Westar modernizes electricity production in Kansas.
October 13 2015 - 2:00PM
Topeka, Kan., Oct. 13, 2015 - Westar Energy
(NYSE:WR) announced plans today to continue its transition to a
cleaner, more modern electricity supply. As part of the plan, the
company will phase out old electrical generating equipment at three
locations by year end.
"This equipment has served Kansas customers well
for more than a half century, decades longer than ever imagined,"
said John Bridson, senior vice president, generation. "However, to
invest the tens of millions of dollars to upgrade this equipment to
keep it operating safely doesn't make sense. People are using less
energy, so we no longer need these old, small generating units to
meet peak electrical demand. Plus, the current price to add more
renewable energy is a reasonable alternative, so we'll add more
renewable energy, as needed.
"Electricity and the air we breathe is
cleaner today than it has ever been. During the past five years,
we've reduced emissions and doubled the amount of renewable energy
on our system," Bridson said. "We knew environmental regulation was
on the horizon. Now that it's here - and more stringent than
expected - we have to evaluate when to invest and update our
equipment to meet new laws and keep our operations efficient. After
next year, our emission-free energy will equal more than 40 percent
of our retail demand."
Increased regulation comes at real costs. While it
is time to retire this equipment, it will mean the loss of about 40
jobs in Lawrence, Tecumseh and Hutchinson. While plants in those
locations will continue to operate, they will do so producing less
electricity with fewer employees. This will impact those
communities, which will lose good paying jobs and property tax
revenues that benefit their communities.
While the total number of jobs at Westar will
decline, the company expects to place employees affected by these
changes in other open positions within the company.
"Our business environment is changing, and we have
to ensure that we continue to provide our customers with reliable,
cleaner energy while we keep prices affordable," Bridson said.
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Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is Kansas' largest
electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided Kansans
the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and
homes. Every day our team of professionals takes on projects to
generate and deliver electricity, protect the environment and
provide excellent service to our nearly 700,000 customers. Westar
has 7,200 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by coal,
uranium, natural gas, wind and landfill gas. We are also a leader
in electric transmission in Kansas. Our innovative customer service
programs include mobile-enabled customer care, a smart meter pilot
project and paving the way for electric vehicle adoption. Our
employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve.
For more information about Westar Energy, visit us
on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com. Westar Energy
is on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/yourwestar and Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/WestarEnergy.
Media Contact
Gina Penzig
Media Relations Manager
Phone: 785-575-8089
Gina.Penzig@westarenergy.com
Media line: 888-613-0003
Investor Contact:
Bruce Burns
Director, investor relations
Phone: 785-575-8227
Bruce.Burns@westarenergy.com
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Westar Energy, Inc. via Globenewswire
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