Evergy

City Manager Brian Platt first announced plans for a solar array at Kansas City International Airport, potentially the largest of its kind in the world, more than two years ago. But little has seemingly happened to move the progress forward.

After an especially cold month, Kansas City residents can expect energy and gas bills sometimes topping $200. Utilities like Evergy, Spire and Ameren need approval on their rates from regulators in Missouri and Kansas.

The rate increase was approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission on Tuesday morning. Regulators scaled back Evergy’s proposed electric rate hikes, saving Kansas City-area customers $6.07 a month.

The Missouri Public Service Commission last week approved Evergy’s request to change the default selection for customers who fail to select one of the company’s four time-of-use pricing plans.

Evergy is changing the way it charges for electrical usage beginning in October, moving from a flat rate to one based on demand at different times of day.

In October, Evergy will force customers to choose between new electricity plans that implement time-of-use pricing, which places a premium on electricity prices at times of high demand. Under the default plan, power used from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in summer months will cost four times more than other hours.

HiON, a local startup, is taking over Evergy's old fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in the Kansas City area after the power company shut them off more than a year ago.

Fifty high school students in Kansas City Public Schools are experiencing a different kind of summer education as they explore different careers in the classroom and beyond.

A growing relationship between Evergy and activist investment firm Elliott Management is raising red flags with state and federal regulators.

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are making coal increasingly less attractive as a way to generate electricity.

Lawmakers basically let utilities refinance the cost of their old power plants. And if they get the debt from those coal-fired facilities off the books, they can shut them down and switch faster to renewable energy sources.

Kansas has no state-sponsored energy plan, which leaves decisions on transforming from fossil fuels to renewable sources up to private businesses.