Category: Consumer news

Kansas reopens energy assistance fund

Kansas is accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program during the coming weeks to address COVID-19 needs.

Low income-families may submit applications until 5 p.m. Friday, May 29.

Kansas energy customers can apply for LIEAP program funds on the Kansas Department for Children and Families Energy Assistance website. Applicants will need utility account numbers, proof of income and Social Security numbers for all members of their household.

“We have customers in need of help right now and are pleased funds may be available to them with reopening the LIEAP applications window,” said David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer. “When we are connecting with our customers to provide helpful resources and services, sharing information about LIEAP and assisting with applications is a meaningful way to help, especially now when times are challenging for so many.”

In response to the challenging times, in March the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities suspended disconnects of utility service for non-payment and extended this temporary moratorium through May 31.

LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit.

Typically, LIEAP is available in the fall and winter months, but the coronavirus situation has prompted the Kansas Department for Children and Families to reopen the application window through May 29.

Normally, LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Eligibility is based on an applicant’s heating bill. If an applicant needs assistance covering electric costs, they need to request the benefit be split between the two utilities.

To learn more about eligibility requirements or fill out a LIEAP application, visit the Kansas Department for Children and Families website or call 1-800-432-0043. LIEAP applications on the Kansas Department for Children and Families website became available beginning May 1, 2020.

Customers are encouraged to stay current with their bills to avoid getting too far behind and if anyone has any BPU billing or customer service questions, they can call 913-573-9190 and a utility representative is available to assist.

For more information, visit:
http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/pages/energy/energyassistance.aspx
http://www.dcf.ks.gov/Newsroom/Pages/LIEAP-Reopened.aspx
http://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal

KCC extends order suspending utility disconnects until May 15

The Kansas Corporation Commission has extended the emergency order suspending utility disconnects until May 15, according to a news release today.

The action was taken at a meeting this morning because of the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the KCC.

The action is expected to offer relief to persons experiencing hardship from the COVID-19 virus. The previous order, issued March 16, was set to expire April 15.

The directive covers all electrical, natural gas, water and telecommunications utilities under the KCC’s jurisdiction.

“The difficulties associated with COVID-19 are far from over. As Kansans continue to face both health and financial challenges, it is critical that they have continued access to utility services in their homes to ensure public safety,” Commission Chair Susan Duffy said in a news release.

This includes some gas companies and telephone companies that serve Wyandotte County.

The Board of Public Utilities is not under the KCC. The BPU announced on March 13 it was temporarily suspending utility cutoffs. There was no end time announced to the suspension in March. The BPU encouraged people who could not pay their bills to call 913-573-9145 to set up payment arrangements.

Kansas attorney general, U.S. attorney combatting COVID-19 fraud

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister have announced a state-federal partnership to investigate and prosecute scammers attempting to prey on Kansans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The two offices agree coordinating information and manpower will allow the agencies to more quickly verify allegations and prosecute those who are profiteering off the crisis.

“This partnership will allow our two agencies to bring the maximum state and federal resources to bear to stop scams, frauds and price gouging during this state of emergency,” Schmidt said. “I appreciate Steve’s strong leadership in the U.S. attorney’s office and look forward to working closely with his team to protect Kansans in the face of this crisis.”

The attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division will work directly with two prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office designated for handling COVID-19-related matters.

“Nationally, we have seen everything from people offering for sale respiratory masks they were not going to deliver to people seeking donations for non-existent COVID-19 charities,” McAllister said. “We are not going to stand by while that happens in Kansas.”

Anyone with information about COVID-19-related scams or price gouging should file a complaint with the attorney general’s office online on a form specifically designed for coronavirus issues, available along with other resources about the state’s response to the outbreak, at www.ag.ks.gov. Kansans may also call the attorney general’s consumer protection hotline at 800-432-2310 to request a paper complaint form be sent by mail.

Complaints can also be submitted to the U.S. attorney’s office by email at [email protected] or by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 866-720-5721.