Cold-weather shutoff ban begins

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Utility customers whose electricity and gas service do not come from their cities will get a five-month reprieve from having services shut off during freezing weather.

Customers served by Westar Energy, Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative, and Atmos Energy already are under an annual cold-weather rule.

If customers fall behind on payments, the utility can’t disconnect them if temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees in the coming 48 hours.

The Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates public utilities in the state, implemented the rule in 1983 to prevent companies from disconnecting service during dangerous cold.

Public utilities also are required to offer 12-month payment plans to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish service.

Any residential customer with a past due balance qualifies for payment arrangements, but it is up to the customer to contact the utility and make arrangements.

With a payment plan, 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.

The customer has to pay the remaining balance, in addition to the current monthly bill, in equal payments over the next 11 months.

Many utilities also offer a level payment plan in which the utility averages the customer’s average bill over the previous year and bills that amount at all times.

Marion and Hillsboro provide electricity service directly to residents. Because both are private suppliers, they are exempt from the rule.

Marion residents’ utility bills are due the 15th of the month. Customers are considered delinquent on the 22nd.

City Treasurer Becky Makovec said customers who fell behind could get an extension to the third of the following month but are expected to pay the full past-due amount.

“As long as you pay the full amount, the penalty part will be rolled to the following month,” Makovec said.

A customer not able to catch up may request a hearing with the city’s utility board.

Hillsboro also works with customers to make a payment plan.

“We have a payment plan system where we negotiate with customers,” Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles said. “If they work with us, we work with them. We can alter our shut-off days when the weather is colder, but we haven’t had to do that very often.”