communications and public relations memphis light, gas …...evans, a memphis accountant, was...

OUTREACH Community

News to the Neighborhoods from Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division March/April 2013

Spring into SafetySpring is almost here, and with the change of seasons, severe weather may visit us. MLGW wants you and your family to be safe during severe weather outbreaks, so here are a few tips to keep you safe:

• Identifythesafestplaceinyourhomeincaseofemergency.Itmightbeaclosetorbathroomin the middle of your home, as far from windows and exterior doors as possible. Go and stay there if you hear severe weather warnings in your area.

• Stockthatroomwithemergencyitemssuchasafirstaidkit,flashlights,abattery-operatedradio or TV, and extra batteries.

• Storeeitherbottledortapwaterinsterilecontainers,enoughforseveraldays,twoquartsperpersonperday.Storesomenon-perishablefooditemsthatdon’trequireheating,aswellas a can opener.

• Includeawhistleorsimilardevicetoalertemergencypersonnelincaseofrescueefforts.• Storeasupplyofnecessaryprescriptionmedicines.

• Neverapproachortouchdownedpow-erlines.Ifapowerlinefallsonyourcar,remain inside the vehicle, call for help, and do not get out until help arrives.

• Knowhowtoturnoffyourgas,electric-ity and water in case the lines are dam-aged.

• Ifyousmellgas,donotturnonlightsorelectrical appliances or use a phone, or anysourceofflameorspark.Theycouldcause an explosion.

• Ifyousmellgasafterdamagefromse-vere weather, leave the building immedi-

ately. Go to a safe place and call MLGW. Do not go back into your home until an MLGW representative says it is safe to do so.

• Ifyouuseaportablegenerator,donotoperate it inside your home due to car-bon monoxide danger. Also, do not plug it into a wall outlet to power your home; thatcancauseafirehazard.

• Shouldyouhavedownedwires,gasleaksorabrokenwatermain,callMLGW’s24-hour,emergency-onlyhotlineat528-4465.

Be Shovel-Ready. Call 811 Before you Dig!

When Severe Weather Strikes, Remember these Safety Tips:

PRSRT STDU. S. POSTAGE PAID

MEMPHIS TNPERMIT 95

Communications and Public RelationsMemphis Light, Gas and Water DivisionP.O. Box 430Memphis,TN38101-0430

Change ServiCe requeSted

CommunityOutreachisproducedbytheCommunicationsandPublicRelationsdepartmentofMLGW.Ifyouhavequestions,concernsorsuggestionsaboutthispublication,pleasefeelfreetocontacttheCommunityRelationsareaofMLGW’sCommunicationsandPublicRelationsdepartmentat(901)528-4820.OrcallGlenThomas,Supervisor,CommunicationsandPublicRelations,at(901)528-4557.Address all correspondence to:

Communications and Public Relations, Memphis Light, Gas and Water DivisionP.O.Box430,Memphis,TN38101-0430

MLGW in the CommunityCommunity outreach and volunteer programs are always partofMLGW’sschedule.Someoftheupcomingeventsthat MLGW will be participating in include the following:

Mar. 7 - Bartlett Business Expo, Bartlett Recreation Center,7700FlahertyPlace,9a.m.-4p.m.Mar. 8-10 - SouthernWomen’sShow,Agricenter,7777WalnutGroveRd.,varioustimesMar. 19 - AlternativeFuelVehicleRoadshowTour,University of Memphis Campus, various timesMar. 20 -UniversityofMemphisOff-CampusHousingInformationFair,9a.m.-2p.m.,MichaelD.RoseTheatreandLectureHallMar. 23 - ScoutsRockatGraceland,3734ElvisPresleyBlvd,9a.m.-2p.m.April 17-21 - Africa and April, Robert R. Church Park, HistoricBealeStreetDistrict,varioustimes

IfyouwouldlikeMLGWtobeanexhibitororspeakeratyourevent,pleasecall528-4820orrequestonlineatwww.mlgw.com/speaker.

®

Interact with MLGW via: Twitter, Blogspot, Facebook and YouTubeJust visit mlgw.com and click on the logos.

