Conversations about power outage recovery continued at the Memphis City Council's Sept. 1 meeting.
The Aug. 22 bow echo storm that put about 140,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers out of power at some point cost the utility company an estimated $18 million in electricity restoration efforts across the city.
Doug McGowen, MLGW's president and CEO, spoke on the ongoing recovery at the Council's MLGW Committee meeting, joking that he was the "most popular man in Memphis" when announcing initial restoration estimates.
Though McGowen's forecast rang true, with many customers without power for several days, he said this recent restoration was three days faster than one following a similar storm in July 2023, with 98% of MLGW customers restored
by the night of Aug. 27. McGowen credited efficiency improvements to proactive substation equipment and pole replacement, as well as increased tree trimming efforts, all of which lessened the impact of the storm.
But a small number customers were still without power on Sept. 1. Customers with damage to their home's electrical equipment must first bring in an electrician to do repairs before MLGW can restore power, a message that McGowen said his teams have been pushing out continuously.
Last week, the City of Memphis announced it would be supporting residents with food assistance money after the extended power outages, but the funds ran out within hours of the program's launch. Future relief money seems to be dependent on private donations.
Council appoints new faces to MATA board
The council also appointed new members to the Memphis Area Transit Authority board.
The MATA board is responsible for governing Memphis' public transportation system. The following appointees, which came recommended by Memphis Mayor Paul Young, were approved at the Sept. 1 meeting:
- Sharon Harris
- Tate Wilson
- Willie Gregory
- Gwen Sutton
- William M. Mallory IV
- Allison Donald
- Antwoine Clark
- Brandon Arrindell (reappointment)
The new board members' terms are varying lengths. Maya Siggers, who was appointed in 2024, remains on the board.
"I think that they have the expertise and capability to lead this organization as we go into the next chapter for MATA," Young said during the Council's Personnel and Governmental Affairs Committee meeting.
The slate of appointments comes at a tumultuous time for MATA.
Nine new board members were appointed in late 2024, but five of them resigned just months later after city officials extended the search for MATA's new CEO.
Bacarra Mauldin was fired as the authority's interim CEO in March 2025 after an internal investigation found she had violated MATA's procurement and travel policies. Bacarra filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court earlier this year, which attorneys for the City of Memphis and MATA quickly moved to federal court.
Mauldin's eight-page complaint alleged the city and MATA engaged in "unsubstantiated personal attacks and a smear campaign" against her. She requested she be reinstated as MATA CEO, with backpay and benefits, or compensatory damages up to $1 million.
On June 2, the city countersued Mauldin and asked U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman for the Western District of Tennessee to force Mauldin to pay damages. The specific request asked for Mauldin to pay damages for financial mistakes at MATA, damages for money she is accused of misusing and for Mauldin to pay back her entire salary from her time as CEO.
It is unclear how much in damages the city and MATA requested in their counterclaim.
Mauldin's trial date in federal court is currently set for August 2027.
MATA still does not have a permanent CEO. The authority is currently run by a trusteeship with Rodrick Holmes at the helm as interim CEO.
Young said revitalizing MATA's board will not change the trusteeship for now, but will help reestablish the authority's structure and eventually play a part in hiring a permanent CEO.
Other agenda items
The council also approved some big spending projects for a few of the city's public parks.
This includes the allocation of $4 million to the construction of the Audubon Golf Clubhouse, and the spending of a National Park Service grant of over $3 million on improvements to Gooch Park.
Council members also approved a street name change to honor former Mayor Lee Harris, though not without some pushback from Councilman Jeff Warren and Councilman Edmund Ford Sr. Union Avenue between Dunlap Street and Manassas Street will be changed to recognize Harris, a resolution spearheaded by Councilwoman Jerri Green.
Also, $300,000 will go to Memphis Animal Services for "much needed" renovations and expansion, following a council vote.
Commercial Appeal Reporter Lucas Finton contributed to this story.
Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Power restoration work cost MLGW $18 million after recent bow echo storm
