News Release
For more information contact: Cara Sloan-Ramos, 785-271-3269
September 15, 2010
Westar Energy;
Public Hearings Scheduled on Company's SimpleSavings Program
Topeka, KS – Westar Energy filed an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for approval of its SimpleSavings program along with approval to recover direct costs and lost revenues associated with the implementation of the program in a future Energy-Efficiency Rider Charge on all customer bills.
The KCC has scheduled two public hearings to allow Westar customers the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the application:
| Date and Time | Physical Location | Videoconference Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday September 22, 2010 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. |
Kansas Corporation Commission First Floor Hearing Room 1500 SW Arrowhead Road Topeka, KS 66604 |
Pittsburg State University Kansas Technology Center Room S 110 Rouse and Ford Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 |
| Thursday September 23, 2010 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. |
WSU Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex Sudermann Commons Room 5015 E. 29th North (Entrance “C”) Wichita, KS 67220 | N/A |
Any person requiring special accommodations at the hearing under the Americans with Disabilities Act needs to provide notice to the KCC at least 10 days prior to the scheduled hearing by calling: 785-271-3166.
Westar customers unable to attend the public hearing are encouraged to submit comments to the KCC through November 15, 2010. Comments should reference Docket No: 10-WSEE-775-TAR and be emailed to: , made over the phone at: 1-800-662-0027 or mailed to:
Kansas Corporation Commission
Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection
1500 SW Arrowhead Road
Topeka, KS 66604-4027
In the event State of Kansas offices in Topeka or Wichita are closed due to inclement weather, the public hearing may be canceled without further notice.
The Program
The SimpleSavings program is designed to provide qualified customers an opportunity to finance energy-efficiency improvements and pay for those improvements on their utility bills over a maximum of 180 payments. Participating customers in the program may be eligible for loan amounts up to $20,000 for eligible residential customers and $30,000 for eligible business customers through the Efficiency Kansas loan program.
Cost Recovery
Participants will pay a one-time charge of $240 to offset a portion of Westar's costs related to initiating a SimpleSavings Loan Agreement. Westar will deduct this fee from the Efficiency Kansas loan proceeds prior to disbursement to the contractors. Remaining costs associated with Westar's administration of the SimpleSavings program will be recovered through a future Energy-Efficiency Rider Charge on all customer bills.
Westar is also requesting approval of a performance incentive it calls a Shared Savings Incentive mechanism. As customers participating in the SimpleSavings program make efficiency improvements to their premises, they may use less energy. Consequently, Westar may receive less revenue than it would if the customers had not participated in the program. Westar is requesting that the KCC allow it to recover the revenues it may lose as a result of implementing the SimpleSavings program.
A complete copy of Westar's application and supporting testimony is available at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/portal/kcc/PSC/DocketDetails.aspx?DocketId=7b077fac-0676-4fca-ac16-eaeb0c783009. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for November 22, 2010 Topeka, and the KCC must issue an order by January 31, 2011.