The Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution Aug. 30 that encourages Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division to continue getting its electrical power from TVA, to keep rates reasonable and adequately maintain infrastructure, and that asks for “balanced ratepayer representation” on the MLGW Board of Commissioners.
The resolution will be approved by all municipalities surrounding Memphis, including Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland and Millington.
Chief Administrative Officer Mark Brown said the resolution followed a series of meetings among mayors and city administrators with MLGW leaders, noting more than 30 percent of MLGW customers are outside the city of Memphis.
Mayor Keith McDonald said there are two openings for suburban representation on the MLGW board, but they are positions that don’t vote, so the resolution asks for voting representation on the board.
The resolutions are not binding, but the send the will of suburban leaders.
On Thursday, Sept. 1, MLGW management could make a recommendation to its board on whether to leave its 80-year power supplier, TVA, and join Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
MLGW is TVA’s largest customer and serves more than 430,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.
