In a rare show of bipartisanship, Republican Senator Roger Marshall and Democrat Congresswoman Sharice Davids are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider Governor Laura Kelly’s request to protect residents from potentially massive monthly bill increases from last week’s severe winter weather.
Both are asking FERC Chair Richard Glick to review all “relevant” circumstances, take steps to address the current crisis and take other steps to make sure energy service is reliable and affordable — regardless of the temperature — in the future.
Marshall and Davids say natural gas costs spiked 2,000 to 20,000 percent their normal levels, a major concern across Kansas because natural gas makes up more than a third of the state’s energy portfolio even with ongoing efforts to diversify energy sources into wind, solar, landfill gas and other sources.
Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster declaration due to the extreme cold, while the Kansas Corporation Commission issued an emergency order telling utilities to do everything in their power to keep natural gas, propane and electricity in place for Kansas customers. Rolling blackouts were needed in Kansas and other states last Monday and Tuesday to protect a 14-state regional grid, according to the Southwest Power Pool.
