When Evergy erected towering power poles near homes in northeast Wichita to support high-voltage lines, the ensuing outcry led to an apology and donations from the energy company.
But utilities in Kansas remained free to do the same thing in other communities.
The Kansas House approved legislation last week that would restrict the authority of Evergy and other utilities to string transmission lines through urban areas. Regulators would have additional power over the projects, with a mandate to evaluate how the poles, which soar more than 100 feet, would affect neighborhood aesthetics.
(Read more: Local News |)
