![]() In addition, the regulation called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to examine market conditions from Feb. Last month, the Kansas House nearly unanimously approved a resolution endorsing these investigations and condemning price gouging or market manipulation in the aftermath of the winter storm. Kansas treasurer, state representative call for answers in cold snap price-gouging investigationįebruKansas treasurer, state representative call for answers in cold snap price-gouging investigationīy Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector February 23, 2022 “Kansans deserve answers, relief, and they also deserve assurances that they will be protected for future market manipulations.” This is an issue for the everyday people who are having a hard time making ends meet,” Kuether said. “This is an issue that doesn’t have a party. Anne Kuether, a Topeka Democrat, said Kansans deserve answers and financial security. 1, 54 cities and one municipal energy agency had submitted applications and $78,409,646.79 in loans were approved and funded. The city utility low-interest loan program, approved by the Legislature last year, allows Kansas cities to borrow from the state to cover extraordinary natural gas and electric costs. Newton Public Schools received a bill for nearly $200,000, six times the normal cost. During last February’s cold snap, the school gas bill ballooned to $1.6 million for a single month.Īuburn-Washburn Unified School District received a gas bill of $45,000 instead of its typical bill of $5,000. On average, Shawnee Mission schools spend about $600,000 in natural gas bills for the entire year. “(Schmidt) has given Kansans nearly no insight on where his investigation stands, leaving school districts like (Shawnee Mission) questioning whether … cold weather could undo all of our careful budgeting.” “The last thing any school district needs right now is outrageous bills that drain precious resources away from our students,” Guy said. She pointed to struggles faced by education faculty across the state. Laura Guy, a former school teacher and Shawnee Mission School Board member, said the wait-and-see approach is not enough. “We have no further comment at this time.” The investigation is active and ongoing,” he said. The attorney general has since obtained counsel with specialized expertise, said John Milburn, a spokesman for Schmidt’s office. Last month, the Kansas House nearly unanimously approved a resolution endorsing these investigations and condemning price gouging or market manipulation in the aftermath of the winter storm. “I don’t think that’s a good message for citizens or for elected officials. “The message it sends is, pay your bills, pay the cost but just wait for answers and trust us,” Rogers said. State treasurer Lynn Rogers said this lack of movement sends the wrong message to Kansans. Seven months after the storm, as utilities were negotiating plans to pass higher rates onto customers, Schmidt said the high prices “appear to violate Kansas law” and noted he was seeking outside counsel to aid in the investigation. Gas prices rose by nearly 200 times, and experts expect Kansas utility payers will be feeling the aftereffects for a decade. Last February, Schmidt launched an investigation into the natural gas prices, which left Kansas with more than $1 billion in economic fallout. TOPEKA - The Kansas state treasurer, a legislator and a former school board member Wednesday called on Attorney General Derek Schmidt to advance a slow-moving investigation of potential price gouging tied to spikes in natural gas prices during Winter Storm Uri one year ago.
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