LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A select group of Louisville Gas and Electric Company customers may soon have the opportunity to save on their energy bill by simply shifting a portion of their energy use to times when overall consumption is typically lower. Additionally, customers will receive the latest technology enabling them to better understand and control their energy usage.

In a filing today, LG&E requested the Kentucky Public Service Commission approve a three-year pilot program that establishes a rate structure similar to the "nights and weekend" type rates of the telephone industry, but better because the lower rates occur earlier in the evening and 87 percent of the hours are at a lower rate than the standard residential rate. LG&E customers would be able to lower their energy bills by simply reducing their usage during the 13 percent of the hours where overall consumption is higher. And, even if a customer doesn't make any changes to their usage, over time their bill should remain the same.

"Although this is currently only a pilot to test the viability of the program, we expect this rate structure will generate a considerable amount of interest from our customers," said Vic Staffieri, Chairman, CEO and President, E.ON U.S. "In addition to customers saving money, we expect customers to reduce overall consumption because of the state-of-the-art technology associated with the program. In the long run, that will be beneficial for the environment."

Among the new equipment associated with the Responsive Pricing and Smart Meter Pilot Program is a display device that allows the customer to view their energy use and the associated costs of that usage. The homes also will be equipped with real-time "smart" meters, a programmable thermostat and other devices that can automatically reduce usage during peak periods.

The rates will be broken out into three main blocks of time — 87 percent of which will have rates lower than the standard residential rate. The program, however, does allow for a critical cost rate for up to a maximum of 80 hours of the year. Customers will be notified at least 30 minutes prior to the company having to resort to the critical peak rate. The times vary, depending on the time of year and whether it's a weekday or weekend.

If approved, the pilot program will cover four geographically diverse meter-reading routes. Some customers along the routes, who are not on the pilot rates, may also receive new meters in order to ensure that the equipment is adequately evaluated.

E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world's largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 321,000 natural gas and 394,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 525,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.