Rules for cold weather, assistance with bills
The Kansas Corporation Commission implemented the cold weather rule because it wanted Kansans to have electric and gas service to keep their homes warm during the winter.
The KCC also recognizes it is the customer's responsibility to make arrangements to pay for that service.
The cold weather rule was designed in 1983 to assure both goals are met. The rule is in effect from Nov. 1 through March 31.
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If unable to pay the entire utility bill, a customer should call the utility company to make pay arrangements.
Agree to pay one-twelfth of the overdue amount of the bill, plus one-twelfth of the current bill, all disconnection and connection fees, and pay the remainder in equal payments over the next 11 months.
A customer could negotiate a payment plan to pay the overdue amount off quicker than 12 months.
Remember, a person also must pay fuel bills for new service that's used while paying off the overdue amount.
If a customer is behind in a previous payment plan and cannot catch up, make a new payment agreement with the utility.
Information
According to the KCC, utility providers must inform a consumer of the cold weather rule payment plan as well as other payment plans available.
Utility providers must send written notices to customers 10 days before disconnection, plus make a phone call or personal contact the day before. Utility providers must tell customers about agencies that have funds to help pay utility bills.
Disconnection
A utility company cannot disconnect a customer when the forecast temperature is to drop below 35 degrees or be in the mid- to low-30s in the next 24 hours.
To keep from getting disconnect when it's 35 degrees or above, or to get reconnected regardless of temperature, pay arrangements must be made with the utility.
A provider may start final notification and disconnect process if there is a 48-hour forecast of temperatures above 35 degrees. On the day before disconnection, a provider must attempt to contact the customer by phone. If that fails, they must go to the home and notify the customer or leave a message on the door.
Some companies have a third-party notification plan. If the 48-hour forecast changes before the period ends and there is a forecast of below 35 degrees, the provider cannot disconnect until there is another cold weather rule 48-hour forecast of temperatures above 35 degrees.
LIEAP
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program is a federally-funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of the home energy costs.
In order to qualify, applicants must meet the following requirements: an adult living at the address must be personally responsible for paying heating costs incurred at the current residence payable either to the landlord or to the fuel vendor; applicants must demonstrate a recent history of payments of the primary heating source; and the combined gross income, before deductions, of all persons living at the address may not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty level.
Benefit levels vary according to the following factors: household income, number of persons living at the address, type of dwelling, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.
The application period ended in March. Contact SRS for more information on other assistance programs.
K-WAP
The Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program operates year round. It's an energy conservation program that helps qualified households pay for home weatherization needs.
Eligibility income guidelines differ from LIEAP and are 150 percent of the federal poverty level or 60 percent of the state median income, whichever is greater.
Households are automatically eligible if one person is receiving temporary assistance to families, or supplemental security income.
The elderly, disabled, or those with at least one child in the home are identified as a special population which deems them a priority when a waiting list for services develops.
Emergency situations also receive priority (for example, a furnace tests positive for carbon monoxide).
Weatherization services and materials may include weatherization needs assessments, caulking, insulation, storm windows, modifications, repairs or replacements of heating or cooling systems. Call (800) 752-4422 for an application or more information.
SRS Access Points
There are 13 SRS access points within the county.
Burns Post Office, brochures; Durham Post Office, applications and brochures; Goessel Post Office, brochures; Hillsboro Post Office, brochures; Lehigh Post Office, brochures; Lincolnville Post Office, posters and brochures; Lost Springs Post Office, posters and brochures.
Marion County Department for the Elderly, applications and brochures; Marion County Learning Center (Hillsboro), applications, brochures, copier and fax, computer and Internet access, interview and meeting room available; Mid-Cap (Marion), applications, brochures, copier, telephone, interview space, and transportation.
Peabody City Office, applications, brochures, notary, and telephone; Peabody Post Office, applications, brochures, notary, and telephone; Ramona Post Office, posters and brochures; and Tampa State Bank (Tampa), posters and brochures.
