Editing Memphis, Tennessee (section)

=== Utilities ===
Memphis's primary utility provider is the [[Memphis Light, Gas and Water]] Division (MLGW). This is the largest three-service municipal utility in the United States, providing electricity, natural gas, and pure water service to all residents of Shelby County. Prior to that, Memphis was served by two primary electric companies, which were merged into the Memphis Power Company.<ref name="MLGWhistory">{{cite web |title=A History of Performance |publisher=Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division |url=http://www.mlgw.com/about/history |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>

The City of Memphis bought the private company in 1939 to form MLGW,<ref name="MLGWhistory" /><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Re Memphis Power & Light Co. & Tennessee Valley Authority |vol=1 |reporter=F.P.C. |opinion=809 |court=[[Federal Power Commission|FPC]] |year=1939 |url=}}</ref> which was an early customer of electricity from the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] (TVA). In 1954 the [[Dixon-Yates contract]] was proposed to make more power available to the city from the TVA, but the contract was cancelled; it had been an issue for the Democrats in the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1954|1954 Congressional elections]].

MLGW still buys most of its power from TVA, and the company pumps its own fresh water from the Memphis Aquifer, using more than 180 water wells.