MLGW or Memphis Light, Gas and Water is a municipal utility serving customers in Memphis and Shelby County. It provides electricity, water, and gas to the residents and commercial customers in the said counties.
Serving over 430,000 customers, it is the largest utility in Tennessee and among the largest in the country. With over 4,000 employees, it provides prompt services to its customers. Unlike most utilities, MLGW is owned by the city of Memphis.
The mayor appoints the seven members of the Board of Commissioners to run the utility. As of writing, the utility manages over 6,200 miles of electric lines across Memphis and Shelby counties. Through its diverse sources of power like solar, wind, nuclear, and natural gas, it is able to produce over 2,317 megawatts of electricity.
But that’s not all, it also distributes gas to over 300,000 customers and provides water services to over 250,000 residents. It is a go-to utility since it provides cost-effective utility services accross Memphis.
What is the MLGW Power Outage Map?
The MLGW power outage map is an online interactive map that allows Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers to view areas currently experiencing power outages. It also displays the estimated restoration time and the cause of the outage.
The interactive map allows customers to zoom in to different streets for more detailed information. All you need is to enter the zip code or address of your area and the map will display if there’s an outage or not. The intuitive visualization shows which customers are affected by the power outage.
If the outage is affecting your residence, an icon will pop up on it. You can view extra information on the outage by clicking the information tab. It provides information on the cause of the outage, restoration progress, and the estimated restoration time.
The map provides MLGW customers with crucial information about electricity supply in their area. As such, they can prepare adequately for expected outages and know when the power will be restored.
Why Use the MLGW Map?
Well, if you are a Memphis resident and want to stay informed about electricity supply, this is the go to map. By checking the interactive map regularly, you can plan for expected outages in your area. It can also enable people buying property to determine which areas are more prone to outage, allowing them to either buy property in a different location or install backup power systems in their new residence.
In addition, the map provides estimated restoration times allowing you to determine when power will be restored. This allows you to consider how long alternative sources of power will run. And if you use historical data, you can know what type and size of backup battery system you’d need to install in your home.
The map provides information on the electricity supply of the whole Memphis city. As such, you can plan your errands since you’ll have a clue of which areas will be experiencing blackouts. But that’s not all, the map allows customers to report power outages via their phone numbers. This enables the utility to respond promptly, mitigating disruptions in the affected areas.
The MLGW map no doubt allows Memphis residents to stay abreast of power outages and plan their day accordingly. It allows them to respond to power outages seamlessly, saving them unnecessary chaos and disruptions.
How to Check MLGW Power Outage Map?
Using the power outage map is straightforward. Simply search for the MLGW website and navigate to the Outage Map page. You don’t need an account to view areas with power outages. You’ll however need one if you want to receive outage alerts on your phone.
Once you open the outage map, you can zoom in to view street-level information. Enter your address to determine whether your area is experiencing a power outage.
It shows how many customers are affected by a current power outage. If the area is shaded green, only 1 to 10 customers are affected. Yellow means 11 to 100 customers are experiencing an outage while orange indicates 101 to 1000 customers are in the dark. If more than 1000 customers are experiencing an outage, the area will be shaded red.
For more information, you can check the information tab. Here, you can get information on the reasons for the outage, restoration progress, restoration time estimation, and other information about the power outage.
The map also displays the number of outages and the total customers affected. You’ll also see the percentage of customers with electricity. You can refresh the feed for real time data.
MLGW urges its customers to follow them on their social media platform for real time updates. As mentioned, you call them to report any outages or communicate with them via their social media platforms.
How the Power Outage Map Operates?
As mentioned, the MLGW map provides real time data on power outages in Memphis. It draws the data from a web of smart meters and reports from customers.
With this data, the utility is able to populate the map with real-time data on the location and severity of the outage. While you can refresh the map as you want, it automatically refreshes itself after 15 minutes.
How to Prepare for a Power Outage?
Prior preparation for an outage can mitigate disruptions and chaos that are synonymous with blackouts. Here are practical tips you can use to prepare.
Keep Devices Charged
Make sure your devices are charged. Think of flashlights, laptops, and smartphones. Having your smartphone charged allows you to communicate with family and friends. A charged laptop will help you stay abreast of the power outage progress. With the flashlights charged, you can access dark rooms easily. Furthermore, they can provide light during the outage.
Have a Backup Power System
Having a backup power system can provide power for short or long-term depending on the capacity of the system. Here, you can opt for a portable solar generator or a power station. To choose the most ideal, you need to consider the appliances you’ll be using during the outage.
Consider appliances such as refrigerators, medical devices, laptops, and freezers. Once you calculate the critical load, you can determine the size generator or power station you’ll need.
And BLUETTI has some of the most reliable battery backup for home use. For example, the BLUETTI AC300 + B300 Home Battery Backup is an ideal option as it comes with a high capacity of 3072Wh expandable to 12288Wh. This is enough capacity to power your appliances for days. And thanks to the high 3000W power output, you can rest your devices will run seamlessly.
The 6000W starting wattage can support large appliances such as heating and cooling systems. This means the battery won’t get overloaded when switching on your fridge, freezer, or AC. And if you don’t have solar panels to recharge it, you can use your car, conventional generator, or lead acid battery.
Another option is the BLUETTI AC500 + B300/B300S Home Battery Backup, which has a higher capacity. It boasts of 30712Wh capacity expandable to 18432Wh. As you’d guess, this ample capacity to power several devices simultaneously for hours. It has an impressive 5000W rated power which supports small to large devices.
With it you can run your AC system or large appliances, thanks to the 10000W surge wattage. And if you want to use multiple devices simultaneously, you’ll enjoy the 16 outlets. They range from USB-A to USB-C ports.
Stockpile Basic Essentials
Besides, having a source of power, you need to stockpile basic essentials such as food and water. Ensure to have ample water for drinking, cooking, and laundry purposes. We recommend a minimum of 1 gallon per person.
Do not forget to store non-perishable food. Consider high-calorie and high-nutrient options. Think of nuts, butter, dried fruits and vegetables. On the same token, do not forget to store essential supplies. This can include first aid kits, personal effects, and medicine.
How Do You Manage a Power Outage?
Well, to manage a power outage, you should keep your refrigerators and freezers doors closed to preserve the freshness of your perishables. If you’ll be using a conventional generator, consider placing it 20 feet away from your house to avoid inhaling harmful gasses.
Make sure to unplug all appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. If you are under medication, make a plan for refrigerating your medicines. If possible, you can go to an alternate location until power is restored.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, checking the MLGW power outage map is as simple as visiting the official MLGW website and navigating the Outage Map section. In case of an outage in your area, you can report it via their contacts or social media platforms.
