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Kansas AG seeks to expand natural gas price investigation

Kansas AG seeks to expand natural gas price investigation

Kansas AG seeks to expand natural gas price investigation

Kansas Attorney General, Derek Schmidt, is working to bring in an expert as he continues an investigation into February’s spike in natural gas prices.

Schmidt is looking to retain a law firm with experience in the natural gas market to help with this investigation, which is looking to find if any laws were broken when natural gas prices skyrocketed as the state saw record cold temperatures earlier this year. Any firms interested in taking part in this effort can respond until October 28.

“State law prohibits ‘unjustified’ price increases for ‘necessary’ goods and services during a declared state of disaster emergency, and on their face these increases appear to violate Kansas law,” Schmidt said. “Our investigation has reached a point where additional resources and expertise in the complicated natural gas marketplace are required.”

Many natural gas customers were shocked when they received gas bills many times higher than what was expected, even taking the cold snap into account. The Attorney General’s Office started investigating potential profiteering on February 19. Governor Kelly’s office contacted the AG’s office on March 30, and requested he “conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the legality of price increases imposed during the February winter weather event by natural gas supplier or third-party marketers outside the [Kansas Corporation Commission’s] jurisdiction.”

The Kansas Corporation Commission has also been looking to the spike in natural gas prices, and Schmidt says his will continue to work with the KCC and keep the state’s efforts coordinated.

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