When a storm knocks out the power, most people expect the disruption to end once electricity is restored. But for some Kansas residents, the frustration has carried over to their utility bills.
In Wyandotte County, one customer said he was billed during a period when he had no electricity, according to KCTV.
Here's what to know
Don Jenkins has lived in the same area for 26 years. He said that a recent storm kept him at home.
"We couldn't get in, we couldn't get out. On the day after the storm, I had an appointment to go to [the University of Kansas]. You see that tree that was broke. I had trees all out there in the yard — I couldn't get through my driveway," Jenkins told KCTV.
@kctv5 Power play? Customers in KCK are concerned they are being charged even when their power is out. The utility explains the process and when you MAY see a credit. #poweroutage #kck #utility #storm @itsshotbyred ♬ original sound - KCTV5
He said he realized he had still been billed during the outage period. He uses the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities' FlexPay program, which bills customers by the day instead of monthly.
"I was charged for that day and every day after that," Jenkins told KCTV.
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BPU said Jenkins was one of several customers affected, though it declined an on-camera interview. The utility also said about 1,000 people are enrolled in FlexPay, with the problem limited to dozens.
More background
The utility said storm-related meter outages kept the system from collecting readings. When that happens, BPU said, charges are estimated using the prior week's usage.
Jenkins said the issue deserved attention.
"Other people may have that problem. I thought the matter should be looked into, because if they were doing me that way, a whole lot of people who might overlook it might get charged for usage that they aren't using," Jenkins told KCTV.
What's being done?
According to BPU, its system updates the next bill automatically after it receives a meter reading. The utility told KCTV the estimated charge is a placeholder and does not indicate the meter recorded electricity use during the outage.
BPU said affected customers should receive a credit for the time they were without power.
Where can I learn more?
Questions about estimated outage charges are part of a bigger debate over how utilities calculate bills and pass costs on to customers. In Missouri, New York, and elsewhere, residents have raised similar concerns when company decisions or system changes threaten to push household costs higher.
• In the Show Me State, Ameren wants a rate hike that could raise customer bills by 2027.
• In the Empire State, residents say they're paying the price after a key power plant closed.
These stories help explain why customers keep a close eye on utility bills after outages, rate cases, and other changes. What starts as a billing dispute can turn into a broader fight over accountability.
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