PSC Approves Evergy Large Load Power Service Plan with Customer Protections pr-26-38

The Commission accepted an agreement signed by Evergy Metro, Inc., Evergy Missouri West, Inc. the Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, Google LLC, Velvet Tech Services, Nucor Steel Sedalia, LLC, the Data Center Coalition, Sierra Club, and Renew Missouri Advocates d/b/a Renew Missouri. The settlement approved by the Commission meets the needs of large electric users looking to grow in Missouri or locate to the state, including data centers and large manufacturers, ensuring they pay their fair share, and protects current ratepayers from bearing an unfair share of associated costs.

Under the plan approved by the Commission:
• The rate plan can be used by large load customers, whether new or existing, who reasonably forecast their expected monthly maximum demand of 75 MW at any time during the contract term with Evergy. The minimum contract term is 12 years with an optional load ramp period of five years, for a potential 17-year commitment. Large-load customers will be required, under the approved agreement, to provide collateral equal to two years of minimum monthly bills.

• The service agreement will automatically extend for periods of five years unless there is at least 36 months' written notice to end the service.

• A customer not extending the service will face an exit fee and an early termination fee. In that event, customers will be subject to an exit fee equal to the nominal value of their minimum monthly bill multiplied by the number of months remaining in the contract, or 12 months, whichever is greater.

• An additional fee shall apply if the customer seeks to terminate with less than 36 months of notice, which is two times the nominal value of the minimum monthly bill, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the agreement.

• Ensures that all costs incurred to serve large load power service customers are fully recovered.

• Offers large load power service customers the option to participate in additional generation and capacity programs.

This approval is a significant step forward in implementing Senate Bill 4, passed by the General Assembly in 2025. Senate Bill 4 requires that service to large load power service customers prevent other customer classes' rates from reflecting any unjust or unreasonable costs arising from service to such customers. Efforts were also made to design a plan that was similar to other tariffs throughout the country, and across Evergy's service territory, ensuring Missouri can properly compete for the economic development benefits that these loads represent.