Evergy: Upgrading to Enhance Electric Service Reliability

Work on the new Evergy substation as seen from North National Avenue on Feb. 26

Evergy provides electrical service connection and repair to most of Bourbon County.

The company has acquired the property needed for the new Fort Scott substation which has frontage on North National Avenue.

Dirt work has begun at the new site, adjacent to the former equipment site.

“We have relocated conflicting utilities and are preparing the site for construction,” said Kaley Bohlen, Evergy Communications Manager.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

“The upgrades will enhance electric reliability and support growth in the area, as well as strengthen the regional power grid,” Bohlen said. “The new equipment will be stronger, more efficient and incorporate technology that can help reduce power outages, both in frequency and length.”

“Because the project will benefit Evergy customers, costs will be reflected in customer rates,” Bohlen said.

The Kansas Corporation Commission has been sending out press releases to explain the process of the rate increase to upgrade electric services. To learn more, see the end of this story for the links to the press releases. The public was requested to comment during the process.

“The average monthly impact to residential customers will be an increase of $4.64 per month for Evergy Kansas Central customers and a decrease of $6.07 per month for Evergy Metro customers. The new rates will take effect based on the customer billing cycle date beginning December 21, 2023,” according to a press release in November 2023 : Evergy/KCC Settlement Announced

Bourbon County is in the Evergy Kansas Central service area.

Evergy Kansas Central serves 736,000 customers in Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Leavenworth, Atchison, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Emporia, Parsons, Wichita, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Newton, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas, according to a KCC press release. Evergy Kansas Metro serves approximately 273,000 customers in Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.

The contractor for the Fort Scott project is Wolf Construction, Bohlen said.

The new Infantry Substation will be about 1.75 acres and will replace the former Fort Scott Substation that was damaged by fire in August 2022., according to Bohlen in a prior interview.

Looking to the left of the current Evergy Fort Scott Service Center Office on Old Fort Boulevard on February 26, one can see the current substation that is being replaced. This substation was damaged by fire in August 2022.

“The new substation will provide additional capacity to enhance electric reliability for the Fort Scott area, as well as strengthen the regional power grid,” she said in a prior interview. “Automated switching capabilities and grid automation will help improve outage response times.”

“Construction has begun and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024,” she said in the prior interview. “Once the new substation is operational, we will decommission the current Fort Scott Substation and remove all structures and equipment that are no longer in use. The existing Fort Scott Service Center utilized for personnel and offices will remain. Once the new Infantry Substation is built and operational, the existing Fort Scott Substation equipment and poles will be removed.”