OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec 21, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE), 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.
"Our costs for providing service are fixed, and our existing rate mechanisms are driven by consumption," said Dixon. "While our proposed programs are designed to reduce our customers' use of natural gas, it's necessary to have a recovery system in place that separates consumption from revenue."
Kansas Gas Service is also proposing to implement the following energy efficiency initiatives: heating system check-up program, appliance rebates, ENERGY STAR(R) new residential construction program, commercial customization program and a broad-based consumer education plan.
The Kansas Corporation Commission has 240 days to issue a ruling on Kansas Gas Service's application.
Kansas Gas Service provides clean, reliable natural gas to more than 642,000 customers in 341 communities in Kansas. It is a division of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE), a diversified energy company. ONEOK is the general partner and owns 45.1 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting NGL supply in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Its energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.
For more information, visit the Web sites at www.kansasgasservice.com or www.oneok.com.
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Analyst Contact: Dan Harrison
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Media Contact: Dawn Ewing
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SOURCE Kansas Gas Service
http://www.kansasgasservice.com
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