Louisville, Ky. — Like many utilities across the nation and around the world, E.ON U.S., and its subsidiaries, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, have been the target of thieves risking death and endangering others to steal copper from electrical equipment.

In 2008, LG&E and KU have had more than 28 separate incidents of theft throughout the companies' service territories in Kentucky and Virginia.

To further deter theft from its facilities and equipment, the utilities recently have begun using new technology to determine if metals have been stolen. Working in conjunction with law enforcement officials and scrap dealers, LG&E and KU are confident the use of this technology will allow them to trace and recover stolen property.

The use of new technology is an extension of a larger, ongoing effort to combat copper theft, which includes using more "copper-weld," which is a wire containing very little copper, instead of using true copper, for grounds on certain electrical equipment. This material is more difficult to cut and is worth much less money at the scrap dealer than true copper. In addition, LG&E and KU have increased lighting and security patrols at many company facilities.

"Whether it's a pole replacement or a routine equipment check in an electric substation, safety is the top priority in everything we do," said Chris Hermann, senior vice president of Energy Delivery for E.ON U.S. "A thief who tampers with our property compromises the safeguards we have in place to protect our employees, the public and our electric system."

LG&E and KU are also asking the public to join them in being vigilant and to report any information related to copper thefts by notifying their local law enforcement agency.

Hermann added: "The safety of the public and our employees is of critical importance to us. When someone tampers with our facilities, creating an unsafe condition, it is a crime — and we will continue to vigorously pursue criminal prosecution of anyone caught stealing or attempting to steal from us. For the safety of the public, the safety of our employees, and for the reliability of our electric distribution system, these crimes must be stopped."



E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world's largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 326,000 natural gas and 401,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 536,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.