Westar, KCC staff settle on $50 million increase
Published on -2/7/2012, 8:14 AM
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Westar Energy reached a settlement with The Kansas Corporation Commission staff to raise its rates by $50 million.
However, a consumer rights group says it will fight the rate increase.
The Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board said Monday it will ask the KCC next week to overturn the settlement with its staff.
A spokeswoman for Westar said CURB is the only group opposing the deal.
An attorney for CURB said residents and small businesses will pay $41 million of the increase, which includes a 10 percent profit for shareholders
KCC lawyers originally asked Westar to accept a $33 million rate hike and 9 percent shareholder increase.
The Wichita Eagle reports that (http://bit.ly/xn2M1L) Westar says the increase will cost the average homeowner less than $4 a month.
