A view of power lines against a pink sunset illustrates a story about how the climate changes affect utility costs and burdens. Flatland reporters Vicky Diaz-Camacho and Catherine Hoffman will report on this issue for the next Flatland Show episode, entitled "The Cost of Utilities in Kansas City."
Flatland will report on the climate and utility cost issue for the next Flatland Show episode. What questions do you want our team to investigate? (Adobe Spark Image)

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curiousKC | Help Inform Our Coverage of the Climate and Utility Bill Crisis

December 20, 2021  |  Vicky Diaz-Camacho  |  2 min read

Last December, a sobering U.S. Census survey found that millions of people struggled to pay their rent and utilities. Some had racked up as much as $5,000 in late payments.

At the same time, climate change is causing harsher summer and winter weather. Climate scientists and community leaders are voicing concerns about climate equity — in other words, how the climate crisis connects to rising utility costs.

While the pandemic raged, many utility companies paused shut-offs and implemented payment-plan options during the first COVID winter through spring of 2021. 

But now those companies are beginning to pass along those costs to their customers. Spire Missouri recently estimated natural gas bills in Kansas City would increase by 40% this winter. Kansas Gas Service and Black Hills Energy customers in Kansas also are facing higher natural gas prices.

Take a look at what Flatland has reported on regarding the climate crisis, utility costs and other related stories. Then, send us your questions, concerns or what you think is important when discussing climate and utility equity.

You can send tips to reporters Catherine Hoffman (choffman@flatlandkc.local) and Vicky Diaz-Camacho (vdiaz-camacho@kansascitypbs.org). 

A Look At Previous Coverage:

Bills for Spire Customers in Kansas City Spike 40%, St. Louis 25% Spire Missouri customers will see big hikes in their natural gas bills this winter, with residents in the Kansas City area hit the hardest, as the energy market continues to struggle following February’s deep freeze.

Families Scramble to Keep the Lights On As Utility Bills Pile Up Thousands of people around the Kansas City region who have lost jobs due to the pandemic are seeking help with their utility bills.

Climate Impact Index Turns Up Heat on Kansas City Kansas City ranks as one of the worst cities in the country in a new transportation climate impact index.

Kansas Grapples With Utility Over Solar Panel Charges The largest utility in Kansas wants to charge customers with solar panels about $25 a month, even if their homes pull almost no electricity off the grid.

Climate Change’s Serious Effects On Kansas Citians Disproportionately Affect The Poor The discussion about climate change often centers on what increasingly extreme weather will mean for agriculture and the environment. But what about its effect on poverty?

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Vicky Diaz-Camacho covers community affairs for Kansas City PBS.

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