Deadline nears for public comments on Atmos rate energy increase proposal

Residents who are served by Atmos Energy for natural gas have until 5 p.m. Dec. 13 to make a public comment on the rate increase proposal.

A public hearing was held in September on the rate increase, with residents allowed to make additional comments through Dec. 13. Atmos has about 135,000 customers in Kansas.

Atmos applied for a $7.1 million revenue increase in June. If approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, the average monthly bill for residential customers would increase about $3.83 per month, or 13.4 percent, according to information from the KCC.

Residents may visit the KCC website at www.kcc.ks.gov and click on the “Your Opinion Matters” link to make a comment.

Public comments also were being taken by telephone at the KCC’s public affairs office, 1-800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140.

The KCC is expected to make a decision on the rate increase request on or before Feb. 24. More information about the rate case is at http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/portal/kscc/PSC/DocketDetails.aspx?DocketId=9f5bb6f5-845e-4800-ac07-58edc42df43c.