Widespread outages continue after storm; restoration expected over several days
Memphis — Thousands of households across the city were still without electricity as crews with Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) continued restoration efforts following the Aug. 22 storm, which the utility has described as one of the most damaging in its history.
As of 2:50 p.m. on Aug. 24, MLGW reported that about 8 percent of customers — a little more than 35,000 accounts — remained without power. Utility officials warned that some customers should not expect service to be restored for several days as line crews work through widespread damage.
"Those without electricity shouldn't plan on getting it back for several days," MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said.
MLGW said it expects to restore power to the majority of customers by the evening of Thursday, Aug. 27, if recovery progresses as planned. The company said customers will begin to see estimated repair times for their specific outages once the total number of outages falls below 30,000.
What residents should check and who is responsible
MLGW reminded homeowners to inspect their weatherhead — the protective hood at the top of the outdoor electrical conduit — for damage. If a weatherhead is impaired, MLGW’s guidance states the homeowner is responsible for hiring a licensed electrician to repair the service drop before MLGW’s Code Enforcement team can inspect and restore service.
The utility noted that customers may request MLGW employees to lower service lines for necessary repairs to electric service equipment at no charge. Customers are directed to review the company's natural disaster guide for additional details on the process.
Local support and resources
To support residents in heavily affected neighborhoods, MLGW deployed its Emergency Response Information Center, essentially a mobile command vehicle, to the Hickory Hill Community Center. The utility set up a team there to provide updates and assistance and to offer device charging for residents.
- When: Monday, Aug. 24, 1 to 6 p.m.
- Where: Hickory Hill Community Center
- Services: Outage information, device charging and in-person staff from MLGW
A 4 p.m. press conference at the center was scheduled to be streamed on MLGW’s Facebook page for those who could not attend in person. The utility also announced a temporary pause on service disconnections for non-payment while restoration work is ongoing; it has not set a date to resume those disconnections.
Ongoing restoration work and what to expect
MLGW characterized the Aug. 22 event as the seventh most damaging storm in its history. Crews and contractors have been working across neighborhoods to assess damage, replace or repair poles and lines, and coordinate inspections required before individual services can be energized.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Customers without power (as of 2:50 p.m., Aug. 24) | ~35,000 (about 8%) |
| Estimated restoration for majority | By evening, Aug. 27 |
| Disconnections for non-payment | Temporarily paused |
Officials cautioned that restoration timelines are subject to change depending on the extent of damage discovered during field assessments and weather conditions. Customers are encouraged to follow MLGW communications on social platforms and the company website for the latest information.
For homeowners unsure whether their outage is related to damaged private equipment, MLGW urged residents to examine their weatherheads and contact licensed electricians if repairs are needed; only after an approved inspection can MLGW restore service. The utility also reiterated that customers can request line-lowering assistance at no cost.
As restoration continues, Memphis residents affected by the outage should plan for several days without power in some areas, monitor MLGW updates and use local community centers and utility resources for charging and information.
