War on Westar

It's getting chilly here in Tulsa. Normally, in the fall, it's about 77. Today, it will not top 50. I broke out the turtleneck super early. The same weather issue can be said for a bit farther to the north in the great state of Kansas where I grew up. It's been an equally fall-like fall up that way, which prompted an annual conversation with a Topeka-based friend about when to turn on the heat. She told me that she's not turning it on until November, come hell or high water.

"Is it that time of year again?" I asked. "Time for the annual war against Westar?"

You see, a few years ago, my friend had a number of high winter electric bills, due to varying reasons, depending on whether you ask her or ask the energy company. At about the same time, Westar was getting hammered in the news. (Around 2006, Westar CEO David Wittig was sentenced to nearly 20 years for "looting" from the utility; his executive vice president got 15 years. It all centered around inflated pay and benefits that came to light after Wittig left Westar in 2002.)

Now, my friend says, given her lack of a criminal record and Westar's employment of multiple convincted criminals, that her word should be the one believed. But, no matter who is right in the dispute, the final result is: She's holding a grudge.

Every year, she puts off the heat. She layers sweaters and socks. She and her new husband get into a war over the thermostat. (He gets cold, and he hasn't got a personal grudge against Westar. So, he's more willing to turn up the heat.)

In the end, my friend was so angry that she still "fights" the war with Westar with her money---or lack of money---for their services. But, since there are no real options for other electric utilities in her area, that means she freezes. And she's still so angry, years after the fact, that she's more than willing to freeze herself, her tootsies ... and her new hubby ... for those convictions she felt were violated all those years ago.

I'm reminded of this because yesterday a sister magazine here at PennWell specializing in generation, Power Engineering magazine, just named Westar's new Emporia Energy Center as a finalist for their "project of the year" awards.

“Emporia Energy Center has been a great addition to Westar’s fleet of generating plants and an essential component of our Comprehensive Energy Plan,” said Bill Moore, president and chief executive officer when notified of the nomination. “Along with our three wind farms, energy efficiency programs and our high-performing coal, nuclear and other natural gas plants, our Emporia Energy Center is helping Westar meet customer demand at low cost and with a high degree of reliability.”

I sent the note along to my friend still entrenched in her Westar war. Her official response was to blow a raspberry.

It appears that no amount of industry kudos is going to override her personal issues with Westar.

And the battle rages on.