Westar Energy Inc. has filed a limited rate case with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) that seeks cost recovery for investments in the second phase of its Emporia Energy Center and two Westar-owned wind farms in Kansas that were under construction but not in operation at the conclusion of the company's 2008 rate case.
This rate review was agreed to as part of the agreement reached by all parties in the 2008 case, which the KCC approved in January. Westar Energy is seeking a $19.7 million or 1.5% rate increase in this limited filing. The increase in the North region is $9.7 million, and in the South region, it is $10.0 million.
The process for this rate case will be similar to a traditional rate case filing at the KCC, with the application strictly limited to costs associated with the construction and operation of wind generation owned by Westar and the second phase of the Emporia Energy Center.
The company committed to obtain renewable energy from three wind farms in Kansas. Meridian Way Wind Farm is located near Concordia in Cloud County. Westar Energy has a power purchase agreement with Horizon Wind Energy, the owner of that wind farm, which has a generating capacity of 96 MW.
Westar Energy owns half of the Flat Ridge Wind Farm in Barber County, and BP Wind Energy North America Inc. owns the other half. Flat Ridge has a total generating capacity of 100 MW. The third wind farm, Central Plains, is located near Leoti. Westar owns all of Central Plains, which has a generating capacity of 99 MW.
The 2008 rate case results did not take into account all of the company's investment in wind generation, and all parties agreed to revisit the issue during this limited rate case.
SOURCE: Westar Energy Inc.
