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Westar Energy Announces Plans to Build New Transmission Lines

Posted on: Thursday, 7 September 2006, 09:21 CDT

TOPEKA, Kan., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Westar Energy, Inc. announced today that it plans to build a new 345 kilovolt high-capacity transmission line from northwest of Wichita, near its Gordon Evans Energy Center, to the Hutchinson area. Following construction of that line, Westar plans to build additional high capacity power lines to improve the electric network in Kansas, and strengthen Kansas' access to the broader regional transmission system.

Westar's plan to expand its transmission network with new high capacity lines is one of several major initiatives to invest in long-lived electric infrastructure to serve Kansas into the 21st century.

"This new high capacity line will be an essential expansion of the transmission network to serve not only our retail and wholesale customers but also electric users throughout Kansas and a multi-state region," said Kelly Harrison, vice president, transmission operations and environmental services. "Following completion of this route, we plan to make additional transmission network investments with lines running north from the Hutchinson area to Salina and from southeast of Wichita, near Rose Hill, to the Kansas-Oklahoma border. These transmission expansions have been identified by the Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission planning organization for our region, as investments that will help assure reliable electric service throughout the region and allow for the expanded development of Kansas' wind resources."

Several routes are being considered for the Wichita to Hutchinson area line, and Westar will conduct open houses to share information with the public and receive comments and suggestions. Westar will file an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission before the end of the year designating the preferred route and requesting authorization to build the line. The company has retained Burns & McDonnell, of Kansas City, Mo., as its consulting engineer to help site and construct the line.

"We recently announced our plans to build 600 MW of natural gas peaking capacity in Lyon County," said James Haines, Westar chief executive officer. "We also expect to identify the site for our next coal plant in Kansas before the end of the year. Our plans to expand our transmission network and to construct new power plants are a sign of Westar's commitment to invest in Kansas and support its growing economy. We are demonstrating in substance what we mean when we say that Westar has returned to its roots as a pure Kansas electric utility. In addition to meeting the growing customer demand for electricity, we are aggressively pursuing energy efficiency and conservation initiatives as well to help our customers use electricity as wisely as possible. We are also making investments to upgrade environmental controls at existing power plants and seeking cost-effective ways to diversify our generation fleet with renewable sources. Westar has the financial strength, in-state experience and expert work force to make these new investments and operate a substantially expanded electric system."

Westar Energy, Inc. is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 667,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has nearly 6,000 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates approximately 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.

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. Therefore, actual results could vary materially from what we expect. Please review our Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006 for important risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. 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 except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

Media contact: Karla Olsen, senior manager, media relations Phone: 888.613.0003 FAX: 316.261.6769 karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com Investor contact: Bruce Burns, director, investor relations Phone: 785.575.8227 bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com

Westar Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: Media: Karla Olsen, senior manager, media relations,Phone: 1-888-613-0003, Fax: +1-316-261-6769, karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com,Investors: Bruce Burns, director, investor relations, Phone: +1-785-575-8227,bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com, both of Westar Energy, Inc.

Web site: http://www.westarenergy.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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