(LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Aug. 30, 2005) With the potential for rising flood waters in Kentucky due to rain in recent days and the remnants of Hurricane Katrina, many Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company customers are wondering how to ensure the safety of their appliances and their natural gas and electric service in case their homes flood. Below are several tips to help these customers.

Safe Use of Gas Appliances
Appliances that have been submerged, or may have had water reach the mechanical or electrical components such as the fan, motor or blower, most likely will be damaged and should not be used.

Gas Service Restoration Process for Homes and Businesses
Step One:
LG&E can restore gas service to homes only after water has receded and it is safe to access the area. Customers should call 589-5511 to request gas service restoration after the water recedes.

Step Two:
If customers are at home: Before restoring service, LG&E will turn off the major appliances (gas furnace, gas water heater, etc.) inside the home. Customers SHOULD NOT use these appliances if they have been reached by floodwater.

If the customer is not at home: LG&E will not restore service until the customer returns and can provide safe access to the appliances.

Step Three:
LG&E will test the gas lines to the house and inside the home for damage. If the lines pass the safety test, then LG&E will restore service to the meter. If house lines fail LG&E's safety test, then the customer will need to call a plumber to make necessary repairs to the lines. After repairs have been made, customers should call LG&E to return and restore service.

Step Four:
Customers will need to contact a qualified heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor or a plumber to clean and inspect any appliances affected by flooding.

Step Five:
The contractor will relight the appliances. Only a qualified contractor or plumber should attempt to relight appliances turned off by LG&E. For safety reasons, customers must not attempt to relight appliances.


Electric Service
Whether inside or outside, never operate electrical equipment while standing in puddles of water.

Do not enter a basement standing in water or attempt to operate any type of electrical appliance or equipment if there is water in the basement. LG&E customers should call LG&E immediately at 589-3500 to request disconnection of electric service before attempting repairs. KU customers should call KU immediately at (800) 981-0600.

Once the necessary repairs have been made, contact the city or county inspection office to schedule an inspection. Once the repairs receive an approval from the city or county inspector, customers should call LG&E at 589-3500 to have service restored, and KU customers should call (800) 981-0600. LG&E and KU cannot reconnect service without an approved inspection from the city or county inspector.

LG&E will restore both natural gas and electric service and KU will restore electric service where it is safe to do so and will disconnect service at customers' requests and as needed to ensure safety. Customers are encouraged to provide the location of their meter in order to help LG&E and KU's customer service representatives better serve them. As always, in the event of natural gas emergencies, LG&E customers should call 589-5511. For electric outages or downed power lines LG&E customers should call 589-3500 and KU customers should call (800) 981-0600.



LG&E Energy LLC, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a diversified energy services company. LG&E Energy owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 318,000 natural gas and 390,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 518,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.