Memphis Light, Gas & Water is once again readying for rolling blackouts.
The plan was announced Friday morning and rescinded within an hour. The blackouts are to drop electricity demand throughout the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) service area due to cold winter temperatures. MLGW said this is necessary to avoid major outages.
#MLGW is preparing for the possibility for TVA to re-issue a Step 50 Curtailment. As early as 6 p.m., MLGW may have to reinstitute system wide "rolling blackouts". pic.twitter.com/mqeTcNsvjW
If needed, the blackouts here could have begun as early as 6 p.m., according to MLGW. Power to certain areas could go out for 30 minutes two to three times per day on average, MLGW said.
The blackouts will only stop when TVA says it is safe to end them. MLGW said it will notify customers and restore power when they get word from TVA.
Here is the plan from MLGW:
When ordered, temporary outages will begin in the areas of North of Downtown in the vicinity of Ben Hooks Library, and North Germantown.
If necessary, the next areas affected will be areas near Central Gardens/Midtown, Getwell and 240, South Germantown/Winchester and East Germantown/West Collierville.
As needed, we will rotate in 30-minute intervals throughout the rest of the service area.
MLGW said residents in Southeastern Memphis and southeastern unincorporated Shelby County are currently experiencing low water pressure. Customers in these areas are asked to limit water usage to essential use only until further notice.
UPDATE: Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) paused a series of rolling blackouts Friday, less than an hour after starting them.
Step 50 rolling black outs have been paused. Please continue to conserve power. #MLGW#MLGWNews
#MLGW customers are asked to cooperate in reducing power usage during this critical situation. Consumers postpone using electric appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and cooking equipment and turn off non-essential lights, appliances, and other electrical equipment. pic.twitter.com/Z3TbzsylbU
Rolling blackouts are expected in Memphis Friday as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) struggles to meet electricity demand in winter conditions.
Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) said rolling blackouts will begin at 11:30 a.m. Service to effected areas will last 30 minutes and customers can average two outages per day. Critical facilities like water hospitals, pumping stations, and airports won’t be effected.
TVA has issued a Step 50 Curtailment which means that all local power companies are required to drop between 5 and 10 percent of their total electrical load. This is necessary to avoid major outages across the #MLGW and other local power companies service areas. #MLGWNewspic.twitter.com/fxIpp0MJUY
MLGW asks customers to not report outages unless they last longer than one hour. The utility said it will announce when the blackouts are over.
The blackouts come as TVA required all local power companies to drop between 5 percent to 10 percent of their total electrical load. MLGW said “this is necessary to avoid major outages.”
“We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience,” MLGW said in a statement.
TVA said this morning it is “keeping you and your family warm and the holiday lights on.”
Right now, our diverse power generating fleet is meeting the power demand across our 7 state service region during this cold air blast! Supplying your local power company with low-cost electricity, keeping you and your family warm and the holiday lights on. 🎄#ReliabilityMatterspic.twitter.com/GBpxi5IQgU
2021 was twice as deadly as 2020 for Covid-19 in Shelby County. In 2020, 903 died of Covid here. In 2021, 1,807 passed from the virus.
A consent decree forced Horn Lake leaders to approve the construction of a new mosque.
Family members wanted $20 million from the city of Memphis; Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW); and the Memphis Police Department (MPD) for the 2020 beating death of a man by an MLGW employee.
New DNA testing was requested in the West Memphis Three case for recently rediscovered evidence once claimed to be lost or burned.
February
An ice storm knocked out power to nearly 140,000 MLGW customers.
The new concourse — in the works since 2014 — opened at Memphis International Airport.
Paving on Peabody Avenue began after the project was approved in 2018.
Protect Our Aquifer teamed up with NASA for aquifer research.
A prosecutor moved to block DNA testing in the West Memphis Three case.
March
A bill before the Tennessee General Assembly would have banned the sale of hemp-derived products, like Delta-8 gummies, in the state. It ultimately provided regulation for the industry.
The project to fix the interchange at Crump Ave. and I-55 resurfaced. Bids on the project, which could cost up to $184.9 million, were returned. Work did not begin in 2022 but when it does, it could close the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge (the Old Bridge) for two weeks.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee temporarily cut sales taxes on groceries.
April
The Mississippi River ranked as one of the most endangered rivers in America in a report from the American Rivers group.
Critics lambasted decisions by Memphis in May and Africa in April to honor Ghana and Malawi, both of which outlaw basic LGBTQ+ rights.
The federal government announced a plan to possibly ban menthol cigarettes.
