TOPEKA — The Kansas Corporation Commission on Friday approved a $33.7 million rate hike for Westar Energy customers statewide.
The latest rate increase is to pay for environmental upgrades to the company’s fossil-fuel powered plants.
The hike falls most squarely on customers in Westar’s northern division, formerly the KPL power system.
Northern customers receive much more of their power from the coal-fired Jeffrey Energy Center, where most of the environmental upgrades took place. Southern customers in the former KGE service territory get the bulk of their power from the cleaner Wolf Creek nuclear plant, with some coal and gas power added to the mix.
The rate increase should add about $2.95 — about 4.6 percent — to the bill of the average northern Kansas customer.
The average southern customer will pay an extra 88 cents, about 1.2 percent, according to calculations by the Corporation Commission staff.
The increase is the third for Westar this year.
In January, the company got a $130 million a year increase in a regular rate case.
That was followed in March with an additional $32 million a year to pay for power transmission upgrades.
The company is expected to file soon for an additional $15 to $20 million a year for expenses related to the building of an Emporia power plant and increased wind power.
12 Comments
How about using the profits Westar already earns and do the upgrades instead of rasing our rates everytime someone at westar needs to take a leak!
wowowowowowowow
Will it go down when the upgrades are paid off? No, of course not.
How much of the $33.7 million went to The Kansas Corporation Commission?
Maggotpunk, no it will only go higher.
Bring on the rate increases now while natural gas is below $4.00. When natural gas goes back up to $14.00 this fall they will really have an excuse to stick it to us lefties.
Upgrading the old plants for the Eastern part of the state will cost them a lot more. We already know we will be seeing a 30% increase this next decade to build the wind systems even with the large government subsidies.
When do the investors for Westar Energy begin bearing any of the cost for research and maintenance of their privately owned facilities? I’m sure none of them are on fixed incomes and struggling to get by. Oh no, large corporations are not greedy or evil.
Why is there a KCC anyway,I have never heard them turn down a request for a rate increase when Westar asks for it! Get rid of the KCC Westar does what it wants anyway. Sounds like somebody is getting paid off! Im sick of ALL these rate increases every time I open a bill! Cable,Postal Service,Phone Company..on an on…if I were to get a raise at my job everytime these Bozo’s got a rate increase,I would be a millionair and been retired 10 years ago! EVERYTHING THAT I USE GOES UP EXCEPT FOR MY PAY…SOONER OR LATER IT’S NOT GOING TO JIVE!
Hey guys, instead of everyone complaining on here, why don’t you write a letter or email the KCC? I have, not that it does any good, but if more were to complain, then maybe it would start doing some good. I agree, corporations are greedy. Our utilities used to use the money we paid in rates for the upgrades and upkeep. Now, the executives take such big salaries and bonuses, that they have to keep raising our rates to do all that. Its a total ruse, but what cha gonna do about it? I for one, sure don’t want to do without electricity. We can be more conservative, i.e., turn out the lights when you leave a room, unplug tv, dvd players, etc. when you leave the house (they keep using juice even if they’re turned off). I was taught to conserve water and electricity as a kid growing up in the 50’s, but I’m afraid the last two generations are not so conservative. I taught my kids to be that way, but they’re not now.
Turn off all the lights you want, but it’s your heating and cooling that really run up your utility bills. Keep your AC 78 instead of 70. If you’re going to be gone for a few hours, TURN IT UP while your gone! It’s NOT TRUE that it costs more to cool it back down, IT DOES save you money, TURN IT UP while your gone in the summer and the opposite when your gone in the winter. If you don’t have good insulation in your attic, you are throwing money to the wind. It’s the single most cost effective way to save money on your utilities. You may not be able to stop the increases, but you can more carefully manage what you use.
I can afford my bill has is. No matter how “saving” I do I get slammed every month. Those who have lost their jobs and on limited income can’t keep up. Don’t they know this?
oops can’t was the word I wanted