History

How we arrived where we are today

Evergy was created in 2018 as the result of a merger between Westar Energy and KCP&L.

Today, we strive to bring you more savings and sustainable energy along with solutions and choices that fit your lifestyle.

How it all began...

1881: Joseph S. Chick, Lysander R. Moore and Judge William Holmes helped create a piece of what is now known as Evergy by investing $4000 to buy an exclusive contract to provide power to two counties

1882: The group incorporated as the Kawsmouth Electric Light Company, serving 13 commercial customers in downtown Kansas City with a plant at the corner of 8th and Santa Fe in the West Bottoms, becoming one of the first to use automatic regulators. By end of year, 48 local businesses were customers. 

1885: The company reincorporated as the Kansas City Electric Light Company to better reflect its mission.

1900: Packing company heir J. Ogden Armour bought the Kansas City Electric Light Company and focused on building capacity to help supply electricity to his railway.

1902: In a different part of the Midwest, another utility dynasty was beginning. Run by Lemuel K. Green, the Green Light & Power Company would become the West Missouri Power Company, Utilicorp and finally Aquila, where its path to Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) would occur. 

1909: Separately, in Kansas, the American Power & Light Company organized Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KG&E) to operate utilities in Wichita, Pittsburg and Frontenac.

1910: KG&E grew rapidly, serving three communities and 5,525 customers by the end of this year.

1916: Kansas City Electric Light Company spun off the railway business and emerged as Kansas City Light & Power Company (KPL), with Joseph F. Porter becoming the company's manager in 1917 and developing additional capacity and more efficient plants. 

1922: Following reincorporation and the acquisition of the Carroll County Electric Company, the company underwent its final name change to the Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L).

1948: KCP&L had 199,603 customers.

1950: KCP&L became an independent company after its holding company dissolved. 

1966: The KCP&L customer base had grown to over 280,000.

1992: KPL merged with KG&E to become Western Resources, serving 560,000 customers and 1.06 million natural gas customers in three states.

1996: ONEOK, INc. gained ownership of Westar Resources natural gas business, and in return, Western Resources received 45% ownership in ONEOK. The investment sold in 2002-2003 as part of the company's renewed focus on being a pure electric utility. 

2002: Western Resources shareholders approved changing the company's name to Westar Energy. 

2008:  KCP&L merged with Aquila, the company started by the Green family in 1902.

2018: KCP&L and Westar Energy merged to become Evergy, bringing more savings, sustainable energy along with solutions and choices to meet customers needs.