Side by side (KY, EIA-861)
| Metric | Kentucky Utilities Co | Duke Energy Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.85 | 13.44 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 11.98 | 12.15 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,279 | $1,452 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 450,673 | 139,405 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in KY | 77 | 6 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Kentucky Utilities Co · Duke Energy Kentucky · Kentucky overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Campbell · Gallatin · Grant · Pendleton counties (KY, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Kentucky Utilities Co and Duke Energy Kentucky do not compete for the same meters. Kentucky is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.ky.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Kentucky Utilities Co cheaper than Duke Energy Kentucky?
- Yes — in 2024 Kentucky Utilities Co customers averaged 11.85 cents/kWh versus 13.44 for Duke Energy Kentucky (EIA-861). Kentucky Utilities Co was cheaper by 1.60 cents, about $172 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Duke Energy Kentucky to Kentucky Utilities Co?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Kentucky has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Duke Energy Kentucky more expensive than Kentucky Utilities Co?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Duke Energy Kentucky and Kentucky Utilities territory all feed the 1.60-cent gap.