In 2012, the PSC approved LG&E's request for a five-year natural gas line program, similar to what many other gas utilities around the country have done, to proactively inspect and replace natural gas service risers and to assume responsibility for the portion of the gas service from the customer's property line or utility easement to the house or business. LG&E is now responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing and replacing natural gas service lines.

Effective Jan. 1, 2013, a new line item, "Gas Line Tracker" was added to the bill for LG&E natural gas customers to cover the costs associated with these initiatives. The amount of the new line item is:

LG&E Residential Natural Gas Customers: $5.14 per meter per month
LG&E Commercial Natural Gas Customers: $27.41 per meter per month

The new line item also includes the cost of the LG&E's ongoing program to replace aging portions of the natural gas distribution system. An added benefit of this new program is that it relieves customers of any expenses associated with maintaining the service lines since LG&E is now responsible for making any necessary repairs to that portion of the service.

Customers who paid to have their service lines replaced between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2012 may be eligible for reimbursement. Customers who feel they are entitled to reimbursement should contact Underwriters Safety and Claims (US&C) at 1-877-252-4839.

To expedite the process, customers should have a copy of their plumbing bill, property address, date the work was performed and any other applicable information available when they file the claim for the service reimbursement.

Only services that were replaced as a result of a leak are eligible for reimbursement. The following are not eligible for reimbursement:

• New service lines associated with new accounts (i.e. new house or subdivision)
• Meter loop repairs
• Service renovations/relocations to accommodate a customer project (i.e. addition of a gas generator or building a garage over the existing service line)
• Houseline repairs/renovations

Customers who received reimbursement as part of LG&E's natural gas main replacement program are not eligible to receive a second reimbursement.