Memphis Light, Gas and Water strives to provide its customers with dependable, low-cost, environmentally conscious service. In keeping with this environmental stewardship, MLGW is working diligently to help find answers to concerns about possible health effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF), and other environmental issues.

EMFs are emitted by all devices carrying electricity, including electric transmission and distribution lines and substation equipment, home electrical wiring, and home appliances. Government officials in the U.S. and U.K. have focused attention on this issue, and MLGW supports the current efforts to determine whether EMFs cause any health problems.

MLGW is supplied with electricity by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA is a member of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit research institution that has been sponsoring EMF research for more than 30 years. EPRI has invested approximately $150 million in EMF research since 1973.

As a TVA distributor, MLGW has access to the latest EPRI research information and has served as a participant in an EPRI study on EMF. MLGW is also a member of the Utility Health Sciences Group. This organization provides MLGW and other utilities with updates on the latest EMF studies and findings.

The lack of conclusive data on possible health effects of EMF mandates the need for further research. In the meantime, because MLGW shares the concern of its customers about the possible effects of EMF, the utility has adopted a policy of prudent avoidance. This means that MLGW will try to avoid or reduce EMF exposure when designing new transmission and distribution facilities. MLGW supports efforts to provide timely, accurate information regarding this issue.

For more information on how to limit exposure to EMFs from household appliances, go to:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/emf-02.pdf