UNITED STATES
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                  FORM 10-K10-K/A
      [X]      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997

      [ ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          Commission file number 1-3523

                               WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         KANSAS                                                48-0290150
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S.  Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

    818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                             66612
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code 785/575-6300

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, $5.00 par value                 New York Stock Exchange
   (Title of each class)            (Name of each exchange on which registered)

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                Preferred Stock, 4 1/2% Series, $100 par value
                               (Title of Class)

Indicated by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes   x     No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. (x)

State the aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  nonaffiliates  of
the registrant.  Approximately $2,816,701,029$2,763,555,727 of Common Stock and $13,882,108$13,682,460 of
Preferred Stock  (excluding the 4 1/4% Series of Preferred Stock for which there
is no readily ascertainable market value) at March 16, 1997.27,1997.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of
common stock.

Common Stock, $5.00 par value                             65,409,603
- -----------------------------                  ---------------------
         (Class)                               (Outstanding at March 17,30, 1998)

                         Documents Incorporated by Reference:
     Part                              Document

     III      Items 10-13 of the Company's  Definitive  Proxy  Statement for the
              Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 12,11, 1998.

                                                         1





                                              WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
                                                    FORM 10-K10-K/A
                                                 December 31, 1997

                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Description                                                        Page

PART I
      Item 1.  Business                                                    3

      Item 2.  Properties                                                 2022

      Item 3.  Legal Proceedings                                          2123

      Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of
                 Security Holders                                         2224

PART II
      Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and
                 Related Stockholder Matters                              2224

      Item 6.  Selected Financial Data                                    2325

      Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                 Financial Condition and Results of
                 Operations                                               2426

      Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
                 About Market Risk                                        3741

      Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                3842

      Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
                 on Accounting and Financial Disclosure                   6874

PART III
      Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the
                 Registrant                                               6874

      Item 11. Executive Compensation                                     6874

      Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
                 Owners and Management                                    6874

      Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions             6874

PART IV
      Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and
                 Reports on Form 8-K                                      6975

      Signatures                                                          73

76





                                                         2







                                                      PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS


GENERAL

      The company is a publicly  traded holding  company,  incorporated in 1924.
The company's  primary business  activities are providing  electric  generation,
transmission and distribution  services to  approximately  614,000  customers in
Kansas;  providing security alarm monitoring  services to approximately  950,000
customers   located   throughout  the  United  States,   providing  natural  gas
transmission and distribution services to approximately 1.4 million customers in
Oklahoma and Kansas through its ownership of a 45% equity interest in ONEOK Inc.
(ONEOK) and investing in international  power projects.  Rate regulated electric
service  is  provided  by KPL,  a  division  of the  company  and Kansas Gas and
Electric  Company  (KGE),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary.  Security  services  are
provided  by  Protection  One,  Inc.   (Protection   One),  a   publicly-traded,
approximately  82.4%-owned-  owned  subsidiary.  KGE  owns 47% of Wolf  Creek  Nuclear
Operating  Corporation  (WCNOC), the operating company for Wolf Creek Generating
Station (Wolf Creek).  Corporate  headquarters  of the company is located at 818
Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612. At December 31, 1997, the company had 2,412
employees.

      On February 7, 1997,  the company  signed a merger  agreement  with Kansas
City Power & Light  Company  (KCPL) by which KCPL would be merged  with and into
the company in exchange for company stock. In December 1997,  representatives of
the company's  financial  advisor  indicated  that they believed it was unlikely
that they would be in a position to issue a fairness  opinion  required  for the
merger on the basis of the previously announced terms.

