News Release

February 13, 2009

Kansas regulator applauds progress of Southwest Power Pool
Midwest is one step closer to a modern electric transmission system

Tom Wright, Chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission, applauded the recent announcement by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to have a plan in place by April for a comprehensive transmission system and uniform rate structure.

"In her state of the state address, Governor Sebelius called on 'the Southwest Power Pool to accelerate development of a fair and progressive rate structure for a new transmission grid across our region.'

"This announcement by the SPP brings us one step closer to that goal. This is great news for Kansas as we work to be a regional source for renewable energy," Wright said. "In the past, the SPP was consumed by lengthy evaluations of individual projects, which delayed progress significantly. Now, we can work within a clear framework to advance the process of getting poles in the ground, lines on the grid and clean energy in the homes of Americans.

"Meanwhile, the Kansas Corporation Commission will continue working to bring the competing companies together to reach a compromise on building new transmission lines in Kansas."

In December, The Kansas Corporation Commission issued an order setting procedures to determine which of the competing entities will build a high voltage transmission project proposed for Kansas. Two companies have applied to construct the lines, ITC Great Plains and Prairie Wind. The Commission urged the parties to work together to develop the project but adopted a procedural schedule that, if needed, will set a process to decide which company constructs the lines. The project could go to one company or it could be split between the two.