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MLGW Rates Remain Among Lowest in the Country

Photo Credit: MLGW via Facebook

Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s (MLGW) 2024 Comparative Rates Survey concluded that the company’s combined rates remain to be among the lowest in the United States. The agency has also marked 10 years among “lowest winter utility bills.”

“We want to earn our customers’ business every day by providing great value,” MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen said in a statement. “Reliability and the best possible rates are what we strive to deliver to our customers.”

According to MLGW, this survey compares Memphis’ combined electric, gas, and water utility rates to 39 other cities in the country that were “geographically close to Memphis, as well as utilities that are similar in size to MLGW.” Among those cities were Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; and Houston, Texas.

The costs measured in the survey are those that are effective as of January 2024. The rankings include “what a homeowner would pay for 1,000 kilo-watt-hours (kWh) of electricity, 200 hundred cubic feet (CCF) of gas, and 10 CCF of water.”

Some of the guidelines included calculations based on monthly consumption and applicable seasonal rates. Components such as special early payment discounts, time differentiated rates, and “taxes not booked as revenue by the utility” are excluded.

Memphis ranked lowest on the list of “typical residential winter bills,” with its combined electricity, natural gas, and water bill totaling to $246.42. The city with the second lowest total was Omaha, Nebraska, averaging at $272.43, with Springfield, Missouri, coming in third at $307.19.

MLGW ranked 10th among residential electric bills. This is measured in kilowatts per hour (kWh).

“One kilowatt-hour equals ten 100-watt light bulbs staying on for an hour,” the report said.

For 500 kWh the city averaged $69.22. Springfield, Missouri, ranked number-one at $54.70 for 500 kWH. 

The city ranked number-one for low residential gas bills — measured in one hundred cubic feet (Ccf) — with an average of $15.28 for 10 CCF. MLGW also came in first in low general service gas bills at $113.24 for 200 CCF.

Memphis ranked second for low residential water bills at $11.97 for five CCF, and third in low general service water bills averaging $273.18 for 100 CCF.

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New Survey Ranks MLGW Rates Among Lowest In The Country

MLGW via Facebook

Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s (MLGW)  “Comparative Rates Survey” showed that the company’s combined rates are among the lowest in the country.

“Providing our customers great value through affordable rates, along with immediate improvements to reliability and customer service are important parts of earning our customers’ business.” said MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen

According to MLGW, this survey compares Memphis’ combined electric, gas, and water utility rates to 39 other cities in the country that were “geographically close to Memphis, as well as utilities that are similar in size to MLGW.” Among those cities were Atlanta, Georgia, Jackson, Mississippi, Nashville, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas.

The survey stated that some of the guidelines used in providing utility figures were calculations based on monthly consumption and seasonal rates when applicable. Factors such as special early payment discounts and time differentiated rates were excluded.

Memphis ranked number-one in “typical residential winter bills,” which measured what a homeowner would pay for 1,000 kWh of electricity, 200 CCF of natural gas, and 10 CCF, which came in at $253.83. The second ranked city, St. Louis, Missouri had a cost of $356.49.

For residential electric bills, MLGW ranked eighth among the other cities surveyed. This was measured in kilowatts per hour, which equals ten 100-watt light bulbs staying on for an hour. The cost of 1,000 kWh for MLGW was totaled at $115.98, with the number-one ranking, St. Louis’ Ameren Missouri costing $95.96.

In terms of natural gas, Memphis and MLGW ranked first in residential gas bills and general service gas bills. The company ranked third for residential water bills.

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Electric, Gas Rates Won’t Increase, Water Rates Will

Water rates will increase by 1 percent for Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) customers beginning next month, as the Memphis City Council voted in favor of the hike Tuesday.

Originally voting the increase down in December, the council has now approved a one-time increase in water rates. The additional $1 million in revenue will be allocated solely for research on the Memphis Sands Aquifer.

However, gas rates will not rise, as the council voted that increase down. This comes despite a Tuesday-morning conversation, in which the utility’s president Jerry Collins warned the MLGW council committee of the possible consequences of avoiding an increase.

Collins said not increasing gas rates could lead to layoffs within the utility, as well as less cash for infrastructure and capital improvements.

Moving into the vote on electric rate increases, council member Patrice Robinson told her colleagues they should be careful about how they decide and consider how not increasing the rate will negatively impact the community.

“Approving any increase is not a politically popular thing to do,” she said. “…but it’s incumbent upon everyone to manage this asset in a responsible way. We need to come to an agreement on a modest rate increase.”

Council member Bill Morrison agreed, imploring other council members to realize how their vote will affect residents, especially during events like storms. With this, a standing ovation rippled through the  crowd.

Still, the council voted this increase down.



But, Collins said he always has a “plan B in his hip pocket,” which he said will largely involve the utility having to borrow money for capital improvement projects or delaying projects all together.