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(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) – IDG's CIO magazine today announces LG&E and KU Energy, LLC as a recipient of the 2014 CIO 100. The 27th annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).

"For 27 years now, the CIO 100 awards have honored the innovative use of technology to deliver genuine business value," said Maryfran Johnson, Editor in Chief of CIO Magazine & Events. "Our 2014 winners are an outstanding example of the transformative power of IT to drive everything from revenue growth to competitive advantage."

LG&E and KU Energy received the award for a one-of-a-kind iPad app allowing the Aerial Patrol group to capture transmission data easily without having to manually download information into a computer. The app was featured in an edition of the Wall Street Journal in December 2013.  “This app is saving us hundreds of hours of input time, making the inspection operation very efficient,” said Robby Trimble, manager of Transmission Line Services.

The app was a collaborative effort of the company’s transmission and information technology group.  “Working with the employees, we were able to design, build, test and tweak the user interface and functionality of the app for the patrollers’ specific use,” said Jim Lepianka, manager of .NET and Mobile applications.  “It was created just for them as they fly over our lines.”

“We’re so proud of this award because this app was built by our own employees,” said Chief Information Officer Eric Slavinsky. “Just as importantly, we were able to collaborate with the Aerial Patrol group to create a very practical app that has transformed the way they do their job. We estimated it will reduce data input time by approximately 95 percent each year, in addition to improving accuracy, safety and reliability. Now, patrollers are able to use post-flight time to review data rather than transcribe it.”  

Executives from the winning companies will be recognized at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards Ceremony, to be held Tuesday, Aug. 19, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

About the CIO 100

The recipients of this year's CIO 100 award were selected through a three-step process. First, companies filled out an online application form detailing their innovative IT and business initiatives. Next, a team of judges reviewed the applications in depth, looking for unique practices and substantial results. Finally, CIO editors reviewed the judges' recommendations and voted on the final 100.

Complete coverage of the 2014 CIO awards will be online at cio100.com on August 1, 2014 and in the August 1st issue of CIO magazine.

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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 321,000 natural gas and 397,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 543,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.

About CIO Magazine

CIO is the premier content and community resource for information technology executives and leaders thriving and prospering in this fast-paced era of IT transformation in the enterprise.  The award-winning CIO portfolio—CIO.com, CIO magazine (launched in 1987), CIO executive programs, CIO custom solutions, CIO Forum on LinkedIn, CIO Executive Council and CIO primary research—provides business technology leaders with analysis and insight on information technology trends and a keen understanding of IT’s role in achieving business goals. Additionally, CIO provides opportunities for IT solution providers to reach this executive IT audience.  The CIO Executive Council is a professional organization of CIOs created to serve as an unbiased and trusted peer advisory group. CIO is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading media, events, and research company. Company information is available at idgenterprise.com.