KCP&L is asking for a 14.6% rate increase in the St Joseph service area. Officials at the utility announced the requests Monday.

The average residential customer would pay an additional 36 cents per day, or about $11 per month, for electric power if the request is approved. That’s a $25.2 million increase for the former St Joseph Light and Power service area.

The former Aquila customers outside St Joseph would see a 10.9% increase (27 cents per day). Other KCP&L customers could see their monthly bills go up by nearly $15 per month.

If approved, the utility expects to begin collecting the new rates in January of 2013.

In the company announcement, KCP&L blamed rising fuel prices and new legal mandates, which they say have combined to outpace the company’s ability to maintain current rates.

The company insists KCP&L’s average retail electric rates range between 10% and 29% below the national average. You can read the entire announcement here.

The utility plans to file a rate case later this year affecting Kansas customers.