Hutchinson Energy Center
Reno County, Kansas · EIA plant ID 1248 · Operator: Westar Energy Inc
Nameplate345MWSummer 239 MW
Generators5in service
Net generation16GWh12 mo to Dec 2025
Capacity factor1%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate24,045Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online1974Runs as rarely runs
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 226.6 | — | — |
| 2002 | 154.5 | — | — |
| 2003 | 196.7 | 4.7% | 12,396 |
| 2004 | 147.7 | 3.5% | 12,131 |
| 2005 | 183.2 | 4.4% | 12,878 |
| 2006 | 100.1 | 2.4% | 13,327 |
| 2007 | 154.5 | 3.8% | 12,414 |
| 2008 | 257.1 | 7.2% | 12,131 |
| 2009 | 144.1 | 4.0% | 13,026 |
| 2010 | 133.9 | 3.9% | 13,907 |
| 2011 | 53.5 | 1.5% | 14,444 |
| 2012 | 57.2 | 1.6% | 13,442 |
| 2013 | 20.2 | 0.6% | 18,972 |
| 2014 | 46.8 | 1.3% | 19,914 |
| 2015 | 30.6 | 0.9% | 20,902 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0.4% | 27,975 |
| 2017 | 2.9 | 0.1% | — |
| 2018 | 6.2 | 0.3% | 27,849 |
| 2019 | 7.7 | 0.4% | 19,650 |
| 2020 | 4.9 | 0.3% | 20,220 |
| 2021 | 33 | 1.6% | 16,384 |
| 2022 | 35.1 | 1.7% | 22,768 |
| 2023 | 24.9 | 1.2% | 25,252 |
| 2024 | 29.1 | 1.4% | 21,500 |
| 2025 | 16 | 0.8% | 24,045 |
Fuel capability
Gas-fired turbines (CT/GT/CA/CS) that can also burn liquid fuel. EIA-860 Schedule 3 for capability, EIA-923 for actual burn.
StatusLikely still dual fuel
Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo298,380 MMBtu
Last month with liquid burnDec 2025
Switch while operatingYes
Net summer MW on gas157
Net summer MW on oil157
Time gas → oilup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Time oil → gasup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT1 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 71.2 | 55.9 | May 1974 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| GT2 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 71.2 | 53.9 | May 1974 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| GT3 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 71.2 | 56.7 | May 1974 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| GT4 | Petroleum Liquids | GT | 129 | 69.8 | Jun 1975 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| H1DG | Petroleum Liquids | IC | 2.7 | 3 | Jan 1983 | Operating (Standby / backup) | — | coming soon |
| ST1 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 23 | 17 | Jun 1950 | Retired Mar 2007 | — | coming soon |
| ST2 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 23 | 16 | Jun 1950 | Retired Mar 2007 | — | coming soon |
| ST3 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 35 | 28 | Sep 1951 | Retired Mar 2007 | — | coming soon |
| ST4 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 172 | 176 | May 1965 | Retired Nov 2015 | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: Westar Energy Inc. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| Westar Energy Inc | 100.0% | 345 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| McNew Generating Station | — | 10.3 km |
| Mullin Creek #1 Generating Station | — | 10.3 km |
| Westar Cities Solar | 1 MW | 11.8 km |
| Sterling | 10 MW | 32.2 km |
| McPherson 2 | 215 MW | 34.6 km |
| Kansas Ethanol, LLC | 14 MW | 35.2 km |