Brief ⁽¹⁾

HR 6006 would urge the State Corporation Commission to order, to the extent authorized by law, that all moneys from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-ordered ad valorem tax refunds be used to assist residential natural gas customers within the local natural gas distribution companies' respective service territories. The resolution requests that the Commission target the assistance to those households which, because of income, are not eligible for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program but have an income below 300 percent of the poverty level set by the federal government.

Background

The exact amount of money from Kansas ad valorem tax refunds that will be available to local distribution companies for further distribution is not yet known, since some settlement agreements are not completed. The most recent information (January 1998) shared by the Kansas Corporation Commission indicates a total amount of almost $21 million in the escrow accounts of local distribution companies although several million dollars in additional refund moneys are anticipated.

The Department of Health and Human Services' poverty guidelines for a family of four is currently $17,050. An income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level would be an income of less than $51,150 for a family of four.

HR 6006 is identical to SR 1808 which was recommended by the Senate Committee on Utilities.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi