Olathe-area electricity customers pay less per kilowatt-hour starting Thursday, Oct. 1, as Evergy's lower winter rates replace summer pricing across its Kansas service territory.

The seasonal shift applies to residential and commercial customers in the Olathe area. Evergy told customers that per-kilowatt-hour energy prices decrease during the colder months, though exact rates vary by region and rate plan, KCTV5 reported.

Winter pricing runs through May 31, 2027. Summer rates resume June 1.

How much rates drop depends on your plan

KCTV5's example used Evergy's Missouri Metro rates; Kansas rates differ. A Missouri Metro example shows the scale of the change: the per-kWh charge for the first 600 kilowatt-hours drops from 14 cents in summer to 12 cents in winter. Rates on higher-usage tiers drop more steeply. The next 400 kWh falls from 14 cents to 8 cents, and the next 1,000 kWh falls from 15 cents to 7 cents.

Kansas customers can look up their specific rate plan at evergy.com under "manage account" and "rate information."

Kansas residential electricity already runs below the national average. The state's average residential rate sat at about 15.71 cents per kWh as of September 2026, roughly 14% below the national average of 18.34 cents, according to ElectricChoice.com. Commercial rates averaged near 12.27 cents per kWh.

Evergy serves about 700,000 Kansas customers and is the state's largest investor-owned utility. The Kansas Corporation Commission sets its rates.

Evergy cites decade of price stability

Chuck Caisley, Evergy's chief customer officer, wrote in a Kansas City Star op-ed on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that the company has kept prices relatively flat over the past decade. "Since 2017, our prices have increased about 5%, while inflation and electricity prices in nearby Midwest states rose by roughly 30%," Caisley wrote.

That op-ed focused on Evergy's long-term generation strategy, not the seasonal rate change. But the company's broader message to its 1.7 million Kansas and Missouri customers has centered on cost control.

Tips to cut winter bills

Evergy recommends several steps to reduce heating costs: replace air filters every one to three months, keep vents clear of furniture, use weatherstripping on doors and caulk drafty windows. The company says caulking alone can save up to 15% on heating costs. Rotating ceiling fan blades clockwise in winter pushes warm air down.

The utility also offers Kansas customers a Thermostat Program with smart thermostats that can save participants up to $145 a year. Weatherization assistance is available for income-eligible families.