TOPEKA (KSNT) – Many Kansans went to Topeka to voice their concerns over a potential Evergy rate hike, citing continuously rising costs despite the company’s high profits, wasteful spending and poor service.
Evergy has submitted a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for $196.4 million, or an 8.62% rate increase, to cover the cost of increased operating expenses. Residential customers could see an average monthly increase of $13.05 if this request is approved in its current state.
The KCC held a public hearing on the rate hike in Topeka on Monday, June 16. Many Evergy customers showed up to voice their concerns about the proposal.
“The cost for steel, labor, you know, all the different supplies that we use to maintain the electrical grid are going up,” Evergy spokeswoman Gina Penzig told 27 News after the meeting. “A lot of the infrastructure is getting into that 50-year-old range or older and so its needing to be replaced.”
What counties have the longest life expectancy in Kansas?
Russel Plaschka with the Kansas Cooperative Council opposed the rate hike saying it would disproportionately impact farmer cooperatives that are already struggling with low commodity prices and high costs.
“The proposed rate increase would have a direct impact on our farmer cooperatives and in some cases our cooperatives could see an increase in their yearly rates up to $90,000,” Plaschka said. “These are real dollars that they put to work with maintenance, just like Evergy, as well as their employees as well as investing in our rural communities.”
Organizing and Policy Coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Ashley Hernandez spoke on the negative impact rate hikes would have Kansans.
“This proposed rate increase poses a significant threat to the wellbeing of countless Kansans, especially those already navigating the challenging realities of economic hardship,” Hernandez said.
Temporary NOAA radio outage in Topeka, Kansas City
Maple Hill resident Ronald Ray criticized Evergy for what he said was unnecessary spending.
“They waste a massive amount of money on unnecessary things for example: up until recently when I called about billing problems, and asked them to stop, every month they send out mailings to customers saying ‘you used this much electricity on this’ and ‘this much electricity on this,'” Ray said. “Besides from the fact that I object to their spying on how I’m using my electricity, its none of their business, that wastes a lot of money that could be put back into keeping the rates down.”
“They expect us to subsidize shareholders, which includes the executives, and yet they do not provide good service to customers,” Ray continued.
Kansas may face a triple-whammy on energy bills
27 News reported on an Evergy earnings call in 2024 where the company said its biggest driver of earnings was the last rate hike. As a result of those rate hikes, the company said it would be increasing its dividends to shareholders and projected higher stock prices in 2025.
Topeka resident Kim Olson said she’s retired and living on a fixed income. She mentioned other utilities that have been raising their rates such as Kansas Gas and the city water department.
“I’m here to say people on a fixed income, the elderly, the disabled, are unable to pay this increase they are just struggling to make ends meet from paycheck to paycheck and people cannot live without their utilities,” Olson said.
The KCC will issue an order on the application on or before Sept. 29, 2025.
For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
