September 1, 2004 -- Overland Park, Kan. -- Kansas Gas Service and Westar Energy customers who receive joint electric and natural gas bills will soon be issued two separate energy bills for natural gas and electric service. Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK, Inc., is the largest provider of natural gas in Kansas, and Westar Energy provides electric service. Roughly 390,000 of the 642,000 Kansas Gas Service customers receive service from the two companies and a joint bill.
On September 6, Kansas Gas Service will introduce a new customer service system that will generate an easier-to-read billing statement for its customers. "With the implementation of our new customer service system, we will have a system that is cost efficient, enhances customer service and is consistent with the three distribution companies of ONEOK," said Al Walker, KGS manager of communications.
In the past, Kansas Gas Service and Westar Energy operated under a shared services agreement that combined customer service systems, billing statements and other services. The shared services agreement and joint billing began in December 1997, when Westar, formally known as Western Resources, sold its natural gas assets to ONEOK, Inc.
The decision to amend the shared services agreement with Westar and to stop printing combined billing statements was made by Kansas Gas Service and its parent company, ONEOK, Inc., which also provides natural gas service in Texas and Oklahoma. "It was a business decision to amend the shared services agreement and to separate our customer service operations from Westar," added Walker.
Beginning September 6, Kansas Gas Service customers will receive a redesigned natural gas billing statement, including a new 18-digit account number. In addition, customers will receive a bill insert that features customer contact information, customer choice programs, bill payment options and a complete explanation of how to read the new natural gas billing statement.
Kansas Gas Service is a division of Tulsa-based ONEOK, Inc., (NYSE: OKE), a diversified energy company involved in natural gas distribution, production, gathering, processing, storage, transmission and marketing in the mid-continent areas of the United States. KGS provides clean, reliable natural gas to more than 642,000 customers in 341 communities in Kansas.
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