Evergy, Inc. (Evergy) operates as a public utility holding company.
Evergy operates primarily through the following wholly-owned direct subsidiaries listed below.
Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. (Evergy Kansas Central) is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the state of Kansas. Evergy Kansas Central has one active wholly-owned subsidiary with significant operations, Evergy Kansas South, Inc. (Evergy Kansas South).
Evergy Metro, Inc. (Evergy Metro) i...
Evergy, Inc. (Evergy) operates as a public utility holding company.
Evergy operates primarily through the following wholly-owned direct subsidiaries listed below.
Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. (Evergy Kansas Central) is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the state of Kansas. Evergy Kansas Central has one active wholly-owned subsidiary with significant operations, Evergy Kansas South, Inc. (Evergy Kansas South).
Evergy Metro, Inc. (Evergy Metro) is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the states of Missouri and Kansas.
Evergy Missouri West, Inc. (Evergy Missouri West) is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the state of Missouri.
Evergy Transmission Company, LLC (Evergy Transmission Company) owns 13.5% of Transource Energy, LLC (Transource) with the remaining 86.5% owned by AEP Transmission Holding Company, LLC, a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP). Transource is focused on the development of competitive electric transmission projects. Evergy Transmission Company accounts for its investment in Transource under the equity method.
Evergy Kansas Central also owns a 50% interest in Prairie Wind Transmission, LLC (Prairie Wind), which is a joint venture between Evergy Kansas Central and subsidiaries of AEP and Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company. Prairie Wind owns a 108-mile, 345 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line that provides transmission service in the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP). Evergy Kansas Central accounts for its investment in Prairie Wind under the equity method.
Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Kansas South, Evergy Metro, and Evergy Missouri West conduct business in their respective service territories using the name Evergy. Evergy serves approximately 1.7 million customers located in Kansas and Missouri. Customers include approximately 1.5 million residences, 0.2 million commercial firms and 7,800 industrials, municipalities and other electric utilities. Evergy is significantly impacted by seasonality with approximately one-third of its retail revenues recorded in the third quarter (year ended December 2023).
The core tenets of Evergy's strategy are as follows:
Affordability - Operating the business and investing in technology and infrastructure to keep rates affordable and improve regional rate competitiveness; and mitigating fuel and purchased power volatility by investing in a diverse generation fleet.
Reliability - Targeting transmission and distribution infrastructure investment to support reliability, flexibility, public safety, and resiliency; and deploying new technology to improve preventive maintenance and customer restoration times.
Regulation
Evergy Kansas Central's and Evergy Metro's Kansas operations are regulated by the State Corporation Commission of the State of Kansas (KCC) and Evergy Metro's Missouri operations and Evergy Missouri West are regulated by the Public Service Commission of the State of Missouri (MPSC), in each case with respect to retail rates, certain accounting matters, standards of service and, in certain cases, the issuance of securities, certification of facilities and service territories. The Evergy Companies (Evergy, Evergy Kansas Central, and Evergy Metro) are also subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with respect to transmission, wholesale sales and rates, the issuance of securities in certain cases and other matters. Evergy has an indirect 94% ownership interest in Wolf Creek Generating Station (Wolf Creek), which is subject to regulation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with respect to licensing, operations and safety-related requirements.
Power Supply
Evergy has approximately 15,600 megawatts (MWs) of owned generating capacity and renewable power purchase agreements. Evergy's owned generation and power purchases from others, as a percentage of total megawatt hours (MWhs) generated and purchased, was approximately 60% and 40%, respectively, over the last three years. About 60% of Evergy's purchased power was purchased under long-term renewable purchased power contracts over the last three years. Evergy purchases power to meet its customers' needs, to satisfy firm power commitments or to meet renewable energy standards. Management believes Evergy will be able to meet its future power purchase needs due to the coordination of planning and operations in the SPP region and existing power purchase agreements; however, price and availability of power purchases may be impacted during periods of high demand or reduced supply.
Evergy's projected peak summer demand for 2024 is approximately 10,400 MWs. Evergy expects to meet its projected capacity requirements for 2024 with its existing generation assets and power purchases.
Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West are members of the SPP. The SPP is a FERC-approved RTO with the responsibility to ensure reliable power supply, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices in the region. As SPP members, Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West are required to maintain a minimum reserve margin of 15%. This net positive supply of capacity is maintained through generation asset ownership, capacity agreements, power purchase agreements and peak demand reduction programs. The reserve margin is designed to support reliability of the region's electric supply.
Coal
During 2024, Evergy's generating units, including jointly-owned units, are projected to use approximately 13 million tons of coal. Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West have entered into coal-purchase contracts with various suppliers in Wyoming's Powder River Basin (PRB), the nation's principal supply region of low-sulfur coal, and with local suppliers.
Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West have also entered into rail transportation contracts with various railroads to transport coal from the PRB and local suppliers to their generating units. The transportation services to be provided under these contracts are expected to satisfy almost all of the projected transportation requirements for 2024 and 2025 and 65% of the projected transportation requirements for 2026. The contract rates adjust for changes in railroad costs.
Nuclear Fuel
Evergy Kansas South and Evergy Metro each owns 47% of Wolf Creek, which is Evergy's only nuclear generating unit. Wolf Creek purchases uranium and has it processed for use as fuel in its reactor. This process involves conversion of uranium concentrates to uranium hexafluoride, enrichment of uranium hexafluoride and fabrication of nuclear fuel assemblies. The owners of Wolf Creek have on hand or under contract all the uranium, uranium enrichment and conversion services needed to operate Wolf Creek through the first quarter of 2030. The owners also have under contract all the uranium fabrication services required to operate Wolf Creek through 2045.
Natural Gas
Evergy purchases natural gas for use in its generating units primarily through spot market purchases. From time to time, Evergy also may enter into contracts, including the use of derivatives, in an effort to manage the cost of natural gas.
Evergy Kansas Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West maintain natural gas transportation arrangements with Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. The Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. arrangement expires based on the generating unit being served with expiration dates from 2025 to 2030.
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs
In Missouri, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West offer a suite of energy efficiency programs for customers under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA).
In Kansas, Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Metro requested KCC authorization in December 2021 for a suite of energy efficiency programs for customers under the Kansas Energy Efficiency Investment Act (KEEIA).
Evergy Kansas Central, Inc.
Evergy Kansas Central is an integrated, regulated electric utility that engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. Evergy Kansas Central serves approximately 742,200 customers located in central and eastern Kansas. Customers include approximately 642,600 residences, 94,200 commercial firms, and 5,400 industrials, municipalities and other electric utilities. Evergy Kansas Central is significantly impacted by seasonality with approximately one-third of its retail revenues recorded in the third quarter.
Evergy Metro, Inc.
Evergy Metro is an integrated, regulated electric utility that engages in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. Evergy Metro serves approximately 582,400 customers located in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Customers include approximately 516,100 residences, 64,400 commercial firms, and 1,900 industrials, municipalities and other electric utilities. Evergy Metro is significantly impacted by seasonality with approximately one-third of its retail revenues recorded in the third quarter.
Transmission and Distribution Resources
Evergy's electric transmission system interconnects with systems of other utilities for reliability and to permit wholesale transactions with other electricity suppliers. Evergy has approximately 10,200 circuit miles of transmission lines, 44,800 circuit miles of overhead distribution lines and 16,000 circuit miles of underground distribution lines in Missouri and Kansas. Evergy has all material franchise rights necessary to sell electricity within its retail service territory. Evergy's transmission and distribution systems are routinely monitored for adequacy to meet customer needs.
Evergy's generating plants are located on property owned (or co-owned) by the Evergy Companies, except for certain facilities that are located on easements or are contractually controlled. Evergy's headquarters, service centers, electric substations and a portion of its transmission and distribution systems are located on property owned or leased by Evergy. Evergy's transmission and distribution systems are for the most part located above or underneath highways, streets, other public places or property owned by others.
Substantially all of the fixed property and franchises of the Evergy Companies, which principally consist of electric generating stations, electric transmission and distribution lines and systems, and buildings (subject to exceptions, reservations and releases), are subject to mortgage indentures pursuant to which bonds have been issued and are outstanding.
History
Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 2017.