Your Energy Matters

Above: Utility workers from 21 states, including Kentucky, lent restoration assistance to us in 2009 after a record ice storm caused more than 400,000 outages in our service territory.

Line technicians Chris Head (foreground) and Ron Hudson (background) use their ruggedized laptop to access the new mobile technology software.

•  Expediting communication between field crews and dispatchers
• Reducing opportunity for errors and incomplete information
• Cutting down the amount of time that passes before decisions can be made on how to best repair and restore service.

• A new state-of-the-art customer information system, including an online outage map, online outage reporting, a smartphone application and web-based options
• Programs to inspect/treat/replace utility poles, remove hazardous trees, and identify circuits needing improvements
• A project to improve a portion of the downtown underground network

Visit our Facebook and Twitter pages to learn more about National Preparedness Month.

And, check out the attached video of the devastation caused by the wind storm and our swift response:

Even though the temperature insists otherwise, today is the first day of spring, and a perfect time to prepare for severe weather events that come with the change in season.

We take steps year-round to prepare for inclement weather, and offer you the following tips and suggestions to plan ahead, stay informed and be safe during storm events:

1. Plan ahead: Visit www.ready.gov to make a plan and learn how to build an emergency supply kit, which should include items such as prescription medicines, weather radio, important phone numbers, a first aid kit, flashlights and extra batteries, to name a few.

Before severe weather strikes, we prepare by monitoring weather conditions, placing field crews and contact centers on alert and readying operating equipment and material.

Throughout the year, we make infrastructure investments and perform regular system maintenance such as tree trimming and hazardous tree removals to enhance system reliability.

2. Stay informed: During outage situations, system and restoration updates are provided through our automated phone system, online outage map and outage map app. At the beginning of a widespread restoration event, our crews must first assess damage to the electric system before repairs can be prioritized.

Keeping customers informed of the companies’ progress is an essential part of our emergency response plan, and in times of widespread power outages, general restoration information and safety tips are provided on our Facebook page, Twitter feed and on this blog.

3. Be safe: Always assume any downed wire is an energized power line. Stay away and report it immediately. LG&E customers should call 502-589-3500; KU customers should call 1-800-981-0600. Visit www.lge-ku.com/storm for important safety information concerning portable generators, food storage and electric service.

A step-by-step guide to power restoration

In responding to major power outages across our service territory, a priority is given to critical-care organizations, such as hospitals, fire and police stations and nursing homes. At the same time, our crews focus on restoring service to schools, airports and other utility infrastructure, like water and sewer pumping stations.

We must repair any critical infrastructure that might be damaged, like the transmission lines and substations that carry electricity into neighborhoods and commercial areas, before power can be restored to those locations.

The goal is to fix a problem that will restore power to large groups of customers simultaneously, so hundreds or even thousands of customers come back online with one repair job.

Our crews then move on to where they can get neighborhoods restored and continue until they address problems that affect power to individual streets and homes.

Customers who experience a power outage should report it to the company by either using our online outage reporting system or by calling LG&E at 502-589-3500 or KU at 1-800-981-0600.

While every storm is unique and presents distinct challenges to utility crews, we remain committed to restoring power safely and as quickly as possible and keeping customers informed every step of the way.

Be safe!  

As evening temperatures remain in the low 20s across the Kentucky, we're encouraging customers to follow a few simple steps to plan and prepare for inclement weather:

-- Build an emergency kit that includes a battery-powered radio, flashlights for everyone in the family, fresh batteries for any devices, first-aid kit, and over-the-counter and prescription medications. A complete list of essential emergency kit supplies can be found at www.ready.gov.

-- Always operate a portable generator safely and outdoors to allow for proper venting. Consult with a qualified, licensed electrician and/or review the manufacturer's instructions before you install the generator.

-- Snow and ice accumulation on tree branches can sometimes cause them to break and fall into power lines. Stay away and consider all fallen wires as dangerous.

-- LG&E customers should call 502-589-1444 to report a downed wire or power outage; KU customers should call 1-800-981-0600. LG&E and KU customers can also report an outage online at my.lge-ku.com after registering their account.

-- Download LG&E and KU's outage map app for your smartphone or iPad to receive near real-time information about outages throughout our system, a summary of outages by zip code and county, and estimated restoration time.

When severe winter weather moves across Kentucky, we're prepared to reliably meet customers’ energy demands, and safely and quickly respond to severe winter weather impacts.

You can visit www.lge-ku.com/storm for more information about storm safety, a step-by-step guide to power restoration and to download the LG&E and KU outage map app.

To help the Gulf Coast community recover from Hurricane Isaac, LG&E and KU sent 204 employees and Kentucky-based contractors this morning to help Entergy restore power.

The hurricane’s high winds and slow progression have left trails of debris and destruction across the Gulf states.

A quick check this morning of Entergy's Louisiana outage map showed nearly 700,000 customers without power, so complete restoration will likely take several days.

Our people will meet up with Entergy crews later today to begin power restoration, repair damaged equipment, downed wires and other storm-related damage.

The LG&E and KU team consists of veteran line technicians, team leaders and tree trimmers from locations across Kentucky, many of whom have decades of experience and have travelled out of state numerous times to help other utilities in their time of need. 

These efforts are a result of our participation in nationwide mutual assistance organizations, in which a collection of utility companies assist other utilities in times of natural disasters and crisis situations.

Remember the 2009 ice storm and 2008 wind storm, when hundreds of thousands of customers across Kentucky lost power? Entergy sent crews to help us restore power then, so it's great to be able to help them restore and recover now, in their time of need.

Whenever we receive a request from another utility to send help, we always make sure our customers at home are well-covered in the event of inclement weather, and to be able to handle day-to-day business such as emergency situations and maintenance. Your family and our community is our top priorty, and we have more than enough resources available at home to hold down the fort. 

Crews will continue to restore power for Gulf Coast utilities until no longer needed and as long as weather patterns remain calm in our service territory.

How you can help

The American Red Cross already has boots on the ground assisting with recovery in the affected areas. Visit their website to learn how you can contribute to their relief efforts.

Prepare now

Do you have a disaster plan? Would your family know what to do during a natural disaster? Early preparation is critical to staying safe and out of harm's way. Check out www.ready.gov for some good information on how to be informed, make a plan and build an emergency kit.  

Even though the calendar says it is the heart of winter, a spring-like severe weather outbreak swept through Kentucky today, causing more than 23,700 of our customers to lose power.

Jefferson County bore the brunt of the power outages and damage, which included winds clocked by the National Weather Service at 94 miles-per-hour and at least one confirmed tornado, which touched-down near Brownsboro Road and the Watterson Expressway.

As we always do, we prepared for the weather front before it hit our area, so our crews could immediately go into action to efficiently return power to affected customers as quickly and as safely as possible.

As of the 9:15 p.m. time of this posting, we've restored power to more than 94 percent of the customers impacted by today's freak storm.

We hope to have the majority of remaining customers back on tonight and anticipate having all customers restored tomorrow. The bottom-line: we're working around-the-clock.

Additionally, you'll want to visit our storm page for important phone numbers and safety information. Once there, you can view our online outage map for near real-time restoration updates. If you're a smart phone user, download our free mobile outage map app to get a high-level overview of outages across our service territory, a summary of outages by zip code and county, and estimated restoration times -- right from the palm of your hand.

Check out the photos below to get a feel for the type of damage and conditions our crews are dealing with in the field.

Possible funnel clouds over Zone Avenue moving east along Brownsboro Road. These clouds were rotating at the time.

Damage along Goose Creek Road off of Brownsboro Road.