MLGW electric rates, summer bills and outages
MLGW's 385,015 residential customers in Tennessee paid an average of 13.24¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $151.19 a month on 1,142 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 13.85¢, and 13.80¢ in August 2026.2
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
1 of 95 Tennessee counties served (EIA-861 2025)
MLGW's residential average rose 8.9% in 2025, to 13.24¢ per kWh, while use per home barely moved, so nearly all of the +9.2%1 rise in the average bill came from price. Its homes also differ from the rest of Tennessee's large utilities in when they use the most electricity, August rather than February, and in how long they went without power in 2025.
MLGW's price per kWh: three periods, one definition
Memphis Light, Gas and Water is a municipal utility owned by the City of Memphis (Memphis Light, Gas and Water (City of Memphis) in EIA's records). On the electric side it served 385,015 residential customers in 2025, 12.0% of the homes on Tennessee utilities' lines, second only to Nashville Electric Service1.
Searches for "MLGW rates per kWh" have three dated answers in EIA's data:
| Period | EIA survey | Residential average price |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar 2025 | EIA-861, final | 13.24¢ per kWh1 |
| Last 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026 | EIA-861M, 2026 months preliminary | 13.85¢ per kWh |
| August 20263 only | EIA-861M, preliminary | 13.80¢ per kWh2 |
All three are average revenue per kWh: what MLGW billed its residential electric customers, divided by the kWh they used. Fixed monthly charges and adjustments are folded in, so none of the three matches a single line of MLGW's rate schedule, and a household that uses little pays more per kWh than one that uses a lot. Gas and water service, which MLGW also provides, are outside these figures.
Bills: low in autumn, highest in August
The average MLGW home used 1,142 kWh a month in 2025 and paid $151.191. Both were below the Tennessee averages of 1,180 kWh and $156.034. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) the average was 1,131 kWh and $156.732 a month, but few months were close to it.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 1,415 | $185.88 | 13.14¢ |
| October 2025 | 1,035 | $129.43 | 12.51¢ |
| November 2025 | 736 | $96.38 | 13.09¢ |
| December 2025 | 991 | $127.57 | 12.87¢ |
| January 2026 | 1,051 | $145.59 | 13.85¢ |
| February 2026 | 1,131 | $157.30 | 13.91¢ |
| March 2026 | 764 | $122.94 | 16.10¢ |
| April 2026 | 842 | $127.97 | 15.20¢ |
| May 2026 | 844 | $121.61 | 14.41¢ |
| June 2026 | 1,316 | $186.61 | 14.18¢ |
| July 2026 | 1,726 | $241.49 | 13.99¢ |
| August 2026 | 1,731 | $238.80 | 13.80¢ |
EIA's monthly survey puts MLGW's lowest month in November 2025, at 736 kWh per home and an average bill of $96.38, and its highest in August 2026, at 1,731 kWh and $238.80. That timing sets Memphis apart within the state. Tennessee as a whole used the most electricity per home in February 20263, and so did the other large utilities: Nashville Electric Service (February 2026), Knoxville Utilities Board (February 2026) and EPB in Chattanooga (February 20262). EIA's data do not record which fuel each home heats with, so they show the pattern without explaining it. For a household budget, the practical point is that MLGW's largest electric bills arrive in late summer.
The 2025 increase came from price
Between 2024 and 2025 MLGW's residential average went from 12.16¢ per kWh to 13.24¢ per kWh (+8.9%). Use per home was almost unchanged, 1,139 kWh and then 1,142 kWh a month, so the average bill followed the price, from $138.505 to $151.19 (+9.2%). Statewide, the residential average rose 6.4%6 over the same year. Among the large Tennessee utilities, Knoxville Utilities Board rose more (+10.3%) and Nashville Electric Service less (+4.2%1).
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary).
Show the numbers
| Month | MLGW (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 12.99¢ | 1,146 | $148.94 |
| February 2025 | 12.99¢ | 1,052 | $136.76 |
| March 2025 | 13.98¢ | 885 | $123.77 |
| April 2025 | 14.02¢ | 794 | $111.32 |
| May 2025 | 13.43¢ | 897 | $120.51 |
| June 2025 | 13.68¢ | 1,252 | $171.30 |
| July 2025 | 13.28¢ | 1,740 | $230.96 |
| August 2025 | 13.19¢ | 1,748 | $230.54 |
| September 2025 | 13.14¢ | 1,415 | $185.88 |
| October 2025 | 12.51¢ | 1,035 | $129.43 |
| November 2025 | 13.09¢ | 736 | $96.38 |
| December 2025 | 12.87¢ | 991 | $127.57 |
| January 2026 | 13.85¢ | 1,051 | $145.59 |
| February 2026 | 13.91¢ | 1,131 | $157.30 |
| March 2026 | 16.10¢ | 764 | $122.94 |
| April 2026 | 15.20¢ | 842 | $127.97 |
| May 2026 | 14.41¢ | 844 | $121.61 |
| June 2026 | 14.18¢ | 1,316 | $186.61 |
| July 2026 | 13.99¢ | 1,726 | $241.49 |
| August 2026 | 13.80¢ | 1,731 | $238.80 |
The rise continued into 2026. The 12-month average to August 2026, 13.85¢ per kWh, is above the 2025 figure, and in August 2026 MLGW customers paid 13.80¢ per kWh, +4.6%2 against August 2025. Tennessee's residential average for the same month was +2.5%3 on a year earlier. These 2026 months are preliminary; EIA's next monthly release is due November 24, 2026.