Lawmakers approved Gov. Lee’s plan to update the state’s 30-year-old education funding plan.
Tom Lee Park (Photo: Memphis River Parks Partnership)
May
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi prepared for the likely overturn of the Roe v. Wade decision, ending legal abortions in the state.
The Greater Memphis Chamber pressed for a third bridge to be built here over the Mississippi River.
Cooper-Young landlords sued to evict the owners of Heaux House for “specializing in pornographic images.”
The Memphis City Council wanted another review of Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) plan to remove coal ash from the shuttered Allen Fossil Plant.
June
New research showed Memphis-area women earned 83 percent of their male counterparts income in the workplace from 2000-2019.
Gov. Lee ordered schools to double down on existing security measures in the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
MPD arrested four drivers in an operation it called Infiniti War Car Take-Over.
A key piece of the Tom Lee Park renovation project won a $3.7 million federal grant, which was expected to trigger nearly $9 million in additional funds.
Tennessee Republican attorney general fought to keep gender identity discrimination in government food programs.
Jim Dean stepped down as president and CEO of the Memphis Zoo and was replaced by Matt Thompson, then the zoo’s executive director and vice president.
Locals reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
July
Memphian Brett Healey took the stage at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Eating Contest.
One Beale developers returned to Memphis City Hall for the fourth time asking for financial support of its luxury hotel plans.
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board placed Superintendent Joris Ray on paid leave as they investigated whether he violated district policies with relationships with co-workers and abused his power.
The project to forever eliminate parking on the Overton Park Greensward got $3 million in federal funding.
Tennessee’s attorney general celebrated a win after a federal judge blocked a move that would have allowed trans kids to play sports on a team of their gender.
Tennessee’s top Pornhub search was “interracial” in 2021, according to the site.
August
A panel of Tennessee judges did not give a new trial to Barry Jamal Martin, a Black man convicted in a Pulaski jury room decked out in Confederate portraits, flags, and memorabilia.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert caught flak from the Tennessee Comptroller after traveling to Jamaica while her offices were closed to catch up on the controversial backlog of license plate requests from citizens.
MSCS superintendent Joris Ray resigned with a severance package worth about $480,000. Finance chief Toni Williams was named interim superintendent.
Officials said the Memphis tourism sector had made a “full recovery” from the pandemic.
A new bail system unveiled here was touted by advocates to be “one of the fairest in the nation.”
Eliza Fletcher (Photo: Memphis Police Department)
September
Memphis kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher was abducted and murdered while on an early-morning run. Cleotha Abston, out of jail early on previous abduction charges, was arrested for the crimes.
MLGW’s board continues to mull the years-long decision to, possibly, find a new power provider.
Ezekiel Kelly, 19, was arrested on charges stemming from an alleged, hours-long shooting rampage across Memphis that ended with four dead and three injured.
A Drag March was planned for the “horrible mishandling” of a drag event at MoSH. Event organizers canceled the show there after a group of Proud Boys arrived armed to protest the event.
October
Workers at four Memphis restaurants, including Earnestine & Hazel’s, sued the owners to recover alleged unpaid minimum wage and overtime.
Shelby County was largely unfazed by an outbreak of monkeypox with only about 70 infected here as of October.
Animal welfare advocates called a University of Memphis research lab “the worst in America” after a site visit revealed it violated numerous federal protocols concerning the care of test animals.
While other states have outlawed the practice, Tennessee allows medical professionals and medical students to — without any kind of permission — stick their fingers and instruments inside a woman’s vagina and rectum while she is under anesthesia.
Joshua Smith, a co-defendant in the election finance case against former state Sen. Brian Kelsey, pleaded guilty in court.
The Environmental Protection Agency told South Memphis residents little could be done to protect them from toxic emissions from the nearby Sterilization Services facility.
West Tennessee farmers struggled to get crops to market because of the record-low level of the Mississippi River.
November
Groups asked state officials for a special investigator to review the “very real failures that led to [Eliza] Fletcher’s tragic murder.”
A group wanted state officials to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park.
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional.
A plan to forever end parking on the Overton Park Greensward was finalized by city leaders, the Memphis Zoo, and the Overton Park Conservancy.
December
The Commercial Appeal dodged layoffs in the latest round of news staff reductions by Gannett.
Federal clean-energy investments will further ingrain Tennessee in the Battery Belt and help develop a Southeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (H2Hubs).
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee criticized Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) for canceling gender affirmation surgery for a 19-year-old patient.
State and local officials investigated an alleged milk spill into Lick Creek.
