Could Kansans see another natural gas price spike?
TOPEKA (KSNT) - In 2021, Kansans were left on the hook for millions of dollars worth of natural gas after a sharp price increase. 27 News asked the Kansas Gas Service (KGS) if it was prepared for another harsh winter.
KGS spokeswoman Dawn Tripp said the utility provider has made changes to secure its gas supply. Additionally, Tripp said KGS now buys its gas in the summer when prices are low and stores it for winter use.
"Since Winter Storm Uri, we've made upgrades to our pipelines and expanded supply sources," Tripp said. "These enhancements help provide reliability for our customers during the harshest winter weather."
In Sept. 2021, the KGS reported it saw higher natural gas prices during Winter Storm Uri. Customers and cities across the state were hit with exorbitant bills.
Many cities in northeast Kansas had to cover the cost of the bills, sometimes in the millions of dollars. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that on Feb. 17, 2021, natural gas prices hit $24/MMBtu, the highest daily price since 2003.
The City of Burlingame had to take out a $1 million utility loan from the State of Kansas to pay off its bill. City Clerk Patty Atchison tells 27 News the loan the city entered into with the state will take 10 years to pay off.
The City of Winfield usually spent $1.6 million on natural gas. During Winter Storm Uri, the bill grew well over $10 million in a span of six days. At the time, Winfield’s natural gas manager said “the commodity of natural gas had reached never before seen price levels." Residents of Winfield faced bills as high as $3,000 for the month.
Tripp said the KGS is ready to address weather conditions as they arise. If you need financial assistance for natural gas you can call the KGS customer service number at 800-794-4780. For tips on saving money on gas bills in the winter, click here.
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