      TheOn March 18, 1998, the company and KCPL announced a restructuring of their
February 7, 1997,  merger agreement is 
currently being renegotiated andwhich will result in the regulatory approval process forformation of Westar
Energy, a new electric  company.  Under the originalterms of the merger  agreement,  the
electric utility  operations of the company will be transferred to KGE, and KCPL
and KGE will be merged into NKC,  Inc., a subsidiary  of the company.  NKC, Inc.
will be  renamed  Westar  Energy.  In  addition,  under the terms of the  merger
agreement, KCPL shareowners will receive $23.50 of company common stock per KCPL
share,  subject to a collar  mechanism,  and one share of Westar  Energy  common
stock per KCPL share. Upon consummation of the combination, the company will own
approximately  80.1%  of the  outstanding  equity  of  Westar  Energy  and  KCPL
shareowners will own  approximately  19.9%. As part of the  combination,  Westar
Energy will assume all of the electric utility related assets and liabilities of
the company, KCPL and KGE.

      Westar Energy will assume $2.7 billion in debt, consisting of $1.9 billion
of  indebtedness  for borrowed money of the company and KGE, and $800 million of
debt of KCPL.  Long-term  debt of Western  Resources and KGE was $2.1 billion at
December 31, 1997. Under the terms of the merger agreement,  it is intended that
the company will be released from its obligations  with respect to the company's
debt to be assumed by Westar Energy.

                                                         3





      Pursuant to the merger  agreement,  the  company  has been suspended.agreed,  among other
things,  to call for  redemption  all  outstanding  shares of its 4 1/2%  Series
Preferred  Stock,  par value $100 per share, 4 1/4% Series  Preferred Stock, par
value $100 per share, and 5% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share.

       Consummation of the merger is subject to customary  conditions  including
obtaining  the  approval of the  company's  and KCPL's  shareowners  and various
regulatory agencies. The company estimates the transaction to close by mid-1999,
subject to receipt of all necessary approvals.

      KCPL is a public utility company engaged in the generation,  transmission,
distribution,  and sale of  electricity  to  customers  in western  Missouri and
eastern  Kansas.  The  company,  KCPL and KGE have  joint  interests  in certain
electric  generating assets,  including Wolf Creek. For additional  information,
see  "Financing"  below,  "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial
Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"  and Note 5 of "Notes  to  Consolidated
Financial Statements".

      On December 12, 1996, the company and ONEOK announced an agreement to form
a strategic  alliance  combining  the natural gas assets of both  companies.  In
November  1997,  the company  completed its strategic  alliance with ONEOK.  The
company contributed substantially all of its regulated and non-regulated natural
gas business to ONEOK in exchange  for a 45%  ownership  interest in ONEOK.  The
company will  account for its common  ownership  in  accordance  with the equity
method of accounting. Subsequent to the formation of the strategic alliance, the
consolidated energy sales,  related cost of sales and operating expenses for the
company's  natural gas business were  replaced by investment  earnings in ONEOK.
The related assets and liabilities  were removed from the  Consolidated  Balance
Sheets at November 30, 1997.

      During 1996, the company acquired 27% of the common shares of ADT Limited,
Inc.  (ADT) and made an offer to acquire the  remaining ADT common  shares.  ADT
rejected this offer and in July 1997,  ADT merged with Tyco  International  Ltd.
(Tyco).  ADT and Tyco completed  their merger by exchanging ADT common stock for
Tyco common  stock.  Following  the ADT and Tyco merger,  the  company's  equity
investment  in ADT  became  an  available-for-sale  security.  During  the third
quarter of 1997, the company sold its Tyco common shares for approximately  $1.5
billion.

      On December 31,30, 1996, the company purchased the assets and assumed certain
liabilities  comprising  Westinghouse  Security Systems,  Inc. (WSS), a security
alarm monitoring  company,  for approximately  $358 million.  The net assets and
operations of WSS were contributed to Protection One in November,  1997 when the
company acquired its equity interest in Protection One.

      In 1997 the company acquired three monitored security alarm companies. The
company   acquired   Network   Multi-Family    Security   Corporation   (Network
Multi-Family)  in  September  1997 for  approximately  $171 million and acquired
Centennial  Holdings,  Inc.  (Centennial) in November 1997 for approximately $94
million.  The company also  acquired an  approximate  82.4%  equity  interest in
Protection One, a publicly traded security alarm monitoring company, in November
1997. The company  contributed all of its existing security business net assets,
other than  Network  Multi-Family,  in exchange  for its  ownership  interest in
Protection One.

