The president of London Economics says high electricity rates in Kansas reflect a rapidly changing industry, higher-than-usual surcharges and the absence of long-term planning.
A.J. Goulding delivered his firm’s assessment of the power dynamic between utilities and regulators in hearings Tuesday before Kansas legislators.
Lawmakers in 2019 commissioned a study of why Kansas has higher electricity rates than other states in the region. For its study, London Economics compared Kansas to 18 states.
The firm recommended Kansas establish a state energy plan and mandate the annual publication by utilities of an integrated resource plan. Additionally, the study recommends a shift to performance-based ratemaking, where utilities are rewarded or punished for things like service quality and reliability.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
