LG&E To Request Rate Increase

The Louisville Gas and Electric Company will ask the Kentucky Public Service Commission to approve a rate increase Tuesday.LG&E says the rate hike will go towards infrastructure improvements including a new coal-fired generating unit and improved efficiency programs. Spokesperson Chip Keeling says those improvements have to come at a price for customers.“It would be, for an LG&E electric customers approximately an increase per month of $3," says Keeling. "For an LG&E natural gas customers, approximately $7 per month on their bill and for a Kentucky Utility customer, approximately $4 per month on their bill.”Hearings on the increase will likely happen near the end of this year with a final decision coming in early 2009.