Mid-table in Tennessee, below most large US utilities
On the 2025 average, MLGW ranked 24th highest among the 55 Tennessee utilities with 10,000 or more residential customers, 0.2% above the Tennessee average. The state's range among those utilities ran from 11.54¢ per kWh at City of Bristol to 15.05¢ per kWh1 at City of Newport.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential bill |
|---|---|
| EPB (TN) | $144.47 |
| Nashville Electric Service (TN) | $146.00 |
| MLGW (TN) | $151.19 |
| Knoxville Utilities Board (TN) | $153.38 |
| Volunteer Energy Cooperative (TN) | $158.32 |
| Middle Tennessee Electric (TN) | $161.57 |
| Cumberland EMC (TN) | $197.71 |
Nationally, MLGW ranked 43rd lowest of 177 US utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers, under their median of 15.07¢ per kWh. It was also 8.6% below the national average for public power, which was 14.49¢ per kWh1 in 2025. Memphis sits in the Tennessee Valley Authority's region: the federally owned TVA, according to EIA, covers most of Tennessee and provides most of the state's electricity.
More outage minutes than the state average
MLGW customers averaged 349 minutes without power in 2025, counting major events, against 230 minutes for Tennessee. Leaving out major event days, the IEEE 1366 measure that removes the largest storms, MLGW's figure was 283 minutes, against 151 minutes statewide, so the gap remains once the largest events are removed. Customers had 2.23 interruptions on average, against 1.637 for the state.
Source: EIA-861 2025, reliability. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | outage minutes per customer (all events) |
|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee Electric (TN) | 50 |
| Cumberland EMC (TN) | 221 |
| Knoxville Utilities Board (TN) | 274 |
| MLGW (TN) | 349 |
One utility for Shelby County
EIA's 2025 territory records place MLGW in 1 county, Shelby County8, and list no other distribution utility reporting service there. Tennessee also has no retail choice, so a home in MLGW's territory buys its electricity from MLGW.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 1 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Shelby County | none |
Smart meters, and almost no time-of-use
Advanced meters made up 94.7% of MLGW's residential meters in 2025. MLGW reported a time-of-use offering to EIA, but only 59 residential customers were enrolled, 0.0%10 of the total once rounded. In practice nearly every MLGW home pays the same price per kWh at any hour; the time-of-use guide explains how such plans work where they are common.
Business customers and help with bills
MLGW's 43,987 commercial customers paid an average of 13.04¢ per kWh in 2025, close to the residential figure, with an average bill of $1,479.86 a month. Its 93 industrial accounts paid 7.62¢ per kWh. All classes combined, the 429,095 accounts averaged 12.15¢ per kWh1.
Tennessee received $69.8 million11 in federal LIHEAP energy assistance for fiscal 2026; the guide to help paying an electric bill explains how to apply. For the whole state, electricity in Tennessee has the comparison.
MLGW rates: common questions
What does MLGW charge per kWh for electricity?
MLGW's residential customers paid an average of 13.24¢ per kWh1 in 2025 and 13.85¢ per kWh2 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026; 2026 months preliminary). Both are EIA averages: residential electric revenue divided by kWh sold, with fixed monthly charges and adjustments included. The individual charges are in MLGW's own rate schedules.
How much is the average MLGW electric bill?
$151.19 a month in 2025 for 1,142 kWh1, electricity only (MLGW's gas and water charges are not part of EIA's figure). Over the last 12 months the monthly average ran from $96.38 in November 2025 to $241.49 in July 20262.
Did MLGW electric rates go up?
The average price did. It rose from 12.16¢ per kWh5 in 2024 to 13.24¢ per kWh1 in 2025, and in August 20263 it was 13.80¢ per kWh, +4.6%2 against August 2025 (preliminary). EIA reports what customers paid, not the individual rate decisions behind it.
Can I buy electricity from someone other than MLGW?
No. Tennessee has no retail electric choice (0.0%1 of residential customers bought from a competitive supplier in 2025), and EIA's territory records list no other distribution utility in Shelby County.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.