CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America.
The bank provides loans, leases, export financing, and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water, and communications providers.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of the nation’s rural economy.
CoBank is one of KEPCo’s valued lending partners.
Evergy, Inc. (Evergy) was formed by the merger of KCP&L and Westar Energy, Inc. on June 4, 2018.
Evergy provides clean, safe, reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Today, half of the power supplied by Evergy comes from clean sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact on the environment. Some of our other energy sources include gas, fuel oil, wind, solar, nuclear, biogas, and hydro power.
Evergy is one of KEPCo’s power supply partners. KEPCo co-owns generation facilities with the Evergy companies and also purchases a portion of its power supply requirements from Evergy through purchase power agreements. KEPCo is also a transmission customer of the Evergy companies.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.
FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects.
KEPCo appears regularly in FERC proceedings to protect its interests as a wholesale customer of several FERC-regulated entities.
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has been championing business since 1924.
With headquarters in Topeka, the Kansas Chamber is the leading statewide, member-driven organization that strives to make Kansas a top state in which to do business. The mission of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce is to continually improve the economic climate for the benefit of every business and citizen and to safeguard our system of free, competitive enterprise.
KEPCo has been a member of the Kansas Chamber since 1989.
The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) was originally established in 1883 to regulate railroad activity and was one of the first state regulatory bodies in the nation.
In 1911, the Kansas Legislature created a three-member Public Utilities Commission to regulate telegraph and telephone companies, pipeline companies, common carriers, water, electric, gas, and all power companies with the exception of those owned by municipalities. The current regulatory body, the KCC, was established by the Legislature in 1933. Over the years, its jurisdiction was extended to include motor carriers, oil and gas conservation, and supervision of plugging abandoned wells to protect fresh and useable water from pollution, in addition to its traditional regulatory oversight of electric, natural gas, pipeline, and telecommunications public utilities operating in Kansas.
In October 1980, KEPCo was granted a limited certificate of convenience and necessity from the KCC to operate as a generation and transmission public utility. At that time, all aspects of KEPCo’s business were regulated by the KCC. In October 2009, KEPCo’s rates were deregulated from the KCC’s regulatory oversight at KEPCo’s election as allowed by Kansas law and, instead, are set by KEPCo’s Board of Trustees. The KCC retains jurisdiction over service territory, certain power sales, wire stringing, transmission line siting, and practices related to underground utility facilities.
Evergy provides clean, safe, reliable energy to 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Today, half of the power supplied by Evergy comes from clean sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact on the environment. Some of our other energy sources include gas, fuel oil, wind, solar, nuclear, biogas, and hydro power.
Evergy is one of KEPCo’s power supply partners. KEPCo co-owns generation facilities with the Evergy companies and also purchases a portion of its power supply requirements from Evergy through purchase power agreements. KEPCo is also a transmission customer of the Evergy companies.
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas.
In pursuit of its mission, the Kansas Department of Commerce works with other agencies to bring additional programs and services to its customers, namely the Athletic Commission, Creative Arts Industries Commission, Kansas Business Center, Kansas Economic Development Alliance, Kansas Small Business Development Center, Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center, Network Kansas, and Team Kansas.
KEPCo is engaged in the economic development activities and programs sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce in an effort to help our Members grow their businesses.
The Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) is an organization of professionals and volunteers involved in economic growth and development.
The organization was established in 1980 to address two items, continuing education and legislative advocacy. In 2005, KEDA and the Kansas Department of Commerce added the LocationOne Information System (LOIS) which is a sites, buildings, and community database controlled and populated both at the community and state level.
KEDA provides members access to information, tools, and networks that enhance the capacity to meet their communities’ needs.
The membership base of KEDA is attracted from around the state, representing both metropolitan and rural areas.
KEPCo has been a member of KEDA since 2008.
Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC) is the Kansas statewide service organization for 28 electric distribution cooperatives and three G&T cooperatives.
Formed on August 18, 1941, and headquartered in Topeka, KEC represents the interests and provides needed services and programs to the electric co-ops that serve Kansans.
KEPCo is one of KEC’s three G&T cooperative members.
Liberty Utilities®, formerly doing business as The Empire District Electric Company, Joplin, Missouri, is headquarters for the Company’s Central Region, providing electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater service to nearly 320,000 customers across six states.
In addition to its retail operations, Liberty Utilities® also provides transmission service in southeastern Kansas, of which KEPCo is a customer.
Originally founded on July 19, 1939, as Central Kansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. by 20 rural families near Great Bend, Kansas, it purchased Central Kansas Power Company, an investor-owned utility in Hays, in 1981, and was renamed Midwest Energy, Inc.
