SMART TALK: What do MLGW’s Customers Want?

On June 3, 2013, an independent survey company polled 400 customers at MLGW Community Offices. Administered by Reneé Enterprises, the survey was designed to determine what additional services should MLGW offer its customers.

The survey results represent a random sampling of households from several ZIP codes and are representative of both MLGW's customer base and Memphis City Council constituents.

1) Respondents were asked if it would save them money, would they be willing to consider reducing the amount of electricity they used at certain times of the day:  89.75 percent of respondents answered “yes.”

2) Respondents were asked whether they preferred that their MLGW bill be based on actual monthly readings, not an estimation of usage: 91.25 percent of respondents answered “yes.”

3) Respondents were asked whether they preferred to select their bill’s due date: 73.25 percent of respondents answered “yes.”

4) Respondents were asked whether they preferred that MLGW be notified automatically when their power is out so they do not have to report it: 95.5 percent of respondents answered “yes.”

These findings support the responses of 2,700 customers who answered the same questions previously.  Right now, the existing metering system severely restricts MLGW’s ability to provide the services outlined in the survey. Customers are interested in the options that smart meters deliver, but MLGW cannot provide these benefits with our existing metering.  Deployment of smart meters will allow MLGW to respond to the stated needs of the vast majority of our customers.

To learn more about MLGW’s smart meter project,www.mlgw.com/smartgrid.