trending Market Intelligence /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/zshmu1mgs31n24brhzlwng2 content esgSubNav
In This List

Westar Energy seeks regulatory approval to revise rates

Podcast

Next in Tech | Episode 49: Carbon reduction in cloud

Blog

Using ESG Analysis to Support a Sustainable Future

Research

US utility commissioners: Who they are and how they impact regulation

Blog

Q&A: Datacenters: Energy Hogs or Sustainability Helpers?


Westar Energy seeks regulatory approval to revise rates

Westar Energy Inc. on Feb. 1 filed an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission seeking to revise rates to reflect several cost adjustments, including savings from the recently passed federal tax reform.

The company expects that the new lower federal corporate tax rate will save customers about $74 million annually. Along with those savings, the rate request includes initial savings of $11 million related to Westar's proposed merger with Great Plains Energy Inc. and $29 million in savings achieved from refinancing of debt. Totaling $114 million, the savings would offset the expenses associated with the 280-MW Western Plains Wind Project, depreciation and other costs. Westar expects these adjustments to lower rates by about $2 million in September, subject to the approval of the state commission.

Westar is also seeking to adjust costs to reflect the expiration in early 2019 of credits that have lowered customer prices for about 10 years. This would result in a rate increase of about $54 million, set to take effect in February 2019. The two adjustments combined would hike prices by 2.6%, or about $52.6 million, according to a news release.

Average residential customers consuming 900 kWh or less would see a monthly rate increase of about $5.90 or less when the requested rate reduction and the subsequent rate increase are both implemented.