Another Hearing Planned On Westar Rate Hike Plan

Another public hearing is planned on a Westar Energy plan to boost rates for residential customers while decreasing rates for major commercial customers.

The hearing will be held Thursday night at the Kansas Corporation Commission office in Topeka. Two-way teleconferencing will be available for customers to testify from satellite locations in Hutchinson, Salina and Pittsburg.

About 120 people attended a hearing last week in Wichita. Most of the speakers opposed a plan to raise prices for home and small-business service 6 to 9 percent while cutting rates for large business consumers and school districts by 6 to 15 percent.

Westar officials say industrial users and other large-volume customers are now paying more than their share.

Associated Press information from: The Wichita Eagle