MLGW rejected Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) 20-year rolling contract but will continue to be a TVA customer “for the foreseeable future.”
Former state Senator Brian Kelsey’s law license was suspended after he pled guilty to two felonies related to campaign finance laws last month.
Visit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for fuller versions of these stories and more local news.
The most severe weather is projected to arrive here tomorrow afternoon and could continue through Wednesday morning.
“Damaging winds and long-track tornadoes will be possible with highly organized storms,” said NWSM. ”Large hail and flash flooding are also possible, though they are secondary threats.”
On Sunday, the threat raised the area to an Enhanced Risk (orange level, level three of five) for severe storms. On Monday, Memphis was raised to a Moderate Risk (four out of five).
“Moderate Risks are used sparingly and should not be taken lightly,” MNSW said in a tweet. “Take the time to plan and prepare now.”
In a tweet Sunday, NWSM said “damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding, and large hail are on the table” for Tuesday. “Long-track tornadoes will be possible, and some could be significant,” said the agency.
Read this tweet thread for detailed information about the storm from MNSW:
🚨Parts of the Mid-South have been upgraded to a MODERATE Risk (level 4 out of 5) of severe weather tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 29🚨
NWSM continued to raise the alarm about the threat on Monday.
🚨Mid-South: The Storm Prediction Center has EXPANDED the Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5) to include more portions of north Mississippi. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TH2jq45j3M
We know severe weather can cause a lot of anxiety, especially leading up to the event. We are often asked "what can I do now?". It is best for you and your family to have a plan. Here are some graphics that can help you decide where you will take shelter from severe storms. pic.twitter.com/m1BHfBY0Xu
Environmental groups and Memphis community activists continue to urge the city’s utility provider against signing a “never-ending contract” with the Tennessee Valley Authority, adding that TVA’s promise to provide better service stands in contrast with their past treatment of Memphis customers.
In September, the utility provider Memphis Gas Light and Water announced that it will likely continue using TVA as an energy provider, after months deliberating on whether to renew a contract. MLGW officials also announced intentions to sign a 20-year contract with TVA due to incentives and promises of lower costs to customers.
But community activists, who dubbed the proposal as a “never-ending contract,” criticized the plan, citing the TVA’s documented treatment of low-income communities and neglected appearance of facilities within the city.
TVA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Lyash promised the MLGW board that if they committed to a long-term contract, TVA would improve its admittedly neglected presence in Memphis by dedicating TVA staff in Memphis to energy-burden reduction.
Justin Pearson of Memphis Against Pollution. (Photo: John Partipilo)
After a public-comment period, which was extended from the original 30 days to 60 days, activists attended MLGW’s Wednesday board meeting to urge board members to vote against the contract, in anticipation of a Nov. 16 vote.
“This is the most attention we’ve gotten from TVA in years, but there’s a difference in getting attention and getting people to change behaviors,” said Justin J. Pearson, a community activist and co-founder of Memphis Community Against Pollution.
“But the behavior of the TVA has not changed in such a way that would be beneficial to all of the customers here,” he added.
Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy have been critical of TVA’s plans to expand its natural gas production as a way to reach “zero carbon” energy infrastructure by 2050.
Community leaders also criticized TVA’s offer to provide Memphis with lower costs after customers saw higher monthly bills this summer. MLGW sent out notice to Memphis customers that TVA had increased pricing due after the war in Ukraine caused natural gas rates to rise.
This proved that natural gas was a volatile energy source, they said.
“This will make energy burdens worse in communities. Our customers are already struggling to pay their bills,” said Pearl Walker, the environmental climate and justice chair for the Memphis chapter of the NAACP.
Leaders with Protect Our Aquifer, MCAP and others instead urged the MLGW board to continue five-year contracts with TVA, which would allow Memphis to retain its ability to negotiate for better deals.
Activists also pointed out that the current proposed contract allows TVA to opt out of obligations to maintain infrastructure should MLGW leave.
“A generation from now will say, yes, let’s stop having TVA take care of the transmission lines because we found a better deal. It traps us, indefinitely, with them. And they’re saying they’re going to be punitive if you ever did say you were going to leave. This is not a deal you would ever sign for your business or for your family. Please don’t sign it for our city,” said Pearson.
Once the MLGW board votes, the final decision goes to the Memphis City Council for final approval.
Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Follow Tennessee Lookout on Facebook and Twitter.
Memphis Light, Gas & Water finds itself looking for a new leader. In a press release Friday, the public utility announced that president J.T. Young would be resigning his post, effective October 14th.
Young is leaving his current position to return to his hometown of Pensacola, Florida, where he will take up a position at Florida Power & Light.
