History of Evergy in Timeline

Evergy, Inc. is an investor-owned utility company formed by the merger of Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy. Headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, it is the largest electric company in Kansas. Evergy serves over 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, with a generating capacity of 16,000 megawatts from over 40 power plants. Its service area spans 28,130 square miles across eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The company operates a vast network of over 10,100 miles of transmission lines and approximately 52,000 miles of distribution lines.

May 14, 1900: Armour Packing Company Heir Purchases Company

On May 14, 1900, J. Ogden Armour, heir to the Armour Packing Company, acquired the Edison Electric Light & Power Company to power the Metropolitan Street Railway Company and Kansas City Electric Light Company.

1903: New Power Plant Built

In 1903, under Armour's ownership, the company constructed a new power plant to provide steam heat to downtown businesses.

1909: KG&E Founded

In 1909, Kansas Gas and Electric (KG&E) was founded when the American Power and Light Company took over electric companies in Wichita, Pittsburg, and Frontenac.

1911: Company enters receivership

In 1911, the company focused on the trolley company and went into receivership.

October 1917: Company emerges from bankruptcy as Kansas City Light & Power Company

In October 1917, the company emerged from bankruptcy as Kansas City Light & Power Company after spinning off the trolley business and began construction on the Northeast Power station.

June 1919: Company Reincorporates as Kansas City Power and Light Company

In June 1919, the company reincorporated as Kansas City Power and Light Company.

July 29, 1922: Company becomes Kansas City Power & Light Company

On July 29, 1922, after acquiring the Carroll County Electric Company, the reorganized company adopted the corporate name Kansas City Power & Light Company.

1923: Armour Sells Interest

In 1923, Armour sold his interest in the company.

1924: Continental Gas & Electric Corporation Purchases Controlling Interest

In 1924, Continental Gas & Electric Corporation acquired controlling interest and was part of United Light and Power until United dissolved in 1950.

1924: KPL Founded

In 1924, Kansas Power and Light (KPL) was founded and subsequently expanded across northeastern Kansas.

1948: Hawthorn Station construction started

In 1948, construction began on the Hawthorn Station, located on the Missouri River.

1950: Kansas City Power becomes independent

In 1950, Kansas City Power became independent and was no longer a part of United Light and Power.

1951: First Unit of Hawthorn Station completed

In 1951, the first of two units at the Hawthorn Station was completed.

1952: Acquisition of Eastern Kansas Utilities

In 1952, Kansas City Power acquired Eastern Kansas Utilities.

1956: Hawthorn Station fully operational

By 1956, two additional units were completed, and the Hawthorn Station was fully operational.

1983: KPL Merger with The Gas Service Company

In 1983, Kansas Power and Light (KPL) merged with The Gas Service Company, a natural gas utility serving customers in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

1992: KPL Merger with KG&E to become Western Resources

In 1992, Kansas Power and Light (KPL) merged with Kansas Gas and Electric (KG&E) to form Western Resources, operating as KPL and KG&E.

1992: Merger to form Western Resources

In 1992, Western Resources was created through the merger of Kansas Gas and Electric (KG&E) of Wichita and Kansas Power and Light (KPL) of Topeka.

1996: Western Resources sells natural gas business to ONEOK

In 1996, Western Resources divested its natural gas business to ONEOK, forming Kansas Gas Service, now part of ONE Gas, in exchange for a 45 percent stake in ONEOK.

1997: Financial Statement Restatement

In 1999, Western Resources restated its consolidated financial statements for 1997, 1998, 1999 and for each of the periods of 2000, related to the Westinghouse Security Systems (WSS) acquisition.

1998: Financial Statement Restatement

In 1999, Western Resources restated its consolidated financial statements for 1997, 1998, 1999 and for each of the periods of 2000, related to the Westinghouse Security Systems (WSS) acquisition.

1999: Financial Statement Restatement

In 1999, Western Resources restated its consolidated financial statements for 1997, 1998, 1999 and for each of the periods of 2000, related to the Westinghouse Security Systems (WSS) acquisition.

2000: Financial Statement Restatement

In 1999, Western Resources restated its consolidated financial statements for 1997, 1998, 1999 and for each of the periods of 2000, related to the Westinghouse Security Systems (WSS) acquisition.

October 1, 2001: Establishment of Great Plains Energy Incorporated

On October 1, 2001, Great Plains Energy Incorporated was established in Kansas City, Missouri, owning Kansas City Power and Light Company and Strategic Energy, LLC.

November 1, 2002: Westar Energy Restates Results

On November 1, 2002, Westar Energy announced the restating of results for its first and second quarter, to account for additional impairment at its Protection One Inc. (POI) unit.

2002: Western Resources changes name to Westar Energy

In 2002, Western Resources officially changed its name to Westar Energy, with all subsidiaries operating under that name.

January 14, 2003: Westar Energy Inc. Charged for Transactions

On January 14, 2003, Westar Energy Inc was charged for transactions involving power sales and paid $30,000,000 for the settlement.

2003: Western Resources sells stake in ONEOK

In 2003, Western Resources sold its 45 percent stake in ONEOK.

2003: Financial Results Restatement

On March 25, 2004, Westar Energy restated its 2003 annual financial results, after realizing that it might have understated its cash flow from operations for the year.

March 25, 2004: Financial Results Restatement

On March 25, 2004, Westar Energy restated its 2003 annual financial results, after realizing that it might have understated its cash flow from operations for the year.

2008: Acquisition of Aquila, Inc.

In July 2008, Great Plains Energy acquired Aquila, Inc.

2014: Fortune 1000 Ranking

In 2014, Great Plains Energy ranked number 855 on the Fortune 1000 list.

2016: Merger Plans Announced

In 2016, Great Plains Energy and Westar announced merger plans, which were later rejected by Kansas Corporation Commission utility regulators.

2017: New Merger Plan Announced

In 2017, a new merger plan between Great Plains Energy and Westar was announced.

May 24, 2018: Merger Approved to form Evergy

As of May 24, 2018, the merger between Great Plains Energy and Westar was approved by both the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Kansas Corporation Commission, resulting in the creation of Evergy.