Climate and energy

A few Kansas energy news updates:

Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK, Inc., announced today that it has filed an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission to become an Efficiency Kansas Loan Program utility partner.

The Efficiency Kansas Loan Program, established by the corporation commission, is designed to promote energy conservation through energy-efficiency improvements in existing Kansas homes and small businesses. The Efficiency Kansas program is operated by the corporation commission’s State Energy Office and funded with approximately $34 million in federal economic stimulus dollars, authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“We believe becoming an Efficiency Kansas utility partner will bring value to Kansas Gas Service customers,” states Brad Dixon, president of Kansas Gas Service. “It will allow us to raise greater awareness of the benefits of conserving energy and the environmental responsibility we all have in reducing our carbon footprint.”

The company’s participation in the Efficiency Kansas program is contingent upon the Kansas Corporation Commission approving a rate mechanism that would recover losses from declining sales and an energy conservation rider to recover program costs.

And the Kansas City Kansan reports on BPU’s net metering:

The Board of Public Utilities voted last week on to allow customers to build their own renewable energy resources and connect them to BPU’s system.

The aim is to provide BPU customers an opportunity to connect renewable energy forms, such as solar and wind, with BPU. Customers can apply for connection to BPU’s grid and monitor the amount of energy provided via net energy meters.

If a resident generates more energy than they receive, it will be credited in electric bill statements. If less energy is generated, reduced billings will reflect the amount of energy they create.

“BPU is proud to be leading the way in Kansas’ renewable energy efforts by allowing for net metering in our community,” said Don Gray, general manager of BPU. “It is our hope that providing this capability will lead to the further use of renewable energy alternatives while subsequently reducing overall emissions.”

The new policy is expected to take effect as early as January.

Both residents and businesses are allowed to take part in the program.

-posted by Eileen Horn, climateandenergy.org