FAQs • Chanute, KS • CivicEngage

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Power Plants

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1. When does the city decide to generate?: The City of Chanute is under contract with KCP&L to purchase a set amount of power per day. When the demand for power exceeds that amount we will then generate the difference.

2. How does the city know how much power to generate?: We are in constant contact with KCP&L and have metering devices that tells us what the city and Ash Grove Cement Company power demands are; and how much power we have coming into the city. This gives us the information needed to determine when and how much needs to be generated.

3. Why do we lose power sometimes and who do we contact when such case occurs?: We have one of the most up-to-date electrical systems in Southeast Kansas. However, sometimes a circumstance beyond our control does knock out the city’s power supply, such as: animals crossing on the power lines; an electric pole and/or wire being knocked down; transformers overheating; or trouble from our supplier's line before it reaches Chanute.
Should you lose power you may contact the Public Works Complex, Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, at (620) 431-5250; or for after hours and weekends call Power Plant #2 at (620) 431-5270.

4. Why do I have trouble getting a call through when the power is out?: Power Plant #2 is manned 24-hours a day with only one operator and two phone lines. When the power goes out that one operator is trying to isolate the problem and answer two phones all at the same time, so please be patient.

5. Why can`t you tell me when my power will be back on?: The operator does not know in many cases what caused the power to go out. He has to dispatch a service crew to go out and determine the cause and they decide what needs to be done and approximately how long it will take to fix.

6. Why do my neighbors have power and I don`t?: We have 7 primary power lines throughout the city and every house and business gets its power from one of these 7 lines. If your neighbor has power and you do not they may be getting power from a different primary line than you, or the problem may be isolated to your residence.