Kansas Corporation Commission adopts amendment allowing Evergy to use micrositing near Reno County route

At its regular business meeting on April 28, the Kansas Corporation Commission adopted a proposed order in docket 26EKCE0149STG that amends a previously approved unanimous settlement agreement to allow Evergy to use micrositing within 1,000 feet of an approved line-siting route in Reno County. The order requires the utility to seek commission approval for any deviation beyond that buffer.

Aaron Bailey, the meeting presenter, told commissioners that Evergy and the commission’s technical staff filed a joint motion to amend the original settlement to add a provision that had been inadvertently omitted. "Evergy and staff filed a joint motion to amend the settlement agreement to add a provision that was inadvertently omitted, that would allow for microsiding," Bailey said. He noted the commission has approved micrositing in multiple previous line-siting cases and described it as a tool that helps accommodate landowner preferences and avoid environmental concerns.

Commission business proceeded without substantive questions on the item; the presiding commissioner asked for questions and commissioners indicated none. A commissioner moved to approve the order; after a second the commission recorded three voice votes of “Aye,” and the presiding commissioner declared the order approved. The meeting record thanks Aaron Bailey for his presentation.

The order, as described at the meeting, allows Evergy to utilize micrositing within 1,000 feet of the approved route in Reno County and states any deviation beyond that distance would require commission approval. The record does not specify further conditions, timelines for implementation, or any additional mitigation measures in the adopted text. The docket number for the item is 26EKCE0149STG.

The commission concluded its noticed business and moved to adjourn; no additional action on this docket was recorded at the meeting.