Media Advisory

For more information contact: Abbie Hodgson, 785-271-3269

June 10, 2009

KCC Approves ITC Request to Conduct Additional Public Hearing

Topeka, KS- During an evidentiary hearing before the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) on Monday, June 8th, ITC Great Plains reported that it had recently learned that 17 landowners had not received notice by certified mail of a proposal to build a transmission line between Spearville and Hays after being inadvertently omitted from a list.

ITC immediately took corrective action and mailed certified letters to the omitted landowners notifying them of the proceeding and proposed to the commission the scheduling of an additional public hearing. The commission approved ITC's request on Tuesday, June 9th and ordered ITC to arrange a public hearing and assume the expenses for conducting the hearing.

Although no new information will be presented, a second public hearing will ensure the landowners not receiving the initial notice are assured an opportunity to address the commission personally regarding the proposed route. The public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

The public hearing will take place in two parts. First, a question and answer period will allow landowners to ask questions of ITC representatives, KCC staff, and the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB) pertaining to the project. In the second part of the hearing, landowners will be allowed to make formal statements to the three-member commission. If no commissioners are available to attend this additional public hearing, the designated pre-hearing officer may act on the commission's behalf.

In addition, the KCC will extend the deadline and accept written comments through July 2nd. ITC has been directed by the KCC to respond to public comments by July 8th. Comments regarding the case should reference Docket No. 09-ITCE-729-MIS and should be sent to:

Comments may also be submitted to the KCC at . Kansas statute requires that all landowners within 660 feet of the proposed line receive notice of the intent to build the transmission line and an opportunity to provide comments on the proposal to the KCC. The notice was originally sent to landowners on April 21, 2009. A public hearing was held in LaCrosse on May 14th and the KCC initially accepted written comments through June 5th.

A complete copy of ITC Great Plains' application and supporting testimony is available at: http://kcc.ks.gov/docket/cal.cgi?docket=09-ITCE-729-MIS.