KSHB 41 reporter Megan Abundis covers Kansas City, Missouri, including neighborhoods in the southern part of the city. Share your story idea with Megan.
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Households in Missouri and Kansas could see a 15% increase in utility costs as tax credits for renewable energy are eliminated.
As summer temperatures rise and air conditioners run constantly, utility bills are already a concern for many households.
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Federal policy shifts could drive up utility costs for Missouri, Kansas families
According to an analysis from Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan group, your electric bill is expected to increase because of changes made in President Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” Those changes include eliminating tax credits on renewable energy.
“We’ve already heard from a lot of utility companies around the country that they will have to raise prices, and the basic reason is because the United States is going to produce less energy than it was expected to,” said Michael Linden, senior policy fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
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Michael Linden
Rebates for solar panels and electric vehicle credits will phase out, too.
Linden, who previously worked in the Biden administration and the U.S. Senate, says the move will create supply and demand issues.
“The average household in Missouri and Kansas will likely see a 15% increase in their utility bills,” Linden said.
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Karen Noel, CEO of Catholic Charities Kansas City, says her organization receives requests for utility bill assistance every day. In a week, these requests can amount to more than $10,000.
“Fifteen percent is not surprising,” Noel said. “The problem is it’s not just those in crisis that have been in crisis, it’s our working-class poor that are really pressured.”
Requests always spike during the heat of the summer, per Noel.
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She recommends avoiding peak usage times to keep costs down.
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“We just coach people: do your loads of laundry in the morning, do your heavy loads of power in the morning,” Noel said.
Despite the group’s efforts, Catholic Charities can currently only cover about 7% of requested monthly utility bills.
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“These are asks, not what we’ve been able to fulfill,” Noel said. “It’s not surprising we are seeing inflationary pressures. It starts at the low end and keeps building across the entire economy.”
KSHB 41 wanted to take a moment to explain which part of your bill could increase because of these changes.
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If energy prices rise and your bill increases, that does not mean Evergy or another utility is raising rates. Instead, it means the cost of electricity you consume is increasing.
Your utility rate is the cost of Evergy or another utility to deliver you the electricity.
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If a utility wanted to raise those rates, it would have to get approval from various state commissions, in addition to public comment and hearings.
“We are currently reviewing the bill and still looking to understand its full impact,” said Evergy spokeswoman Courtney Lewis.
Separately, Evergy Kansas Central is undergoing a rate review unrelated to federal policies. Under the settlement, base rates would increase 9.6%, and residential customers would see a bill increase of about 6.97%, or $9 per month.
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Evergy
Small to medium general service customers would see a 5.4% to 5.9% bill increase.
This would go into effect in late September if approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
A veteran St. Louis journalist was killed in a freak accident Thursday when two tires came flying off a tractor-trailer and crashed through the roof of his vehicle.
Local media mainstay Ray Hartmann, 73, was driving eastbound on I-64 near I-270 in St. Louis when two tires went airborne after zooming off a tractor-trailer ahead of him and struck the roof of his car around 2 p.m., KMOV reported, citing the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Hartmann died at the scene of the freak accident, according to a statement issued by his long-term friend and attorney, Andy Leonard, 5 On Your Side reported.
Veteran St. Louis journalist Ray Hartmann, 73, died in a freak accident involving a tractor-trailer on Thursday. Dignity Memorial
“The news covered the accident last night, and I can confirm that Ray was in his car when a tire crashed through his windshield. We believe that he died at the scene,” Leonard said in the statement.
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He is survived by his wife, Kerri Hartmann, and their two children, Ben and Brielle, who were each away at college at the time of the accident.
“It’s such a tragic loss. He was dearly loved. We’re going to miss him so much,” Kerri Hartmann told 5 On Your Side in a statement.
Hartmann was a much-loved mainstay within St. Louis media for almost 40 years, making his mark in print journalism first before moving in front of the camera.
He is known for founding the Riverfront Times and St. Louis Magazine and for spending nearly four decades on Nine PBS’ debate program, “Donnybrook,” which he co-founded in 1987.
He took a step back from the media in 2024 to run for Congress in Missouri’s 2nd District. He won the Democratic primary but lost to incumbent Ann Wagner, according to 5 On Your Side.
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Hartmann was driving eastbound on I-64 near Interstate 270 when two tires went airborne after flying off a tractor-trailer and struck the roof of his car. KMOV
“His departure was too soon,” said Charlie Brennan, Hartmann’s long-term friend and host of “Donnybrook.”
“I think he had books to write, columns to write, causes to champion, and I’m very sorry that he’s not going to be around to get to those,” he said.
Fellow panellist Alvin Reid said that the late journalist was determined to make a difference in the Gateway City, no matter what show he was on.
“Ray was determined to make a difference in St. Louis. He wanted to make a difference on every show,” Reid said.
“As long as we do this show, Ray will be a part of this show and a part of St. Louis,” he said.
Even with his illustrious and accomplished career, Hartmann’s colleagues remembered him first and foremost as a proud husband and father.
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“I’m already missing him,” Reid said. “I really do feel like I’m talking about Ray in the present. I can’t believe I’m talking about Ray in the past. That hasn’t really hit me yet.”
The investigation into Thursday’s fatal crash remains ongoing.
The Midwest is bracing for severe weather on Monday, including the threat of the excessive rainfall, hail damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.
Missouri, Illinois and Indiana face the greatest risk of severe storms. Scattered large hail, flooding, severe and damaging winds, and strong to intense tornadoes could develop across the region, the National Weather Service said.
“Storms will intensify Monday afternoon and continue into the night, increasing the risk across a heavily populated part of the region,” said Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist. “The St. Louis area is in the heart of the zone facing the greatest potential for strong, long-track tornadoes.”
The St. Louis metro is under a flood watch, while parts of central Illinois are under a severe storm warning and tornado warning.
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The severe weather is forecast to shift eastward on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather, bringing a threat of damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes to parts of Texas and the Ohio Valley.
A pair of tornadoes killed two people in north Texas over the weekend. An EF-2 tornado in Wise County led to one fatality and six injuries and caused significant damage across multiple neighborhoods, according to County Judge J.D. Clark.
A separate tornado in Parker County left one dead, the county sheriff’s office said.
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Illinois
Missouri
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Thousands are without power across mid-Missouri after Sunday night’s storms.
As of 1 a.m. on Monday, more than 7,600 were without power across the state, according to poweroutage.us. More than 1,800 of those customers were in mid-Missouri.
681 customers were without power in Camden County and 637 customers were affected in Pulaski county. In Benton County, 581 customers were without power as of Monday morning.
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Jasper County customers were the most affected by Sunday night’s storms, with more than 2,900 without power as of 1 a.m.
Get the latest weather updates on your mobile devices by downloading the First Alert Weather App for Apple and Android.
