Utilities shutoff banned temporarily for coronavirus

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued an executive order 20-05 banning utility and internet service shutoffs until May 1, 2020. The order applies to services not regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).

For utilities regulated by the KCC, the commission extended the cold weather rule to April 15, 2020, which suspends shutoffs.

The City of Water has a moratorium on water shutoffs until April 15, 2020.

The cold weather rule requires customers contact the provider to make payment arrangements. It applies to electricity, gas and water utilities regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission such as Evergy and OneGas Kansas Gas Service.

Cold Weather Rule–

How do I sign up?

If you can’t pay your entire bill, call your utility company to make pay arrangements:

  • Agree to pay 1/12 of the overdue amount of your bill, plus 1/12 of your current bill, all disconnection and reconnection fees plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility, and agree to pay the remainder in equal payments over the next 11 months; or




What will the utility company do?




Can you be disconnected during the Cold Weather Rule?

A utility can’t disconnect you when the temperature is forecasted to drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit within the following 48-hour period, except in certain circumstances.




About Jill Michaux
