House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB455 - Committee on Utilities
Short Title
Authorizing electric public utilities to retain certain electric generating facilities in the utility's rate base.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 14, 2024
The Chairperson opened the hearing on SB 455.
Nick Myers gave an overview of the bill and stood for questions from the committee. Senator Corson asked what the current state of play is right now without this legislation. Jeff McClanahan was invited to answer this question for the committee. He responded that coal units are currently in rate based, and the KCC has the authority already to remove them if they are not needed at all. (Attachment 1)
Darrin Ives testified in support of the bill and stated that this bill will improve the flexibility of Evergy's operations and help them manage our generation fleet. He stood for questions from the committee. (Attachment 2)
Zack Pistora testified in opposition to the bill and stated that the Sierra Club is uncomfortable with bills that would prolong coal plant use, especially in Kansas when we have other opportunities that are more eco-friendly and can drive down costs for ratepayers. The Sierra Club is also concerned with reliability but asked at what cost? He stood for questions from the committee. (Attachment 3)
Paul Snider testified as a neutral conferee regarding the bill and stated that reliability is paramount and questioned if SB 455 was needed since the KCC is doing that today. He stood for questions from the committee. (Attachment 4)
Jeff McClanahan testified as a neutral conferee regarding the bill and stated that the KCC staff was neutral primarily because they already have the authority to address this issue, but they do feel this emphasizes the reliability aspects that coal units provide. He stood for questions from the committee. (Attachment 5)
There being no further conferees, the Chairperson closed the hearing on SB 455.
Meeting adjourned at 2:23.
