KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Power & Light utility company is asking for a rate increase, KMBC's Jim Flink reported Thursday.

KCP&L is asking for a 10 percent rate hike in Kansas and an 11 percent increase in Missouri. The average utility bill would increase about $7 per month per customer.

The company said the increase will pay for upgrades at power plants.

"Over time, operations and maintenance costs have increased," KCP&L's Tom Robinson said.

KCP&L said this is the company's first request for a rate hike in 20 years.

Thursday, the Public Service Commission listened to consumers complain about the proposed hike.

"What I want to do is to make sure that if there is a rate increase, that KCP&L at least steps up to the plate and pays for some of the weatherization program of homes in the urban core," said Bill Dias, who is opposed to the rate hike.

Susan Brown said she reluctantly supports a rate hike.

"I think the price of energy should go up, because what's happened where energy rates have risen dramatically? They're conserving energy," said Brown, with the Concerned Citizens of Platte County.

The PSC is recommending a $15 million rate hike, compared to KCP&L's request of about $56 million in Missouri.

Robinson said that even if the increase is approved, the rate will still be 17 percent below the national average. There will be another hearing on the rate hike in October. A decision is expected at the end of the year.