By Trish Svoboda

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is reminding utility customers of two significant upcoming dates. The first is the application deadline for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which is Friday, March 29. LIEAP, a program funded at the federal level and managed by the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF), requires that all applications be submitted to the Kansas DCF office by 5 p.m. on the deadline day. The KCC strongly encourages all customers to take action to maintain their connection.

Additionally, the Cold Weather Rule, which safeguards residential customers of KCC-regulated utilities from disconnection when temperatures are predicted to fall below 35 degrees, ends on Sunday, March 31.

During the period when the Cold Weather Rule is active, regulated utilities must provide a 12-month payment plan if requested, regardless of whether a previous payment plan has been defaulted. Once this protection ends on Sunday, the lack of arrangements or non-compliance with an existing payment plan could lead to service disconnection. Reconnection after March 31 might necessitate the full payment of overdue balances, subject to the utility’s policy. Therefore, it is recommended to act now, while regulated utilities are still mandated to offer the Cold Weather Rule 12-month payment plan.

More information is available at: https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/EnergyAssistance.aspx