Settlement would raise Kan. utility's rates

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Electric rates for 41,000 western and central Kansas households would rise an average of 7.5 percent under a proposed regulatory settlement.

The settlement involves Hays-based Mid-Kansas Electric Co., customer advocates, the Kansas Corporation Commission's staff and other parties.

The KCC, which regulates utilities, has scheduled a hearing Friday on the settlement. The parties have asked the commission to approve it by mid-January.

The proposed changes would increase annual revenues for Mid-Kansas by about $15 million. The company initially had hoped for $20 million in rate increases.

Mid-Kansas was formed by six electric co-operatives in 2005, and rate increases would vary based on which one serves a customer.