09 Apr Kansas legislature sends bill assisting businesses with utility payments to Governor Laura Kelly
The Kansas legislature, a few hours prior to its three-week adjournment, passed Conference Committee Report on Senate Bill 86 which creates the Kansas Extraordinary Utility Costs Loan Deposit Program to assist businesses impacted by the polar vortex in February. The legislation goes to Governor Laura Kelly for consideration.
The bill creates a low-interest loan program administered by the State Treasurer for Kansas businesses who were affected by the extreme cold in February of 2021. The loans are intended to assist businesses with paying off the natural gas bills over time. This is similar to the Municipal Utility Low-interest Loan Program the legislature passed earlier in the year. If signed by Governor Kelly, the program would be effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.
The bill defines an “eligible borrower” as any wholesale natural gas customer located in Kansas that incurs extraordinary natural gas costs due to the extreme winter weather event in February. Also, no single utility costs deposit loan could exceed $500,000.