Topeka ? Kansas regulators have scheduled hearings on a proposal from Westar Energy Inc. for a 15 percent increase in electric rates.

Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled hearings for Sept. 2-4 in Salina, Topeka and Wichita to take public testimony.

It has scheduled 12 days of hearings in Topeka starting Oct. 29 for attorneys to question Westar executives, utility consultants and others.

State law gives the commission until Jan. 23 to rule on Westar’s proposal. The Topeka-based company estimates homeowners and apartment dwellers would see their monthly bills increase $10.

It says it needs an additional $178 million a year in revenues to cover the costs of new power plants and wind farms and to help it recover from winter storms.