energy usage this summer could result in higher bills for MLGW customers, we are taking steps to assist customers by expanding bill payment options. From now until September 17, MLGW will lower the dollar limit of money owed to qualify for its deferred payment plan from $500 to $225. During this time, MLGW will also relax the minimum initial payment required to get into the deferred payment plan to 25 percent of the outstanding balance owed or $225, whichever is less.

In addition, MLGW is offering to change a residential customer’s bill due date to match up with their social security, disability, government assistance, or pension checks.

“The current heat-related moratorium is a matter of customer safety, and we will continue with this policy as long as the temperatures remain high,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins Jr. “In addition, we want to be flexible with our customers in terms of their payment options, and these changes will allow more customers to find a payment solution that works for them.”

Per its heat-related moratorium, MLGW will not cut off customers if the forecast heat index will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time during a 24-hour period. For customers 60 years of ago or older, physically challenged, or customers certified as life-support dependent, MLGW will not perform cut-offs if the forecast heat index will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time in a 24-hour period

Finally, as the heat wave continues, MLGW field employees are knocking on doors and checking on our customers. When employees find unsafe situations due to the heat, we are working quickly to help those customers.

MLGW employees will always carry proper identification and do not ask for or accept money for residential customer accounts. Customers should ask to see identification badges in addition to looking for the MLGW logo on the uniform and the vehicle. To verify an MLGW work request or employee, call (901) 544-MLGW.

Utility Assistance Made Easy

Mayor Joe Ford Makes Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Applications Easier to Receive and Submit

Due to the high demand for utility assistance, long lines have been forming for the past few weeks at the Shelby County Community Services Agency (CSA) office at Raleigh Springs Mall and the office at Winchester and Kirby Parkway. In some instances the lines have formed in the early morning hours, with people waiting for hours to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“We want utility assistance applications to be available to any citizen and we are changing the way we process applications to be more responsive and available to the public,” said Mayor Joe Ford. “There is no longer a need to see a counselor at CSA or to spend hours waiting in line.”

Mayor Ford announced that utility assistance applications will be made available at the Hickory Ridge Mall Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Citizens in need of utility assistance should come to the southwest entrance of the mall at any time during these hours. CSA staff members will distribute applications as well as receive completed applications. Completed applications for regular utility assistance will be processed within 10 days; applications for emergency assistance will be processed within 48 hours. Citizens will be mailed a letter after the application is processed.

“Many people believe that they must see a counselor in order to get help,” said Dottie Jones, Director of the Shelby County Division of Community Services. “In fact, we can process applications much faster if people will complete the paperwork and return it to us with the necessary documentation. It is much faster and simpler for our customers, and we are pleased to be able to distribute and receive applications at Hickory Ridge Mall.”

Jones stressed that the CSA offices at Raleigh Springs Mall and Kirby Parkway will not see clients in person. “We are asking the public not to line up at our locations because the staff will not see individual clients or process applications while clients wait. We are making the applications available at Hickory Ridge Mall in order to provide a safe environment for citizens and to make the process operate more smoothly.”

Applications and instructions for the utility assistance program are available here.

The mission of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.

Eligibility is determined through a point system based on the household income, the number of people in the household. Senior citizens and disabled individuals receive additional points. Benefits range from $300.00 to $600.00 depending upon the total points for the household. Benefits are not paid to the customer but are instead applied directly to the customer’s utility account.

Applications for utility assistance are processed in two categories: regular assistance and emergency crisis assistance. Total gross income for a household must not exceeded 200% of the federal poverty income guidelines either program. Emergency crisis assistance is only available when a household has experienced an uncontrollable circumstance(s) during the ninety-day period prior to application, which has not allowed the payment of energy bills. This might include circumstances
such as:

− Household has an unanticipated medical or major household expenses
− Household wage earner has left the home within the past forty-five (45) days
− Significant loss of work hours

In addition to these or other crisis circumstances, the household must have one or more children under the age of six (6) in the home; and elderly member of the household (age 60 or above) or a disabled member of the household.

NOTE: A cut-off notice from the utility company does not constitute an emergency all by itself.

More Help With Utility Bills

The Commercial Appeal has a good article about the expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

An excerpt:

After an expansion of federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the state legislature this year raised the income ceilings for eligibility from 125 percent of federally defined poverty levels to 200 percent.

That means a one-person household with an annual income up to $21,660 might qualify. For two-person households, the new ceiling is $29,140; three-person households, $36,620; and four-person households, $44,100.

In addition to income, eligibility for LIHEAP is determined on a priority point system that targets households with members elderly, disabled or children under age 6. LIHEAP assistance is paid directly to the local utility or energy supplier.

In Shelby County, the program is administered by Shelby County Community Services Agency, 545-4630.

Millions added to utility-bill aid

County Commission notes: Millions added to utility-bill aid

Tennessee is giving Shelby County an additional $3.8 million for grants to help poor people pay utility bills.

The extra money brings total funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program to $10.9 million in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, said Dottie Jones, director of the county Division of Community Services.

Most people who apply for the program receive grants of $525, she said.

Those who wish to apply for the program can call 362-6518 or 380-3756.

Just One

One point could decide the winner of tonight's Tigers game, Friday's Grizzlies game, or even Sunday's Super Bowl. One dollar can make a difference in someone's life. Someone like Kathryn.

After working for the same employer for 10 years, Kathryn lost her job in October.

"So many people have been dependent on me for so long, and when all of a sudden the resources weren't there, I felt like I was letting everyone down," she says. "You imagine what it will be like for your family to not have utilities, and you get down on your knees a lot and ask God to help you." Kathryn's time of need led her to MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association), where she received assistance through the Plus-1 program.

The Plus-1 Program is a partnership between MIFA and MLGW that provides utilities assistance for families in financial crisis. MLGW customers are asked to add $1 or more to the cost of their utilities each month, and these donations are reserved for eligible clients of Plus-1. When a client receives assistance through Plus-1, these funds are used to pay a portion of the client's MLGW bill, while a manageable payment plan is constructed for the remaining balance.

Please consider adding a dollar or more to your utility bill each month. It could be a game changer. Sign up here.

Thanks again, Zach!

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.