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A fairer, healthier, more-just Louisville housing market is possible, but taking action on affordable, sustainable policies starts with us.
DonateThe Public Service Commission (PSC) is a three-member administrative body that governs the public utility companies in Kentucky. The PSC reviews different types of cases, such as rate increase or reduction, consumer complaints, compliance, demand side management, integrated resource plans, and much more. The Metropolitan Housing Coalition and Everyhome are joint intervenors on important rate cases, demand side management cases, and integrated resource plans that affect Louisville energy costs.
PSC Case Study
Currently In The PSC: LG&E and KU’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)
Every three years, utility companies are required to submit a plan for the next 15 years to the Public Service Commission for review. The purpose of a utility companies’ IRP is to create a roadmap of how the utility will meet future energy and demand requirements in a cost-effective way. This could mean changes in rates, additional power plants, demand side management strategies, additional renewable energy sources, and so on. AKA – this affects you, the customer! LG&E and KU filed their IRP with the Public Service Commission on October 18th, 2024 (Case No. 2024-00326). To summarize the IRP, LG&E and KU expect economic development to increase system load (usage) by 30 percent to 45 percent by 2032 compared to 2024. This forecasted large load growth would require additional generation units. Additional generation units proposed by LG&E/KU could lead to an eventual rate increase for ratepayers. With already high rates, additional rate increases could lead to unaffordability of housing and other essentials.
In addition to the IRP, LG&E and KU filed a Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) on February 28, 2025 (Case No. 2025-00045). To briefly summarize the CPCN, LG&E/KU are proposing the construction of two 645 megawatt gas plants, 400 megawatts of battery storage, and a selective catalytic reduction system to reduce emissions. The total estimated capital cost for construction is $3.725 billion!
The Metropolitan Housing Coalition has jointly intervened with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Solar Energy Society, and Mountain Association on the 2024 LG&E/KU IRP on behalf of low and fixed income households. At MHC, we believe that energy efficiency and affordability are crucial, and that the needs of our low- and fixed-income neighbors must be prioritized during the IRP planning process. Affordable energy bills are essential for achieving affordable housing, as one cannot be realized without the other. For updates on the 2024 LG&E/KU IRP and CPCN cases, please join our newsletter.
We want our community’s voices to be heard. Unfortunately, if the public doesn’t speak up, the PSC only hears the utility and business perspectives. We urge you to submit a public comment demanding for more renewable energy sources, affordable utility rates, and a more robust demand side management program. It’s as simple as sending an email – you can submit a public comment by clicking the link to the left or sending an email to psc.comment@ky.gov. Be sure to include the case number in your subject line.
Together, we can advocate for clean, efficient energy and make EveryHome safe, healthy, and affordable.
Bills from the 2025 Legislative Session
House Bill 18
What was in the bill?
This bill would mandate limits on the development of multi-family housing in areas zoned for “single-family home zones”. This bill did not pass, however, the language in this bill was added to Senate Bill 129, which did pass.
What does that mean?
This bill would essentially limit the construction of multi-family housing and prevent these types of housing in certain zip codes. Development of multi-family housing in certain residential zones is a matter best left to planning commissions and local elected officials with input from the community. This bill did not pass, however, the language in this bill was added to Senate Bill 129, which did pass.
House Bill 160
What was in the bill?
Would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that treat manufactured homes differently from single family homes; allow only regulation of certain architectural features of manufactured homes and single-family homes. This bill passed, however manufactured homes would still need to meet strict standards for size, age, and foundation.
What does that mean?
Manufactured homes are an affordable option for many and should be zoned the same as standard single-family homes. Manufactured homes are permanently anchored to the ground down to the frost line, just like single-family homes. This bill passed, however manufactured homes would still need to meet strict standards for size, age, and foundation.
House Bill 173
What was in the bill?
This bill would preempt local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances that create a registry of rental properties for any purpose including for safety assessments related to lead exposure. The bill appears to be directed at the Louisville ordinance creating such a registry. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
If passed, this bill would prevent localities from maintaining rental property registries, making it more difficult to identify and address critical safety concerns, including lead hazards that pose significant health risks to children. In Louisville, this bill would eliminate the Lead-Safe Housing Registry, a critical tool to identify and prevent lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is toxic and disrupts the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. This leads to long-term health problems for children, including developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues. This bill did not pass.
House Bill 200
What was in the bill?
