Rolling blackouts lasting longer than expected
Thelma and Kevin Worrall, from England, brave the blistering cold temperatures and icy conditions while taking a stroll downtown on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Rolling blackouts are lasting longer than expected, and in areas not included in the previously announced plan from Memphis, Light, Gas and Water.
The Tennessee Valley Authority implemented a never-before-taken action called Step 50 to mandate rolling blackouts across its service area on Friday, Dec. 23 to avoid widespread outages.
MLGW initiated its first round of rolling blackouts on Friday morning just before the TVA rescinded its order. At the time, MLGW said it was mandated to reduce its total electric load by 5%.
They’re underway again Saturday morning, Dec. 24, and this time, MLGW has to shed 10% of its load.
Because MLGW has to reduce its load by more than expected, President Doug McGowen said it had to expand those outages to other areas that were no included in the initial plan.
The blackouts were expected to last about 30 minutes at a time, a few times a day, but McGowen said it’s taking longer than expected to get power restored.
It’s unknown when this might end.
“I understand and share your frustration and will continue to do all I can and the MLGW team can to get better, share information and get us through this region wide crisis,” McGowen said.
More information is expected at a noon press conference.
Topics
TVA MLGW blackoutsKeely Brewer
Keely Brewer is a Report for America corps member covering environmental impacts on communities of color in Memphis. She is working in partnership with the Ag & Water Desk, a sustainable reporting network aimed at telling water and agriculture stories across the Mississippi River Basin.
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