Kansas utility regulators approved rates for Westar Energy that will lower many customers' monthly election bills.
The rate schedule approved Thursday by the Kansas Corporation Commission would lower monthly bills for residential customers by about $3.80 a month.
The rate decrease will not apply to most people who have installed solar panels or other self-generating devices. Those customers will be charged additional fees that Westar says are necessary so those customers pay their fair share of maintaining the power grid.
Westar spokeswoman Gina Penzig said those customers could still potentially see about a 30 percent decrease when they install solar, meaning they still have potential for savings under these new rates.
