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PSC sets intervention deadline In KCP&L request to adjust DSIM

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L) has filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking to adjust the Demand Side Investment Mechanism (DSIM) charge on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line-item on customer bills, allows KCP&L to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives.

According to the application, a residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a month will see the charge drop by approximately $0.46 a month.

This request comes on the heels of a second rate increase request by the company in late October for a 15.8 percent rate increase, which would result in an average residential customer paying less than an additional $14 per month, if approved.

Reasons for the increase request include the numerous infrastructure and system improvements KCP&L has made to maintain the overall reliability of its electrical system and modernize the grid.

“Through aggressive and ongoing cost management, we continue to provide electricity at rates that are comparable in our region,” said Terry Bassham, President and CEO of Great Plains Energy and KCP&L. “However, government mandates have resulted in increased costs as we comply with environmental rules and provide cleaner power to our customers. This request reflects the significant investments KCP&L has made to continue to provide cleaner, reliable electricity to our customers.”

KCP&L is also announcing that it plans to file a rate increase request for its Kansas service area in January.

Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed no later than December 22, 2014, using the Commission’s electronic filing and information system (EFIS).

Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone (866) 922-2959, e-mail opcservice@ded.mo.gov) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, e-mail pscinfo@psc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

In June 2014, the Public Service Commission approved an agreement among several parties which authorized KCP&L to implement a number of energy efficiency programs under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA). The agreement also allowed KCP&L to establish a DSIM charge.

KCP&L serves approximately 270,000 electric customers in the Missouri counties of Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Pettis, Platte, Randolph and Saline.

The rate request process takes approximately 11 months in Missouri, and new rates are expected to take effect at the earliest, in October 2015.