Kansas City Power and Light Company
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric utility |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Founder | Joseph S. Chick |
| Fate | Merged to form Evergy |
| Headquarters | Kansas City , United States |
Area served | Kansas City metropolitan area |
Key people | Joseph F. Porter (former president) |
| Products | Electricity |
| Parent | Great Plains Energy (until merger) |
Kansas City Power and Light Company operated as an electric utility serving the Kansas City metropolitan area and was the principal subsidiary of Great Plains Energy. Established in 1881 by Joseph S. Chick, who secured exclusive rights to the Thompson-Houston arc lighting technology, the firm commenced operations in 1882 under the name Kawsmouth Electric Light Company, providing electricity to downtown Kansas City. It was reestablished as Kansas City Electric Light Company in 1885.
In 1900, ownership transferred to J. Ogden Armour, who acquired the company to supply power to the Metropolitan Street Railway Company and expanded its reach through acquisitions and new generating facilities. Following financial setbacks, the company reorganized in 1917 as Kansas City Light & Power Company with Joseph F. Porter as president, focusing on upgrading generation infrastructure such as the Northeast Power station. The firm reincorporated as Kansas City Power and Light Company in 1919, adopting its current corporate title in 1922 after acquiring Carroll County Electric Company. Control passed to Continental Gas & Electric Corporation in 1924 and remained until United Light and Power's dissolution in 1950.
During Porter's 21-year leadership, capital increased significantly from $7 million to $82.5 million, facilitating the construction of the landmark 32-story Kansas City Power and Light Building completed in 1931. Expansion after World War II included development of the Hawthorn Station on the Missouri River, finished by 1956, and acquisition of Eastern Kansas Utilities in 1952. The company also contributed to establishing the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Burlington, Kansas, regaining independence from United Light and Power in 1950.
KCP&L became incorporated into Great Plains Energy Incorporated in 2001. In September 2009, it moved its headquarters to One Kansas City Place under a lease agreement spanning 23 years.
A merger proposal with Westar Energy announced in 2016 was initially declined by Kansas regulators due to concerns over consumer impact. After revising the plan, regulatory approval from both Missouri and Kansas commissions was secured by May 2018, creating Evergy. KCP&L and Westar continued operating as subsidiaries until their official rebranding as Evergy on October 7, 2019.