It’stemptingtobreakgroundinyoureagernesstostartanoutdoorproject like building a fence or planting a tree. But do you know what liesundergroundwhereyouplantodig?Naturalgaspipelinesandotherutility lines weave beneath the surface throughout our community. Major gas pipelines are marked with a yellow caution sign. But secondary linesaren’taseasilyidentifiable.Don’triskhittingagasline,disruptingneighborhoodservice,andfacingpotentialfinesandrepaircosts.Beforeyoubegindigging,contactTennesseeOneCallat811torequestthataprofessional locating crew mark the underground utility lines on your property. The service is free, and it is federally mandated.

MLGW to the RescueThe following is an unsolicited letter published recently by The Commercial Appeal:

“Thursday night I had to call the MLGW emergency line because I was frightened that I smelled gas after my gas logs unexpectedly went out. Within an hour, two technicians were checking out our gas line and our pilot lights. I would like to thank Joe and Reginald, the technicians who were dispatched to our home. It was reassuring to see their professionalism as they quickly analyzed and fixed our situation. Thanks, MLGW, for your promptness and efficiency.”

Barbara HellmanMemphis

2 3

Zack Randolph Continues to Give Back MLGW's LNG Sales Could Benefit CustomersForthefourthconsecutiveyear,MemphisGrizzliesfor-ward Zach Randolph has demonstrated his commitment to MemphisoutsideoftheFedExForum.Randolphonceagaindonated$20,000toMIFAforMLGW’sPlus-1utilityassistanceprogram.Ad-ditionally, Randolph made personal visits tosomeofthebeneficiariesrecently.Hesigned autographs, cradled babies and encouraged kids in the neighborhood to stayfocused.Healsogaveencouragingwords to families helped by his generos-ity.Thistimearound,100householdswillhave their service restored thanks to Randolph’sgift.

"Icomefromsingleparenthome,momwasonwelfare,IstruggledmyselfsoI

knowwhatit'slike,I’vebeenfortunate,blessed.IjustliketogivebackbecauseIthinkthisissomethingtheLordhasserved me to do, give back, it brings me blessings in other

ways.I'mheretotellyouthatyou'reablessing to me," Randolph said.

Plus-1isaprogramadministeredbyMIFAto pay utility services for people in need. MLGW customers fund the program throughone-timedonationsorbyadd-ing a dollar or more to their utility bill eachmonth.Sinceitsinceptionin1982,Plus-1hasprovidedmillionsofdollarsinassistance to families in crisis in Memphis andShelbyCounty.Forinformationaboutenrolling in the program, visit www.mlgw.com/plus1.

Space Heater/Electric Blanket Giveaway

Besides being prepared for the dangers of severe weather, some knowledge about natural gas safetyiscritical.Itisimportantto know what to be prepared for in case of natural gas trans-mission pipeline problems. • Beawareofwherenatural

gas transmission pipelines are located in your area.

• Ifyourhomeisclosetoamajorgas-supplypipeline,you should know what to do and where to go in case of a pipeline emergency.

• Whenwarnedtoevacuatethe area, do so immediately.

• Almost60percentofnatu-ral gas pipeline accidents are caused by damage from exca-vation or construction. Other causes include rare damage by vehicles or corrosion.

• Wheneveryouplantodigonyour property, check to see whereyourhome’sunder-ground gas lines are located, even for spring planting.

• CallTennesseeOne-Callfirstinordertohaveyourunderground gas (and electri-cal)supplylineslocatedandmarked.Failuretodosocouldresult in an explosion (or

electrocution).Plus,it’sthelaw.

• Simplycall811atleastthreedays before you plan to dig to arrange for a representative to come out and mark the location of your underground pipesandcables.Don’tdiguntil they have done so.

• Forgasappliancesafety,makesure your gas appliances are properly vented and inspected annually by a licensed profes-sional.

Formoreinfoonnaturalgassafety, visit www.mlgw.com.

Memphis Light, Gas and Water Divi-sion’sPresidentandCEOJerryCollinsJr. reported recently that the utility is usingitsabilitytoliquefyandsellnatu-ral gas for additional revenue, and this move could help reduce the heating bills of local residents.

MLGWhasbeenabletosellthelique-fiednaturalgas(LNG)for60-80centsa gallon to other companies, which in turn distribute the resource at truck stops.There,theliquefiednaturalgasissoldasanalternativefuelfor18-wheel-ers.

