Can gas companies shut off your heat in Kansas, Missouri? Explaining cold weather rules
As temperatures get colder, some Kansas and Missouri residents might struggle to afford the cost of heating their homes. Luckily, rules exist to prevent utility companies from shutting off customers’ heat when temperatures drop near or below freezing.
Missouri and Kansas each have their own version of the Cold Weather Rule — with slightly different qualifications. The rule went into effect Friday, Nov. 1, in both states.
Here’s how it works.
How does the Cold Weather Rule work in Missouri?
In Missouri, the Cold Weather Rule prevents privately owned utility companies from shutting off customers’ electricity or natural gas when the temperature is forecast to drop below 32 degrees in the following 24 hours. Here are the basics:
Customer qualifications: All customers of state-regulated private utility companies qualify for Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule.
Utilities that qualify: Electricity and natural gas, when they are necessary to heat the home.
Participating companies: Privately owned utility companies that are regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission must follow the Cold Weather Rule. Spire and Evergy both fall in this category.
Companies that don’t participate: Water and sewer companies, electric cooperatives, municipally operated utility companies and propane delivered by truck do not have to follow the Cold Weather Rule. For instance, Independence Power & Light doesn’t fall under this rule because it’s owned by a local government entity.
Temperature cutoff: 32 degrees.
Forecast duration: 24 hours. This means utilities can’t disconnect customers for nonpayment if the National Weather Service has forecasted that temperatures will drop below 32 degrees in the next 24 hours.
Shutoff notifications: Utilities must notify customers three times before shutting off service: once 10 days before the shutoff by mail, once within 96 hours (four days) before the shutoff through various means and once right before the shutoff. Crews must also leave notice at your home when they shut off service. While cold weather may delay a shutoff, the notifications are still considered valid for 30 days after they’re issued.
How does the Cold Weather Rule work in Kansas?
In Kansas, the Cold Weather Rule prevents privately owned utility companies from shutting off customers’ electricity, natural gas or water when the temperature is forecast to drop below 35 degrees in the following 48 hours. Here are the basics:
Customer qualifications: Customers behind on their bills must enter a payment agreement with their utility to pay back their overdue bills over the following 12 months or fewer to qualify for Cold Weather Rule protections.
Utilities that qualify: Electricity, natural gas and water service all qualify in Kansas.
Participating companies: Privately owned utility companies that fall under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s jurisdiction must follow the Cold Weather Rule. Evergy, Atmos Energy and Kansas Gas Service all fall in this category.
Companies that don’t participate: Municipally owned utilities, cooperatives and companies not regulated by the KCC don’t have to follow this rule. For instance, the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas (often called the BPU) doesn’t fall under the rule because it is owned and operated by a local government entity.
Temperature cutoff: 35 degrees.
Forecast duration: 48 hours. This means utilities can’t disconnect customers for nonpayment if the National Weather Service has forecasted that temperatures will drop below 35 degrees in the next 48 hours.
Shutoff notifications: Utilities must notify customers in writing 10 days before disconnecting service and attempt to contact them again the day before a disconnection. Utilities must also inform customers facing shutoffs of their payment plans, assistance funds and the Cold Weather Rule.
Do you have more questions about utility bills or disconnections in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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