Louisville Water Company, MSD and Louisville Gas and Electric have the only apparent natural monopolies in Louisville, KY. There are no other options to get your electricity, gas or water and sewage services from in the city limits. 

Over the last 6 months to 1 year, the bills have become astronomical for many, in some cases tripling from just the previous year. With no major changes in service, but a huge hike in charges many people are left trying to decide if they have electricity or food. Some others wonder how they are paying $160 a month for MSD drainage charges but only $70 in actual water usage. 

With the aging drainage system in the city, repair and replacement of pipes is inevitable. However if those pipes are bad or leak under a private residence, the land owner must pay to replace them out to the public connection. So why should residents have to pay for the repair of the city's public connection pipes since they belong to LWC and MSD? Bad planning on their part should not constitute a triple bill on our parts. Since this is the only provider in the city for service, there is no option for price shopping nor for avoiding service with this provider. If you have children it is required you have water and sewage services. So the state requires you to have it or they investigate your parenting, but doesn't require the company to regulate its prices and allows price hikes within what they deem reason. 

The electric and gas provider LG&E is the only utility provider offering this service and is allowed to initiate price hikes with minimal push back as well. What they say will equate to less than $10 a month has proven to double and triple many homes bills in the past 6 months. 

There is 0 transparency, as many people who contact either company for questions regarding an overinflated bill will tell you. The company will state there is no issue, that the bill is not estimated and you clearly have something running, something left on.

Sounds exactly like the issue with the water. Hmm, your bills are normally $200 every 2 months but now it's that amount monthly? You must have a leak. Hire a plumber to do a leak check with dye. Your toilets must be running. It's a problem in your home not on our end. After spending money to show there is no issue, they will possibly credit your bill after they send someone out. That is, if they decide they buy the info your plumber offers.

We need other companies capable of offering these services and willing to work on the grid already in existence to be available for use. We want to afford both utilities at once. We want to know we can pay it and it won't be a bill almost as large as a mortgage payment for some. We should not have to choose between food or meds and utilities that are required by law if you have a child. We require consistent service and comparable pricing for comparable services. We deserve transparency and a voice in what we are forced to pay for the only service providers around. Give us the option of another company to use for each of these services.

Sign today to show the Mayor, the Governor, the entire state that we want to be offered an option and not be forced into paying exuberant amounts that in any other business are considered gouging. Please sign to show solidarity and make our voices heard. If you choose not to sign, please share.