by Allen Williams
[Mr. Williams
Thank
you for your comment regarding the Evergy Docker 23-EKCE-775-RTS. In
order for me to attach your comment to the docket for review, I need to
know the city
you live in. If you could please reply with that information, I will
be happy to get your comment added.
Thank you.
Sherri Eisenbarth
Public Service Administrator
Public Affairs and Consumer Protection
Kansas Corporation Commission
1500 SW Arrowhead Road | Topeka, KS | 66604-4027
Phone (785) 271-3323 | Fax (785) 271-3111 |
http://kcc.ks.gov/ ]Evergy's rate increases invite some interesting questions. I thought
it expedient to publish some of my comments since the public wont
get any meaningful information from the press. Evergy Executives are Raking in Millions of Dollars, While the People are Struggling to Keep the Lights On
How is it that Evergy is seeking a $218 million rate rate increase
while paying 524 million in 'Dividends' ?
Evergy
Pays $534 Million in Dividends While Requesting a $218 Million
Rate Increase !
So rate payers can expect to pay more for the Sierra club's
carbon neutrality programs and Evergy's failure to increase it's
green energy investments. This is to the company's credit but
perhaps you can explain just
what green energy program will
permit the rapid deployment of power on the
grid? In the meantime the rate payers can pay DIVIDENDS TO
STOCKHOLDERS !
The Evergy
CEO was compensated over $6.8 MILLION in 2022, Board of
Director salaries averaged over $333,000,
and stockholders
received over $534 MILLION in total dividends paid?
How will the commitment to electric cars be met by new Wind Turbines
(wind speed below 33 mph) and solar power which produces nothing at
night? This will simply be exacerbated once charging stations begin
to proliferate through out the state. The lunacy continues as
Evergy
buys additional wind power from Oklahoma: "Over the next
10 years, Evergy plans to add more than 3,500 MW of renewable
energy and retire more than 1,900 MW of coal-based fossil
generation. Evergy has set a goal of 70% carbon reduction by 2030
(relative to 2005 levels) and a target to reach net-zero carbon
emissions by 2045."
As you decrease fossil fuel base loading you enter the risky
alternative energy possibilities of brownouts and just energy
unavailability.
Equally concerning to residents should be the funding of
political campaigns.
Lobbying & Campaign Contributions – Should a State-Regulated
Monopoly be Allowed to Financially Influence State Campaigns? Funding
these campaigns ensures certain company economic objectives are
met. I submit this is moe akin to profiteering than ensuring fair
and equitable rates.
But the biggest concern of Kansans by far is how a three member
regulatory board can manage meaningful rates for the state?
Rate
Increase Wars:The KCC – Can a 3-Member Utility Commission
Honestly Represent 3 Million Kansans? The article states its case well: "
The Board
would need to have many more participants in order to lessen the
possibility of lobbyists, special interests, and bad actors
somehow being powerful enough to tip the scales. Local planning
and zoning boards typically have 7-11 members for this very
reason. Even the National committees with NARUC, which two of
these commissioners serve on, have over 30 members on each
committee. "
The KCC, as currently under staffed, is not
able to regulate the state' s obligations other than in a
perfunctory manner which will lead to higher consumer rates and
increasing failures of the power grid and a lower standard of living
