TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gas Service is asking the Kansas Corporation Commission for a $28 million increase in its net base rate.
 
 The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that if the request is approved, the average residential customer's bill would increase by $4.34 per month. The utility's last rate increase was approved in 2012.
 
In it rate request filed Monday, the utility also proposed a three-year pilot program of a rate mechanism called Cost of Service Adjustment. The utility says that would result in smaller annual rate changes, rather than the traditional infrequent but larger rate increases. It would reset rates annually based on the previous year's financial results.
 
Utility spokeswoman Dawn Ewing says if the rate request is approved, it likely would take effect no earlier than Jan. 1, 2017.