Today (THUR), the Kansas Corporation Commission begins reviewing a settlement involving Westar Energy and representatives of its customers. The latest proposal would give Westar an additional $31 million a year. That would raise residential customer bills by $3 a month. An advocate for utility customers says he believes the public was more involved in the latest rate increase debate than some previous discussions. David Springe (SPRING-ee) is with the Citizen’s Utility Ratepayer Board.
Westar Energy says this increase is needed for required environmental upgrades to a power plant in eastern Kansas.