Christina Ostmeyer, Kansas Appleseed Communications Director, costmeyer@kansasappleseed.org
Edward Smith, Sierra Club Press Secretary, edward.smith@sierraclub.org
Dorothy Barnett, Climate & Energy Project Executive Director, barnett@climateandenergy.org
David Nickel, Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, Consumer Counsel, ecurb@curb.kansas.gov
TOPEKA, KS—Pending approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), Evergy and a coalition of anti-poverty,environmental organizations, and ratepayer advocates have agreed on a slate of energy efficiency programs that will reduce energy demand and save ratepayers money. Kansas spends less than every state besides Alaska on utility energy efficiency and currently ranks 47th in the nation for its energy efficiency programs according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, a national nonprofit that tracks energy efficiency programs throughout the country.
"We cannot continue to put these energy efficiency programs on hold considering the devastating health impact that high energy burdens place on Kansans,” said Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director of Climate + Energy Project. “Kansas is as close as it has ever been to implementing a comprehensive suite of energy efficiency programs, and it would do ratepayers a disservice to continue to deny them an opportunity to reduce their energy bills.”
In an evidentiary hearing earlier this month, the coalition of anti-poverty and environmental organizations all supported the implementation of nine energy efficiency programs offered by Evergy to benefit its nearly one million Kansas ratepayers. The organizations presented evidence to the KCC on how energy efficiency programs will help Kansans lower their energy bills and reduce Evergy’s reliance on expensive fossil-fuel generated electric power plants. The programs are similar to Evergy’s energy efficiency programs that have been in place in Missouri for almost a decade.
“Lowering electricity demand through new energy efficiency investment is drastically more affordable than charging customers for operating fossil fuel power plants, which is more important than ever during these tough economic times,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “Kansas has a long way to go to maximize our energy efficiency resources and create a clean, resilient electric grid, and this is a good start.”
Evergy’s energy efficiency programs include assistance for lower-income ratepayers and tenants in multi-family dwellings to reduce their bills and energy consumption by helping them access more efficient appliances, HVAC systems, and weatherization for their homes.
The energy efficiency programs are cost-effective. At a hearing held before the Commission on August 9 and 10, evidence showed approximately $2.00 in energy savings for every $1.00 invested in energy efficiency.
As part of the proposed settlement agreement with the KCC, Evergy will collaborate with stakeholders, including the coalition of anti-poverty and environmental organizations, to protect customers from unreasonable program costs and hold Evergy accountable for well-run energy efficiency programs over time. Given these safeguards, the energy efficiency programs provide an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and the financial burden for Evergy ratepayers in Kansas over time.
A link to the proposed program settlement can be found here and the financial recovery settlement can be found here. The coalition of environmental, economic justice, and consumer advocates include The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB), Climate + Energy Project (CEP), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club and Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Inc.
Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is a statewide organization that believes Kansans, working together, can build a state full of thriving, inclusive, and just communities. Kansas Appleseed conducts policy research and analysis and works with communities and partners to understand the root causes of problems and advocate for comprehensive solutions. For more information, visit www.kansasappleseed.org.
The Climate + Energy Project ("CEP") is a Kansas-based nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit driving practical solutions for an equitable transition to a clean energy future. CEP builds resilience in Kansas through equitable clean energy solutions and climate action. For more information, visit www.climateandenergy.org.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.