(LOUISVILLE, Ky. - July 8, 2004) Line technicians for Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities companies have always completed more training than required by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and now that rigorous program has been recognized by the Kentucky Department of Labor. LG&E and KU, subsidiaries of LG&E Energy LLC, recently received state certification of their shared Line Technician Apprentice Program from the Department of Labor and employees who complete the program now will be acknowledged as Certified Line Technicians.

"We're extremely proud that our line technicians will be recognized officially as the true professionals they are," said Chris Hermann, Senior Vice President, Energy Delivery, LG&E Energy. "Their training includes a long-term, comprehensive curriculum of highly technical information and applications. Certification acknowledges the depth of their skills in maintaining and repairing electric distribution lines and equipment while demonstrating to customers our commitment to high-quality, safe service."

The minimum requirement for a Line Technician Program to receive state certification is 6,000 hours of field training in general, intermediate and advanced electric distribution applications as well as electric industry standards. The LG&E/KU program exceeds the standard with 7,000 hours of field training, supplemented with classroom training and supported by the utilities' best practices. State certification automatically recognizes LG&E and KU as being certified on a national level through the United States Department of Labor.

According to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Labor, the certification "recognizes your support and cooperation, which form a vital link in our National Apprenticeship System," and "is the basis of our common goal of achieving a continuing expansion of the Apprenticeship System of Training in Kentucky."



LG&E Energy LLC, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a diversified energy services company. LG&E Energy owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 312,000 natural gas and 384,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 512,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.