KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — State regulators have approved an 11.7 percent rate increase for some Kansas City Power & Light customers.

The Kansas City Star reports the decision will mean about half of KCP&L’s customers in Missouri will see rates go up nearly $12 a month.

The utility said it needed the increase to pay for pollution control at its La Cygne coal-fired plant, improvements at Wolf Creek nuclear power plant and rising transmission costs.

A request for a 12.5 percent increase in Kansas to cover similar expenses is before the Kansas Corporation Commission, which could rule next week.

The Missouri rate case covered 270,000 KCP&L customers in its original service area, which includes most of Kansas City. Rates for about 315,000 other customers in western Missouri are set separately.