                                                         4

In February 1998, Protection One exercised its option to acquire the stock
of Network Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Network Multi-Family,  from the
company for approximately $178$180 million.

      In March 1998,  Protection  One  acquired the  security  alarm  monitoring
business  of  Multimedia  Security  Services,  Inc.  (Multimedia  Security)  for
approximately  $233  million.  Multimedia  Security  has  approximately  140,000
subscribers concentrated primarily in California,  Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma and
Texas.  Protection One borrowed money from Westar  Capital,  a subsidiary of the
company,
to complete this transaction.

                                                         5





      In February 1996,  the company  purchased The Wing Group Limited (The Wing
Group).  The Wing  Group is a  wholly-owned  developer  of  international  power
projects.

      On July 1,  1995,  the  company  established  Midcontinent  Market  Center
(Market  Center)  which  provided  natural  gas  transportation,   storage,  and
gathering  services,  as well as balancing and title  transfer  capability.  The
company  contributed  certain natural gas transmission  assets having a net book
value of  approximately  $50  million to the Market  Center.  The Market  Center
provided  no notice  natural  gas  transportation  and  storage  services to the
company  under a  long-term  contract.  The  assets of the  Market  Center  were
transferred  to ONEOK in November  1997,  upon the  completion  of the strategic
alliance with ONEOK.

      On January 31, 1994,  the company sold  substantially  all of its Missouri
natural gas  distribution  properties  and  operations to Southern Union Company
(Southern  Union) for $404  million.  The company  sold the  remaining  Missouri
properties to United Cities Gas Company (United Cities) for $665,000 on February
28, 1994. The  properties  sold to Southern Union and United Cities are referred
to herein as the "Missouri  Properties." As of the respective dates of the sales
of the  Missouri  Properties,  the  company  ceased  recording  the  results  of
operations, and removed the assets and liabilities from the Consolidated Balance
Sheets related to the Missouri Properties.

      The United States electric  utility  industry is evolving from a regulated
monopolistic  market to a  competitive  marketplace.  The 1992 Energy Policy Act
began deregulating the electricity industry. The Energy Policy Act permitted the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to order electric utilities to allow
third parties the use of their  transmission  systems to sell electric  power to
wholesale  customers.   A  wholesale  sale  is  defined  as  a  utility  selling
electricity to a "middleman",  usually a city or its utility company,  to resell
to the ultimate retail  customer.  As part of the 1992 KGE merger,  we agreed to
open access of our  transmission  system for wholesale  transactions.  FERC also
requires us to provide transmission services to others under terms comparable to
those we provide to ourselves.

      For further discussion regarding competition and the potential impact on
the company, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.


ELECTRIC OPERATIONS

General

      The company supplies  electric energy at retail to  approximately  614,000
customers in 462 communities in Kansas. These include Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence,
Manhattan,  Salina, and Hutchinson. The company also supplies electric energy at
wholesale to the electric  distribution  systems of 67  communities  and 5 rural
electric  cooperatives.  The company  has  contracts  for the sale,  purchase or
exchange  of  electricity  with other  utilities.  The company  also  receives a
limited amount of electricity through parallel generation.

