Evergy Says Warrensburg Customers Will Pay More in 2025

Evergy customers who live in the Missouri West service area will probably pay more for their electricity in 2024. Evergy filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to recover investments made to support generation capacity and improve the grid to provide reliable power. That means you and I get to pay for those ugly, towering metal polls they put up in Warrensburg a couple of years ago.

Evergy says their request includes investments related to power resources that will help ensure Evergy Missouri West customers have sufficient access to power and reduce Missouri West's exposure to market price volatility for electricity purchased from the market.

Evergy also told the Missouri Public Service Commission they have been replacing aging infrastructure, improving the electric grid's ability to withstand more severe weather, adding technologies to shorten outages, and improving predictive maintenance capabilities.

They've created more power, reducing their dependence on buying energy from the market, where pricing can vary greatly. Evergy Missouri West also acquired a 22.2% interest in the Dogwood Energy Facility located in Pleasant Hill.

So what does all mean for Evergy Missouri West customers? Evergy is requesting to increase the base rates for Evergy Missouri West customers by about 13%, or roughly 17 dollars a month, according to Evergy's notice on the filing.

“Our focus continues to be on more efficiently running the business, which despite this period of record inflation has resulted in a reduced increase ask for our customers. While most area states have seen electricity costs increase about 11% over the past six years, Evergy’s prices have remained regionally competitive and even declined in some areas," said Evergy President and Chief Executive Officer David Campell.

Evergy Missouri West's service area includes 340,000 customers and the communities of Warrensburg, Harrisonville, St. Joseph, Liberty, and Platte City, among other cities. That said, most of the Kansas City Metropolitan region is a different service area and is not impacted by the rate increase.

If approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission, rates will take effect on January 1, 2025.