The head of a state consumer agency said Western Resources has failed to comply with an order to turn over records on two corporate jets.
As part of Western's proposed $151 million rate increase, the Kansas Corporation Commission granted a request by the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB) for the aircraft records.
But Walker Hendrix, consumer counsel of CURB, said Western is imposing restrictions on CURB's access to the records.
"I find it somewhat disconcerting that the company is going to ignore the commission's order. It shows disregard for the regulatory process," Hendrix said.
Hendrix said Western will not allow anyone other than CURB staff to view the records. Hendrix said this will impede CURB's ability to have the records reviewed by someone with expertise in analyzing travel logs.
Hendrix said he thinks Western executives have been using the jets to fly around the country to tend to businesses that aren't part of Western's KPL and KGE utilities. And, he said, he thinks KPL and KGE ratepayers have been paying for this when they shouldn't be.
Kim Gronniger, a spokeswoman for Western, said the company has placed the restrictions on the jet records because of fears that the information could get into the hands of Western's competitors.
Gronniger also said it is impossible to tell from flight records whether Western executives were conducting utility business or non-utility business.
The jets belong to West Star Aviation, a subsidiary of West Star Industries, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Resources.
Hendrix said he did not know what CURB would do at this point to get a substantive look at the records.
The agency faces an April 6 deadline to file its analysis of Western's rate hike request. He said there is no procedure before the KCC to seek sanctions against Western or force them to open the records further.
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