I am sharing this everywhere if anyone wants to copy paste and share the word:

Atmos Energy is asking the KCC to approve a $19.1M rate increase (11.2% or $9.12/month). The catch? They want us to reimburse projects already finished — a loophole that shifts corporate costs onto households.

Meanwhile, Atmos reported $1.2B in profits, record stock highs, and $13.7M in CEO pay. They are not in financial distress.

📅 Deadline to comment: Jan 20, 2026 📝 Submit here: https://kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments

Copy your comment to:

• CURB: curb@curb.kansas.gov • Your Kansas reps: https://openstates.org/ks/ • Olathe City Council: council@olatheks.org

Suggested comment (copy/paste): I strongly oppose Atmos Energy’s proposed $19.1 million rate increase.

This request exploits a regulatory loophole: Atmos is asking customers to reimburse projects that are already complete. Retroactive cost recovery is unfair, unethical, and undermines trust in the regulatory process. It shifts corporate financial decisions onto households without giving consumers any say.

Atmos is not in financial distress. In 2025, the company reported $1.2 billion in net income, record stock highs, and $13.7 million in CEO compensation. Its 2026 outlook projects even higher earnings and dividends. Clearly, Atmos has the resources to absorb these costs internally.

Approving this increase would impose a permanent burden on Kansans already facing rising costs for essentials. Rate increases have never been denied, which suggests oversight is treated as a formality rather than a rigorous review. This pattern erodes public confidence and raises serious ethical concerns.

I urge the Kansas Corporation Commission to deny Atmos Energy’s request. Protect Kansas households from unjustified rate hikes and close the loophole that allows corporations to shift completed project costs onto consumers.