MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Light, Gas and Water announced they will stop disconnections until mid September.
During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, MLGW told local leaders they stopped disconnections the last few days as students head back to class virtually. The president and CEO of MLGW honored Memphis City Council’s request to hold utility disconnections for the next two weeks.
“We are willing to extend our moratorium until Sept. 14., to allow customers better opportunities,” J.T. Young, MLGW President, said.
The decision came amid talks to allocate additional funds to assist with a 22 million dollar deficit MLGW is facing due to unpaid bills and fees. It started with city council member Martavius Jones who presented a resolution to use $5.7 Million of Cares Act funding meant for the Memphis Zoo to instead help with unpaid utilities bills. He proposed making up the difference from the Memphis Police department and Memphis Fire department.
Thousands of Memphians owe millions of unpaid utility bills. Many of them saw their services get disconnected last week while others waited hours in long lines trying to make payment arrangements.
Many families are struggling to make ends meet and are trying to get their services reconnected as the school district has gone virtual this week.
