Westar requests rate increase for upgrades to Kansas nuclear plant

? Westar Energy has requested a $152 million rate increase from the Kansas Corporation Commission to pay for environmental upgrades and repairs at two state plants.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the commission will evaluate the request over several months. The Citizen’s Utility Ratepayer’s Board, businesses and others can intervene to argue for a lower rate or disagree with how the company plans to distribute the funds.

About half the request would be used to bring the La Cygne coal-fired plant in line with federal emissions standards. The funds will also be used to make federally requested upgrades to the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

The upgrade requirements came after a tsunami damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan in 2011, according to John Bridson, who is the senior vice president of generation and marketing at Westar.