A vendor for Kenergy will be performing network maintenance on Wednesday, October 21st at 11:59pm. We anticipate the work to last for approximately 2 hours. Members will not be able to access the SmartHub application to make payments during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Here are five tips about power cords that will keep your family safe and your appliances running better.

1. Never bend a power cord. If you are rolling it up to store it, don’t crimp the cord. Cords and cables have wires inside. Bending them can break them—which will ruin the cord.
2. Avoid covering a cord with a rug. If you need a long cord or an extension cord to plug in a lamp or other device, your device is too far away from the plug. Move it closer. If you hide a long-distance cord under a rug, it could overheat. Or someone could trip over it.
3. Cords and appliances are supposed to “match” when it comes to amperage and wattage rating. If you plug a high-wattage appliance into a low-wattage cord, you will overburden the cord. That can cause the cord to overheat and the appliance to malfunction.
4. Don’t force a cord’s plug into an outlet if it doesn’t fit. If the outlet is too big and the plug does not fit snugly, the outlet is likely to overheat and damage the cord and the plug. If the plug is too big, use an adaptor or find a different outlet. Never cut the third prong off a three-prong plug to fit it into a two-prong outlet.
5. Inspect power cords often. Even a tiny nick in the cord can result in a shock or even a deadly electrocution. Do not use cords—or appliances with permanent cords—if the cord is damaged in any way—frayed, worn, torn or cut.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our service territory, Kenergy lobbies will remain closed. We know this may be inconvenient, so we greatly appreciate your patience. We believe continuing this preventative measure will reduce the risk for both our members and employees.

We understand that you may need to speak with someone regarding your past-due account and we encourage you to call one of our Member Service Representatives at 800-844-4832 or visit our drive-thru windows at our Henderson and Owensboro offices. We always stand at the ready to help our members, but even more so during this challenging time.

In March of this year, we temporarily suspended disconnects and late fees for nonpayment of a Kenergy account. While we knew we could not sustain this measure indefinitely, we did this as an emergency relief to help our members who suddenly found themselves in financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We understand that the past six months have been a challenging time for many in our communities. We are committed to working with our members to navigate the financial difficulties some face as a result of COVID-19.

By order of the Public Service Commission, regulated utilities in Kentucky may start disconnecting power to members who have not paid their bills beginning October 20, 2020. If your bill is past-due, Kenergy encourages you to contact us as soon as possible to make a payment or to set up a payment plan.

Letters and emails are being sent to members with a past due balance to let them know what options are available. More information and a list of agencies that offer financial assistance can be found at www.kenergycorp.com

To avoid being subject to disconnection, a member with a past due balance must call us during normal business hours at 800-844-4832 to talk with a Member Service Representative about your payment options.

Please note, Governor Beshear’s executive order issued on Monday, October 19th ending the statewide moratorium on disconnects for non-payment on November 6th does not supersede the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s order. You can see the entire order HERE and reference point #13. 

Kenergy is asking for your help! We will be conducting a member contact information drive October 1^st through 31^st. We are implementing new systems within our cooperative and by updating your contact information, it will help us be proactive in contacting our members during outages and planned outages, as well as providing you imperative information.

All you have to do is call 800-844-4832 during the month of October and talk to one of our Member Service Representatives to ensure that all of your information we have on file is correct.

Touchstone Energy is launching their annual #WhoPowersYou contest to honor local heroes making a difference in our co-op community.

Kenergy members can submit nominations about fellow members who are making a positive impact in the community. Nominees are eligible to win cash prizes with the grand prize totaling $5,000! Nominations are simple – just share a photo of the nominee and a brief description of how that person is making a difference in your community.

Contest nominations are now being accepted September 8th through October 9th at www.WhoPowersYou.com 

All Kenergy offices will be closed Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. We hope you have a safe and healthy holiday with family.

As always, you can drop payments at our nightly drop box, make payments on our SmartHub app or by accessing your account here 24/7.

Date:              August 13, 2020    

Contact:         Leslie Barr                                                                        

Phone:            270.231.1986                                                

Email:             lbarr@kenergycorp.com

KENERGY EXPLORING BROADBAND SERVICES

Kenergy, an electric distribution cooperative serving 14 western Kentucky counties is exploring the opportunity to provide broadband services.

“Kenergy is looking into offering broadband services,” Kenergy President and CEO Jeff Hohn said. “There are several legislative and regulatory hurdles that we would have to clear before that opportunity would be available for us.”

Kenergy’s desire to provide broadband access emanates from the same factors that propelled the Rural Electrification Act into existence. For-profit electric utilities had little desire to extend electric service to sparsely populated areas. As a result, Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936 to provide loans so cooperatives could form and distribute electricity to unserved areas. The nation’s broadband providers have followed a similar path. As a result, significant portions of Kenergy’s service territory have been left in the dark as to broadband as they were to electricity 80 years ago.

“High-speed broadband can provide substantial value for our communities,” said Hohn. “These benefits include greater availability to information, online learning opportunities, economic growth, and increased efficiency for our local businesses.”

The cooperative is evaluating financing options and has filed a waiver with the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Kenergy will release more updates and details as they become available.

If you would like to send a letter of support for Kenergy to provide broadband services, please contact the Kentucky Public Service Commission and reference Case No. 2020-00215 in the subject line of your email to: psc.info@ky.gov or mail your letter to:

 Kentucky Public Service Commission

211 Sower Boulevard

Frankfort, KY 40602

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For more information about Kenergy, please visit www.kenergycorp.com or call 800.844.4832.