Prepare for cold weather as temperatures plummet

New Year’s 2015 arrived less than a week ago, but already it’s sending temperatures in the area plummeting. With single digits temperatures and subzero wind chills expected by mid-week, Kentucky Utilities Companyencourages customers to prepare for the extreme cold.

– Have your furnace checked by a certified professional to make sure it’s in peak operating condition. Remember to check your filter each month and replace it as necessary, based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. A dirty filter will slow air flow, making the system work harder to keep the indoor air temperature at a consistent, comfortable setting.

– Seal leaks and gaps around your home with caulk, spray foam, or weather-stripping to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

– 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 list of more essential emergency kit supplies can be found at www.ready.gov.

– Always operate a portable generator safely and outdoors to allow for proper venting. It’s best to consult with a qualified, licensed electrician and review the manufacturer’s instructions before installing the generator.

– Strong wind, snow and ice accumulation can sometimes cause tree branches to break and fall into power lines. Stay away and consider all fallen wires dangerous.

– KU customers should call 800-981-0600 to report a downed wire or power outage. And, KU customers can also report an outage online at lge-ku.com after registering their account.

– Be sure to use LG&E and KU’s outage map on your computer or smartphone, www.lge-ku.com/storm, to receive near real time information about outages throughout our system, a summary of outages by zip code and county, and estimated restoration time.

Heating Assistance

– Community Winterhelp, the utility’s primary heating assistance program, is available to customers who have difficulty paying their heating bills during the winter months.

– KU is once again matching residential customers’ donations to the program, $1 for $1, creating a greater pool of funds to help those having a tough time keep their families comfortable during the frigid conditions.

– With the match in effect from October 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015, the utility encourages customers to consider making a tax-deductible donation to the program by making a monthly pledge or a one-time contribution. Even rounding up a payment to the next whole dollar makes a difference.

About the program 

– Community Winterhelp is a third-party nonprofit organization, typically a Community Action Agency, that helps customers in financial crises pay their heating bills.

– Eligibility for heating assistance benefits is determined by the Community Winterhelp nonprofit organization. The program assists families in dire financial situations and lack of resources, leaving a family with no heat or the immediate prospect of no heat; and families with a family member who is elderly, very young, seriously ill or disabled. Neither KU or LG&E plays a part in determining eligibility.

– Families in need of assistance will be interviewed by Community Winterhelp service partners and should contact the agency to apply for funds.

Kentucky Utilities, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, is a regulated utility that serves 539,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.  It has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States.   More information is available at www.lge-ku.comand & www.pplweb.com