Section D · Page 12
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 17, 1998
RECYCL
Renters can establish utility service by phone
By Darrin Poschka
Kanson staff writer
For students moving into apartments for the first time, setting up utilities can be confusing.
This process can be simplified with just a few phone calls.
Mark Schreiber, manager of community relations for Kansas Power and Light, said that the first thing students should do to establish electric service was to call the tollfree 24-hour customer service number before moving into their apartments.
"We will need to know their name, social security number and a current phone number," Schreiber said. "We also need to know the exact address of the apartment they will be moving into and what date they want service to begin."
UTILITIES INFORMATION
According to a brochure provided by the University Information Center, a deposit for Kansas Power and Light is not required if the student has had previous service and has good credit history. Students should check at the local Kansas Power and Light office, 333 W.Ninth St., to learn if they are eligible for a waiver. All customers must pay a connection charge.
if a deposit is necessary, the amount will be determined by an average of the last two months service at the residence, Schreiber said. If payments are late, students should not get too worried, Schreiber said.
"We don't have men in black suits running around and shutting off service in the middle of the night," Schreiber said. "Students have plenty of time to make the
Gas:
Kansas Public Service Office (KPS)
110 E. Ninth St. (East 9th and New
Hampshire streets)
1-800-303-0752
Connection charge: $5.00
Deposit: not required
Gas:
Electricity:
Kansas Power and Light (KPL)
333 W. Ninth St. (West 9th and Tennessee streets)
1-800-794-4780 (in-state)
1-800-537-0746 (out-of-state)
Connection charge: $5.30
Deposit: None if you previously have had KPL service & good credit history
Phone:
Phone:
Southwestern Bell
Call 1-800-246-4999
Connection charge: $39 with no extra features. Charge is payable in
eight installments included on your bill. Call one week before you need service.
payment before the service is disconnected."
Water/Sewer/Sanitation:
Call 832-7878 (ask for Water Department)
Connection charge: none
Deposit: $40 for renters
Cable:
Cable:
Sunflower Cablevision, 841-2100
Source: "How To Get By at KU and Lawrence"
Steve Boone, Kansas Public Service customer service representative, said that the easiest way for students to establish an account
When a payment is late, an additional late charge will be added to students' bills. Students will receive a notice in the mail about five days after the bill is due, followed by a phone call.
Published by the University Information Center, Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center, division of student affairs.
Kansas Public Service, which provides natural gas service, issues a connection charge to new customers but does not require a deposit.
"After students receive the phone call, they have 20 days to pay their bill before we disconnect service." Schreiber said.
All information is accurate as of May 1998. Cost information is subject to change.
was to call the customer service center.
"Students need to call as soon as possible prior to their move," Boone said. "We will need time to set up the account and call the apartment to see if service is on or off."
Boone said that Kansas Public Service also allowed late payments with proper warning. He said that a student should call the customer service number to notify the company that payment would be late.
"We can usually make payment arrangements with the student." Boone said. "The only time this is a problem is when it becomes habitual."
Turnover sends renters packing
Along with these services, cable telephone and water services need to be changed or started as well.
Gap between leases can literally create no place like home
By Joyce Newman
Kansan staff writer
"I have to move all my things into storage and crash with a friend for two weeks before I can move into my new apartment."
Bring out the cardboard boxes, it's moving time.
As the summer comes to an end and leases expire, students find themselves packing their belongings and scampering around town to their new homes.
Cars driving down Iowa street with overstuffed trunks and mattresses tied to roofs are a frequent sight.
security deposits
All the apartment complexes in Lawrence have similar procedures for checkout day. Often walls are repainted, carpets are cleaned and damaged items are repaired. However, residents still may lose deposit money for stained walls, ruined carpet or broken fix-
Angela Love Grandview, Mo., senior
Some apartment complexes try to address the situation.
Whether students are moving across town or down the street, packing up belongings and moving to another location can be a hassle.
Now add the stress caused by checking out of an apartment, including the possibility of landlords deducting damage fees from security deposits.
"We try to prevent that problem by providing students with a 10-credit course."
Many leases expire on the morning of the last day of the month and do not begin until the first of the month, causing some students to be homeless for a 24-hour period, if not longer.
Angela Love, Grandview, Mo. senior is one such student.The contract on her current apartment expired at the end of July and her new apartment's lease began in mid-August.
"I have to move all my things into storage and crash with a friend for two weeks before I can move into my new apartment." Love said.
month, school-term lease," said Valerie Foos, assistant manager of Park 25. "With our leases ending at different times, the complex is flexible with our move-in dates so all residents are accommodated."
Some students may have greater worries.
Meredith Berube, Darian, Ill., junior, made arrangements with the management of her new apartment so she could move in early.
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tures even though these things will be getting fixed, cleaned and replaced anyway.
"My roommate and I decided to go ahead and pro-rate our rent so that we could move out of our old place and into our new one on the same day," she said.
Kevin Kadel, assistant manager at Swan Management, acknowledged the turnover problem and said the complexes tried to provide residents with apartments at their earliest convenience.
"Those people who notify us of the problem are being helped. We have some apartments available for immediate move-in," Kadel said.
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