What we don’t know about xAI, what we know about Elon Musk and the space between the two
The known and unknown about Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
There are 157 article(s) tagged Memphis Light Gas and Water Division:
The known and unknown about Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
The final vote on the joint city-county ordinance came a day after the Shelby County Board of Commissioners approved the same compromise.
At an Arlington luncheon, MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen discussed plans to modernize and upgrade infrastructure to lower the number of homes and businesses that lose power during storms.
An MLGW board member is coming with a resolution urging the Memphis City Council to put a city charter change on the ballot later this year that would expand the board to seven voting members. The two suburban appointees now on the board do not have voting power. The issue is a volatile one.
Council chairman JB Smiley Jr. is proposing lower dollar figures for contracts and pay contracts that must be voted on by the council after they are approved by MLGW’s board.Related content:
The new dollar thresholds for council oversight of contracts and pay come as the council considers a $200,000 annual salary for the utility’s new vice president of corporate communications.
The utility expects the average customer will end up paying about $90 less this year as compared with last year, but January’s bills aren’t yet trending in that direction.
MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis was one vote short in a council test vote two weeks ago. The council also expects an update on winter storm recovery effort by MLGW during Tuesday, Jan. 23, committee sessions.
MLGW is planning to do routine gas maintenance Dec. 7 near the Mississippi state line.
The Memphis City Council will also tackle moving state funding for the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovations and a resolution to give Mayor-elect Paul Young a raise.
Memphis Mayoral contender Paul Young also talked on “Behind The Headlines” about “stopping the bleeding” from violent crime as the next mayor’s top priority of the next mayor.
In the past, threats to the area’s water supply were rare. But, in recent years, local power problems have been the driving force behind water crises.
“In some cases, we’re seven, eight, nine years behind. We have got to get back on schedule, and we will. The City Council has already approved this. My board has already approved this,” MLGW’s CEO said.
Historical data from MLGW shows the worst storms in its history, based on the number of customers who lost power. More than a third of those happened in the past year and half. Power outages spike Tuesday during severe thunderstorms, heat advisoryRelated story:
Doug McGowen said he is working to improve the service Memphis Light Gas and Water Division provides to residents as if the company has to earn their service.
“The risk of additional forced blackouts is low for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” said MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen.
Memphis will spend $42 million to replace all 77,000 of its high-pressure sodium streetlights by the end of the year — a move that is equivalent to taking about 10,000 cars off the road.
While there are real savings if MLGW buys power outside of TVA, according to EnerVision, it’s not a figure that will transform MLGW or the City of Memphis’ budget, but ratepayers would feel its impact.
In the meantime, MLGW is replacing some of the broken water registers with analog ones.
MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure.
During Tuesday city council committee sessions, officials are expected to have more to say about MLGW’s five-year, $1.2 billion infrastructure upgrade that is now expected to be completed by 2027, two years later than the original 2025 target date.
Crime and the city’s power grid were among the major issues and stories of 2022 as discussed on a “Behind The Headlines” reporters roundtable.
Thecouncil scorecard looks at the moves of city chief operating officer Doug McGowen to head Memphis Light Gas and Water Division and Chandell Ryan to the number two post at City Hall as well as a primer on both positions.
Before his confirmation by the Memphis City Council this week, Doug McGowen indicated MLGW will move closer to Memphis’ day-to-day operations. He also said the city-owned utility could expand to include broadband and has to improve its responsiveness to Memphians.
The council also confirmed Chandell Ryan as the city’s new chief operating officer — the first woman to hold the No. 2 post in city government.