LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company are continuing to offer a unique gift alternative for customers - a home utility gift (HUG) certificate.

A HUG is a gift certificate that credits the utility account of any LG&E or KU customer. Instead of working like a traditional gift certificate, which can get lost or become obsolete if an establishment goes out of business, a HUG is a credit placed directly on a customer's account. The credit is automatically subtracted from the customer's next bill. The purchaser receives a gift certificate to present to the recipient indicating the amount of the purchase.

"These non-traditional gift certificates have been very popular with our customers year-round," said John P. Malloy, Vice President of Retail Services for E.ON U.S. "They become increasingly popular during the holiday season because they offer a convenient alternative to customers looking for a practical holiday gift."

HUGS are ideal for individuals on fixed incomes, families in need, senior citizens, and young people just starting out on their own. Many customers also have purchased HUGs for nonprofit and social service organizations to help them manage routine expenses.

The certificates are available during normal business hours at the companies' customer service walk-in centers. For LG&E customers, the customer service walk-in center is located at 820 W. Broadway. Customers should be prepared to provide the address of the HUG recipient. Hugs start at $25 and can be purchased by cash or check.

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 324,000 natural gas and 398,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 531,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.