Electricity capacity refers to the total amount of energy a device or system can store and release to utilities and customers.
2025 Electric Supply and Demand Biennial Report
KSA 66-1282 requires the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to produce a report on electric supply and demand for all electric utilities in Kansas every two years. Electricity supply refers to the actual amount of energy produced and delivered over a period of time. Statute requires the report to include information pertaining to generation capacity needs, system peak capacity needs, and renewable generation. This reporting requirement became effective in 2011, and required the first report to be submitted by February 1, 2013.
In order to obtain data needed for the Electric Supply and Demand Biennial Report (Biennial Report), the KCC issued an order on October 29, 2012, requiring electric generators in Kansas to file this information annually. The KCC indicates the following generators are required to participate:
- Evergy Kansas;
- Empire District Electric Company;
- Kansas Power Pool;
- Kansas Municipal Energy Agency;
- Kansas Electric Power Cooperatives;
- Midwest Energy;
- Sunflower Electric Power Corporation; and
- Kansas City Board of Public Utilities.
The 2025 publication of the Biennial Report is available online through the KCC’s website.
Generation Capacity Needs and System Peak Capacity Planning
Section one of the Biennial Report includes information on generation capacity, which refers to the maximum amount of electric power a generating unit can produce at any given time and peak capacity planning. The report indicates that all major utilities in Kansas are members of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the SPP operates as the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in Kansas. As an RTO, the SPP has to meet certain federal requirements to ensure reliable and adequate power supplies and reserves are maintained by members.
According to the Biennial Report, in 2023, investor-owned utilities (IOUs) operated at a deficit of 950 megawatts (MW) while cooperatives (co-ops) and municipal utilities had surpluses of 83 and 73 MW, respectively. Those deficits are estimated to increase to 7,195 MW for IOUs by 2043, and co-ops and municipal utilities are estimated to have deficits of 186 and 129 MW by 2043.
Utilities that operate at a deficit are required to pay penalties. The Biennial Report shows long-term positions held by utilities and does not include short-term capacity contracts. The deficit illustrated in 2023 in the report can be explained by the use of short-term capacity contracts that are not captured in the report.
Reliability Concerns
The SPP has expressed concerns facing the industry. In an article published by the Kansas Reflector on April 23, 2025, the SPP was quoted in a letter posted online as saying: “We are facing an increase in extreme weather events that are causing grid emergencies, tight operating conditions, and risks to human health and safety. In the past, there were only a few weeks in summer when SPP risked running out of energy. Now, we are issuing grid alerts throughout the summer as well as during winter. Our risk of having inadequate supply to meet demand has greatly increased, and grid emergencies are likely to last longer, cause more damage and increase risks to human health and safety.”
Electricity Capacity Issues in Kansas
During an April meeting of the KCC’s Commissioners, KCC staff explained support for Evergy building two new natural gas plants in Kansas. Concerns exist regarding whether solar and wind generation will continue in Kansas, with solar tariffs placed on certain countries and uncertainty surrounding clean energy tax credits. There have also been issues with obtaining permits to build new solar facilities, as more local communities do not support hosting those facilities.
Furthermore, as more power generation comes online, retirement of older assets are also assessed. In Kansas, Evergy has explored and is planning on the retirement of the Jeffery Energy Center, which is a coal plant located in Pottawatomie County. Evergy has stated its intent to close all remaining coal generation plants by 2040, and within the next 10 years, will retire nearly 1,200 MW of coal-based energy and add 3,200 MW of renewable generation.
The addition and deletion of certain power generation by utilities represents the continual changes in energy portfolios as utilities work to create stable energy production that meets the projected needs and stresses on the system.
By Luke J. Drury and Kate Smeltzer.
See Infrastructure and Security for more.