TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A nonprofit group from Illinois is asking the Kansas Corporation Commission to support its efforts to seek a surcharge on natural gas utilities.
The Gas Technology Institute, based in Des Plaines, Ill., says the surcharge would raise money to support safety and research.
A representative from the institute told the KCC last week that the proposed surcharge would be about 90 cents per customer per year, and raise an estimated $845,000.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the institute argues customers would benefit from research on how to make appliances and homes more efficient and pipelines safer.
A spokeswoman for Kansas Gas Service says that group has not asked the KCC for permission to add a research and development surcharge, but it might do so in the future.