LG&E and Kentucky Utilities run the same bill assistance programs
Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities are two names for one company. LG&E delivers electricity and natural gas in the Louisville area, KU delivers electricity across much of the rest of the state, and both share the same website, the same payment plans, and the same set of assistance programs. This page covers all of it: the Winterhelp and WinterCare heating funds, the WeCare weatherization program, payment arrangements, HUG gift certificates, and how LIHEAP works for customers of either utility.
KU also serves a small corner of southwest Virginia under the name Old Dominion Power. Those customers have their own fund, called WinterShare, and their own state rules, so this page sticks to Kentucky.
Payment arrangements without waiting on hold
If the bill is more than you can pay this month, ask for a payment arrangement before the due date. You can set one up in the company's mobile app, through My Account on https://lge-ku.com/, or on the automated phone line. LG&E customers call 502-589-1444 and KU customers call 800-981-0600.
The company also offers a budget payment plan that averages your bills into a steady monthly amount. It does not lower the yearly total, but it removes the high winter gas bills and high summer electric bills that catch people off guard.
Winterhelp and WinterCare, the donation funds for heating bills
Each utility has a heating fund built from customer donations, and the company matches what customers give. In LG&E territory the fund is Community Winterhelp. In KU territory it is the WinterCare Energy Assistance Fund. Independent nonprofits run both funds and decide who gets help, not the utility.
The money goes to households in a bad situation during the cold months: no heat or about to lose it, with extra concern for homes with an elderly person, a young child, or someone seriously ill or disabled. Applications go through local assistance agencies rather than the utility itself. Call the customer service numbers above or visit lge-ku.com/helpingyou to find out which agency takes applications where you live. These funds depend on donations, so the money available changes from year to year.
WeCare puts free weatherization into customers' homes
WeCare is the company's own program for income-qualified customers, and both homeowners and renters can use it. The program sends someone through the home, then provides work such as air sealing, attic insulation, and inspection of the heating and water heating systems, along with energy education. There is no charge for customers who qualify.
The starting point is an online home energy assessment at lge-ku.com/wecare. If you cannot do it online, customer service can get you started by phone.
LIHEAP in Kentucky comes in short application rounds
LIHEAP pays part of the heating or cooling bill for households that qualify, and in Kentucky it opens for short periods during the year rather than staying open. There is a heating round in late fall, a crisis period during the winter for households facing disconnection or nearly out of fuel, and cooling rounds in the spring and late summer. Each round is first come, first served until the money is gone.
Applications are taken by community action agencies, not by LG&E or KU. Our Kentucky LIHEAP guide explains each round, who qualifies, and what papers to bring. In Jefferson County, the community action agency is part of Louisville Metro government, and dialing 311 in Louisville will connect you. Also see our Kentucky community action agency directory page for more locations.
Extra help around Louisville
Louisville has resources that the rest of the state does not. Project WARM has weatherized homes in Jefferson County since the early 1980s, with free air sealing, attic insulation, small window and door repairs, and winter classes on keeping heat in. The work is for low-income LG&E households, and renters can apply with their landlord's information. Call 502-636-9276.
HUG certificates let someone else pay part of your bill
The company sells Home Utility Gift certificates, which anyone can buy and apply to a customer's account. If a family member, a church, or a friend wants to help with your bill, a HUG certificate puts the money straight onto the account. It is a simple option that many customers never hear about.
A text with a payment link is the warning sign - as well as avoid other scams
Scammers may do many things - one of which is send text messages that look like billing alerts, with a link to a payment page built to look like the utility's site. The real company takes payments through its app, through My Account on lge-ku.com, and on its phone lines — not through a link that arrives by text demanding same-day payment. If a message like that shows up, do not tap the link. Open the real app or type lge-ku.com into your browser yourself, check your balance there, and report the message to customer service. Anyone unsure whether a shutoff threat is real can also read about utility disconnection rules that protect customers.
This page provides general educational information about assistance for LG&E and Kentucky Utilities customers, including Winterhelp, WinterCare, WeCare, payment plans, and LIHEAP. It is not legal or financial advice. Programs and contact details change, so confirm current information with the utility or the agency involved before applying.
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