Westar Energy, Inc. announces 2nd quarter 2014 results.

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TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 6, 2014 - Westar Energy, Inc. WR today announced earnings of $53 million, or $0.41 per share, for the second quarter 2014 compared with earnings of $67 million, or $0.53 per share, for the second quarter 2013. Without COLI proceeds, second quarter 2013 earnings would have been $57 million or $0.45 per share. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2014 were $122 million, or $0.95 per share, compared with $118 million, or $0.93 per share, for the same period in 2013. Without COLI proceeds, the first half of 2013 earnings would have been $108 million or $0.86 per share.

Lower net income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 was driven largely by no corporate-owned life insurance proceeds and higher planned maintenance costs for the generating fleet. These factors were partially offset by higher revenues for the quarter.
           
Higher net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was largely driven by higher revenues. The higher revenues are due principally from higher energy sales from colder weather in the first quarter and higher prices resulting from investments in air quality controls and transmission infrastructure.

Earnings Guidance

The company affirmed its 2014 earnings guidance of $2.30 to $2.45 per share. The earnings guidance drivers are located under Supplemental Materials within the investor section of the company website at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Conference Call and Additional Company Information

Westar Energy management will host a conference call Thursday, Aug. 7 with the investment community at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing 866-318-8620, participant code 77563283. A webcast of the live conference call will be available at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Members of the media are invited to listen to the conference call and then contact Gina Penzig with any follow-up questions.

This earnings announcement, a package of detailed second quarter financial information, the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014 and other filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available on the company's website at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Westar Energy, Inc. WR is Kansas' largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided Kansans the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. Every day our team of professionals takes on projects to generate and deliver electricity, protect the environment and provide excellent service to our nearly 700,000 customers. Westar has 7,200 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by coal, uranium, natural gas, wind and landfill gas. We are also a leader in electric transmission in Kansas. Our innovative customer service programs include mobile-enabled customer care, digital meters and paving the way for electric vehicle adoption. Our employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve.

For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release are "forward-looking statements." The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like "believe," "anticipate," "target," "expect," "pro forma," "estimate," "intend," "guidance" or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those discussed herein as well as (1) those discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013 (a) under the heading, "Forward-Looking Statements," (b) in ITEM 1. Business, (c) in ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (d) in ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (e) in ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes 13 and 15; (2) those discussed in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed Aug. 6, 2014, (a) in ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (b) in Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Notes 10 and 11; and (3) other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made.

Media Contact:
Gina Penzig
Director, corporate communications
Phone: 785-575-8089
Gina.Penzig@westarenergy.com
Media line: 888-613-0003

Investor Contact:
Bruce Burns
Director, investor relations
Phone: 785-575-8227
Bruce.Burns@westarenergy.com

Westar Energy, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Jun. 30, Six Months Ended Jun. 30,
2014 2013 Change % Change 2014 2013 Change % Change
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
REVENUES:
Residential $ 175,671 $ 165,302 $ 10,369 6.3 $ 367,958 $ 330,678 $ 37,280 11.3
Commercial 178,194 165,172 13,022 7.9 339,294 313,128 26,166 8.4
Industrial 106,984 92,820 14,164 15.3 201,480 183,745 17,735 9.7
Other retail (3,033 ) 2,228 (5,261 ) (236.1 ) (11,557 ) (944 ) (10,613 ) (a)
Total Retail Revenues 457,816 425,522 32,294 7.6 897,175 826,607 70,568 8.5
Wholesale 82,434 81,783 651 0.8 193,047 168,253 24,794 14.7
Transmission 63,700 52,804 10,896 20.6 125,166 104,315 20,851 20.0
Other 8,718 9,480 (762 ) (8.0 ) 25,836 16,626 9,210 55.4
Total Revenues 612,668 569,589 43,079 7.6 1,241,224 1,115,801 125,423 11.2
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Fuel and purchased power 164,779 152,700 12,079 7.9 338,618 304,452 34,166 11.2
SPP network transmission cost 55,533 44,600 10,933 24.5 107,491 88,396 19,095 21.6
Operating and maintenance 101,839 87,999 13,840 15.7 193,629 172,154 21,475 12.5
Depreciation and amortization 70,882 67,597 3,285 4.9 140,992 134,443 6,549 4.9
Selling, general and administrative 62,168 54,477 7,691 14.1 118,653 103,422 15,231 14.7
Taxes other than income tax 34,738 30,704 4,034 13.1 69,571 61,482 8,089 13.2
Total Operating Expenses 489,939 438,077 51,862 11.8 968,954 864,349 104,605 12.1
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 122,729 131,512 (8,783 ) (6.7 ) 272,270 251,452 20,818 8.3
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Investment earnings 3,175 1,690 1,485 87.9 5,553 5,749 (196 ) (3.4 )
Other income 5,658 13,711 (8,053 ) (58.7 ) 11,575 17,427 (5,852 ) (33.6 )
Other expense (2,287 ) (2,354 ) 67 2.8 (7,952 ) (7,715 ) (237 ) (3.1 )
Total Other Income 6,546 13,047 (6,501 ) (49.8 ) 9,176 15,461 (6,285 ) (40.7 )
Interest expense 47,303 45,798 1,505 3.3 93,543 90,082 3,461 3.8
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 81,972 98,761 (16,789 ) (17.0 ) 187,903 176,831 11,072 6.3
Income tax expense 26,150 29,310 (3,160 ) (10.8 ) 61,111 54,123 6,988 12.9
NET INCOME 55,822 69,451 (13,629 ) (19.6 ) 126,792 122,708 4,084 3.3
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 2,349 2,263 86 3.8 4,365 4,375 (10 ) (0.2 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC $ 53,473 $ 67,188 $ (13,715 ) (20.4 ) $ 122,427 $ 118,333 $ 4,094 3.5
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (See 10-Q Note 2):
Basic earnings per common share $ 0.41 $ 0.53 $ (0.12 ) (22.6 ) $ 0.95 $ 0.93 $ 0.02 2.2
Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.40 $ 0.52 $ (0.12 ) (23.1 ) $ 0.93 $ 0.92 $ 0.01 1.1
AVERAGE EQUIVALENT COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands):
Basic 129,363 127,311 2,052 1.6 129,185 127,254 1,931 1.5
Diluted 131,973 127,930 4,043 3.2 131,779 127,735 4,044 3.2
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.35 $ 0.34 $ 0.01 2.9 $ 0.70 $ 0.68 $ 0.02 2.9
Effective income tax rate 31.90 % 29.68 % 32.52 % 30.61 %

(a) Change greater than 1,000%.





This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Westar Energy, Inc. via Globenewswire

HUG#1847030
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