In a statement issued this morning, Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) has announced that a massive power outage is affecting close to 40,000 of its customers since just before midnight last night. Officials have begun a restoration process for residents who cannot continue their activities.
MLGW spokesperson Jessica Collins told the Commercial Appeal that the overnight outage was caused by equipment failure in a key substation. ‘[We were] aware of an outage that affected about 40,000 customers in various areas of our service territory,’ she said. ‘Equipment failure at one of our substations is the cause of this outage.’
The outage has caused problems for neighborhoods across Memphis and the surrounding cities. Businesses, homes and vital services are affected. Across the city, residents are sharing their frustrations over the lack of electricity.
‘We realize that this power outage … generates inconvenience and frustration for our customers, particularly during these times,’ Collins said. ‘Our teams are working diligently on the recovery efforts to restore power as promptly and safely as possible.’
MLGW officials couldn’t give a specific timeline for the power restoration, but they assured customers that crews are working to restore it. Meanwhile, residents were warned to be wary of spoiled perishables and fried electronics.
Local governments encourage people to stay informed via MLGW’s official channels and report emergency outage issues immediately.
“Stay patient and stay with us as we try to get this back as soon as possible,’ Collins stressed. ‘Safety and security are our primary concerns for our customers.”
While the MLGW continues its restoration efforts, residents affected by the outage can only hope that this disruption to their daily lives will end as soon as possible.
Source: www.actionnews5.com April 3, 2024