Kentucky

KYModerate

Days notice (electric)

Days notice (gas)

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Winter moratorium

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Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

Call your utility before the date on your notice
Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.
Apply for energy assistance
LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.
Dial 211 for local help
211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.
Ask about medical certification
Kentucky recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.
Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you
psc.ky.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Kentucky. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

Electric Gas Water Medical Low Income Regulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days

Reconnection fee$48 to $82 standard, at 2 of 4 utilities below

Winter moratorium: November 1–March 31: low-income customers can avoid disconnection by presenting a statement from their local Community Based Services office confirming qualification for heating assistance or income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. Winter Hardship Reconnection program: disconnected customers can restore service Nov 1–Mar 31 by paying 1/3 of outstanding bill or $200 (whichever is less) and entering a repayment schedule. Customers above the income threshold can still be disconnected year-round.

Major Utilities

Louisville Gas an…Kentucky Utilitie…Duke Energy Kentu…Kentucky Power (A…

Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) Electric

Louisville metro and surrounding counties, Kentucky

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

Winter hardship: customer pays 1/3 of past-due balance (max $200) plus current bill to restore service, with repayment plan for remainder due by Oct 15

807 KAR 5:006, Section 14(5)(f)1 requires 10 days' written notice before termination for nonpayment, and bars termination before 27 days after the original bill's mailing date

Disconnect/reconnect service charge is $48.00 per the PSC-filed tariff

the figure previously shown here, $28, does not appear in that tariff and has been corrected

Reconnection fee:$48.00

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); LG&E/KU winter hardship reconnection program (Certificate of Need required); Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA)

"Louisville Gas and Electric Company Electric Tariff (PSC Electric No. 14)." psc.ky.gov. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Kentucky Utilities (KU) Electric

Central and eastern Kentucky, excluding Louisville metro

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

Winter hardship: customer pays 1/3 of past-due balance (max $200) plus current bill to restore service, with repayment plan for remainder due by Oct 15

807 KAR 5:006, Section 14(5)(f)1 requires 10 days' written notice before termination for nonpayment, and bars termination before 27 days after the original bill's mailing date

Disconnect/reconnect service charge is $82.00 per the PSC-filed tariff

the figure previously shown here, $28, does not appear in that tariff and has been corrected

Reconnection fee:$82.00

Assistance Programs

"Kentucky Utilities Company Electric Tariff (PSC No. 21)." psc.ky.gov. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Duke Energy Kentucky

Northern Kentucky (Covington, Newport, and surrounding areas)

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

10-day written notice required per 807 KAR 5:006

Restoration within 24 hours of payment

Enhanced protections per 2024 settlement: no disconnection within 24 hours of forecast ≤32°F or ≥95°F

restricted disconnection hours

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); Duke Energy Kentucky Share the Warmth program; Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA)

"807 KAR 5:006 — Kentucky PSC Service Regulations." apps.legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Kentucky Power (AEP)

Eastern Kentucky (Ashland, Pikeville, Hazard, and surrounding Appalachian counties)

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

10-day written notice required per 807 KAR 5:006

Restoration within 24 hours of payment

2024 settlement added: no disconnection within 24 hours of forecast ≤32°F or ≥95°F

no disconnection on Fridays, weekends, or day before a holiday

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); Kentucky Power Customer Assistance Program; Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA); AEP Energy Share

"807 KAR 5:006 — Kentucky PSC Service Regulations." apps.legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days

Reconnection fee$20 to $48 standard, at 2 of 3 utilities below

Major Utilities

LG&E Gas (Louisvi…Columbia Gas of K…Delta Natural Gas

LG&E Gas (Louisville Gas and Electric)

Louisville metro and surrounding counties, Kentucky (natural gas service)

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

Winter hardship: customer pays 1/3 of past-due balance (max $200) plus current bill to restore service

807 KAR 5:006, Section 14(5)(f)1 requires 10 days' written notice before termination for nonpayment, and bars termination before 27 days after the original bill's mailing date

