Merger efforts are not slowing down for two major utilities despite numerous severe weather events which have impacted the area through the majority of this year.
Lyon-Coffey Rural Electric Cooperative and Westar Energy will soon be adopting their new names of 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative and Evergy as both companies are nearing the end of consolidation efforts — Lyon-Coffey with Radiant Electric Cooperative of Fredonia and Westar with Kansas City Power and Light. A marketing campaign has been underway the past several weeks announcing the name change for Westar to Evergy and Emporia District Service Center Manager Rolland Trahoon says the process has been smooth throughout, thanks to the equal input and contributions of both entities.
Lyon-Coffey Assistant General Manager Mark Doeble says they have worked closely with Radiant Electric over the past few years. He says both companies are continuing efforts to help build strong relationships with all employees in all departments before the merger is complete.
Westar will officially become Evergy in name on Oct. 1 while Lyon-Coffey will assume the 4 Rivers title on Jan. 1 2020.
Consolidation efforts have been in the works for over the past year, including during the recent string of severe weather in August which at one point brought measured winds of 93 mph throughout the KVOE listening area. According to Doeble, events on Aug. 30 as well as Aug. 1 and 15 led to the loss of close to 100 Lyon-Coffey poles.
Westar found themselves in a similar position as there were nearly 12,000 customers without power at one point during the Aug. 30 storm. Trahoon says over the course of his 33-year career 2019 has certainly been one of the most active years for severe weather he can remember.
Despite the severity of the activity, namely specifically on Aug. 30, both companies managed to have power fully restored to customers within 24 hours. Both Doeble and Trahoon say at this time they have everything pretty well repaired minus a few poles along US Highway 75 north of Burlington which are still leaning due to the winds according to Doeble.
For more information on either utility or ongoing merger efforts visit Westarenergy.com or Lyon-Coffey.coop.
