By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo. May 7--The head of Great Plains Energy Inc. acknowledged Tuesday that the company's stock had been laggard over the last year. But he said that should change as uncertainties about the company are clarified.

By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Dec. 4--Great Plains Energy's top executive, after privately meeting with Missouri regulators in January about acquiring Aquila Inc., thought there would be few "significant" objections to shifting more costs to Aquila customers.

By JIM POLSON Goal: Avoid building 50 coal-fired power plants. Eight utilities are proposing a plan to eliminate the need for 50 new coal-fired power plants if they're allowed to profit on investments that lower power consumption.