The Kansas Corporation Commission will hold a public hearing tonight in Columbus to give Liberty utility customers the opportunity to learn more about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments.
Liberty Utilities has filed an application with the Commission requesting to increase customer electric rates by $15.8 million to recover costs for investments made to update aging infrastructure, modernize its customer service technology, and strengthen the system against extreme weather and other challenges.
If approved in full, the increase will be phased in over a three-year period. Kansas customers with average usage would see their monthly bill increase $11.88 in the first year, $21.28 in the second year, and another $21.28 in the third year. The proposed total bill after three years would be approximately $189.83, a 40% increase in the total bill.
The public hearing will be held at the Columbus High School Auditorium located at 124 South High School Avenue in Columbus beginning at 6 p.m. The hearings will also be broadcast live on the KCC’s YouTube channel and recorded for later viewing. Liberty Utilities has customers in southeast Kansas in Labette and Cherokee counties.
