Your Energy Matters

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.

Check out this excellent safety video, courtesy of Electrical Safety Foundation International. If you own a portable generator, it's important that you install and operate it safely and effectively. These devices are great tools to have handy during extended power outages, but there are some critical "rules of the road" you'll need to follow in order to keep you and your family out of harm's way.



After viewing, check out our dedicated storm page for more important safety information concerning food safety, downed wire safety, and service connection info, to name a few.

Don't wait until a crisis hits to prepare. Take the proper steps now and you'll know exactly what to do when Mother Nature strikes again.

Until next time, keep using energy (and portable generators) wisely. Your friends here at LG&E and KU want you to be safe!

Although the temps outside today don't reflect it, we're entering the heart of winter and now is the time to ensure you and your family are prepared for winter storms.

Our friends at the American Red Cross have put together an informative one-page checklist that covers what you should do before, during and after a winter storm. In our part of the country, it's not a matter of if, but when, the next bout of harsh winter weather will hit.

Keeping an emergency kit handy and making preparations early can lessen the anxiety when inclement weather hits.

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.

Here at LG&E and KU, when Mother Nature delivers her worst, our employees and business partners deliver their best. Internal processes developed over the years by our team enable us to cope with all types of weather events, and efficiently prepare and respond to them as quickly and as safely as we can.

In the meantime, check back to this blog and follow us on Twitter for important updates when inclement weather strikes.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and prosperous 2012.