Empire District Electric Company, or Liberty utilites is requesting a monthly rate increase for its nearly 10,000 Kansas customers from the Kansas Corporation Commission. The KCC hosted a public hearing on Tuesday at Columbus High School in Columbus, Kansas. Labette and Cherokee County Liberty customers voiced their concerns and asked questions.
The company is requesting $85 million to improve infrastructure and address extreme weather systems in Kansas. The amount translates to a 40% increase in monthly bills for residential customers over three years. The first year would cost nearly $12 for the average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, a 9% increase from the current bill.
Tuesday's event started with presentations from representatives from the Kansas Corporation Commissioners, Liberty and Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB). It then opened up for public comment and questions.
Joseph Astrab, Consumer Counsel with CURB, said he wants to ensure the rate increase is economically sound for Liberty customers.
"That is what we are concerned about, making sure that your power stays on and that you can afford to keep it on," he said
According to an information packet given to attendees, the gradual three-year increase alleviates the burden of rising energy bills on its customers, who face a higher poverty rate compared to residents in other parts of the state.
One resident, Laura Atkinson, said the proposed rate increase will hurt low-income residents.
"And I just feel like it's not going to just be us,” she said. “It's going to be companies in town. It's going to be grocery stores. It's going to be every business."
Liberty also submitted a rate hike request in Missouri last year and was under investigation by the Missouri Public Service Commission regarding its billing and customer service practices. Liberty hosted similar public hearings in Southwest Missouri in the summer of 2025, in which many customers expressed dissatisfaction with the requests due to billing issues and overpayments.
On Tuesday, resident James Andre correlated Kansas' proposed rate increase to the one in Missouri.
"These systemic failures directly undermine Liberty's credibility and fitness to recover costs in Kansas for claimed infrastructure work," he said.
While the same company has started rate requests in different states, they're separate issues, and the state regulators in each state approve the requests.
Kelli Price is Liberty's Communications Director. She said Tuesday's hearing was a great way for Liberty to hear directly from its customers.
"It's also an opportunity for us to share information about why we're asking to change rates and to talk a little bit about all the projects that we have done to help make sure that we can keep the lights on for our Kansas homes and businesses," Price said.
Liberty's Central Region President, Tim Wilson, was also in attendance, but did not give a presentation.
The proposed rates would take effect late in the summer of 2026 if the KCC approves the rate increase.
It's been over thirteen years since the KCC approved a rate increase request for the energy company.
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