LG&E and KU dispatched more than 1,200 workers to assist natural disaster response this year

A year of intense natural disasters throughout the United States has seen many utilities offer support to one another, and in the case of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, this has included more than 1,200 workers sent to support 18 fellow utilities.

LG&E and KU, both part of the PPL Corporation, dispatched a mix of employees and contractors to help other utilities deal with ice storms, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and six hurricanes and tropical storms. These helpers have included linemen, vegetation crews, damage assessors, and other support personnel.

“In our industry, we know when Mother Nature delivers the worst, it often means we must be at our best to restore power and vital services for these impacted communities,” Steve Woodworth, director of Distribution System Operations & Planning for LG&E and KU, said. “This year presented its own challenges as we all pivot to accommodate necessary pandemic guidelines, and we had employees stepping into and excelling at new restoration leadership roles for the first time.”

Such natural disasters have caused more than $1 billion in estimated damages across the country this year, particularly amid one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. In fact, this year was only the second time the official alphabetical list of hurricane names were exhausted. That would be enough of a problem on its own, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only made things trickier.

LG&E and KU coordinate their efforts through Great Lakes Mutual Assistance, on which Woodworth serves as chair, alongside Midwest Mutual Assistance and the Southeastern Electric Exchange. They also work through the American Gas and Southern Gas associations to provide assistance and gain assistance in return. The companies recently dispatched more than 150 contract partners to help Alabama Power and Oklahoma Gas and Electric deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Zeta and a devastating ice storm. Another 95 aided AEP Ohio and Consumers Energy in Michigan deal with windstorm damage.