Month: August 2022

Kansas Gas Service customers to see increase of about $4.87 to $6.42 a month to recover costs from 2021 storm

A settlement agreement will allow Kansas Gas Service to charge customers an additional $4.87 to $6.42 a month for seven to 10 years to pay for costs associated with the 2021 winter storm.

The Kansas Corporation Commission has approved a settlement agreement and financing order giving Kansas Gas Service authorization to issue securitized bonds to recover $328 million in deferred costs and associated carrying costs resulting from the 2021 winter storm. The use of low interest securitized bonds is expected to save ratepayers $35 to $46 million compared to recovery through traditional rates, according to the KCC.


The exact amount of the winter weather recovery charge KGS customers will see on their monthly bills won’t be determined until the bonds are issued, according to the KCC. Variables include the length of term and interest rate based on current market conditions.

It is estimated the monthly charge, to be labeled “Winter Event Securitized Cost” on customer bills, will range from $4.87 to $6.42 over seven to ten years, according to a KCC news release. Without securitized bonds, ratepayers would see charges of $9.04 per month over five years or $13.90 per month over three years using traditional ratemaking.


During the winter weather event, the KCC ordered regulated utilities to do everything possible to continue providing natural gas service to its customers, defer the charges, and then develop a plan to allow customers to pay the unusually high costs over time to minimize the financial impact.

The Kansas Corporation Commission emphasized it was in the public interest for KGS to incur the extraordinary costs to ensure the integrity of the gas system and ensure continuous service to its customers.


The 2021 Kansas Legislature later passed the Utility Financing and Securitization Act, which allows utilities to use securitized bonds to pay for extraordinary costs at more favorable terms than traditional financing.


Wholesale natural gas prices are not regulated by the KCC or any other government entity. The U.S. Congress deregulated natural gas prices back in the mid-1980s. Prices are market driven by supply and demand. The Kansas Corporation Commission has stated that any proceeds recovered by KGS resulting from state or federal investigations into possible market manipulation or price gouging, will be passed on to customers.

Part of Wyandotte County is served by Kansas Gas Service, while some of Wyandotte County is served by Atmos Energy.


Today’s orders are available here: Settlement Agreement at https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20220818103048.pdf?Id=667fd54d-1779-4b33-99ec-065c1143d1ba&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery and Financing Order at https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/22-466_Financing_Order.pdf?Id=72fa8fb3-f763-4562-bf76-b39149549772&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

A recording of today’s KCC business meeting featuring Kansas Corporation Commissioner comments on these orders, is available on the KCC YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSVO2kn00gA.

UG administrator search committee plans to have its members sign nondisclosure agreements

The Unified Government administrator search committee is planning to have its members sign nondisclosure agreements.

Bill Johnson, Board of Public Utilities general manager and co-chair of the search committee, told the BPU members at a meeting on Aug. 17 that the search committee was planning to have nondisclosure agreements on Aug. 18.

He told the BPU board he would probably not be able to make any more reports to them about the search committee in the future.

Johnson said he is hoping that before the end of the year, two to three recommendations will be made on prospective UG administrators. The recommendations would go to the mayor’s office and commission, and interviews would be conducted with the job candidates.

The Unified Government County Administrator Search Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at City Hall, fifth floor conference room, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

According to a meeting notice, the meeting will be conducted in person.

The committee has had been preliminary meetings with SGR, the search firm that has been selected, according to information presented at the Aug. 11 UG Commission meeting. SGR is a Texas search firm.

Each UG commissioner has been asked to appoint a representative to sit on the committee, along with an alternate, according to committee officials.

The committee is sending out surveys to major stakeholders, residents and employees, according to the committee officials.

The chair and co-chair of the search committee are Jeff Harrington, mayor of Bonner Springs; and Bill Johnson, general manager of the Board of Public Utilities.

Today’s high in mid-80s, rain possible Friday

Wyandotte County is at marginal risk for severe storms on Friday. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today’s forecast is for pleasant weather with a high in the mid-80s, and rain could be moving into the area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

A few storms on Friday afternoon could be strong, but widespread strong to severe storms are not expected, the weather service said.

The weather on Saturday through Wednesday will be highs in the 80s, with no rain in the forecast after Friday night.

Today, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 86 and a calm wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 66 and a southeast wind of 7 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 86 with a south southwest wind of 6 to 10 mph, gusting as high as 18 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service. The low will be around 65 with a south wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 84 and a west northwest wind of 3 to 7 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 64, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 63, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 63, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 64, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 84, the weather service said.