Category: Consumer news

Financial help available for natural gas customers

Customers who need assistance with paying their natural gas bills have payment options and financial help available, according to the Kansas Gas Service company.

The company has been notifying customers with past due balances ethrough mail, recorded calls and email, according to a spokesman.

“We want customers to know that if they’re unable to make a payment, we are here to help,” said Abbey Frye, Kansas Gas Service director of customer service. “In normal times, you may not need or qualify for assistance, but this year has been challenging. Fortunately, due to federal funding, there are resources available.”

Frye encouraged customers to pay what they could now to avid building up a large balance that would be harder to pay off later.

The company has a webpage at KansasGasService.com/Cares that identifies numerous programs and agencies that provide utility assistance. The programs include:

• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program that helps households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit, see https://www.kansasgasservice.com/special-services/lieap.

• Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance, which serves Kansas residents who have had difficulty paying or collecting rent, utility or internet payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, see https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance.

• Share the Warmth, a partnership between Kansas Gas Service and The Salvation Army to provide energy assistance to those whose immediate financial resources cannot cover their home-heating expenses, see https://www.kansasgasservice.com/special-services/share-the-warmth.

• The 211 telephone number connects with United Way and provides information and referrals for utility, food, housing and health assistance.

For a list of other resources, see https://www.kansasgasservice.com/Cares.

Kansas Gas Service suspended disconnects for nonpayment for several months and plans to resume normal collection activities this month, according to a spokesman. In addition to regular past due notifications, customers with accounts subject to disconnection who have opted into text messages will receive an alert with a link to the Kansas Gas Service website for payment access to prevent discontinuation of service.

A spokesman also stated that a legitimate call from Kansas Gas Service will never include a demand for immediate payment.

Customers may call Kansas Gas Service at 800-794-4780 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday to speak about payment options. Those who have online accounts can log into their account and click on “Make a payment arrangement” under the “Make payment” button.

Fairfax group to discuss natural gas prices on Wednesday

The Fairfax Industrial Association is holding a virtual meeting about natural gas prices on Wednesday, April 7.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. online.

According to FIA, some large gas users who purchased natural gas from a third party gas market are probably already seeing an exorbitant increase in their bill from the February cold weather.

Those who would like to participate in a virtual round-table discussion about their bill may contact Melissa Clark, executive director of FIA, at [email protected].

Customers of Kansas Gas Service who are under their general sales service rate may not have yet seen a significant increase on their March gas bills.

The pass-through cost of gas per MCF that customers pay for natural gas will probably show up on bills at a later time, the company has stated on information provided to consumers. Gas Service is working with the Kansas Corporation Commission on the issue in a process that could take several months.

Extensions announced on Kansas income tax filings

Gov. Laura Kelly today announced extensions for Kansas individual income tax, fiduciary income tax and homestead or property tax relief refund claim filings.

The deadline, usually April 15, has been extended to May 17, 2021, bringing Kansas in line with a federal tax filing and payment deadline extension.

If a balance due is paid on or before May 17, 2021, penalty and fees will not be imposed, according to a news release from the governor. These extensions are outlined and executed through Kansas Department of Revenue Notice 21-01.

“Though COVID-19 cases continue to decline, signaling our return to normalcy, Kansas families are still assessing the full scope of the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic,” Gov. Kelly said in the news release. “Extending the deadline gives needed relief for Kansans to fully account for the pandemic’s impact and complete their state returns accurately.”

No additional forms are required to benefit from the extension. The due dates for Kansas individual estimated tax payments has not changed.

For specific questions about a state tax filing, taxpayers can contact the Kansas Taxpayer Assistance Center at 785-368-8222, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m., or by email at [email protected].