http://www2.ljworld.com/...
In the wake of Enron and the, ummmm, previous Westar scandal (execs loot 25 million from company), you'd think a public energy co. seeking a rate increase would be a little more, what's the word, sensitive? reasonable? un-greedy?
The cost of country club meals and fitness club memberships are among some of the expenses that Westar Energy Inc. is seeking to recover in its request for an $84 million rate increase. Jim Ludwig, vice president for public affairs for Westar, said the state's largest electric utility should be compensated for those expenses because they are part of the cost of doing business. "That's a reasonable thing," Ludwig said. He said meals at the country club were incurred while conducting business, and the fitness dues may in the long run lead to reduced health care costs for the company.
More items in extended... basically they are seeking to increase rates in part to cover all sorts of one-time expenses, this from a company who has just lost rate-payers millions due to scandal.
So what do they want part of their rate increases to pay for?
In the mountain of testimony filed in the case, the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board objected to allowing Westar to recover $9,390 for membership costs at the Topeka Country Club and $8,150 in fitness club memberships through rates charged to customers.
Yeah, that's small potatoes, but it gets better...
Westar is claiming $3.47 million in expenses for pursuing the rate case.
Yep, that's right, they want compensation for having to pay attorneys to actually ask for the rate case.
Westar is claiming $232,014 for legal expenses relating to an investigation by the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission, according to CURB.
Given the previous scandal, it's lucky that's all they have to pay- and they want to pass the cost on, not incur the expense as a punishment- which is the intent.
Westar has put in for additional costs to comply with the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires greater corporate disclosure of accounting practices.
Again, a company whose top execs looted 25 million is complaining about complying with tougher accounting standards.
The utility also is claiming as part of its rate request $514,250 in dues to the Edison Electric Institute, according to CURB. Crane said 25 percent of those dues should be disallowed because that amount is dedicated toward legislative advocacy or lobbying.
So ratepayers, pay us so we can lobby against your interests to screw you and raise your rates.
And as always, your moment of Zen
"You have enough of those smaller adjustments and they add up," said Susan Cunningham, general counsel for the KCC.