Kansas.com: Business
Westar Energy still plans to pursue three wind-power projects, but says an order from state regulators curtailing its potential profits will prevent it from investing in additional wind farms. Westar had hoped regulators would allow it to earn higher profits because of its investment in 295 megawatts of generating capacity from wind farms in three counties. That's enough to power about 88,000 homes. The Kansas Corporation Commission said Thursday that the Topeka-based utility would be allowed to recover up to $282 million in construction costs through its rates. But the commission refused an additional 1 percent increase in the profits Westar can earn from wind energy. Westar had said it would pursue projects for an additional 200 megawatts of wind-generated capacity. But Bill Moore, the utility's president and chief executive, said Friday that those plans are on hold indefinitely.