NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Evergy Kansas Central, Inc. ("Evergy") has filed an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission ("Commission" or "KCC") for the siting permit granting Evergy the right to construct a 345 kV transmission line from the McNew Generating Station to the existing Reno County Substation in Reno County, Kansas. Public Hearing The Commission has scheduled a public hearing concerning the siting of Evergy's proposed transmission line in order to allow the public to testify before the Commission on the application. The public hearing will take place in two parts. First, a question-and-answer period will allow interested parties to ask Commission staff and representatives questions pertaining to the project. In the second part of the hearing, interested parties will be allowed to make formal statements to the three-member Commission. An open house will be held immediately preceding the public hearing where information about the proposed line will be available. The public hearing will be: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Hutchinson Community College Stinger Fine Arts Center 100 E. 11th Avenue, Hutchinson, KS 67501 Open House 3-6 p.m. Public Hearing 6 p.m. Attendees may participate in person or virtually via Zoom. Anyone opting to participate virtually using Zoom must register at https://kcc.ks.gov/your-opinion-matters by noon the day before the hearing. The hearing will be broadcast live on the agency's YouTube channel for those unable to attend. Any person requiring special accommodations at the hearing site under The Americans with Disabilities Act must notify the Commission at least 10 days prior to the scheduled public hearing by calling 800-662-0027. Public Comments The Commission will also accept written comments from the public through 5 p.m., Monday, January 26, 2026. Comments regarding the case should reference Docket No. 26-EKCE-149-STG and should be sent to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Comments may also be submitted online at https://kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments, by e-mail to public.affairs@kcc.ks.gov. or by calling 1-800-662-0027. The Commission will also conduct an evidentiary hearing concerning the proposed transmission construction project. This evidentiary hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2026, in the first-floor hearing room at the Kansas Corporation Commission, 1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604. At this hearing, the Commission staff, Evergy representatives and interveners will present their case to the Commission. The hearing is open to the public, but there will not be an opportunity to make public comments. The Commission must issue a decision by Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Evergy's Transmission Line Proposal Evergy is proposing to construct a single-circuit 345 kV transmission line from McNew Generating Station to the Reno County Substation, located in Reno County, Kansas. The proposed line will benefit customers in Hutchinson and beyond, ensuring necessary generation from McNew can be put on the power grid to serve customers. Evergy selected the route after an open house where we received input from landowners and residents in the area along potential routes. Evergy also sought and received input from state and federal agencies and public interest groups. This information was used to identify a route that minimizes adverse social and environmental impacts of the line. The length of Evergy's proposed line will be about 15 miles. The proposed line will be constructed using steel structures in either a single pole or H-frame configuration. The structures would be spaced about 600 to 1,200 feet apart. The base of each structure will also vary but will likely be between 4 and 10 feet in diameter. The minimum ground clearance for the line will meet 345 kV circuit standards required by the National Electric Safety Code. With the Commission's approval, Evergy would begin working with affected landowners to acquire easements in September 2026. Construction is scheduled to take about 15 months beginning in September 2027 with the project scheduled to be completed by December 2028. Additional Information Available For more information about the proposed project, public hearing or evidentiary hearing, contact the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. January 7, 14 2026 LHUT0430607