An adjustment of rates will mean a slight drop in part of the electric bills of Westar Energy customers in Kansas in the coming year, according to an announcement by the utility.
Westar says rates will be adjusted to reflect lower-than-estimated property taxes. The property tax bill is a direct pass-through cost to consumers and is collected through a surcharge on their bills.
Westar said it collected $44.4 million on the property tax surcharge but in 2017, that will drop to $17.4 million. A spokeswoman indicated the $27 million difference will go to Westar customers in the form of a rate decrease starting in January and should amount to $1.20 a month for the average customer.
