Kansas City, MO residents experience an unusually high energy burden compared to the rest of the United States, spending nearly 6% of their income on energy while the national average is 3%-4%.1 Energy burden affects different populations differently. According to analysis based on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) tool and 2022 2 Census data , Black households in Kansas City have an average energy burden of 4.6%, 3 compared to a 2.3% average energy burden for white households. According to the same methodology from the DOE, Hispanic households in Wichita experience an energy burden of 5.3%, compared to 3% for their white counterparts. High energy burden can result in customers diverting income away from necessities like food, health, and even rent; higher energy burden is an indicator associated with poorer health, nutrition, and even community economic development. In addition to energy burden, communities of color and low-income 4 households in the U.S., and in Kansas City, face a much higher burden from pollution compared to other neighbors.5 Evergy fails to adequately address its disproportionate energy burden or negative public health impacts on communities of color and low-income households caused by its continued coal use. Alleviating energy burden through targeted energy efficiency programs would prevent 6 disconnections in low-income and communities of color . Disconnections are both costly to the 7 Company and negatively affects the Company’s reputation and credibility as a reliable business and service provider.