Louisville Gas and Electric Co. and Kentucky Utilities Co. have once again been recognized among the nation's leading utilities for economic development, earning Site Selection magazine's 2026 "Top Utility" award based on their performance in 2025. The designation marks the 13th time the utilities have received the honor since 2012.

The companies supported 92 economic development projects last year, helping businesses announce nearly $5.7 billion in capital investment and 4,574 new jobs across their Kentucky service territories. Site Selection evaluates utilities based on corporate end-user project activity, measured by cumulative and per-capita capital investment and job creation data.

The scale of LG&E and KU's impact on the state's economy is substantial. The projects represented 46 percent of Kentucky's statewide investment announcements, 52 percent of the total announced investment dollars and 43 percent of jobs created statewide, according to the utilities.

Major projects within LG&E and KU service territories contributed significantly to the state's economic growth. Ford Motor Co. announced a nearly $2 billion investment to produce midsize electric pickup trucks at its Louisville Assembly Plant. Apple committed to a $2.5 billion partnership with Corning at the Harrodsburg manufacturing facility, dedicating it exclusively to Apple production and planning a 50 percent workforce expansion. GE Appliances announced a $490 million investment at its Louisville headquarters and Appliance Park, later expanding that commitment to approximately $1 billion across its Louisville operations, with plans to secure approximately 4,700 production jobs.

"Our investments in generation and transmission, combined with a strong focus on customer service, position LG&E and KU as a trusted energy partner for new and expanding businesses throughout our service territories," said LG&E and KU President John Crockett. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our employees, whose dedication helps drive economic growth and opportunity across the state."

The recognition underscores utilities' increasingly important role in economic development. Companies now evaluate locations based on factors including power availability, infrastructure, reliability and the ability to accommodate large manufacturing and industrial projects. LG&E and KU have been investing in generation capacity to meet anticipated demand, including obtaining regulatory approval for new natural gas combined-cycle units to address record-breaking economic growth forecasts.