LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company are continuing to offer a unique gift alternative for customers; a home utility gift (HUG) certificate.

A HUG is a gift certificate that credits the utility account of any LG&E or KU customer. Instead of working like a traditional gift certificate, a HUG is a credit placed directly on a customer's account and is automatically subtracted from the customer's next bill. The purchaser receives a gift certificate to present to the recipient indicating the amount of the purchase.

Since the program's inception in 2002, more than 1,180 HUGs have been purchased during the holiday season.

"These non-traditional gift certificates have been very popular with customers year-round," said John P. Malloy, Vice President of Energy Delivery — Retail Services for E.ON U.S. "The program offers a convenient alternative to customers looking for a practical holiday gift."

HUGs are ideal for individuals on fixed incomes, families in need, senior citizens, and young people just starting out on their own. Many customers also have purchased HUGs for nonprofit and social service organizations.

The certificates are available during normal business hours at all customer service walk-in centers. In order to credit the proper LG&E or KU account, customers should be prepared to provide the address of the HUG recipient.

HUGs start at $25 and can be purchased by cash or check.

LG&E is a wholly-owned subsidiary of E.ON U.S. LLC that serves 324,000 natural gas and 398,000 electric customers in Louisville, Ky., and 16 surrounding counties.

Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., serves 530,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia, is a part of E.ON U.S. LLC, headquartered in Louisville, Ky. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that also owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 324,000 natural gas and 398,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties.