Take Action
Donate now to support housing affordability policy
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.
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.
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 case, 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 (Case No. 2024-00326) 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 is in the bill?
This bill would mandate limits on the development of multi-family housing in areas zoned for “single-family home zones”.
How does this work?
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.
House Bill 160
What is 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.
How does this work?
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.
House Bill 173
What is 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.
How does this work?
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.
House Bill 200
What is 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.
How does this work?
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.
House Bill 326
What is 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.
How does this work?
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.
House Bill 327
What is 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.
How does this work?
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.
Senate Bill 59
What is in the bill?
Would allow religious institutions to develop affordable housing without planning commission approval, only local legislative body approval.
How does this work?
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.
TAKE ACTION WITH US
Generous supporters like you are making this work possible. Here are some important ways you can get involved today.
FOLLOW THE JOURNEY TOWARD AFFORDABLE ENERGY AND HOUSING
"*" indicates required fields