Costs of energy cause crisis for some
5:11 p.m. Monday, August 18, 2008
"I just about passed out, I couldn't believe it," said Brenda King while looking at her Westar bill.
When Brenda King opened her bill this month, she saw this $562 bill.
Compared to her bill last month, "My last month's bill was $77," said King.
After Brenda received a $562 energy bill, she chose to turn off her air conditioner, open the window and stuck a fan it in.
And then, she went looking for answers. She called Westar to find out what could be done to help her.
"They said because I was already on a payment plan, that they couldn't do another payment plan," said King.
She admits she's had trouble paying her bill in the past.
A spokesperson from Westar, Nick Bundy, told us, "When a customer defaults on a pay agreement, we are unable to reset them on another pay agreement."
So, Westar recommended going to a charity or family member for help. But, Brenda said now that's not an option.
"I've went to all the agencies. They're out of money," she said.
But this high bill wasn't necessarily her fault.
"The Kansas Corporation Commission told me that the meter had been mis-read," said King.
Westar says mis-reading meters doesn't happen that often, but they don't keep track of mis-reads.
"The way it's set up there's really not any way to tell on mis-reads," said Bundy.
But we went to ask what happens to a person who's on a fixed income, and can't afford this kind of mistake.
Westar says double check your kilowatt hours on your bill, and if it's a big difference from the month before, "We encourage you to call us, and say something before we come back out there, and have to catch up a bill because of a misread," said Bundy.
And now Brenda says because of their mistake, she's stuck in a hard spot.
"You have a choice like pay the rent, pay the bill," said King.
After we got involved, another spokesperson from Westar says they will take a look at Brenda's bill, and see how they can help her.
We have uncovered three meter mis-reads in the past 10 days.
A spokesperson told Jessica, "Someone's not doing their job."
If you want to double check your meter, we can show you how.
If you have a problem you would like us to look into.
Call our Problem Solvers hotline at 215-8522.
Kansas Corporation Commission Public Meetings
The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled three public meetings on Westar Energy’s proposed $177.6 million rate increase. All meetings start at 7 p.m.
• Sept. 2 in Salina at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, Ballroom C, 1616 W. Crawford
• Sept. 3 in Topeka at the Kansas Corporation Commission, 1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road
• Sept. 4 in Wichita at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Room 101 (Pearl Room), 225 W. Douglas Ave.
The KCC will accept written comments from Westar customers through Sept. 15. Comments should reference Docket No. 08-WSEE-1041-RTS and be sent to:
Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection
1500 SW Arrowhead Road
Topeka, KS 66604-4027.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail at public.affairs@kcc.ks.gov or by calling 1-800-662-0027.
How to read your meter
It can't hurt to keep track of the kilowatt hours you use by reading your own meter and comparing your findings to those listed on your electric bill. Learn how to read your meter in this report from 49 News Reporter Marshanna Hester, or follow the instructions below.
Some meters are digital but most meters have four or five dials. To record your meter reading all you have to do is write down the number that the hand is on, on each little dial. Now let’s say one of those hands is between a number, in that case always take the smaller number. But let's say that hand rests between a zero and a nine. Always take the number nine. So now that we've got that meter reading you can actually calculate how much energy you've used over a particular time period. Let’s say a day, week or most likely a month. Make sure you come back out in a month and record your meter reading once again. Once you have that number subtract those two numbers and then you will have the amount of kilowatt hours you've used or a month or how much energy you've used in that time period. Find out how much money you can save by becoming more energy efficient by using Westar's Home Energy calculator.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Aug. 18, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)Speakmymind (anonymous)
Instead of all of the accussations about someone not doing their job why don't you atleast get/give more details. Is there bad or viscious dogs, is there junk piled up everywhere or weeds, trees and vines growing out of control? If these people received a low bill for a month or two why did they not question it then (who would as long as it is in their favor)?! What is the (Westars) overall statistics for correct verses incorrect reads? You can't feel too bad for these people and yes it has happened to me too but when you stop making mistakes let us know how to do it!!
Aug. 19, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)nickbundywestar (anonymous)
To elaborate on "The way it's set up there's really not any way to tell on mis-reads,". What I was referring to, is there is no way to count how many potential mis-reads there are in a billing cycle. We have a billing team and criteria in place to catch when there is a drastic change in kilowatt usage. This catches a good percentage of mis-reads. We encourage customers to double check the usage on their bill to see if it's in line with previous months. With fuel costs the highest we have ever seen them this summer, it makes being knowledgeable about the energy usage in your home that much more important.
Aug. 20, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)Speakmymind (anonymous)
nick I was not speaking against Westar I was speaking against KTKA and their victims. I have spoken with a meter reader and he explained to me how they read meters and how many (meters)they do per day. I think when someone has to look at 600 to over 1000 meters per day plus all the other things they are looking for (low powerlines, sealed meters, stolen meters, people stealing power, bad dogs, bad people,debris piled in yards, bad gates etc.)while walking 15+ miles people should be thankful misreads happen so infrequently and again everyone makes mistakes. And as for the comment the reporters put out that "Westar cost one customer $500.00" that is stupid she did use the power so she is paying for what she cost herself!!!!!!
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