The Kansas Corporation Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to receive input from Atmos Energy customers on the company’s rate increase request.
The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the BEST Conference Center on the KU Edwards Campus, located at 12604 Quivira Road in Overland Park.
Atmos filed an application with the KCC on June 28 requesting an overall net revenue increase of $7.1 million. If approved, the average monthly bill for residential customers will increase by approximately $3.83 per month or 13.4 percent.
In addition to the rate increase, Atmos is seeking approval to incorporate into its rate structure a pilot System Integrity Program (“SIP”) Mechanism that would allow the utility to accelerate its progress in the replacement of obsolete materials in its Kansas system and provide for quarterly updates to rates for approved completed projects.
At the hearing, Atmos customers will have the opportunity to learn more about the company’s request and make comments to KCC commissioners. For those unable to attend, a recording of the hearing will be available on the commission’s website (www.kcc.ks.gov) beginning Sept. 19.
The commission will accept public comments through 5 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2019. In addition to attending the public hearing, there are three ways to submit a comment:
1) Go to the KCC website (www.kcc.ks.gov) and click on the “Your Opinion Matters” link to submit a comment.
2) Send a written letter to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604-4027. Be sure to reference Docket No. 19-ATMG-525-RTS.
3) Call the commission’s Public Affairs office at 1-800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140.
A decision on the rate increase request will be issued on or before Feb. 24, 2020.
Atmos provides natural gas service in approximately 135,000 customers in Kansas, including some in Kansas City, Kansas.