Kansas utility regulators are holding a hearing next week on a proposal to raise rates for customers of The Empire District Electric Co. in Southeast Kansas by 40 percent.
Empire serves about 10,000 customers in Southeast Kansas.
The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled its hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Baxter Springs Community Center.
The utility wants to raise an additional $5.2 million a year. The new revenues would cover rising operating expenses and costs associated with three new power plants and upgrades to pollution controls at existing plants.
The KCC says residential customers would see an average increase of $25 in their monthly electric bills.
