Empowering Kentucky’s future through smart investments

We never stop working to make Kentucky a better place to live and work. We’re preparing for the future with upgrades that make the energy you rely on every day even more safe and reliable, all while keeping rates 18% below the national average and growing economic development in the Commonwealth. 

Here are just some of the ways our employees are working to give customers the best possible service they deserve: 

Transmission pole replacement

Investing in our energy superhighways

Across our high voltage electric transmission system — which serves as the energy superhighway that transports electricity and ultimately delivers it into the distribution system that provides electric service to businesses, neighborhoods and homes — we’re performing numerous projects to enhance our system. This includes upgrading our transmission lines, replacing aging wooden poles with steel, and clearing trees and other vegetation around system equipment.

Investing in faster service restoration

Throughout our electric system as a whole, we’re installing automated restoration equipment along power lines to restore service faster than ever before and centralizing grid operations.

Coupled with our crews’ fieldwork, our investments mean greater efficiencies, more real-time data, improved reliability and a better experience for customers. Already, our automated equipment has prevented more than 150,000 service interruptions and saved nearly 29 million minutes when customers would have been without power. In fact, ongoing efforts across our electric system have reduced how often and how long power outages last by about 20% since 2011.

Lineman standing in front of a utility pole with reclosers
Utility workers next to a large natural gas pipe

Investing in safe, reliable natural gas service

The same type of detailed planning that takes place for our electric system extends into our natural gas system, which is made up of more than 4,700 miles of natural gas transmission and distribution lines; compressor stations that move the gas through the system to customers; and natural gas storage fields that enable us to purchase gas when costs are low, store it for later use, and pass the savings to customers.

To ensure safe, reliable natural gas service, we employ comprehensive natural gas safety measures that include monitoring of our system, 24/7, by a central Gas Control Room; conducting leak surveys; operating a Pipeline Integrity Management Program that identifies and minimizes potential pipeline risks; and educating community partners and the general public about natural gas safety. In addition to those ongoing efforts, we’re replacing aging gas lines and enhancing our system to accommodate economic growth and expansion.

Investing in economic development

We’re supporting the community’s larger efforts and helping Kentuckians get back on their feet, from Louisville to Lexington, Maysville to Wickliffe, and all points in between.

We’ve already donated more than $250,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts across the communities we serve and are stepping up and joining forces with others by: 

  • Partnering with communities across the state to evaluate the possibility of new industrial and commercial sites. We’re also helping evaluate existing sites to determine if additional investment can increase exposure to our local communities. 
  • Incentivizing local communities to pursue economic development initiatives that create more jobs for Kentuckians. 
  • Offering an economic development rider as an incentive that can be used to encourage expansions and new business locations. 
  • Promoting a Green Tariff to help businesses meet their renewable energy and sustainability goals. 
Economic Development
Business owner with face mask holding open sign
Showing the bridge downtown Louisville at night

Investing in recycling that delivers savings to customers

At a time when many are regaining their financial footing during the challenging climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re on track this year to return to customers $10 million in savings from beneficially recycling the by-products left over from the power generation process. 

  •  As approved for many uses by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, our by-products are able to be safely recycled and beneficially used to make products like concrete, cement, fertilizer, porcelain tile, wallboard and roofing shingles. In fact, Louisville’s new Lincoln and Lewis and Clark bridges were constructed using cement with fly ash from LG&E’s Mill Creek power plant.
  • Since 2016, the recycling of our by-products has generated more than $15 million in savings for our customers. Despite the ongoing pandemic, this year we’re on track to beneficially use nearly 90% of our by-products and we expect to return $10 million to our customers.

Empowering Sustainability in Kentucky

We’re integrating sustainability into every part of our operations and through customer partnerships.

Learn more
a high angle view of the solar share sections