NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 24, 2014--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has raised its issuer credit rating on East Kentucky Power Cooperative Inc. (EKPC) to 'A-' from 'BBB'. The outlook is stable. "The upgrade reflects our view of a track record of accrual debt service coverage of at least 1.25x in 2011-2013, modest improvements in the EKPC's high leverage ratios, and the Kentucky Public Service Commission's assessment that the utility improved financial and operational controls in response to a commission-directed management audit," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst David Bodek. The EKPC is a generation and transmission cooperative. Its 16 member distribution cooperatives serve nearly 525,000 retail customers in 87 of Kentucky's 120 counties. In 2013, the cooperative produced
