Midwest Energy is one of just two electric cooperatives in Kansas still fully regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission.  The Board of Directors and management are encouraging cooperative members to vote for self-regulation in a mail ballot next month.

“Self-regulation enables local control,” says Mike Morley, Midwest Energy Director of Corporate Communications.  “Most decision-making authority would be removed from the KCC and return it to the member-elected Board of Directors.”

If customer-owners approve the change, self-regulation would also lower costs and improve efficiency, according to Morley.

“Midwest Energy currently spends about $400,000 a year on KCC and Citizens Utility Rate Board (CURB) fees and legal fees for routine regulatory compliance,” says Morley. Rate changes and terms of service are currently made through KCC “dockets.”  “It’s an expensive administrative process that can take months or years to complete,” he explains.

Midwest Energy will conduct a series of public information meetings for members in March and April with mail balloting to take place in April and May.