TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission is now allowing consumers, attorneys and the utilities it regulates to file documents electronically.

The agency launched its e-Filing Express system Monday, making it available through its website.

Commission executive director Kim Christiansen said the new system will be more convenient for parties in regulatory cases and reduce costs. The commission receives about 8,500 paper documents a year.

Companies and individuals using the system won’t be required to file paper copies. But parties in regulatory cases also won’t be required to use electronic filing.

Users will be required to create accounts to access the commission’s secure portal.