KCC approves 43% increase for Westar's transmission surcharge; adds $32 million to rates
April 8, 2009
On March 6, the KCC approved a 43% increase for Westar Energy's transmission delivery charge (TDC). The TDC is a line-item surcharge that passes through Westar's transmission costs to its customers.
Westar will be collecting a little over $104 million a year from customers, which is almost $32 million more than last year. These amounts reflect increases approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates transmission rates.
Westar stated that the increase amounts to less than a 2% increase in rates overall.
However, on top of the 11% increase in base rates granted by the KCC in January, and proposed increases in the environmental surcharge as well, Westar customers as a whole will be paying over 15% more than last year for electricity.