BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF
Emma J. McFarlin
and Rebecca Shepherd, )
)
Complainants, )
)
v. )
File No. EC-2013-0024 )
Kansas City Power & Light Company, )
)
Respondent. )
ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TERMINATE
SERVICE
Issue Date: May 17, 2013 Effective
Date: May 17, 2013
The Missouri Public Service Commission
is granting Kansas City Power & Light
Company’s Motion for Authority to Terminate Service (“motion”) [1] and permitting Kansas City Power
& Light Company (“KCPL”) to terminate service to the service address of
Emma J. McFarlin and Rebecca Shepherd
(“complainants”) unless complainants pay not less than $1,891.80 toward their
bill no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 17, 2013.
Background
Complainants began this action on July
20, 2012,[2]
when they filed a complaint charging KCPL with billing errors and improper
termination of service.[3]
KCPL filed the motion on April
30. On that same date, the Commission scheduled the motion to be taken up at
the evidentiary hearing on May 17. On
May 17, the Commission convened the evidentiary hearing and took up the motion.
At the hearing, Ms. Shepherd testified that she had been accruing funds since
April and has enough to pay nearly half the amount due on the bill. After the
hearing, Ms. Shepherd stated that she intends to make a “good faith payment” in
the afternoon of May 17.
Merits
In
the motion, KCPL asks for an order either requiring complainants to pay half
the amount due on their bill, or permitting KCPL to terminate service to
complainants.
In
support, KCPL cites Commission regulations 4 CSR 240‑13.045(6):
If the parties are unable to mutually
determine the amount not in dispute, the customer shall pay to the utility, at
the utility's option, an amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the charge
in dispute [;]
and 4 CSR
240-13.050(1):
Service may be discontinued for any of
the following reasons:
* * *
(D) Failure to comply with terms of a settlement
agreement [.]
KCPL proved the
motion’s allegations[4] as follows.
As of the date of this order, Complainants
are receiving electrical service from KCPL, and an amount is due on
complainants’ bill.[5] An undisputed amount is not agreed
between the parties, but the parties reached a settlement agreement on
July 26, 2012, which they modified on September 21, 2012. Complainants did
not comply with the modified settlement agreement so an amount is due under it. [6]
The lesser amount
of 50 percent of the amount due on complainants’ bill as of April 30,[7] and the amount due under the modified
settlement agreement, is $1,891.80. Ms. Shepherd stated that she intends to
make a payment on the date of this order.
Ruling
Therefore, the Commission will grant
the motion conditioned as follows.
THE
COMMISSION ORDERS THAT:
1.
Kansas City Power & Light
Company’s Motion for Authority to Terminate Service is granted subject to paragraph 2.
2.
Kansas
City Power & Light Company (“KCPL”) may terminate service to the service
address of Emma J. McFarlin and Rebecca Shepherd
(“complainants”) unless KCPL receives not less than $1,891.80 toward
complainants’ bill no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 17, 2013.
3.
This order is effective upon issuance.
BY THE COMMISSION
Daniel Jordan, Senior Regulatory
Law Judge,
by delegation of
authority pursuant
to Section 386.240, RSMo
2000.
Dated at
on this 17th day of May
2013.
[1] EFIS No. 37, highly confidential filing.
[2] All other dates are in 2013 except as otherwise stated.
[3] Complainants later alleged inaccurate metering, but the Commission granted partial summary determination on that charge in KCPL’s favor by order dated April 24, 2013.
[4] The Commission incorporates those allegations by reference as if fully set forth.
[5] Motion, page 2, paragraph 8.
[6] Id. page 2, paragraphs 5 and 6; page 3 paragraph 13.
[7] Id. page 4, paragraph 19.