KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Local energy providers, Westar Energy and KCP&L are now serving customers as Evergy, the name of the holding company established when the companies merged last year.
“This is an exciting time for our company,” Terry Bassham, president and chief executive officer, said. “Last year we merged KCP&L and Westar to form Evergy, and we are proud to start using our new name in the communities we serve. The merger has brought savings to customers through lower base rates and rebates. Together we are well positioned to be a leading energy company providing our customers with energy from renewable sources and offering innovative programs to meet their needs.”
When KCP&L and Westar agreed to merge as equals and serve customers as one company, a new brand was promised from the start. Evergy was selected after research that included consulting with customers and employees. A combination of ever and energy, Evergy conveys our proud history as a reliable, enduring source of energy for our community and our vision to continue being so far into the future.
While the holding company adopted the Evergy name when the merger was complete in June 2018, operations continued as Westar Energy and KCP&L to ensure time to prepare for a smooth transition to the new name. The cost associated with updating the name is paid for by shareholders and will not affect customers’ prices.
Evergy.com is available for customers to find company information and access secure account services. Customer bills, correspondence and payment processing will be as Evergy. The company will continue to offer service updates and other information through social media – Evergy on Facebook and @evergypower on Twitter.
“The places where most customers see our brand will be Evergy. In other functions, the transition will continue over the next several weeks,” said Chuck Caisley, senior vice president and chief customer officer. “To minimize confusion, it was important to change some items, like the website and bills at the same time. Because we serve a large area of Kansas and Missouri and want to be a good steward of resources, updating things like location signage, truck decals and employee work clothes will take longer.”
How does this affect customers?
Rate service areas as defined by the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Missouri Public Service Commission remain but have been renamed. Customers visiting evergy.com and logging into secure account services will automatically see information relevant to the location where they receive service. Customers can also be directed to information for their area by entering the ZIP code of their service address.
In adoption of the new Evergy name, rate areas have been renamed:
Former service area name | New service area name Westar Energy | Evergy Kansas Central KCP&L Kansas | Evergy Kansas Metro KCP&L Missouri | Evergy Missouri Metro KCP&L General Missouri Operations (GMO) | Evergy Missouri West
Phone numbers where customers reach the companies will stay the same:
Customers served in the Evergy Kansas Central area (formerly Westar), may email customerinquiry@evergy.com or call 1-800-383-1183 to reach customer service. Outage reporting is available at evergy.com or by calling 1-800-LIGHT KS (1-800-544-4857).
Customers served in Evergy Kansas Metro, Missouri Metro and Missouri West (formerly KCP&L), may email custserv@evergy.com, call 1-816-471-5275 or call toll-free 1-888-471-5275. Outage reporting is available at evergy.com or by calling 1-888-LIGHT KC (1888-544-4852).
Initially Evergy.com will have two outage maps, one for Evergy Kansas Central and another for the remaining operations. Outage maps are available at outagemap.evergy.com. A link at the top of each map will take visitors to the other map.
More information about the name change is available online at evergy.com.
Media note: We are providing suggested language for media to use referring to the companies during this time:
Evergy formerly operated as Westar Energy and KCP&L. The new company formed when the companies merged in 2018, and they recently began serving customers under the new name, Evergy.
Logos and photos are available on request by calling the media line at 888-613-0003.
About Evergy, Inc.
Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We were formed in 2018 when long-term local energy providers KCP&L and Westar Energy merged. We generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.
