Utilities Electricity
Provider: Westar Energy
Energy Produced by Fuel Resource: Coal 65%, Natural Gas-Fuel Oil 11%, Nuclear 14%, Wind 2%, Purchases 8%.
Available Generation Capacity: About 7,000 Megawatts
Reserves: Approximately 18% to 20% of Capacity Reserves (Megawatts)
Reliability: 99.974% – Outages generally occur in residential (non-business) areas
Large commercial-industrial rates are generally in the 4.5 - 6.5 cent per kWh range.
It is not necessary to qualify for economic development incentives to obtain such a rate.
Providing more specific rate estimates requires information such as total kWh consumption, load factor (8 vs. 24 hour per day operation for example) and determination of equipment ownership (rate often lower if customer owns transformers, etc.) Natural Gas
Large volume natural gas customers purchasing open market commodity gas can obtain transportation (delivery) rates in the range of $0.06 to $0.08 per Therm ($0.59 to $0.78 per MCF or MM BTU.) According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Kansas had the 7th lowest industrial natural gas total delivered cost among the 50 states in 2010 at $5.50 per MCF (MM BTU.) The total range of costs among the states was $4.23 to $24.10, with a national average of $5.49 -- so Kansas is very competitive.
Two providers service the Wichita metro area:
Provider: Kansas Gas Service - Rates
Provider: Black Hills Energy - Rates Water
Provider: Wichita Water & Sewer
Principal Sources: Cheney Reservoir and Equus Beds Aquifer
Reserves: Through 2023. Equus Beds Recharge Program is expected to extend reserves to 2050.
|
Water Plant
|
|
|
Maximum Capacity
|
160 mgd
|
|
Average Consumption
|
54.6 mgd
|
|
Peak Demand
|
118 mgd
|
|
Storage Capacity
|
50 mg
|
|
Sewer Plant
|
|
|
Preliminary/Primary/Secondary(trickling filter and activated sludge/
(UV disinfection)
|
|
|
Capacity
|
59.4 mgd*
|
|
Average daily flow
|
36.9 mgd*
|
(*mgd - million gallons per day)
Water Rate Summary
Retail Volume Charge (per 1,000 gallons.) AWC – Average Winter Consumption
|
Inside City Limits
|
|
|
Through to 110% AWC
|
$1.52
|
|
111% through 310% AWC / Fire
|
$5.49
|
|
Above 310% AWC
|
$8.29
|
|
Outside City Limits
|
|
|
Through to 110% AWC
|
$2.44
|
|
111% through 310% AWC
|
$8.79
|
|
Above 310% AWC
|
$13.27
|
Note: Using well water and/or impounded runoff water for grounds maintenance could help maintain fairly level demand and lower rates. However using runoff water in this manner has no bearing on the
Storm Water Utility fee (see below – applies inside Wichita city limits only.)
|
Monthly Meter Charge - Varies by line diameter
|
|
|
12" Water Line (Inside City)
|
$61.98
|
|
12" Water Line (Outside City)
|
$99.17
|
Sewer Rate Summary
Assumption – No extra-strength (pollutant) charges
|
Volume Charge (per 1,000 gallons)
|
|
|
Inside City Limits
|
$2.70
|
|
Outside City Limits
|
$4.32
|
|
Monthly Meter Charge - Varies by line diameter
|
|
|
12" Sewer Line (Inside City)
|
$287.52
|
|
12" Sewer Line (Outside City)
|
$460.04
|
Fire Protection
Wichita’s fire water system is separate and isolated from the domestic water system.
Charges are based on availability (not usage.) Charge varies by line diameter.
| Fire Protection |
|
|
12” Fire Line (Inside City)
|
$33.82 / month
|
|
12” Fire Line (Outside City)
|
$54.12 / month
|
|
ISO Fire Protection Class Inside Wichita City
|
|
|
Limit
|
3
|
|
Other Sedgwick County Cities
|
Varies (2,3,4,6)
|
| Rural Sedgwick County |
Varies (5,10) |
| 
