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Evergy

From Alfawiki
Evergy, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryElectric utility
PredecessorWestar Energy, Great Plains Energy
FateMerger of Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy
Headquarters
Topeka, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
,
United States
Area served
Kansas, Missouri
ProductsElectric power generation and distribution
Websitewww.evergy.com

Evergy, Inc. is a U.S.-based investor-owned utility (IOU) with its headquarters located in both Topeka, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The company emerged from the combination of Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy, which owned Kansas City Power & Light. Evergy stands as the largest electric utility in Kansas, catering to more than 1.7 million customers spanning residential, commercial, and industrial sectors throughout Kansas and Missouri. Its asset base comprises upwards of 40 power generation facilities, collectively capable of producing 16,000 megawatts. The company’s operational footprint covers eastern Kansas and western Missouri, supported by an extensive network of transmission and distribution lines.

Westar Energy Background

Westar Energy traces its origins to a 1992 consolidation of two prominent utilities serving eastern Kansas: Kansas Gas and Electric (KG&E), based in Wichita, and Kansas Power and Light (KPL), headquartered in Topeka.

Founded in 1909, KG&E resulted from the American Power and Light Company’s unification of electric providers across Wichita, Pittsburg, and Frontenac. Within ten years, KG&E had expanded to serve over 48,000 customers across 50 communities, while also delivering natural gas to several major cities.

KPL was established in 1924 and experienced swift growth throughout northeastern Kansas. Its 1983 merger with The Gas Service Company extended its natural gas offerings into Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

The merger in 1992 created Western Resources, which operated both KG&E and KPL as subsidiaries. This merger produced one of the Midwest’s largest utilities, serving 560,000 electric customers and approximately 1.06 million natural gas customers across three states. In 1996, Western Resources sold its natural gas division to ONEOK under the name Kansas Gas Service (now part of ONE Gas) while acquiring a 45% ownership interest in ONEOK—a stake it later divested in 2003.

In 2002, Western Resources rebranded itself as Westar Energy, unifying all operations under this single corporate identity.

Kansas City Power & Light History

Kansas City Power and Light Company was a key electric utility serving the Kansas City metropolitan area and represented the largest subsidiary within Great Plains Energy.

In November 1881, Joseph S. Chick obtained exclusive rights for the Thompson-Houston arc lighting system in Jackson County, Missouri, and Wyandotte County, Kansas. By May 1882, the Kawsmouth Electric Light Company began providing electricity to downtown Kansas City. The firm was reorganized as Kansas City Electric Light Company in 1885.

As residential electricity demand grew, Edison Electric Light & Power Company was established as a spin-off. In 1900, industrialist J. Ogden Armour acquired both the street railway power provider Metropolitan Street Railway and Kansas City Electric Light Company. Armour’s tenure saw consolidation of competitors and construction of a new power plant in 1903. However, financial challenges led to receivership by 1911. The trolley operations were separated in 1917 as Kansas City Light & Power Company, which initiated construction of the Northeast Power station that same year.

The company reincorporated under the name Kansas City Power and Light Company in June 1919. After acquiring Carroll County Electric Company in 1922, it adopted its current corporate name with an ampersand symbol. Armour divested ownership by 1923; control passed to Continental Gas & Electric Corporation in 1924 until United Light and Power dissolved in 1950. Between 1948 and 1956, Hawthorn Station on the Missouri River commenced operations. KCP&L became independent again in 1950 and expanded through acquisition of Eastern Kansas Utilities in 1952. Additionally, it participated in developing the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station located in Burlington, Kansas.

On October 1, 2001, Great Plains Energy Incorporated was created as a holding company based in Kansas City, Missouri. It held ownership of KCP&L along with Strategic Energy, LLC—a firm specializing in energy management services.

Great Plains Energy further grew by acquiring Aquila, Inc. in July 2008.

By the year 2014, Great Plains Energy achieved a ranking of number 855 on the Fortune 1000 list, underscoring its notable market influence and financial standing within the energy sector.

Merger of KCP&L and Westar

In 2016, Great Plains Energy and Westar revealed intentions to merge; however, the Kansas Corporation Commission declined the proposal, citing concerns for consumer interests. A modified merger agreement was introduced in 2017, and by May 2018, it had secured approval from both the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Kansas Corporation Commission. The merged organization adopted the name Evergy, with KCP&L and Westar continuing operations as its divisions.

On October 7, 2019, Evergy discontinued the use of the Westar and KCP&L brand names, consolidating its service areas under the single Evergy identity. Later, on December 28, 2022, Evergy shifted its stock exchange listing to the Nasdaq Global Select Market, reflecting changes in its corporate framework and strategic direction.

Generation portfolio

Controversies

Western Resources restated its consolidated financial reports for the years 1997 through 2000 in 1999 due to issues connected with the acquisition of Westinghouse Security Systems. On November 1, 2002, Westar Energy revised its financial results for the first two quarters following additional impairment charges related to its Protection One Inc. subsidiary. In January 2003, Westar faced allegations concerning power sales transactions involving affiliates of Cleco Corporation and subsequently reached a settlement of $30 million. Additionally, on March 25, 2004, Westar amended its annual financial statements for 2003 after identifying an understatement in cash flow from operating activities.

Awards

In 2019, Evergy earned recognition as one of Springbuk’s "Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America" and was also listed among America's "Best Top 500 Employers" by Forbes during the same year.

External links

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