Nov 6 (Reuters) - Utility Evergy on Thursday

missed the Wall Street adjusted profit estimates for the third

quarter and trimmed the upper end of its 2025 adjusted earnings

forecast due to the impact of milder summer weather and higher

interest expenses.

A cooler-than-normal summer prompted consumers to decrease

their usage of air conditioners and refrigerators during the

quarter, reducing earnings of utilities such as Evergy ( EVRG ).

"While we've implemented cost and mitigation actions across

the business, these do not fully offset second- and

third-quarter weather headwinds," CEO David Campbell said in a

statement.

Utility companies have also struggled with persistently high

interest rates, as it has made it more expensive to construct

and maintain critical infrastructure, at a time when electricity

demand is soaring due to an AI-led boom in data centers.

Evergy ( EVRG ) said interest expenses rose 5.63% to $152 million in

the quarter ended September 30 from a year earlier, while its

operating expenses fell 2.75% to $1.15 billion.

On an adjusted basis, the company posted a profit of $2.03

per share, missing estimates of $2.06 per share, according to

data compiled by LSEG.

It expects the 2025 adjusted profit forecast to be in the

range of $3.92 per share and $4.02 per share from its prior

range of $3.92 per share and $4.12 per share.

Evergy ( EVRG ) provides power to 1.7 million customers in Kansas and

Missouri through its operating subsidiaries Evergy Kansas

Central, Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West.