A plan to shrink the number of electricity companies in the Kansas City area deserves a full, public discussion by state regulators.
Yet Great Plains Energy twice has tried to prevent the public from getting information about how the company operates, even while the company — the parent of Kansas City Power & Light — seeks regulatory approval to buy debt-ridden Aquila.
In one instance, Great Plains argued that it should not be required, as part of the Aquila case, to provide information about why the cost of building its new coal-fired power plant near Weston rose dramatically.
The Missouri Public Service Commission rejected that argument, for good reasons.
Electricity customers will be affected by the costs to construct and operate the Iatan 2 plant. Rate increases could go higher than once expected.
All these costs must be taken into account as the PSC decides whether to approve the purchase of Aquila.
Great Plains also has argued that the PSC should not publicly discuss the results of an investigation by its staff as part of the Aquila case. The staff investigated anonymous letters alleging mismanagement and other problems at Great Plains. A regulatory judge sided with Great Plains in keeping the PSC quiet.
However, PSC commissioner Robert Clayton III has argued that the staff needs to fully release its findings.
He makes an excellent point: The public needs to have confidence that the PSC is making a solid decision about Great Plains.
The company and the commission should work out a compromise so PSC staff can reveal its findings from its investigation.
In return for its monopoly status, the utility should go out of its way to be open with the public.
