(Memphis) MLGW’s Reconnect Plan was supposed to give customers a break as the temperatures plummeted over the weekend.
Customers could get their power back on by paying $225 and entering a payment plan, and offices were suppose to be open from 8 a.m. til 5 p.m. Sunday.
“The temperatures started dropping. We had precipitation, the streets were projected to be icy. We closed the offices at 3 p.m. verses 5 p.m.,” said Gale Jones Carson with MLGW.
Customers who showed up after 3 were left out in the cold.
“They could have given us some type of chance,” MLGW customer Annie Wormley told us Sunday as she stood outside a closed payment center.
After checking the forecast, MLGW’s president decided the workers, there to assist people who had no heat, should go home to their heat.
We asked what message did it send that the program designed to address the weather shutdown early because of the weather.
“I hope it sends the message we are concerned about the safety of our customers and we are concerned about the safety of our employees,” said Carson.
The topic lit up WREG’s Facebook Page.
“No they should not have closed early. They were inside nice and warm,” wrote Shelia Denise.
“It didn’t get to the extreme cold temps til after the sun went down, so closing at 3 was dumb,” wrote Stephanie Hunt.
The reconnect program re-opened Monday.
Kourtney Batts, mother of a 2-year-old with another baby on the way, needed help with her power that’s been off a month.
“It got real cold inside the apartment. I couldn’t handle it no more, so I moved back with my mother,” said Batts.
Molly Adams, Batts’ fellow church member at Christ’s Community Church, helped her come up with the $225 reconnect fee.
“People have to have hope when it is cold like this,” said Adams.
MLGW says over the weekend, 19 people signed up to get their power reconnected.
Those who missed out still have until January 10.
Go to any MLGW payment center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.