News Releases

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 16, 2021 – Air conditioners will whirr into overtime this week as many communities Evergy serves anticipate temperatures over the century mark. Evergy teams operating power plants and maintaining the power grid are working around the clock to ensure power is available to serve customers.

“Our system is ready for summer’s 100-degree days and to provide reliable electricity as customers aim to stay comfortable,” said Chuck Caisley, senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We appreciate the Evergy plant and field employees who work in harsh conditions to make sure our customers have the power they need.”

Evergy power plants are available near their full capacity to ensure customer needs can be fully met. Teams at generation facilities completed maintenance work during the milder spring months to prepare for the summer season so plants would be available when needed most. Improved wind conditions as the week continues will also add to the available power supply for customers.  

Evergy’s continued investment in power grid modernization and a robust predictive maintenance program keep power reliable on hot days, making sure electricity flows from plants to the homes and businesses Evergy serves. Rebuilt lines carry power more efficiently and include monitoring equipment that can alert us to potential problems on the line before an outage occurs. In the case of an outage, they can make locating it easier and faster, shortening the overall time it takes to get power restored.

Evergy is a member of the Southwest Power Pool, which coordinates generation and transmission in our region. SPP forecasts also indicate that generation resources will be available to meet customer needs in the region. Last Friday, the SPP issued a resource alert through 9 p.m. Wednesday, as it predicted that regional electricity load could reach as high as 96% of its all-time regional peak this week. Since that time, the SPP announced Tuesday afternoon that it is in a position to serve the regional load this week with room for contingencies, and no calls for customer conservation have been needed.

Evergy anticipates activating our Energy Savings Events program on Thursday to help reduce energy demand during peak hours. During times of high energy demand, customers who are enrolled in our Residential Thermostat programs agree to participate in Energy Savings Events to help reduce energy demand on the system. To participate, residential and small business Missouri customers receive a free or discounted Google Nest or ecobee smart thermostat and $25 annually for participating in these energy savings events. In addition, Evergy offers energy efficiency programs to help customers save energy and money while benefitting all customers through lower demand on the grid. Energy efficiency programs available to Missouri residential customers include rebates on HVAC systems, Insulation and Air Sealing rebates, and discounts on energy efficient LED lighting. Program details are available at https://www.evergy.com/ways-to-save/discounts.

Energy efficiency steps at home can help customers manage energy costs while also reducing demand on the power grid. Actions range from closing blinds to cool rooms during the day, to avoiding using appliances – like the oven or clothes dryer – that produce heat during the hottest part of the day, to installing more efficient equipment in your home. Additional tips for each room of the home can be found on the Evergy website at https://www.evergy.com/ways-to-save/resources/energy-tips/interactive-home-tips