Alva Review-Courier -

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The way Westar Energy runs its coal plants in Kansas unnecessarily costs consumers millions of dollars a year through an obscure, if common, practice known as self-committing generation.

The company essentially runs its coal plants year-round, even during the winter months when it's not cost-effective. An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists, which advocates for reduced reliance on coal, said that's been costing Westar customers $20 million a year in added fuel costs.

But market operators including the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) — Westar buys and sells wholesal...