Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Report Prepared by Cassandra Burton July 21, 2015 Copyright 2015 AARP AARP Research 601 E Street NW Washington, DC 20049 www.aarp.org/research/ Reprinting with Permission
Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Voters do not feel elected officials are doing enough to lower utility bills or consider residents when rate increases are proposed. Kansas registered voters are concerned about the rising cost of electricity and natural gas. In fact, when asked, more than eight in ten registered voters 45-plus in Kansas report that an increase in their household utility bill would be a major (43%) or a minor (39%) problem for them. Most customers (84% electricity and 77% natural gas customers are also concerned about future increases. Many voters do not think elected officials are doing enough to lower utility costs and do not feel represented when utility rate increases are proposed. Are State Officials Doing Enough to Lower Utility Costs? 60% Natural gas (n=564) 64% Electricity (n=316) Do Customers Feel Represented When Rate Increases are Proposed? 62% 18% 1 27% Voters report that having a certain level of heating or cooling in their home is important because they or someone in their household has a medical condition. The level of heating or cooling in the home is sometimes for more than comfort, one in five voters report that they or someone in their household depends on a certain level of heating or cooling in the home because of a medical condition. Furthermore, more than one-quarter (28%) of voters also report that they have to make adjustments to pay for their electric or natural gas bill. Some adjustments have been by way of delaying or not paying a bill (12%), putting off paying the utility bill altogether (9%), or delaying or not purchasing medication that they need (7%). Does a Medical Condition Require the Home to be Heated or Cooled at a Certain Temperature? 79% 1% 20% Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 1
Kansas voters oppose proposals by the utility companies that would lead to increases in their utility bills. They support a thorough review process for surcharges and additional fees. Most (79%) voters age 45-plus oppose the utility companies efforts to increase the fixed monthly customer charge, which is charged to customers prior to using the gas or electric services of the utility company. Voters also oppose (88%) the proposal by utility companies allowing them to charge automatic rate increases for infrastructure and grid improvements before the state utility commission has completed a rate review. for Increasing the Fixed Monthly Customer Charge 9% for Automatic Rate Increase for Improvements Prior to a Rate Review 4% 79% 7% 88% 7% t sure t sure 2% More than one-half (54%) of Kansas voters support regulations to respond to flat sales, technology changes and environmental concerns. Most (61%) also support a thorough review process when utility companies want to add additional surcharges and fees to their utility bills for such things as special projects and environmental compliance. for Regulations to Respond to Sales, Technology and Environmental Concerns for Thorough Review Process Before Surcharges and Fees can be Charged 13% 4% 54% 17% 61% 29% 16% 6% Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 2
Westar Energy customers oppose the requested 7.9 percent rate to support environmental compliance. Kansas voters who are also Westar Energy customers oppose (5) a requested 7.9 percent rate increase for the cost of mandated state and federal environmental upgrades to comply with clean air regulations, improvements to the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and investments to protect against power outages. for Rate Increase for Environmental Upgrades (n=326 Westar Energy Customers) 29% 5 10% Kansas voters support full and thorough financial audits of utility companies. More than four in five (8) registered voters age 45-plus in Kansas support state regulators or utility commissions conducting full and thorough financial audits of utility company earnings. Nearly all respondents (90%) also believe that when a utility company is found to have higher profits than authorized, the company should be required to reset customer rates. for Full and Thorough Financial Audits of Utility Companies Strongly/Somewhat support 8 Should Utility Companies be Required to Reset Rates if they Have Higher Profits Than Authorized? support nor oppose Strongly/Somewhat oppose 7% 90% t sure/ 4% Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 3
Respondent Demographics (n= 800 Kansas Registered Voters Age 45-plus) AGE WORK STATUS 45-49 13% Employed/Self Employed FT 40% 50-54 1 Employed/Self Employed PT 10% 55-64 32% Retired 39% 65+ 40% Unemployed/t working 10% GENDER HOMEOWNERSHIP Male 47% 11% Female 53% 89% MARITAL STATUS CHILDREN IN THE HH Married/Living w Partner 7 Child under 18 16% Sep/Div/Widowed 1 Child over 18 19% Never married 8% POLITICAL PARTY INCOME Democrat 26% Less than $30k 21% Republican 37% $30k - <$75k 37% Independent 2 $75k+ 24% Something else 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 4
Methodology The AARP 2015 Kansas Utility Survey was conducted as a telephone survey among registered voters age 45- plus in the state of Kansas. The survey collected the opinions of Kansas registered voters on issues related to utility bills, and the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board. The survey was approximately 15 minutes in length. The interviews were conducted in English by Precision Opinion from June 24th to June 28th, 2015. The sample utilized a voter list. The margin of sampling error for the sample of 800 for Kansas is +/-3.. Questionnaire Development and Testing The questionnaire was developed by AARP staff. In order to improve the quality of the data, the questionnaire was pretested with a small number of respondents. The pretest interviews were monitored by Precision Opinion and conducted using experienced interviewers who could best judge the quality of the answers given and the degree to which respondents understood the questions. Further, Precision Opinion ran a simulated data set and conducted a full review of said data prior to commencing field work. Contact Procedures Precision Opinion asked to speak with the registered voter listed on file. If that person was unavailable, Precision Opinion asked to speak with another registered voter in the household aged 45-plus. Weighting The sample was weighted by age within gender to reflect the population of registered voters in the state of Kansas age 45-plus. Response Rate/Cooperation Rate/Refusal Rate The response rate for this study was measured using AAPOR s response rate 3 method. The cooperation rate was measured using AAPOR s cooperation rate 3 method. The refusal rate was measured using AAPOR s refusal rate 3 method. The table below contains these rates. Response Rate Cooperation Rate Refusal Rate 19% 88% 8% Source: AAPOR Outcome Rate Calculator Version 2.1 May 2003 Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 5
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org. State Research brings the right knowledge at the right time to our state and national partners in support of their efforts to improve the lives of people age 50+. State Research consultants provide strategic insights and actionable research to attain measurable state and national outcomes. The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. AARP staff from the Kansas State Office, Campaigns, State Advocacy and Strategy Integration, and State Research contributed to the design, implementation and reporting of this study. Special thanks go to AARP staff, including Maren Turner, Mary Tritsch and Earnest Kutzley, AARP Kansas; Reshma Mehta, Campaigns; William Malcolm, John Coffman and Gerri Madrid-Davis, State Advocacy and Strategy Integration; and Kate Bridges, Terri Guengerich, Cheryl Barnes, and Rachelle Cummins, State Research. Please contact Cassandra Burton at 202-434-3547 for more information regarding this survey. The survey will be available at www.aarp.org/research. AARP Research For more information about this survey, please contact Cassandra Burton at: 202.434.3547 or ccantave@aarp.org Protecting Residential Utility Customers: Summary of 2015 AARP Survey of Kansas Voters Page 6