Kansas School Districts Save $18M+ on Natural Gas — and Stay Protected Through Four Major Winter Storms
The Challenge
The Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) designed its Energy Management Program to help participating school districts control natural gas costs and protect tight education budgets from an increasingly volatile energy market, without adding administrative burden to district finance teams.
The Solution
Since October 2021, WoodRiver Energy has served as the natural gas supplier for the KASB Energy Management Program (formerly the Kansas Joint Utility Management Pool). Participating districts locked in WoodRiver's Fixed Price with Complete Requirements structure, covering 100% of natural gas usage regardless of historical volumes.
The Result
• More than $18 million saved on natural gas costs since October 2021, compared to each district's local utility price.
• Zero price exposure through Winter Storms Elliott (2022), Finn (2024), Blair (2025), and Fern (January 2026).
• During Winter Storm Fern, Kansas natural gas prices spiked to $40.46/dekatherm from a typical $3–$4 — a swing participating districts never felt.
“Since 2021, our energy partners at WoodRiver have been exceptional advocates for participating districts, and the savings achieved through the program prove that point .These are real savings and real resources creating real benefits for students all over Kansas. Public education is expensive to run, and programs like this reduce overhead and help point resources back toward the classroom, where they belong.”
ROD SPANGLER, CEO OF KBS
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