Westar Energy is proposing an increase in the transmission rate on customers’ bills. That rate pays for what the company spends to transmit power to customers, a fact that Westar says enables the use of cleaner, cheaper electricity in the state.
The changes would add close to $4 a month, and just over $47 a year to the average customer’s bill. The proposed increase comes on the heels of a separate rate increase passed last September that added between $5 and $7 to bills. That change was part of a $78 million general rate increase. The current plan totals out at $25 million in income for Westar annually.
Gina Penzig with Westar Energy says Kansas is projected to have about 4500 megawatts of wind energy in service by next year, and to deliver that energy, transmission lines have to be available.
The suggested change increases the rate for schools by 30 percent and decreases it for small businesses by 20 percent. If approved, the expected start date for the new rates is April 1.
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