                                                         6

The company's electric sales for the last five years were as follows:

                         1997       1996       1995       1994       1993
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     -----
                               (Thousands of MWH)
  Residential. . . .     5,310      5,265      5,088      5,003      4,960
  Commercial . . . .     5,803      5,667      5,453      5,368      5,100
  Industrial . . . .     5,714      5,622      5,619      5,410      5,301
  Wholesale and
    Interchange. . .     5,334      5,908      4,012      3,899      4,525
  Other. . . . . . .       107        105        108        106        103
                        ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    Total. . . . . .    22,268     22,567     20,280     19,786     19,989

      The company's electric revenues for the last five years were as follows:

                     1997(1)      1996        1995        1994        1993
                   ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -------
                                  (Dollars in Thousands)
  Residential      $  392,751  $  403,588  $  396,025  $  388,271  $  384,618
  Commercial          339,167     351,806     340,819     334,059     319,686
  Industrial          254,076     262,989     268,947     265,838     261,898
  Wholesale and
    Interchange       142,506     143,380     104,992     106,243     118,401
  Other               101,493      35,670      35,112      27,370      19,934
                   ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total          $1,229,993  $1,197,433  $1,145,895  $1,121,781  $1,104,537

  (1) The increase in 1997 other  electric  revenues  reflects  power  marketing
      revenues.  See Item 7.  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial
      Condition  and  Results of  Operations  for  further  discussion  of power
      marketing.

Capacity

      The aggregate net generating capacity of the company's system is presently
5,319 megawatts (MW). The system  comprises  interests in 22 fossil fueled steam
generating units, one nuclear  generating unit (47% interest),  seven combustion
peaking  turbines  and  two  diesel  generators  located  at  eleven  generating
stations.  Two  units  of the 22  fossil  fueled  units  (aggregating  100 MW of
capacity) have been "mothballed" for future use (See Item 2. Properties).

      The  company's  1997  peak  system  net load  occurred  July 24,  1997 and
amounted to 4,016 MW. The company's net generating  capacity together with power
available  from firm  interchange  and purchase  contracts,  provided a capacity
margin of approximately 18% above system peak  responsibility at the time of the
peak.

      The  company and twelve  companies  in Kansas and  western  Missouri  have
agreed to provide capacity  (including  margin),  emergency and economy services
for each  other.  This  arrangement  is called the MOKAN  Power  Pool.  The pool
participants   also   coordinate   the  planning  of  electric   generating  and
transmission facilities.

      The company is one of 54 members of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).  SPP's
responsibility is to maintain system reliability on a regional basis. The region
encompasses  areas within the eight states of Kansas,  Missouri,  Oklahoma,  New
Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

      The company is a member of the Western  Systems  Power Pool (WSPP).  Under
this  arrangement,  over 172 electric  utilities  and marketers  throughout  the
western  United States have agreed to market energy and to provide  transmission
services.

                                                         7

WSPP's intent is to increase the efficiency of the interconnected  power systems
operations  over and  above  existing  operations.  Services  available  include
short-term and long-term economy energy  transactions,  unit commitment service,
firm capacity and energy sales,  energy exchanges,  and transmission  service by
intermediate systems.

      The company has an  agreement  with  Oklahoma  Municipal  Power  Authority
(OMPA),  whereby, the company received a prepayment in 1994 of approximately $41
million for capacity (42 MW) and transmission charges through the year 2013.

      KGE has an agreement with Midwest  Energy,  Inc.  (MWE),  whereby KGE will
provide  MWE with  peaking  capacity  of 61 MW through  the year 2008.  KGE also
entered  into an  agreement  with Empire  District  Electric  Company  (Empire),
whereby KGE will provide  Empire with  peaking and base load  capacity (20 MW in
1994 increasing to 80 MW in 2000) through the year 2000. The company has another
agreement with Empire,  whereby the company will provide Empire with peaking and
base load capacity (10 MW in 1995 increasing to 162 MW in 2000) through the year
2010.

Future Capacity

      The  company  does  not  contemplate   any  significant   expenditures  in
connection  with  construction of any major  generating  facilities for the next
five years.  (See Item 7.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial
Condition and Results of Operations).

Fuel Mix

      The company's  coal-fired units comprise 3,311 MW of the total 5,319 MW of
generating  capacity and the company's nuclear unit provides 547 MW of capacity.
Of the  remaining  1,461 MW of generating  capacity,  units that can burn either
natural gas or oil account for 1,377 MW, and the remaining units which burn only
diesel fuel account for 84 MW (See Item 2. Properties).

