LG&E and KU offer important tips during National Safety Month
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) – Summer’s heat can lead to severe storms that can pop up in a hurry. During National Safety Month this June, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company are offering tips for keeping you and your family safe all season long.
- Never take a bath or shower during severe storms.
- Always keep an up-to-date emergency kit at the ready, including nonperishable food, plenty of drinking water, first-aid supplies, a cell phone charger (with a portable power bank), a weather radio and extra batteries. Be sure everyone knows where the emergency kit is located.
- Have a place to stay in case there is an extended emergency affecting your home.
- Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car.
- Be sure to store all flammable liquids (gas, paint thinners, etc.) outside your home, in proper containers and out of reach of children.
If you lose power and need to report an outage, remember to use the LG&E and KU mobile app. (Download the app by visiting lge-ku.com/app or by searching “LG&E KU ODP” via the App Store or Google Play.) You can also text OUTAGE to 454358 (4LGEKU). Text STATUS for updates.
If you encounter a downed power line, stay away and report it by calling 502-589-1444 (800-331-7370 outside Louisville) and pressing 1-1-3 if you’re an LG&E customer, and by calling 800-981-0600 and pressing 1-1-2 if you’re a KU customer.
Make safety a priority during outdoor projects
When it’s not storming, summer can also be a great time to complete outdoor projects. Before checking off tasks on your to-do list, make sure to follow these tips and stay safe.
- Check electrical cords for worn spots or frayed wires and replace any damaged cords.
- Only use electrical products that are marked for outdoor use.
- Use bright colored extension cords when working in the yard to avoid accidentally cutting the wire.
- Always be aware of overhead and underground power lines to avoid injury.
- Carry extension ladders parallel to the ground and check for the location of overhead power lines before setting the ladder upright.
- Have underground utility lines marked at least two full business days before doing any digging. Call 811 or visit kentucky811.org to submit a locate request. KU is a member utility in certain parts of its service territory. In areas where KU is not a member utility of the 811 service, customers need to contact KU directly to request an underground electric line locate service. Once all lines have been marked, keep at least two feet away from either side of the markings.
Visit LG&E and KU’s extensive online library of information for customers and community partners about electric and natural gas safety.
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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 335,000 natural gas and 436,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 545,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and 28,000 in five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.
