News Release

For more information contact: Linda Berry, (785) 271-3269

January 19, 2018

The KCC invites the public to comment on proposed merger of Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light Company


Topeka -The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) invites the public to provide comments on the proposed merger of Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy (GPE), parent company of Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L). If the application filed by the companies on August 25, 2017 is approved, the combined company will have more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri.

A public hearing on the proposed merger will be held on Monday, January 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Washburn Institute of Technology, Main Conference Center, Building A, 5724 SW Huntoon, Topeka, Kansas, 66604.

Members of the public can attend in person or watch a live broadcast of the hearing on the Commission’s website: www.kcc.ks.gov. For those unable to watch live, a recording of the hearing will be available on the Commission's website beginning January 29th. Both the live broadcast and recording will be close-captioned.

The hearing will give the public an opportunity to learn more about the proposed merger, ask questions and make comments to KCC Commissioners. Comments received will be entered into the official record. Members of the public may also make comments to the official record through March 29, 2018 at 5 p.m. CST.

There are three convenient ways to submit a comment:

  1. Go to the Commission’s website (www.kcc.ks.gov/your-opinion-matters) to enter your comment.
  2. Send a letter to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604-4027. Be sure to reference Docket No. 18-KCPE-095-MER.
  3. Call the Commission’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027 or (785) 271-3140.

The Commission will evaluate the terms of the merger to ensure that it serves the general public interest, evaluating any possible effects on customers, operational cost savings, and competition in the market for electricity, labor dislocations, environmental impacts and any other relevant issues in making its determination.