Midwest Energy is a customer-owned electric and natural gas cooperative, serving 93,000 customers in 40 counties in central and western Kansas. Its mission is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient energy services, as well as to deliver innovative, affordable, and environmentally sound solutions as well as foster leadership and growth throughout their region.
In addition to its retail operations, Midwest Energy also provides transmission service in central and west central Kansas, of which KEPCo is a customer.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) was established in 1942 by America’s electric cooperatives to provide a unified voice for cooperatives and to represent their interests in Washington, DC.
NRECA represents more than 900 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives, public power districts, and public utility districts in the United States, of which KEPCo is a member. Based in Arlington, Virginia, this national service organization oversees cooperative employee benefits plans; carries out federal government relations activities like lobbying; conducts management and director training; and spearheads communications, advocacy, and public relations initiatives. In addition, it coordinates national and regional conferences and seminars; offers member cooperatives advice on tax, legal, environmental, and engineering matters; and performs economic and technical research.
Formed in 1969, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) is a member-owned financial institution that provides state-of-the-art financial products to electric cooperative members located in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories.
CFC’s membership includes distribution, G&Ts, and associated members, such as statewide associations. KEPCo is a member. CFC is governed by directors elected from its member electric cooperatives and associated members.
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations.
USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.
USDA offers technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations, as well as provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.
KEPCo is a proud supporter of the REDLG program and has been instrumental in assisting Kansas businesses secure loans. Since its inception, the REDLG program has provided over $100 million in investment in rural Kansas and over 1,200 jobs have either been created or saved.
USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) provides the much-needed infrastructure or infrastructure improvements to rural communities.
These include water and waste treatment, electric power, and telecommunications services. All of these services help to expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
RUS is one of KEPCo’s valued lending partners.
Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) was founded in 1941 when eleven regional power companies pooled their resources to keep Arkansas’ Jones Mill powered around the clock in support of critical, national defense needs.
Today, SPP oversees the bulk electric grid and wholesale power market in the central United States on behalf of a diverse group of utilities and transmission companies in 14 states.
SPP ensures the reliable supply of power, adequate transmission infrastructure, and competitive wholesale electricity prices for a 546,000-square-mile region including more than 60,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.
KEPCO is a member of SPP.
Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) was established in 1943 by the Secretary of the Interior as a Federal Agency that today operates within the U.S. Department of Energy.
As one of four Power Marketing Administrations in the United States, SWPA markets hydroelectric power in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas from 24 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers multipurpose dams.
By law, SWPA’s power is marketed and delivered primarily to public bodies such as rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. SWPA has over one hundred such “preference” customers, and these entities ultimately serve over eight million end-use customers. KEPCo has a 100 MW allocation of peaking and supplemental hydropower from SWPA.
Southwestern operates and maintains 1,380 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and a communications system that includes microwave, VHF radio, and state-of-the-art fiber optics.
Sunflower was formed in 1957 by six distribution cooperatives serving in western Kansas.
Today Sunflower’s members include six member distribution cooperatives and one wholly-owned subsidiary serving members in 58 central and western Kansas counties.
Sunflower’s system assets, along with the organizational culture that values technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership, help ensure that Sunflower Electric Power Corporation will continue to meet the member-owners’ energy needs now and in the future.
Sunflower is one of KEPCo’s power supply partners. KEPCo purchases a portion of its power supply requirements from Sunflower through purchase power agreements. KEPCo is also a transmission customer of Sunflower.
Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), can be traced back to 1902.
WAPA is one of four Power Marketing Administrations within the U.S Department of Energy, whose role is to market and transmit wholesale electricity from multi-use water projects. The service area encompasses a 15-state region of the central and western U.S., where their more than 17,000 circuit mile transmission system carries electricity from 57 hydropower plants operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the International Boundary and Water Commission.
WAPA’s mission is to provide premier power marketing and transmission services to its customers, as well as contribute to enhancing America’s energy security and sustaining the nation’s economic vitality.
KEPCo has a 14 MW allocation of firm hydro power from WAPA.
The Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation operates Wolf Creek Generating Station (Wolf Creek).
Wolf Creek’s ownership is divided between Evergy (94%) and KEPCo (6%).
Wolf Creek is a nuclear power plant located near Burlington, Kansas, which began commercial operation in 1985. Wolf Creek has established a long-standing legacy of safety and reliability, while also serving as an important economic engine for Coffey County and the surrounding area.
The plant generates enough energy to power more than 800,000 homes.