MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers are frustrated about their utility bills.
Families said when they try to get an explanation from the utility, they don't have any luck.
“I was just floored,” customer Sarah Moore said. “Like not expecting that at all. Money is...the top stressor in a family, especially having small kids.”
Moore is a parent of two kids, left with nowhere to turn after getting her recent MLGW bill.
“Our bill was $1,066,” Moore said.
While waiting on a reason from the utility company, Moore said she’ll do what needs to be done to keep the lights on, but even that isn’t easy.
“I’m told if you can’t pay it, you can call back on March 8 and set up a payment plan. I’m currently on with [MLGW] now, can I not set up a plan now?" she said. "And on top of that, when I went back and looked at the March 8th date, that’s three days after my bill is due. So, my bill has to become delinquent before I can call in and setup a service plan?”
She’s not the only one dealing with this issue. Some Memphians said they’ve had to dip into their retirement savings in order to afford the recent bill.
“The amount of increase on that bill is almost equal to the last two months tuition for our preschoolers,” Moore said. “It puts it into perspective, like we are unenrolling our kids from pre-school.”