Westar Energy Power Plant Celebrates Prestigious Award
TOPEKA, Kan., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Westar Energy today announced that the Powder River Basin (PRB) Coal Users’ Group has selected the company’s Lawrence Energy Center (LEC) as its 2007 PRB Plant of the Year. The Lawrence plant was chosen because of its excellent systems for controlling coal dust by mechanical means, thus preventing fires and accidents.
LEC has undertaken a number of projects, equipment modifications and process changes to further improve its safe and effective handling of PRB coal including replacement of conveyors and the coal crusher to increase coal consumption. In addition, upgrades have been made to electrical circuits designed to meet requirements for explosion-proof service and to early fire detection and suppression systems. These increased efficiencies have led to more time being available to wash down, clean and perform maintenance on the coal-handling equipment, which is the key to PRB coal effectiveness.
To celebrate this award, LEC is holding an open house on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Utilities from across the country will be in attendance. After introductions and an opening presentation, visitors to LEC are welcome to stay for plant tours and lunch.
“One thing that is most exciting about this award is that we have had numerous inquiries from our peers wanting to know how Westar Energy maintains such a great safety record,” said John Bridson, executive director, Lawrence Energy Center. “We are looking forward to showing our guests at our open house.”
Westar Energy’s Tecumseh Energy Center was PRB Plant of the Year in 2002, and Jeffrey Energy Center earned the honor in 2003.
Westar Energy, Inc. is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 669,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has about 6,100 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates approximately 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.
For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.westarenergy.com/.
Media contact: Karla Olsen, director, corporate communications Phone: 888.613.0003 FAX: 316.261.6769 karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com Investor contact: Bruce Burns, director, investor relations Phone: 785.575.8227 bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com
Westar Energy, Inc.
CONTACT: Karla Olsen, director, corporate communications,1-888-613-0003, fax, +1-316-261-6769, karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com, or BruceBurns, director, investor relations, +1-785-575-8227,bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com, both of Westar Energy, Inc.
Web site: http://www.westarenergy.com/