“J.T. has led MLGW with integrity, humility, and strength, with examples being the process which culminated recently in a plan to strengthen the system to reduce major outages from severe storms and the RFP process for our power supply,” said Mayor Jim Strickland. “For all these reasons and many more, I’d like to thank J.T. for his service as the President of MLGW and to the citizens of Memphis. I know he and his family will do well back home in Pensacola.”
Young joined MLGW in March 2018, and served as MLGW’s 11th president. He has helmed the utility through several crises over the last couple of years, including 2021’s water boil advisory, infrastructure problems, and severe outages caused by ice storms.
“J.T. Young has thoughtfully led Memphis Light, Gas and Water through difficult times with a solid understanding of the crucial role MLGW plays in our economic growth,” said Greater Memphis Chamber president & CEO Beverly Robertson. “The Greater Memphis Chamber is grateful for his leadership as a member of our Board of Directors and our Chairman’s Circle and for his willingness to partner with the Chamber on critical issues affecting our businesses.”
As of publication, it is unclear who will lead MLGW following Young’s departure.
Environmental groups are asking Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) for more time on its power supply decision to allow for further review and public comment.
MLGW staff recommended last week that the utility stay with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as its power provider. The recommendation came after local review on the decision, several studies on energy reliability and potential savings, and much noise made by environmental groups who say TVA is not doing enough on sustainable energy and that its contracts are too long.
When MLGW announced the recommendation last week, it came with a vague, 30-day period for public comment on the move. Three groups — the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Protect Our Aquifer (POA), and Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) — asked the MLGW board commissioners for an additional month.
The request would give another month for public comment, and another month after that for MLGW’s commissioners to review those comments. If the request is granted, a final vote on the power-supply decision would come no sooner than November 30th.
”The [MLGW board of commissioners] must have adequate time to meaningfully consider public comment,” reads the letter issued Tuesday. “Otherwise, the board risks the appearance of merely rubber-stamping the staff recommendation. It is particularly important that the Board’s decision-making process be open and transparent because of the existing relationships between TVA and MLGW.”
MLGW has been a TVA customer for more than 80 years. MLGW is also TVA’s largest customer.
Last week’s announcement of the MLGW staff recommendation was criticized by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) saying “we’re confident it’s not in the best interest of MLGW customers.” The group said the new 20-year contract, which has already been signed by numerous other TVA clients, would “lock the utility and its ratepayers into a forever contract.” The current contract with TVA is up every five years.
“We disagree with the recommendation MLGW staff presented to the MLGW Board of Commissioners and look forward to finally being able to see the responses to the MLGW power-supply proposal,” said Dr. Steven Smith, SACE executive director. “We are concerned that today’s presentation was highly skewed and lacked an appropriate balance of risk and benefits. We look forward to reviewing the underlying data that these assumptions were built on.”
Other providers, SACE said, could offer offer longer-term economic and environmental benefits. These benefits could also greatly increase now, SACE said, after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. SACE said the new law — with its billions in spending for environmental projects — could “greatly amplify alternative portfolios’ estimated savings and energy resiliency benefits” that could “be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Memphis if MLGW is not restricted by TVA’s contract requirements.”
As for environmental issues, TVA said the day before MLGW’s announcement last week that it plans to be 80 percent carbon free by 2035 and completely carbon free by 2050. TVA’s timeline does not match that of President Joe Biden, who wants a carbon free power grid by 2035. TVA says it must move slower to ensure reliability.
TVA has said that more than half of its energy sources are carbon free and not “not affected by fuel price volatility.” The TVA board voted last week to keep its base electric rate steady through its next fiscal year. But many Memphians were shocked this summer as high natural gas prices from TVA made for much higher MLGW bills.
MLGW staffers said if the utility stayed with TVA, customers would save about $32 a year on their electric bills. Overall, MLGW said the new contract with TVA “demonstrates the greatest value and least risk.” They said the move would save MLGW $125 million over the next five years and $944 million over the next 25 years.
The three groups asking for more time for board members to review the possible TVA move asked for more transparency in the vote as well. They said the long relationship between TVA and MLGW is yet another reason for board members to have a close look at all the offers not he table.
“TVA is MLGW’s current power provider, and the utilities’ decades-long relationship gives TVA unique access to MLGW and its customers,” reads the letter. “Indeed, recent news reports reveal that TVA spent the past several years lobbying suburban governments served by MLGW to support the federal utility’s bid.
