An evidentiary hearing scheduled for next week in the Kansas Gas Service rate case has been converted to a settlement hearing. The Kansas Corporation Commission approved the change during their business meeting this morning. Last Friday, the parties involved in the case, KCC Staff, Kansas Gas Service, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, and WoodRiver Energy, submitted a unanimous settlement agreement to the Commission.

The settlement hearing is set for Tuesday, August 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the KCC office in Topeka and will be livestreamed on the KCC YouTube channel. During the hearing, Commissioners will hear from witnesses in the case and have the chance to ask questions. The Commission can approve, reject, or modify the agreement. A final order is due on or by October 25, 2024.

If the settlement is approved, residential customers with average usage (72.23 Mcfs) would see their monthly bills increase by about $3.83, or $42.02 annually. The company has also withdrawn its proposal to implement two separate rate structures based on usage levels, which would have raised rates by approximately $6.71 per month for customers using 73 Mcf or less, and by $9.48 per month for those using more.

A link to the proposed settlement agreement is available here.