Can a Landlord Shut Off Electricity for Non-Payment in Kentucky?

If you’re renting a home or apartment in Kentucky and facing trouble with utility bills, understanding your rights is essential. Losing electricity can be stressful—and knowing when and how a landlord can shut off your power helps protect you from unlawful disconnections. This guide covers when landlords can shut off electricity for non-payment in Kentucky, your rights as a renter, and what you can do if your power is threatened.

Overview: Who Pays Utilities and When Can Power Be Shut Off?

Under Kentucky law, utility shut-off rules depend on your rental agreement and whether you pay utilities directly or through your landlord. Generally:

• Direct Payment: If the utility account is in your name, only the utility provider can shut off service for non-payment, not the landlord.
• Landlord Payment: If the landlord pays utilities and includes the cost in your rent, the landlord must keep the utilities on—even if you have fallen behind on rent.

Landlords are not allowed to shut off electricity (or any utility) as a way to force a tenant to pay rent or to try to make a tenant move out. This is called a "self-help eviction" and is illegal under the Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS Chapter 383).^[1]

When Can a Utility Legally Be Shut Off?

• If the bill is in the tenant’s name, the utility company can disconnect for non-payment, but they must follow state-required notice procedures.
• If the landlord is responsible for the bill, shutting off electricity (even if you haven't paid rent) is illegal unless proper court eviction procedures have been followed and you have vacated the property.

For tenants in cities and counties that have adopted the Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), landlords have additional legal duties to maintain essential services (including electricity).

What to Do If Your Landlord Threatens or Performs a Utility Shut-Off

If your landlord threatens to or actually shuts off your electricity, you have options and legal protections:

• Contact the local authorities: Some local governments and housing agencies in Kentucky can help intervene in illegal utility disconnections.
• Document everything: Save texts, emails, or written notices related to the threat or disconnection.
• File a complaint: Tenants can petition their local District Court (the tribunal handling landlord-tenant disputes in Kentucky) or contact the Kentucky Public Service Commission for utility service complaints.

If utilities are wrongfully shut off, you may also be entitled to damages, restoration of service, or termination of the lease.

Relevant Forms: Kentucky Tenant’s Petition (Complaint)

• Form Name: Civil Complaint – For Injunctive Relief (no specific statewide form number for residential landlord-tenant issues in Kentucky)
• When to Use: File in District Court when your landlord illegally disconnects utilities as a form of self-help eviction. For example, if your electricity is terminated by your landlord without a court order, you can use this complaint to request reinstatement.
• View the Civil Complaint Form for Injunctive Relief (from the Kentucky Court of Justice)

Summary of Kentucky Law on Utility Shut-Offs

• Landlords cannot shut off electricity to force payment or eviction. Only the utility provider, following notice rules, can disconnect service in the tenant’s name.
• Unlawful utility shut-off is prohibited under the Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) in participating counties or cities.
• Renters can file complaints in District Court and may qualify for damages or lease termination if affected by a wrongful shut-off.

Learn more at the official Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act at KRS Chapter 383 and always consult your local housing department or court.

FAQs: Kentucky Renters & Utility Shut-Offs

1. Can my landlord turn off the electricity if I am late paying rent?
   No. Under Kentucky law, a landlord cannot terminate electricity, water, or other essential services to force a tenant to pay or to move out.
2. Who do I contact if my landlord illegally shuts off my power?
   You can contact your local District Court, make a formal complaint with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, or seek legal assistance from a Kentucky legal aid organization.
3. What are my rights if utilities are included in my rent?
   Your landlord must keep electricity and other promised services running—even if you are behind on rent—until a lawful court eviction process is complete.
4. What should I do if I receive a utility shut-off notice from the electric company?
   If the account is in your name, contact the provider right away to discuss payment options or ask for an extension. The landlord cannot stop you from dealing directly with the utility provider.
5. Does Kentucky state law apply everywhere?
   The Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) applies only in cities or counties that have adopted it. However, illegal lockouts and utility shut-offs are generally not allowed anywhere in Kentucky.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Kentucky District Courts – File tenant petitions or complaints if your landlord wrongfully disconnects electricity.
• Kentucky Public Service Commission Consumer Complaint Portal – Report issues with utility providers.
• Kentucky Housing Corporation – Renter resources and contact help for local housing assistance.
• Kentucky Legal Aid – Free legal aid and tenant advice for qualifying renters.

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1. Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS Chapter 383)
2. Kentucky Public Service Commission – Utilities Regulation and Consumer Rights
3. Kentucky District Courts – Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution
4. Kentucky Civil Complaint for Injunction (Official Form)

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