House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB81 - Committee on Utilities
Short Title
Prohibiting large facilities receiving certain tariffs or failing to meet workforce and electric demand requirements from qualifying for economic development electric rates.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 5, 2025
The Chairman opened the hearing on SB 81.
Nick Myers gave an overview of the bill and stood for questions (Attachment 20).
Paul Snider testified in support of the bill (Attachment 21) and said the bill was to target Evergy's economic development rates that are supposed to be for long term job producers. He expressed concern that if large energy users, such as data centers or cryptocurrency, that they would qualify for Evergy's special rates without having the requirement of also bringing significant employees to the state. This bill would shield existing customers from rate increases due to support given for the development of new customers. The conferee stood for questions.
Eric Stafford testified in support of the bill (Attachment 22) and said they were concerned that the program that was meant to encourage investment in our state by industrial users would be provided to businesses such as data centers, which would not meet the criteria of also being job creators. The conferee stood for questions.
Joseph Astrab provided written only testimony in support of the bill (Attachment 23).
Due to time constraints, the Chairman suspended the hearing on SB 81 until Tuesday, February 11.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:26 P.M.
