Extreme heat has Wellington council member seeking change

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Sunday, mother nature gives Kansans a much needed break.

But last week's temperatures still has Wellington council member Jim Valentine heated.

"You can't go out and shut these people off," says Jim Valentine.

Last Thursday, with a heat index of 110, ninety-six people in Wellington, who had not paid their electricity bill, had their power turned off.

Eyewitness News heard about the incident from a viewer, Valentine watched our story.

"If we would have had a death related to this, an elderly couple, people on fixed incomes that had been turning their air on and off," says Valentine.

But there is no law saying a power provider has to keep supplying electricity to someone who is behind on their bills in the heat.

Nor, does the state or the city of Wellington.

"The city herby reserves the right to disconnect service to any and all customers of the municipal electrical service," says Valentine.

Valentine wants to see the city's ordinance amended.

"I guess the word I'm looking for here is compassion," says Valentine.

As a council member, Valentine says he feels a responsibility for the health and well-being of people in Wellington.

"This council is going to have to start addressing these issues, we could go right back into this in two weeks and are we going to do this again?" says Valentine.

We spoke to Gus Collins, Wellington's City Manager, he says out of the nearly one-hundred people who had their electricity turned off Thursday not one had asked for a payment plan or an extension, he says the city is more than willing to offer.

But he does admit there may need to be a change to the city's ordinance, whether or not they call the city during extreme hot weather.

"I think we need a special condition notice during extreme heat," says Valentine.

Valentine plans to add the issue to the city council's agenda on Tuesday.

He with support from other council members, he believes there will be a change that benefits both the people and the city.

Westar Energy says it's 'heat moratorium' policy kicks in when the heat index is forecast to be 105 degrees, and the overnight low above 80 degrees --- for two days.

This only applies to Westar customers.

Since there is no law saying the lights have to stay on in the heat, it's up to each electricity company to make it's own policy.

We'll be sure to let you know what happens at Wellington's City Council meeting Tuesday.