Topeka to Lose 150 to 200 Jobs in Energy Company Merger

By Associated Press

Published January 12, 2017 at 8:50 PM CST

Gateway to the City of Topeka (Photo by J. Schafer)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An official with Great Plains Energy says the Topeka area will lose between 150 and 200 jobs over the next three to five years as its subsidiary, Kansas City Power & Light, merges with Westar Energy. Great Plains spokesman Chuck Caisleytold The Topeka Capital-Journal on Wednesday that roughly the same amount of jobs will be lost in the Kansas City area. If the merger is approved, Westar and KCP&L will become a single electric company straddling the Kansas-Missouri border, with 1.5 million customers. Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast says he's confident the job losses will be handled in a way that is least detrimental to those involved.

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