TOPEKA — The Kansas Cold Weather Rule ends Thursday. That means Kansans who are behind on electric and natural gas utility bills will be disconnected unless they contact their utility companies to make payment arrangements. The Cold Weather Rule, in effect Nov. 1 through March 31 each year, provides protection to residential customers who cannot fully pay winter utility bills from companies that are under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s jurisdiction. However, many municipal utilities, which aren’t regulated by the KCC, also follow the rule. The rule requires utilities to set up 12-month payment plans for customers who cannot afford to pay their full bills. As part of this arrangement, the customers must make an initial payment of half of the overdue amount, half of the bill for current service, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fees, plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility. The balance will be billed in equal payments over the next 11 months in addition to the regular monthly bill.
Tuesday, March 29, 4 p.m.
