Public Hearings & Comment Periods

The Commission welcomes and encourages public input on utility rate and siting cases and proposed rules and regulations. There are two ways for citizens to participate in the formal regulatory process. The first is to attend a public hearing. The second is to submit a comment during the open comment period. Click on the links below to find out more about each of these options.

Scheduled Public Hearings and Open Comment Periods

Please be sure to select the correct public comments link for the docket
you wish to comment on, as there are often several comment periods open.

Black Hills customers may submit public comments on proposed rate increase through October 21

Black Hills Energy has filed an application requesting to increase its rates and continue the use of the Gas System Reliability Surcharge (GSRS) to support the company’s Accelerated Pipeline Replacement Program. If approved, residential customers with average usage will pay an additional $2.27 per month.

Public Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. CDT, October 21, 2021. Customers can comment using the link below, send a letter to the KCC Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or call 1-800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140.

A public hearing on the application was held over Zoom on Wednesday, August 4. A link to the recording appears below.

View the Public Hearing | Public Notice |Docket Details | Submit a Comment

Public Hearing scheduled for November 16 on Empire Electric (Liberty) rate increase application

Empire District Electric (Liberty) has filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to adjust its electric base rates. If the rate update is approved, residential customers with average usage (approximately 1,000 kilowatt-hours) will pay an additional $4.97 per month or 4.47%. The increase would impact all of Liberty’s 9,688 Kansas retail customers, of which 8,203 are residential, 1,279 are commercial, 50 are industrial, 150 are public authority and street and highway customers.

A public hearing on the request will be held virtually over Zoom on Tuesday, November 16 beginning at 6 p.m. To join the meeting as a participant, with the ability to make a public comment or ask a question, customers must register using the link below. To view the hearing without participating, tune in to the KCC YouTube channel (no registration required).

Public Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. CT, March 10, 2022. Customers can comment using the link below, send a letter to the KCC Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or call 1-800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140.

Public Hearing scheduled for November 2 and comment period open on Proposed Administrative Regulations

The Kansas Corporation Commission will consider the adoption of proposed rules and regulations on a permanent basis. A link to a complete copy of the proposed regulations appears below.

A public hearing will be held on November 2, 2021 at 10 a.m., via Zoom. All interested parties may participate in the Zoom by registering using the link below. Those who would like to view the hearing, but do not wish to participate, may watch the hearing live on the KCC YouTube channel.

Public comments will be accepted through Monday, November 1 through the "Submit a Comment" link below, in writing to Cole Bailey, Litigation Counsel, State Corporation Commission, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..