Kan. Agrees To Equalize Westar Rates

DAVID TWIDDY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas regulators on Monday approved the consolidation of the rates paid by customers in Westar Energy Inc.'s northern and southern divisions.

In its order, the Kansas Corporation Commission noted that it has supported equalizing rates for customers receiving the same type of services in the two divisions since Topeka, Kan.-based Westar formed from the merger of two companies in the early 1990s.

Commissioners said the difference in rates between the two divisions is very small and delaying the consolidation further may only enlarge the rate swings some customers will experience. They also said future major investments in the company's power plants and other infrastructure should be borne by customers statewide, not just those in one division.

It downplayed concerns, particularly among customers in the southern division, that consolidating rates now is unfair.

"After reviewing all the evidence," it wrote, "the commission finds that arguments in favor of moving forward with final steps to achieve rate consolidation at this time far outweigh those arguments seeking to maintain separate ... territories."