Cold weather rule takes effect

Cold Weather Rule, designed to help Kansans. who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during winter months, will run Thursday through March 31.

Utility companies under Kansas Corporation Commission jurisdiction are prohibited from disconnecting a customer’s service when temperatures are forecast to be at or below 35 degrees over the next 24 hours.

A utility company is required to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow customers to maintain or restore utility service, but it is the customer’s responsibility to contact the gas or electric company to make those arrangements.

Payment plan terms to maintain or restore service require that customers agree to pay 1/12th of the total amount owed, 1/12th of the current bill, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee, plus any applicable deposit to the utility. The balance must be paid in equal payments over 11 months, in addition to the current monthly bill.

The Cold Weather Rule does not apply to electric and natural gas utilities that are not under KCC jurisdiction.

For more information contact their local utility company or the KCC Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027.