Topeka ? Westar Energy customers would see an increase of $1 per month on their electric bills under a proposed $17.1 million rate hike settlement before the Kansas Corporation Commission.

The settlement was announced Friday and will go before the KCC for consideration on Tuesday. The commission must act on the proposal by Jan. 28.

In June, Westar sought a $19.7 million rate increase to recover costs of construction of a power plant near Emporia and investments in wind energy.

But after negotiations with the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, the KCC staff, the Kansas Industrial Customers Group and others, Westar reduced its request by $2.6 million.

The proposal would increase the average residential customer’s bill by 1.3 percent or $1 per month, officials said.