The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities since the start of the pandemic has been working closely with customers experiencing financial hardship and are having difficulty in making payments, according to a spokesman.
The BPU has been offering flexible payment plans, access to a number of utility and financial assistance programs, and other options.
There are also a number of federal and state programs to help related to income loss, as well as utility and other expenses, according to a spokesman.
These options and programs include:
• The Unified Government’s federal CARES Act allocation provided $9 million in direct aid to local organizations in the community assisting with COVID-19 response, including utility, rental, and food assistance. Administered through the United Way, more than 300 BPU customers have used this resource totaling more than $165,000. Additional funding remains in this program for utility assistance, but based on CARES Act funding requirements, these monies must be allocated and disbursed to recipients no later than the Dec. 30, 2020, deadline or they will be lost – so customers are urged to act now. Call 2-1-1 and inquire about CARES Act assistance for BPU utility customers.
• BPU’s Customer Hardship Payment Service Program – A financial assistance program providing eligible participants assistance to offset utility expenses related to health emergencies, change in employment or income status, unforeseen expenses. The program has helped more than 1,500 families and provided more than $500,000 since its inception, according to a spokesman. In 2020, nearly 300 families received almost $96,000 in utility assistance support, a spokesman stated. Administered by the United Way for BPU, interested applicants can call the special Hardship Hotline at 913-371-6772 or the United Way directly at 2-1-1 for more information. (See https://www.bpu.com/ForHome/Billing/UtilityAssistance.aspx)
• BPU’s Utility Assistance Program – BPU supports utility assistance programs at various human services agencies throughout Wyandotte County. Funds are disbursed thru the United Way to eight partner agencies including Avenue of Life, Cross-Lines Community Church, El Centro, Catholic Charities, Economic Opportunity Foundation, Salvation Army-KCK, Citadel, Harbor Lights Village and others. Last year, nearly 500 families took advantage of this program, receiving nearly $100,000 in assistance, according to a spokesman. In 2020, 355 families have received nearly $90,000 in assistance to date. In concert with BPU’s Hardship Assistance program above, this provides another layer of assistance to help keep households in the community stable. For more information or to enroll in this program, call the United Way at 2-1-1.
• Utility Payment Arrangement Options – BPU is willing to work with customers to assist them with a variety of payment arrangement options. As with any financial obligation, the sooner customers reach out when they are experiencing financial issues, the more BPU and other organizations can assist. Avoid getting too far behind. BPU understands the unique circumstances some customers are experiencing, and will work to assist as much as it can. Residential customers financially impacted by COVID-19 can set up payment arrangements by calling 913-573-9145. All other BPU billing or customer service questions can be answered by calling 913-573-9190.
• Community Assistance Programs – In addition, there are a number of nonprofits, human services organizations, and programs available that also provide a variety of assistance efforts, including for utilities. This includes the Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries, the Salvation Army, the federal LIHEAP program, and more. A list of these organizations is available on BPU’s website at https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/Emergency-Utility-Assistance-Information.pdf.
• FlexPay – allows customers to monitor their electricity and water on an “as-needed” basis, with services purchased on a pre-paid basis. There are no deposits and no late fees. Call 913-573-9190 to enroll in this program.
A BPU spokesman stated that as a critical community partner, BPU will continue working to help the community and assist its customers during these extraordinary times – just as it has for the last 100 years.
As a not-for-profit municipal utility, BPU utilizes incoming revenues to offset its operational and capital costs, according to the spokesman. Unlike larger investor-owned utilities, BPU does not operate with profit margins like larger private sector utilities, which can pass these margins along to shareholders as dividends. Regardless, BPU will continue to provide community assistance and find workable solutions, as residents, the community, our region, and the nation continue to grapple with the health and financial fallout and impact of COVID-19, according to the spokesman.