TOPEKA (KSNT) – A special rule meant to help Kansas residents who are falling behind on their utility payments to avoid being disconnected in the winter is now in effect.
Peter Barstad with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) said in a press release that the Cold Weather Rule is active from Nov. 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Utility companies are unable to disconnect a customer’s service when the local temperatures are forecast to fall below 35 degrees Fahrenheit in the next two days while the rule is in effect.
Barstad said the KCC adopted the rule in 1983 to stop utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas, electric or water service in extreme cold weather periods. While the rule is in effect, utility companies are required to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow customers to maintain or reestablish service. Customers with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements, but it is up to the customers to contact the utility to make those arrangements.
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Payment plan terms to maintain or restore service require customers agree to pay one-twelfth of the total amount owed, one-twelfth of the current bill, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee along with any applicable deposit to the utility, according to the KCC. The leftover balance must be paid in equal payments over the next 11 months alongside the current monthly bill.
KCC officials said the rule applies only to residential customers of utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction. Many municipal utilities and cooperatives have similar extreme cold weather policies. You can learn more about the Cold Weather Rule by heading to the KCC’s website or by clicking here.
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