The Kansas Corporation Commission has opened an investigation to examine rate design for solar and other DG customers. The state’s largest electric utility, Westar Energy sought — and failed — to confine this investigation to a review of only the cost to serve DG customers, therefore to exclude the benefits that DG systems provide. The KCC stated that it seeks a thorough and thoughtful discussion of the appropriate rate structure for DG, including the quantifiable costs and benefits.

However, the KCC added that it shares Westar’s concern regarding how benefits should be quantified and allocated, and it will allow parties to provide evidence showing that costs and benefits can be quantified and allocated in a manner that will yield “just and reasonable” rates for DG customers.