Column: Cutting Your Utility Bills
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2009
The following is a column written by Rep. Mike Burgess.
Cutting Your Utility Bills
By Rep. Mike Burgess
I took a tour last week of Westar Energy’s coal-fired electricity plant located just north of Lawrence. Our guide took us through the process from start to finish how the electricity is produced so you and I can turn on the lights and keep our homes comfortable.
I also learned about what the plant is doing to improve its impact on our environment. As one of the older plants in our state, the Lawrence facility also has some of the highest levels of greenhouse emissions. They talked the importance of being good steward of our state’s environment while providing much-needed base load energy to keep our energy prices affordable.
They also stressed how we as energy-users can help by reducing our consumption of electricity through energy conservation.
If your family is like mine, you are always looking for ways to lower your bills. When it comes to my electric bill, I’ve started replacing my old light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones (CFLs). ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. That’s a savings of about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime. Plus they produce about 75% less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
You can learn more about how to cut your utility bills and conserve energy at www.energystar.gov.
The federal government also is encouraging energy conservation. In fact, according to recovery.gov, energy-related spending in the federal stimulus bill exceeds $70 billion of the $787 billion allocated.
It includes about $16 billion for broad energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including the weatherization of more than one million homes. The funding also extends the tax credits for improvements to energy-efficient existing homes through 2010. This tax credit is capped at $50 for any advanced main air circulating fan, $150 for any qualified natural gas, propane, oil furnace or hot water boiler, and $300 for any item of energy-efficient building property.
Other Legislative Happenings:
State Budget Shortfall Grows
Legislative researchers reported Friday the 2010 budget shortfall has reached $682 million. The new figure is higher because state tax collections fell $14 million short of expectations in February.
There has been much discussion at the Statehouse about using the federal stimulus funding Kansas is eligible receive to offset any budget cuts being proposed to state spending. On the surface this might seem like a good idea but as they always say, but we must keep in mind the federal dollars are only one-time funding.
The Kansas Legislature must carefully study what strings are attached to the federal stimulus money and how that will impact our state’s budgets in 2010 and beyond. We don’t want to accept something that will adversely affect our financial situation and cause more harm to important programs and services.
Proposition K to Subcommittee
A proposal known as “Proposition K” that would limit property evaluation increases to 2 percent annually has been assigned to a subcommittee for further study.
After three days of hearings and discussion, the chariman decided there were too many questions and concerns surrounding House Bill 2150 and not enough answers. So he assigned it to a subcommittee for more work.
They will review the concerns brought up during the public hearing and work to find solutions to them. If the subcommittee is unable to resolve the issues, chances are the bill will be recommended to an interim committee for more study.
State Rainy Day Fund
The House is scheduled to debate my proposal to establish a state rainy day fund on Wednesday, March 12th.
Among other things, House Bill 2320 would require the state to save money in the strong economic years to be spent during tough times like we are currently experiencing.
Right now, excess revenue just gets spent the following year – growing our state budget. If this proposal had been in place since just 2003, the state would have nearly $300 million in the budget stabilization fund and a smaller budget.
Kansas is one of only three states that do not have some form of a budget stabilization fund.
As always it is an honor to serve you and our neighbors in the 51st House District. Please call or email me about your concerns and ideas.
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov
Rep. Burgess serves north and west Shawnee County and southern Wabaunsee County, including Alma, Eskridge, Harveyville, Rossville, Silver Lake, Willard and a little bit of Topeka.