By Angela Hatton
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky regulators have tentatively approved the purchase of E.On U.S. and its two Kentucky Utilities by Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued an order today okaying the settlement reached by the two companies and a number of groups that intervened in the case. The Courier-Journal reports the settlement calls for a moratorium on any base rate increases by the two utilities through the end of 2012. PPL also pledges to keep LG&E and KU headquarters in Louisville and Lexington, respectively, for at least 15 years.