This is the first piece in MLK50’s ongoing series on how utility cutoffs impact working-class Memphians.
Nearly one in five Memphis households experienced at least one utility cutoff for nonpayment in 2025, according to data obtained by MLK50: Justice Through Journalism through a public records request. Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division is a nationwide leader in utility cutoffs, with household disconnections rising by nearly 40% over the last decade.
According to MLGW, 75,378 households in Memphis experienced at least one utility disconnection for nonpayment last year. As of December 31, the company served 379,420 households. That’s a household cutoff rate of 19.9%…