Evergy
| Company type | Investor Owned Utility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric Utility |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Headquarters | Topeka, Kansas, |
Area served | Eastern 1/3rd of Kansas 674,000 customers |
Key people | William Moore |
| Products | Electricity generation, transmission and distribution, |
| Website | WestarEnergy.com |
Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) is an investor owned electric utility headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. Westar is the largest electric company in Kansas, serving 674,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the eastern third of the state. Westar Energy generates more than 27,000,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year at its 12 power plants. Westar Energy service territory covers 10,130 square miles in east and east-central Kansas. Westar Energy owns more than 33,000 miles of transmission lines.
History
In 1909, The American Power & Light Company organized Kansas Gas and Electric Company to operate utilities in Wichita, Pittsburg and Frontenac. KG&E grew rapidly. At the end of 1910, it served three communities and 5,525 customers. By 1925, service extended to 50 communities and 48,773 customers. At one time, KG&E also provided natural gas to Hutchinson, Newton, Pittsburg and Wichita.
With financial backing from Illinois Power and Light Corporation, The Kansas Power and Light Company was founded in 1924 in Tecumseh. Transmission lines ran to Topeka and Atchison. The company immediately began acquiring customers and the assets of area electric and natural gas utilities. In 1983, KPL acquired The Gas Service Company and rights to serve its one million natural gas customers in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
In 1992, KPL merged with KG&E to become Western Resources. It served 560,000 electric customers and 1.06 million natural gas customers in three states. In 1996, an agreement gave Tulsa, Okla.-based ONEOK, Inc. ownership of Western Resources’ natural gas business. In return, Western Resources received approximately 45 percent ownership in ONEOK. This investment was sold in 2002 and 2003 as part of the company's renewed focus on being a pure electric utility.
In 2002, Western Resources shareholders approved changing the company’s name to Westar Energy.
Company timeline
1910 - KG&E authorized to begin operation.
1922 - Kansas Electric Power Co. is incorporated.
1924 - Kansas Power and Light Co. is incorporated. Neosho Plant is built.
1935 - United Power and Light merges with KPL.
1943 - KPL acquires Kansas Electric Power Company.
1955 - KG&E common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1967 - KG&E requests water rights at John Redmond Reservoir for a nuclear plant.
1973 - LaCygne Energy Center goes on line.
1978 - Jeffrey Energy Center begins commercial operation.
1985 - Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station begins commercial operation Sept. 3.
1992 - KPL and KG&E merger completed. Western Resources introduced.
1999 - Westar Wind becomes the first commercially operated wind turbine project in Kansas.
2002 - Westar Energy is introduced. The KPL, KGE and Western Resources names are retired.
Generation portfolio
- Abilene Energy Center - Abilene, Kansas
- Gordon Evans Energy Center - Colwich, Kansas
- Hutchinson Energy Center - Hutchinson, Kansas
- Jeffrey Energy Center - St. Marys, Kansas
- La Cygne Energy Center - La Cygne, Kansas
- Lawrence Energy Center - Lawrence, Kansas
- Murray Gill Energy Center - Wichita, Kansas
- Neosho Energy Center - Neosho, Kansas
- Spring Creek Energy Center - Logan County, Oklahoma
- State Line Combined Cycle Plant - Joplin, Missouri
- Tecumseh Energy Center - Tecumseh, Kansas
- Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station - Burlington, Kansas
Latest news
- September 2006 - Westar announces plans to build new 345 KV transmission line from Wichita to Hutchinson to Salina
- October 2006 - Westar Energy partners with Apogee Interactive to provide energy calculators on Website.
- March 2007 - Westar Energy breaks ground on Emporia Energy Center. A natural gas-fired peaking plant.
- April 2007 - CEO Jim Haines announces retirement and successor William Moore.
- August 2007 - Westar announces plans to spend $465 million to upgrade environmental controls and Jeffrey Energy Center.
- October 2007 - Westar Energy launches Kansas' largest wind energy program.
- December 2007 - Ice Storm becomes largest in Westar history and estimated costs at $73 - $85 million.