Disconnect/reconnect service charge is $48.00 per the PSC-filed tariff (same $48.00 total if gas and electric are reconnected together)

the figure previously shown here, $28, does not appear in that tariff and has been corrected

Reconnection fee:$48.00

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); LG&E/KU winter hardship reconnection program; Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA)

"Louisville Gas and Electric Company Gas Tariff (PSC Gas No. 14)." psc.ky.gov. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Columbia Gas of Kentucky (NiSource)

Central and northern Kentucky natural gas distribution

10-day notice

Winter protection window approximately Oct 13–Apr 15: customer can avoid or reverse disconnection by paying $175 toward past-due balance

Medical certification provides 30-day delay

10-day written notice required per 807 KAR 5:006

Payment arrangements available

Reconnection fee:$20

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); Columbia Gas Neighbor-to-Neighbor program; Columbia Gas Budget Billing; Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA)

"Columbia Gas of Kentucky — Shutoff and Reconnect Process." columbiagasky.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Delta Natural Gas

South-central and southeastern Kentucky natural gas distribution

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship reconnection option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

10-day written notice required per 807 KAR 5:006

Restoration within 24 hours of payment

Note: PSC approved a rate case in July 2025 (Case 2024-00346) that increased the reconnection charge

current amount not publicly confirmed

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded, administered through Kentucky CHFS and Community Action agencies); Kentucky Home Energy Assistance (KHEA); Delta Natural Gas budget billing program

"807 KAR 5:006 — Kentucky PSC Service Regulations." apps.legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required5 days

Major Utilities

Louisville Water …Lexington-Fayette…Kentucky American…

Louisville Water Company

Louisville metro area, Jefferson County, Kentucky

7-day notice

Municipal utility, operates outside Kentucky PSC jurisdiction

Rule 1.13.6: not less than 21 days after the original billing date, an overdue customer is notified, and water is turned off on a day not less than 7 days after that notice

A disconnect fee applies per premise but the Service Rules and Regulations do not state the dollar amount

it is set separately in the company's Tariff, Rate Schedule, and Customer Fees and Charges, which was not confirmed to carry a specific figure

The $45 previously shown here is not confirmed by any source found and has been removed

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP Water/Sewer (LIHWAP, federally funded); Louisville Water Foundation assistance program; Community Action Kentucky referrals; utility-administered payment plans

"Louisville Water Company 2025 Service Rules and Regulations." louisvillewater.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Water (LEXserv)

Lexington-Fayette Urban County, Kentucky

10-day notice

Municipal utility — operates outside Kentucky PSC jurisdiction

Customers receive a 10-day shutoff notice prior to disconnection

Payment in full required to restore service

Payment plans available for customers in financial hardship

Service can be restored same day if payment received before cut-off time

Assistance Programs

LEXserv Water Assistance Program (income-based, triggered by 10-day notice, default, disconnect, or collections status); Sewer and Landfill User Fee discount program; LIHWAP (federally funded water assistance); Community Action Council referrals

"LEXserv — Water Service Disconnection." lexingtonky.gov. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Kentucky American Water

Lexington area and surrounding central Kentucky counties (water service)

5-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Mar 31 without winter hardship option

Medical certificate provides 30-day protection

PSC-regulated water utility

807 KAR 5:006, Section 14(5)(f)2 requires 5 days' written notice before termination for nonpayment for water, sewer, and telephone utilities, and bars termination before 20 days after the original bill's mailing date

Assistance Programs

H2O Help to Others program (income ≤200% FPL, up to $125–$250 assistance, once per year, minimum $50 outstanding balance, managed via Dollar Energy Fund); LIHWAP (federally funded); Community Action agency referrals

"807 KAR 5:006 — Kentucky PSC General Service Rules." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

Certificate of Need signed by a doctor, nurse, or public health official postpones disconnection when a household member's health would be endangered. Renewable upon re-certification.

Low-Income Protections

LIHEAP available through Kentucky Energy Assistance Program. LG&E and KU offer budget billing and low-income assistance. Winter Hardship Reconnection program allows service restoration with partial payment.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Kentucky's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-09-21. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.