Kansas Corporation Commission

• Jan 12, 2026

  Dwight D. KeenReappointment · Commissioner

  Gov. Laura Kelly reappointed Dwight D. Keen to a third term on the Kansas Corporation Commission, confirmed by the Senate on February 5, 2026; term expires March 2030.

Address

1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604

Phone

(785) 271-3100Fax (785) 271-3354

Website

kcc.ks.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Evergy Kansas Central (formerly Westar Energy) IOU

  North-central and east-central Kansas including Topeka and Manhattan

  Evergy has pursued multi-year rate plans and grid modernization trackers under KCC oversight; recent integrated resource planning filings emphasize coal retirement timelines and wind integration amid ongoing scrutiny of affiliate cost allocations post-merger.

• Evergy Metro (formerly Kansas City Power & Light - Kansas) IOU

  Kansas City metro area on the Kansas side, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties

  Operates under the same Evergy holding structure as Kansas Central; KCC has examined the fairness of shared-service cost allocations and capital expenditure planning across both Kansas subsidiaries in consolidated rate proceedings.

• Kansas Gas Service (ONE Gas subsidiary) IOU

  Statewide natural gas distribution serving over 630,000 customers across Kansas

  Filed a general rate case in 2024-2025 seeking recovery of infrastructure replacement and system integrity costs; post-Winter Storm Uri bad debt and gas cost securitization recovery remains a lingering balance sheet and regulatory issue.

• Midwest Energy coop

  Northwest and north-central Kansas, covering approximately 43 counties

  As a G&T and distribution cooperative, Midwest Energy is not directly rate-regulated by KCC but participates in KCC proceedings on interconnection and renewable energy policy; active in wind integration given service territory overlap with major wind corridors.

• Kansas Electric Power Cooperative (KEPCo) coop

  Statewide generation and transmission cooperative serving 22 distribution cooperative members

  KEPCo's long-term power supply strategy is under review as member cooperatives face pressure to diversify away from coal-dependent contracts; participates in SPP market and has growing interest in utility-scale solar procurement.

• Hutchinson Utilities Commission muni

  City of Hutchinson and surrounding Reno County service area

  Municipally owned electric and gas utility operating outside direct KCC rate jurisdiction; has engaged in regional transmission coordination discussions and is monitoring state-level renewable portfolio and grid reliability policy developments.

Key issues

• Evergy integrated resource plan (IRP) review: KCC staff and intervenors are scrutinizing Evergy's proposed coal unit retirement schedule at Lawrence Energy Center and Hawthorn 5, with contested questions about replacement capacity adequacy, stranded cost recovery mechanisms, and whether accelerated retirements align with SPP regional reliability requirements.
• Natural gas cost recovery and securitization: Kansas Gas Service and other gas utilities continue to work through KCC-approved securitization bond structures stemming from Winter Storm Uri extraordinary gas costs; ongoing compliance reporting and potential true-up proceedings are active docket items.
• Grid modernization and AMI cost recovery: Evergy's advanced metering infrastructure deployment and associated distribution automation investments are subject to tracker filings at KCC, with consumer advocates challenging the cost-benefit methodology and rate impact allocations across customer classes.
• Renewable energy interconnection backlog and transmission planning: KCC and Kansas stakeholders are engaged with SPP on queue reform impacts for Kansas-sited wind and solar projects; state-level policy discussions are ongoing regarding whether Kansas should adopt additional incentive structures or interconnection facilitation mechanisms.
• Affordable energy and low-income assistance: KCC has active proceedings examining the adequacy of utility low-income rate assistance programs and disconnection protections, with legislative interest following post-pandemic arrears accumulation and rate increases from multiple pending general rate cases.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Estimated deadline for KCC staff reply comments in Evergy Kansas Central general rate case docket; procedural schedule anticipated to set evidentiary hearing for Q4 2026 based on standard KCC rate case timeline of approximately 240 days from filing.

• 2026-10-07

  Estimated KCC evidentiary hearing commencement for Kansas Gas Service rate case (Docket No. 24-KGSG-); hearing dates subject to confirmation by KCC order, with final order expected within statutory 240-day period.

• 2026-11-18

  Estimated KCC open meeting for consideration of Evergy IRP compliance order and issuance of findings on coal retirement timeline, capacity replacement obligations, and any required plan modifications; date estimated based on typical KCC IRP review cycle.

• 2027-01-31

  Estimated statutory deadline for KCC final order in any Evergy general rate case filed in mid-2026; parties should anticipate interim rate implementation and potential settlement discussions in Q4 2026 to avoid litigated outcome at this deadline.