News Releases

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) – This winter’s weather conditions aren’t just exhausting those enduring them, they’re exhausting vital resources as well. With more than a month of winter left, extreme conditions have already dried up funding for essential programs needed to serve the homeless population and other vulnerable community members who need assistance to make it through the bitterly cold season. In the Louisville area alone, funds for shelters’ White Flag nights, which provide additional dollars per person to participating shelters when temperatures dip below 35 degrees, are no longer available. But while the dollars have ceased, cold temperatures and icy conditions have not, and bills to provide common necessities to those in need keep adding up.

In an effort to ease the deficit Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities Companies are donating nearly $50,000 to a dozen shelters and day centers across the utilities’ service territory.  LG&E is also donating funds to the Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville, a nonprofit advocacy organization whose members serve the needs of Louisville’s homeless population.

“From the beginning of October 2013 through the end of December 2,700 more people were assisted through White Flag than during the same time period in 2012,” said Natalie Harris, executive director of Louisville’s Coalition for the Homeless.  “With that kind of increased need for services, the relief dollars from LG&E and KU will absolutely make it easier for the day centers and emergency shelters throughout our community to meet the needs of the homeless population under the current very difficult circumstances.”

In addition to working with area shelters, LG&E and KU are also willing to work with residential customers challenged by the cold weather’s impact on their utility bills. Residential customers anticipating difficulty paying their bills are encouraged to contact customer service representatives, who will address their individual situation. LG&E residential customers can call (502) 589-1444.  KU residential customers can dial (800) 981-0600.

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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 a total of 1.2 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 318,000 natural gas and 393,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 539,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.