by Mary Rupert
The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities heard from a resident who questioned the cold weather rule at its Jan. 19 Zoom board meeting.
The resident, Jared Emmons, told the board his electricity could have been disconnected when there was a 19-degree projected temperature one night in January, and he thought a cold weather rule should prevent this from happening.
He said the local BPU cold weather rule differs from the statewide rule from the Kansas Corporation Commission. The KCC does not oversee the BPU, and its rule does not apply here. He asked the BPU to implement the KCC rule.
BPU officials said that the BPU is in line with other major utilities in the Kansas City area on the cold weather rule.
General Manager Bill Johnson said policies are reviewed on an ongoing basis and then presented to the board for adoption. There had not yet been a chance to sit down with the staff and discuss Emmons’ concern, he added.
Board Vice President Rose Mulvany Henry told Emmons she would contact him on Thursday and send him information about the cold weather rule that is currently in effect at BPU. It was modified in recent years, she said.
Asked by board member David Haley if he had received a notice of disconnection, Emmons said a previous bill went to his spam folder on his email. He was able to resolve the issue before there was any damage done, he added.
David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer, sent out a statement of the BPU’s cold and hot weather rule on Thursday:
“During summer months on any day when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will rise above 95 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index will rise above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, KCBPU will not disconnect electric service for non-payment of bills.
“During the period of November 1st through March 31st, KCBPU will not disconnect residential electric customers for non-payment of bills when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will remain at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours.
“KCBPU will check the weather forecasts daily between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Water service can be disconnected at any time.
“To avoid being disconnected, the customer must contact KCBPU to check eligibility and establish a payment arrangement.
“This is consistent with ALL other KC metro area utilities.”
The Kansas Corporation Commission lists its cold weather rule information on its website at https://kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/cold-weather-rule. That rule applies to private utilities, not the BPU.
The policies are similar, but slightly different.
Differences in the two rules are that BPU’s applies when the forecast remains at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours, with BPU checking the weather forecasts in the morning; and the KCC’s policy says a private utility can’t disconnect customers when the temperature is forecast to drop below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period, except in certain circumstances. According to the KCC policy, if the 48-hour forecast changes before the period ends and there is a forecast of below 35 degrees, a private utility cannot disconnect until there is another cold weather rule 48-hour forecast of temperatures above 35 degrees.
Both of the policies encourage customers to call their utility to set up a payment plan and get electricity restored if they have fallen behind on their payments.
BPU customers may call the BPU customer service representative at 913-573-9190 to discuss their bills and set up payment plans.
Cost-of-service study planned
In other action, BPU is planning a cost-of-service study on rates this year, according to Randy Otting, director of accounting.
The last time BPU adjusted its water rates was in 2013, although a water study was done in 2020 that was tabled, according to officials. The last electric cost of service study was in 2016, and rates were adjusted in 2018.
The objective of the study, according to BPU officials, will be to make sure that each class of ratepayers is paying its fair share of the cost of service.
There will be a nine- to 12-month process before a final report is presented to the board on the cost of service, according to officials.
Board member Jeff Bryant said while rate adjustments are never a pleasant subject, they are a necessary process to maintain the utility for generations to come.
BPU officers elected
The BPU also elected officers at its Jan. 19 meeting.
Elected president of the board was Mary Gonzales, BPU member at large, position 1.
A retired teacher who served in the Piper school district, Gonzales was first elected to the BPU board in 2001 and most recently served as board vice president.
Gonzales is a member of the American Public Power Association and American Water Works Association. She is involved in many community organizations, and is a board member of the Rosedale Development Association, and has served as an advisory board member of the Wyandotte County Library, according to information from the BPU. Gonzales is a past president of Delta Kappa Gamma International Educational Society, as well as former board member of El Centro and City Vision Ministries.
Elected vice president of the BPU board was Rose Mulvany Henry, who serves as member-at-large, position 3. Mulvany Henry, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, is an attorney who has worked with utilities.
Elected secretary of the BPU board was Tom Groneman, member, 2nd District. Groneman was first elected to the BPU board in 2013. After military service, he worked in the Wyandotte County probation office, and was appointed register of deeds in 1975, where he was later elected to seven terms. Groneman also served as director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control for the state of Kansas from 2003 to 2011.