“TVA is also MLGW’s largest water customer, giving the federal utility another advantage in this decision-making process and adding another reason why it is important that the board carefully evaluate independent, third-party perspectives shared during the public comment period.”
Memphis consumers now have choices when selecting a T-shirt satirizing Memphis Light, Gas & Water’s high energy bills. BluffCity Tee introduced the shirt above recently with this on-the-nose description of the situation: “In the [M-bridge emoji], everyone knows the name of our ‘friendly’ neighborhood stick-up artist and community thief. It’s none other than MLGW. They’ve been robbing the Bluff City residents since 1939 and this year, they’ve lost their minds.”
Tweet of the Week
Posted to Twitter by @midtownbuck
“Here’s a @CityOfMemphis @mlgw contractor pissing in my front yard,” @midtownbuck tweeted last week. “Do I get some sort of discount since he’s not using my sewer line?”
MLGW responded, “Good morning, I apologize for this. Do you happen to have a photo of the truck you can send me please?”
Memphis Seven
Posted to Twitter by @memphisseven901
“The Memphis Seven won and are being reinstated!!!!!!!!!!” tweeted the Memphis Seven last week after a judge ordered Starbucks to give them their jobs back. They were fired for union activities.
Memphicity Design, a Memphis design and apparel shop, captured the moment in T-shirt form recently. On it, MLGW doesn’t stand for Memphis Light, Gas & Water but “Mane Lemme Getcho Wallet.”
Imagine
Posted to Facebook by Memphis Memes 901
This meme was passed around the MEMernet last week. The source could not be found. So, we don’t know if the OP was trolling or was truly misguided. But the comments ranged from the obvious — “tHat’S nOT MeMpHiS!” — to the ever-present jokes about crime.
Tennessee is turning Volkswagen’s deceptions into charging stations for electric cars.
The automaker publicly admitted in 2015 that it had secretly and deliberately installed software designed to cheat emissions tests and deceive federal and state regulators in about 590,000 vehicles from 2009 to 2016. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Volkswagen and won a settlement of $14.9 billion.
Some of that money was awarded this week to Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) to install fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The funding came from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) from a total of $5.2 million awarded to 12 entities.
“We are glad we can put these funds to use in ways that serve all motorists with electric vehicles,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are rapidly moving toward more electric vehicles on our roads, and this is a way to stay ahead of that demand.”
The 12 entities will fund 32 charging units at 13 sites. All of them are intended to help TDEC and the Tennessee Valley Authority establish the Fast Charge TN Network. The program plans a network of fast-charging stations every 50 miles along Tennessee’s interstates and major highways.
“Electrification of transportation is critical to help our nation achieve its energy security and decarbonization goals,” said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO. “Today, thanks to Governor [Bill] Lee and TDEC, our region is the nation’s epicenter for [electric vehicle] technology and manufacturing, and this grant demonstrates how we can move the Tennessee Valley further and faster, together, to make a cleaner future a reality.”
MLGW said the new stations will bolster its existing network of more than 100 public charging stations throughout Shelby County. The utility did not say where the new stations would be installed, only that the grants are for areas “along prioritized interstate or major highway corridors across the state.”
“Together, we will expand public access to convenient, fast EV charging, alleviating fears of range anxiety and making EV charging a more visible activity, so that when residents and businesses consider their next vehicle purchase, they also consider electric vehicle options,” said J.T. Young, MLGW president and CEO. “MLGW is grateful to TDEC for this funding opportunity, and we look forward to operating fast-charging sites that serve Shelby County residents, businesses, and travelers.”
How high was your Memphis Light, Gas & Water bill? A Memphis Redditor suggested the answer with a meme showing Willie Nelson, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, and Snoop Dogg, all notorious for being super-duper high.
Hate Watch
Posted to YouTube by Forgotten Places
The Memphis subreddit was (mostly) hate-watching a YouTube video published last week from a channel called “Forgotten Places.” In it, the YouTuber (sounding like he’s reading a book report before his fifth-grade social studies class) says that Memphis has seen “rises, falls, and stagnation quite contrary to national trends.”
Though, he said (many hilarious times) the city has “fairly desirable weather.” To which, Redditor lokisilvertongue said, “‘Fairly desirable weather,’ he says, as the Gold Bond in my pants is turning into roux.”
Burgers and Dogs
Posted to Facebook by WMCTV Action News 5
WMCTV had some fun with a crazy news story last week, in which a Knoxville couple allegedly stole $2,000 worth of hot dogs and hamburgers. Crazier still, the couple did it, “During Memphis Flyer Burger Week? On National Hot Dog DAY?! What are the odds?” asked the station.
