KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Many people are using more energy due to the fact it's very cold outside. Using more energy means their utility bills will go up.
"What has happened the past couple of days will ultimately effect customers prices," Evergy Media Relations Manager Gina Penzig said.
Recent controlled outages and freezing cold temperatures are making people wonder, what will happen to their monthly utility bill this winter?
"Your bill month to month is affected by how much energy you use. Naturally, when it gets really cold like this, even if you are doing your part and you are safely conserving, your usage is probably higher than it was last month," Penzig said.
It's a worry because customers want to stay warm but also save money.
"The more unusual cost that is coming from the energy supply issue. One of the things KCC has done is that we've asked the utilities we regulate to defer those costs, those extraordinary costs and work with us once this situation has been resolved with supply and everyone has enough energy," Linda Berry, Public Affairs Director for Kansas Corporation Commission, said.
The goal is to keep people's utility bills low.
"How fuel prices do effect customers bills, that is something that is part of a future filing before the commission and it will be reviewed for prudency and then those costs are spread out over time to help smooth out the effects on customers," Penzig said.
But, people are still using more energy, which will effect their bottom line. There is help for those worried about paying more and staying warm.
"Average payment plan is something most customers are eligible for and we take their energy use over the past year and we average it out and base your bill on that," Penzig said. "If you are eligible for community assistance if that's one of the great social service agencies that serve Kansans or Missourians or those federal dollars, to acquire and find out what assistance is available."
These are some ways people can save on their bills this winter season:
- Turn down the thermometer a few degrees, put on a jacket to stay warm
- If it's a sunny day and you can open the blinds to let the sun in, Evergy said this will warm things up
- Don't use space heaters, they take up a lot of energy
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