UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
Current Report
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
September 2, 2015
Commission
File Number
 
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter, State of Incorporation,
Address of Principal Executive Offices and
Telephone Number
 
I.R.S. Employer
Identification
No.
 
 
 
 
 
001-32206
 
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
 
43-1916803
 
 
(A Missouri Corporation)
 
 
 
 
1200 Main Street
 
 
 
 
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
 
 
 
 
(816) 556-2200
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOT APPLICABLE
 
 
 
 
(Former name or former address,
if changed since last report)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
000-51873
 
KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
 
44-0308720
 
 
(A Missouri Corporation)
 
 
 
 
1200 Main Street
 
 
 
 
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
 
 
 
 
(816) 556-2200
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOT APPLICABLE
 
 
 
 
(Former name or former address,
if changed since last report)
 
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
 
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





This combined Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed by Great Plains Energy Incorporated (Great Plains Energy) and Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L). KCP&L is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy and represents a significant portion of its assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and operations. Thus, all information contained in this report relates to, and is filed by, Great Plains Energy. Information that is specifically identified in this report as relating solely to Great Plains Energy, such as its financial statements and all information relating to Great Plains Energy’s other operations, businesses and subsidiaries, including KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company (GMO), does not relate to, and is not filed by, KCP&L. KCP&L makes no representation as to that information. Neither Great Plains Energy nor GMO has any obligation in respect of KCP&L’s debt securities and holders of such securities should not consider Great Plains Energy’s or GMO’s financial resources or results of operations in making a decision with respect to KCP&L’s debt securities. Similarly, KCP&L has no obligation in respect of securities of Great Plains Energy or GMO.

Item 8.01
Other Information

In October 2014, KCP&L filed an application with the Public Service Commission of the State of Missouri (MPSC) to request an increase to its retail revenues of $120.9 million (subsequently adjusted to $112.7 million), based on a return on equity of 10.3% and a rate-making equity ratio of 50.36%. The request includes recovery of increased transmission and property tax expenses, costs to install environmental upgrades at the La Cygne Station, upgrades at Wolf Creek and other infrastructure and system improvements made to be able to provide reliable electric service. KCP&L also requested authorization to implement a Fuel Adjustment Clause.

On September 2, 2015, the MPSC issued an order addressing the issues in the case. The order authorized a return on equity of 9.5%, an equity ratio of approximately 50.09%, and an estimated Missouri jurisdictional rate base of approximately $2.58 billion (as estimated by KCP&L) resulting in an estimated increase in annual retail revenues of approximately $89.7 million or 11.7%. The MPSC also approved KCP&L’s request to implement a Fuel Adjustment Clause.

The order has a stated effective date of September 15, 2015 and new rates are expected to take effect on that date, or as soon as practicable thereafter. Parties to the case may file applications for rehearing with the MPSC, and may also file court appeals.  However, the rates authorized by the MPSC order will be effective unless and until modified by the MPSC or stayed by a court.
 






Forward-looking statements

Statements made in this report that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of capital projects and other matters affecting future operations.  In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L are providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information.  These important factors include: future economic conditions in regional, national and international markets and their effects on sales, prices and costs, including but not limited to possible further deterioration in economic conditions and the timing and extent of any economic recovery; prices and availability of electricity in regional and national wholesale markets; market perception of the energy industry, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L; changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry; decisions of regulators regarding rates  KCP&L and GMO can charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air and water quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and credit spreads and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on nuclear decommissioning trust and pension plan assets and costs; impairments of long-lived assets or goodwill; credit ratings; inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts, including but not limited to cyber terrorism; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including, but not limited to, weather-related damage and their effects on sales, prices and costs; cost, availability, quality and deliverability of fuel; the inherent uncertainties in estimating the effects of weather, economic conditions and other factors on customer consumption and financial results; ability to achieve generation goals and the occurrence and duration of planned and unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost increases of generation, transmission, distribution or other projects; the inherent risks associated with the ownership and operation of a nuclear facility including, but not limited to, environmental, health, safety, regulatory and financial risks; workforce risks, including, but not limited to, increased costs of retirement, health care and other benefits; and other risks and uncertainties.
 
This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Great Plains Energy's and KCP&L's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement.  Great Plains Energy and KCP&L undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.







SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Lori A. Wright
 
Lori A. Wright
 
Vice President - Investor Relations and Treasurer

 
KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Lori A. Wright
 
Lori A. Wright
 
Vice President - Investor Relations and Treasurer


Date: September 3, 2015