MLGW confident in power stability as winter storm approaches Memphis. What else to know

Memphis Light, Gas & Water President and CEO Doug McGowen said Friday that the city-owned utility has had time to prepare for the incoming winter weather and that they have coordinated with the Tennessee Valley Authority, and other utilities, to avoid rolling blackouts.

"I want to emphasize that we're not talking about doing any kind of rolling blackouts," McGowen said.

McGowen also said at Memphis City Hall Friday afternoon there may come a time when MLGW may issue an "energy conservation alert," and is asking for MLGW customers to cut back on their energy usage when that time comes. He said he expects that alert will be issued Tuesday.

"If together all 400,000 of our MLGW customers could reduce 1,000 Watts — so 10 lightbulbs and one large appliance — that's the same as the energy produced by a small electric generation plant of 500 megawatts," McGowen said. "That's a huge impact. Don't think that your contribution doesn't matter, because what we all do together adds up."

Memphis had already been hit with strong winds Friday, with cold weather and snow likely to follow.

The utility was able to prepare for this storm better than previous ones because it is "a slow-moving airmass," McGowen said.

"This is a very different situation from last December," McGowen said referencing a mass of outages that came at the end of 2022. "Last December, in six hours, the temperature dropped 40 degrees. This is a slow-moving airmass, so we all know in advance, so we can all be prepared, and say, 'OK, it's time for us to take conservation efforts.'"

McGowen also said he is confident in the integrity of the water supply, but urged residents to have about a gallon of water for every person in a household, along with a bathtub full of water to force-flush toilets.

MLGW will have employees on standby for any outages or main breaks that do happen during the storm, McGowen said.

More: How do I keep my pipes from freezing? Tips to keep water going during sub-zero temperatures

With the incoming cold temperatures, he also suggested that residents drip their faucets, and keep heat around pipes to prevent freezing.

An additional press conference is planned for Monday, where McGowen said he would provide an update on the power and water status.

Other city initiatives in preparation for the cold

The city is also preparing trucks to begin layering bridges and overpasses with salt Saturday morning to prevent freezing. These trucks will also focus on busy roads, City of Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht said Friday.

Once the bridges have been salted, he said routes to hospitals, fire stations and police precincts will be the next focus.

"We do not have the capacity to treat all of our 6,700 miles of roadways, so we prioritize those [major] networks," Knecht said.

More: Memphis weather: What to do if your power goes out, how to report it to MLGW

Even with some of the roads salted, Knecht urged Memphians to stay off the streets if the roads begin to ice over.

The city will also open two warming centers, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. The Hospitality Hub, located at 590 Washington, will be for women, children and families. The Dave Wells Community Center, at 915 Chelsea, will be for single men.

The Memphis Area Transit Authority will provide transportation to the warming centers starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Those looking for a ride to the centers will be able to call MATA and be picked up from wherever they currently are and do not need to go to a bus stop.

Those warming centers will close at 11 a.m. Saturday, with temperatures expected to rise into the 40s during the day. They will reopen at 7 p.m. Saturday and operate continuously until the city gives more notice.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, or (901)208-3922, and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MLGW talks about power stability before winter storms hit Memphis