Would limit violations of the Uniform State Building Code to those that produces a specific, measurable, and imminent danger to any occupant or results in the instability of a built structure. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
Building a structure that does not achieve safety and conservation goals would be considered a violation under current Uniform Building Code. We should keep current law in place so that consumers have a certain expectations and protections and so that we continue to maintain reasonable energy conservation and housing construction practices. This bill did not pass.
House Bill 326
What was in the bill?
Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to create winter and summer temperature standards for disconnection of service by retail electric and gas utilities; allow resumption of disconnection only after a 72-hour period during which the temperature standard is exceeded; establish a certificate of need for persons who are at risk if utility service is disconnected that can be provided by a physician, physician assistant, community-based service organization, or faith-based service organization; prohibit disconnection of service on holidays and weekends, including Friday, and before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; allow for reconnection of service for partial payment with a payment plan; require waiver of termination fees, reconnection fees, and late fees for customers having obtained a certificate of need. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
Essentially, this bill would prevent utility companies from shutting off access due to non-payment in the event of extreme weather and during the weekend. The bill also seeks to eliminate disconnection and reconnection fees for customers who have a certificate of need. This would prevent Kentuckians from being left without power during the extreme heat and cold. Disconnections can often lead to adverse health effects, and can put rental housing in jeopardy of eviction. A similar bill, Senate Bill 137, was filed by Senator Cassie Chambers-Armstrong. This bill did not pass.
House Bill 327
What was in the bill?
Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to require retail electric suppliers to file monthly disconnection reports with the Public Service Commission and make those reports available to the public on the PSC website. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
Utilities would be required to track and published disconnection rates to the public. This data could assist in create targeted assistance programs in highly affected areas. This bill did not pass.
House Bill 583
What was in the bill?
Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 198A to create the affordable housing loan pool fund to be administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide rehabilitation and construction loans to eligible entities; specify terms and process; create a new section of KRS Chapter 194A to create the homelessness prevention fund to be administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for continuum of care funds; specify eligible uses and eligible entities; amend KRS 198A.080 to modify criteria for housing development loan fund, require notice of eligible funds, and allow expenditure of funds for technical and administrative costs; create new section of KRS Chapter 198A to establish parameters by which the Kentucky Housing Corporation shall review and approve the affordable housing credit; and create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish the affordable housing credit. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
Known as the Kentucky Housing Opportunity Act, this legislation would spur the development of new and renovated housing and help make homes more energy efficient by creating an affordable housing loan pool fund to be administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation. A key plank would also have the state do more to help reduce homelessness. This bill did not pass.
Senate Bill 8
What was in the bill?
Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to establish the membership of the Public Service Commission; provide for the appointment, confirmation, and replacement of commissioners; establish the qualifications of the commissioners; set the terms and term limits for commissioners; and amend KRS 278.040 to provide that the commission is an independent department of state government that is administratively attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet only for the limited functions and purposes that the commission requests. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
Would change the current structure of the Public Service Commission (PSC). This bill would expand from three commissioners to five, of which two commissioners would be appointed by the auditor of public accounts. Additionally, commissioners would be barred from joining a political party committee, and no more than 3 members are allowed to be of the same political party. This would put partisan requirements on a now non-partisan commission. This bill did not pass.
Senate Bill 59
What was in the bill?
Would allow religious institutions to develop affordable housing without planning commission approval, only local legislative body approval. This bill did not pass.
What does that mean?
This bill would allow religious institutes to develop affordable housing on their land, allowing for more geographic dispersion of affordable housing. Planning commissions assess developments to ensure they align with the Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations, considering land use and environmental impacts. We are still watching this bill closely, as an additional companion bill has yet to be published on the matter. This bill did not pass.
Senate Bill 129
What was in the bill?
Amend KRS 99.727 to define “diverted tax delinquency purchaser” and “third-party purchaser.” Allow third-party purchasers to buy certificates of delinquency after a five-year tax delinquency diversion program ends, and let diverted tax delinquency purchasers buy them during the program. Set rules for the county attorney and registration requirements for third-party purchasers. Require the Department of Revenue to create regulations for the buying and selling of these certificates. This bill passed.
What does that mean?
This law lets people who owe taxes have up to five years to fix the issue without losing their property. After that, others (called “third-party purchasers”) can buy the unpaid tax certificates. The new law allows certain people (“diverted tax delinquency purchasers”) to buy these certificates during the five years. It also sets rules for the county attorney and registration for buyers, while the Department of Revenue will create guidelines for the process. This bill passed.
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