MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Light, Gas and Water said that rolling blackouts are over, and the company is now working to restore power to customers who are without service.
As of Sunday morning, nearly all MLGW customers had power restored.
MLGW is asking for patience as its employees work to resolve outages.
At 8:28 a.m. Saturday, MLGW's President and CEO Doug McGowan issued an apology to customers for service interruptions. He also provided updates for what MLGW customers should expect.
He announced that rolling blackouts would last longer than the expected 30 minute time-frame due to a need to conserve power and prevent widespread power losses.
According to the previous update, rolling blackouts would affect customers at least two or three times throughout the day. Critical facilities like hospitals, airports, water pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants, did not experience service interruptions.
Rolling blackouts began early Saturday across the Memphis and Shelby County area after the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) re-issued the call for power companies to initiate rolling blackouts as the extreme cold causes a "critical power supply situation and low water pressure."
Rolling blackouts means service to an area will be interrupted for 30 minutes. Customers may experience outages two to three times a day on average. All customers in MLGW’s service territory could be affected.
Some customers experienced power loss before rolling blackouts started.
MLGW initially announced the possibility of rolling blackouts on Friday morning, but shortly after said the rolling blackouts would not be needed if customers reduced power and water usage.
MLGW said in a news release this is how the rolling blackouts are expected to happen:
"When ordered, MLGW will announce expected start time of the blackout, and group number that will be interrupted first. Interruptions will then follow in number order until all groups have been affected and then starting again with the original group. For example: “MLGW will implement load curtailment actions starting at 6 p.m.on (date), commencing with Group 3, and other areas in order for 30-minute periods as necessary”
The “starting group” for any subsequent events will be determined by where the last curtailment action from a preceding event ended. For example, if the rolling black out order is lifted after an outage in Group 7 has occurred and power restored, the next curtailment action will commence with Group 8.
Please refer to the following group assignment to understand which group is closest to your neighborhood and to estimate when a blackout could affect your neighborhood.
Group 1:
Southwest Memphis, East Memphis (U of M), Arlington, and Hickory Hill
Group 2:
North of Downtown, Main Library Area, and North Germantown
Group 3:
Central Gardens/Midtown, Getwell & 240, South Germantown/Winchester, and East Germantown/West Collierville
Group 4:
McLemore, Rhodes College Area, Presidents Island, East Collierville, North Bartlett, Lakeland, and Shady Grove
Group 5:
Chelsea, Raleigh & Summer, Parkway Village/BNSF Railway
Group 6:
South Downtown, I40/240, North Frayser, Lamar, Millbranch/240, Trinity Commons/Cordova
Group 7:
Hacks Cross Rd South of 385
South Millington/Charles Baker Airport Area, Kellogg, South of Wolfchase, Pidgeon Industrial Park
Group 8:
East Memphis, West of Airport, City of Bartlett, West Collierville
Group 9:
South Frayser, Millington, Berclair, Raleigh, West Holmes Road, Mt. Moriah/American Way
MLGW also 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.
Early Friday, MLGW announced they were suspending a rolling blackout order, just minutes after the order was to go in place throughout Memphis. The system-wide rolling blackouts Friday were meant to manage the power load from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which supplies power to the utility.
Friday morning, TVA issued a "Step 50" emergency curtailment program, meaning all local power companies are required to drop between 5% and 10% of their total service load, but later rescinded that order. MLGW said TVA could reissue that order - leading to rolling blackouts in the Mid-South.
MLGW President Doug McGowen is asking customers to voluntarily lower their power use, and to not use washers and dryers if you don't have to.
According to McGowen, this would be the first rolling blackout Memphis had seen in decades.
Below-freezing temperatures are expected to continue throughout the weekend. Warming centers have been set up in the city. To learn more and find a ride to one, CLICK HERE.