THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30: 2013
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Westar could be raising its rates by up to $3 per month for its residential customers.
Westar Energy customers anticipate potential rate increase
LCODY KIUPER
ckuiper@kansan.com
Westar Energy residential customers could see a $3 per month increase on their electric bills if its proposal is accepted by the Kansas Corporation Commission.
The rate increase, along with increases for other industrial customers and businesses, will amount to $30.7 million for Westar, which it says it needs to meet more stringent environmental protection requirements at its LaCynge coal plant.
PAGE 3
Westar's plan initially called for a "shift" in rates between residential customers and large industrial customers, in which residential rates would have increased $7.50 per month and industrial rates would have been lowered. After negotiations with the Citizens Utility Rates Board and other interest groups, a new agreement was reached under which there will be no rate shifting.
David Springe, Consumer Counsel for CURB, says the groups' initial disagreement stemmed from their different understandings of where the money should come from.
"Once you figure out how much money the utility company is allowed to collect in rates, the sec
The two eventually settled on the $30.7 million rate increase contract, under which residential customers will pay a total of $18 million and small businesses will pay $12.7 million, which is a far cry from Westar's original proposal of $85 million in increases.
ond piece of the argument is from whom are they going to collect it," he said. "That's where we got into these big battles. They may think it should come more from residential and less from industrial, but I think it should be the other way around."
"If you look at the settlement from that standpoint and what the potential downside was, we thought that we got a pretty good settlement and one that is pretty reasonable for residential customers," Springe said.
million more and cities will have a $2.1 million increase to cover the reduction.
Greg Greenwood, senior vice president of strategy for Westar, said the rate reduction for Occidental was made to help keep the large company's pricing competitive, which would keep their business and jobs in Kansas.
"I in order to keep that company viable and all their jobs in the state, we had to find a way to reduce their cost but still have that contract price provide net benefits for all our customers, and we feel we found a way to do that," Greenwood said.
Another consideration that had to be addressed in negotiations was a separate Westar contract with the Occidental Chemical Plant in Wichita. As a result of the new contract, which has been approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, Occidental received a $9.7 million rate reduction. In addition to the $30.7 million increase on residents and small businesses, medium-sized businesses will see an increase of $3.9 million, large industrial customers will pay $3.2
Brandon Kuzara, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., and a Weststar customer, said he doesn't have concerns about the rate increase, regardless of the reasons behind it.
"I really don't think $3 is too big of an increase," Kuzara said. "I mean, I live with two other guys, so that's an extra dollar per person for their services which really isn't a big deal to me."
The final settlement on the rate increase was presented to the Kansas Corporation Commission on Thursday, and it will be decided on no later than Dec. 2.
- Edited by Chas Strobel
CANCER FROM PAGE 1
social media.
The group said it started this initiative to help others struggling through one of the most difficult times of their life.
"And because cancer sucks," said Allie Kite, a sophomore from Overland Park and vice president of the group.
The success of the STAC chapter at the University of Nebraska inspired Haley Mead, a sophomore from Lincoln, Neb. and president of the new organization, to bring the group to Lawrence.
Two of Mead's friends, Jeremy Payne and Brendon Henning, founded STAC at Nebraska last August. At the beginning of the school year, their group now has grown to 70 members.
The group chapter plans to fundraise year-round, and hosted its first fundraiser, a lemonade stand, on Aug. 24 that raised $62.06. Mead said it is continuously brainstorming creative fundraising ideas, also plans to borrow ideas from two of Nebraska's STAC's most successful events: a hot chocolate stand and a formal banquet.
Kite said that through its first fundraiser, STAC aimed to collect money and increase its visibility and recognition on campus.
"I really hope people see what we're doing, and get excited about it and want to join," Angie Bass, a sophomore from Swanton, Neb., and treasurer of
Mead said if the fundraisers this semester continue to expand, the group hopes to be able to sponsor a patient as soon as next semester.
the group, said.
"I think we could do a lot of good, and we recognize that there's a problem and we want to make a difference," Mead said. "I don't think you should wait around for someone to suffer in order to take action."
While financial assistance is the main goal of STAC, it would also like to provide emotional support to families. Kite said the experience of fighting cancer can be very emotionally taxing.
Bass said that STAC aims to help families focus on beating cancer, without being overwhelmed by their financial worries, including paying for treatment and other household expenses.
"You hear so much about organizations that raise cancer awareness, or raise money for cancer research. Those groups are very important, but they don't focus on the here and now," Kite said. "That's the missing piece in the fight against cancer that we wanted to be a part of."
To find out more about be-
coming involved with Students
Together Against Cancer, visit
its Facebook page or follow
@KU_STAC on Twitter.
Edited by Allison Kohn
volunteering.
SENATE FROM PAGE 1
"We're looking at every bill very carefully," said Morgan Said, Outreach Director for the Student Senate.
"Asking who is this going to benefit, how is it going to benefit them and whether they really need the money to accomplish what they want to accomplish."
The cuts to student organizations reflect a larger trend across
the state. The Kansas Board of Regents approved massive cuts of nearly $44 million to higher education that has affected every level of the state's public education system.
In the last statements of his address to the senate, Tetwiler thanked the senators for working overtime to analyze every application for funding.
"I think this is a testament to the quality of senators in this senate." Tetwiler said.
Recycle this paper
Over the weekend, we passed the 117th anniversary of the day the KU football team first wore crimson and blue uniforms. Prior to that day, the official uniform color was just crimson. Before we had a football program, the official KU colors were yellow and blue.
POLICE REPORTS
Information based on the Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap.
- A 20-year-old male was arrested Saturday on the 1400 block of Jayhawk Blvd on suspicion of sexual battery, aggravated battery and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. No bond was posted.
- A 21-year-old male was arrested Saturday on the 800 block of Vermont Street on suspicion of operating under the influence. A $500 bond was paid.
- An 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday on the 1600 block of Louisiana Street on suspicion of operating under the influence. A $500 bond was paid.
- A 24-year-old female was arrested yesterday on the 2300 block of W.26th Street on suspicion of transporting an open container and operating under the influence. A $600 bond was posted.
Kaitlyn Klein
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