"It'sbeenpopularbecausethepriceissubstantially cheaper than diesel fuel,"

Collins said. “The fuel is cleaner than gasoline or diesel and environmentally friendly since you don't have the emis-sions associated with those fuels.”

Adiesel-fuelpurchaseisalmostfourtimesmoreexpensivethanoneofliq-uefiednaturalgas.SinceAugust,MLGW

hassold1.1milliongallonsofnaturalgas,bringinginareported$700,000.This year, MLGW expects to increase LNGsalestoalmost$5million,whichrepresentsanincreaseofalmost600percent.

MLGWventuredintotheliquefiedgasretail market after considerations that there are no other facilities with the abilitytoproduceLNGwithinhun-dreds of miles.

"A lower gas bill is a very strong pos-sibility,"Collinssaid."Anyprofitthatismadewillbenefitthecustomerineither gas rate decreases or avoiding any future rate increases."

MLGW Mobile Alerts: Use Them to Your Benefit Did you know that MLGW customers can receive text messagemobilenotificationofbillingduedatesandpos-sibleimpendingcut-offs?Youjustneedtoregisteratwww.mlgw.com/mobilealerts.Youwillneedyour16-digitMLGWaccountnumberandaccesscode, found on your MLGW bill. Participants in the MLGW Mobile Alerts program will receive a notificationapproximatelythreebusinessdayspriortotheirbillingduedateand/orscheduledcut-offdate,

onlyifthereisabalancedue.Thisbenefithelpsourcustom-ers keep track of when their bill is due and hopefully helps

them avoid late charges. Customers will be responsible for paying any fees charged by their carrier for text

messages. Customers can opt out of the program by returning to www.mlgw.com/mobilealerts and selectingtheopt-outoption.MLGWrespectsourcustomers’privacy,andusers’personalinfor-

mation will remain private.

TheU.S.Senatehasconfirmedformer MLGW Commissioner V. Lynn Evans as a member of the Tennessee Valley Author-ity(TVA)BoardofDirectors.Evans, a Memphis accountant, was nominated by President Barack Obama and was sworn

inonJanuary16byFederalJudgeJohnFowlkes.Duringhereight years of service at MLGW, Evans served in leadership roles as both Chair and Vice Chair of the MLGW Board of Com-missioners. Evans is the owner ofacertifiedpublicaccounting

andconsultingfirmprovidingprofessional services with an emphasis on small businesses, nonprofitorganizations,localgovernmental units and the legal community.

V. Lynn Evans to Serve on TVA Board

Lindsey Bailey Harmon, Senior Director for The American Heart Associa-tion's Heart Walk, presents Jerry Collins Jr., MLGW President and CEO, and Steve Wishnia, MLGW Board Chair, with the AHA Fit-Friendly Gold Award in recognition of MLGW’s model wellness programs.

InadequateheatingunitsandlackofmoneycontinuouslyleavemanypeopleintheMid-South scrambling for heat in the bitter cold ofwinter.MLGWrecognizestheneedforassistance during frigid temperatures and triestoassistthosewhomightfindthem-selves without heat.

Recently, MLGW partnered with the NeighborhoodChristianCenter(NCC)to administer its annual giveaway of space

heatersandelectricblankets.NCCcoor-dinated the selection of recipients and the distribution. Recipients had to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for the heaters/blankets,suchasbeing60+yearsofage,handicappedorcertifiedaslow-income households. Customers can go to www.mlgw.com for more weather tips on how to stay warm/cool, depending on the season, and keep energy costs down.

Mary Bean chose a donated heater to help warm her home this winter.

Gas Pipeline Safety

MLGW Earns AHA Gold TheAmericanHeartAssociation(AHA)recentlyhonoredMLGWasoneofMemphis’pro-healthemployers.LindseyBaileyHarmon,HeartWalk'sSeniorDirectorforAHA,presentedtheGoldFit-FriendlyAwardatarecentBoardofCommissioners meeting.

Promoting a wellness culture, offering physical activity sup-port and providing nutrition activities were reasons given for MLGW earning the award. “MLGW has an exceptional culture of employee health and wellness that all other companiesinourcommunitywouldbenefitfrombyincor-poratingsimilarinitiativesintotheirorganizationalcultures,”Harmonsaid.