      During  1997,  low sulfur  coal was used to produce  78% of the  company's
electricity.  Nuclear  produced 17% and the  remainder was produced from natural
gas, oil, or diesel fuel.  During 1998,  based on the company's  estimate of the
availability  of fuel,  coal will be used to  produce  approximately  77% of the
company's electricity and nuclear will be used to produce approximately 18%.

      The company's  fuel mix fluctuates  with the operation of nuclear  powered
Wolf  Creek  which has an  18-month  refueling  and  maintenance  schedule.  The
18-month  schedule  permits  uninterrupted  operation every third calendar year.
Wolf Creek was taken  off-line  on October 4, 1997 for its ninth  refueling  and
maintenance outage which lasted approximately 58 days during which time electric
demand was met primarily by the company's coal-fired generating units.

Nuclear

      The  owners of Wolf  Creek  have on hand or under  contract  100% of their
uranium  needs for 1998 and 59% of the uranium  required  to operate  Wolf Creek
through  September  2003.  The balance is expected to be obtained  through  spot
market and contract  purchases.  The company has three active contracts with the
following companies for uranium: Cameco Corporation,  Geomex Minerals, Inc., and
Power Resources, Inc.


                                                         8

A  contractual  arrangement  is in place with Cameco  Corporation  for the
conversion of uranium to uranium  hexafluoride  sufficient  for the operation of
Wolf Creek through the year 2001.

      The company has two active contracts for uranium  enrichment  performed by
Urenco  and USEC.  Contracted  arrangements  cover 80% of Wolf  Creek's  uranium
enrichment  requirements  for operation of Wolf Creek  through  March 2005.  The
balance is  expected  to be  obtained  through  spot  market  and term  contract
purchases.

      The company has entered into all of its uranium,  uranium hexaflouride and
uranium  enrichment  arrangements  during the ordinary course of business and is
not substantially  dependent upon these  agreements.  The company believes there
are other  suppliers  available at reasonable  prices to replace,  if necessary,
these  contracts.  In the event that the company were  required to replace these
contracts, it would not anticipate a substantial disruption of its business.

      Nuclear  fuel is  amortized to cost of sales based on the quantity of heat
produced for the generation of  electricity.  Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act
of 1982,  the  Department  of  Energy  (DOE) is  responsible  for the  permanent
disposal of spent  nuclear  fuel.  The company  pays the DOE a quarterly  fee of
one-tenth of a cent for each kilowatt-hour of net nuclear  generation  delivered
and sold for future  disposal of spent nuclear fuel.  These  disposal  costs are
charged to cost of sales and currently recovered through rates.

      In 1996, a U.S.  Court of Appeals issued a decision that the Nuclear Waste
Act unconditionally obligated the DOE to begin accepting spent fuel for disposal
in 1998. In late 1997, the same court issued another decision precluding the DOE
from concluding that its delay in accepting  spent fuel is  "unavoidable"  under
its contracts  with  utilities  due to lack of a repository  or interim  storage
authority.  By the end of 1997,  KGE and other  utilities had petitioned the DOE
for authority to suspend payments of their quarterly fees until such time as the
DOE begins accepting spent fuel. In January 1998, the DOE denied the petition of
the utilities. The company is considering its response to the DOE's action.

      A permanent disposal site may not be available for the industry until 2010
or later,  although an interim facility may be available earlier.  Under current
DOE  policy,  once a permanent  site is  available,  the DOE will  accept  spent
nuclear  fuel on a priority  basis;  the owners of the oldest spent fuel will be
given the highest  priority.  As a result,  disposal services for Wolf Creek may
not be available  prior to 2016.  Wolf Creek has on-site  temporary  storage for
spent  nuclear  fuel.  Under current  regulatory  guidelines,  this facility can
provide storage space until about 2005. Wolf Creek has started plans to increase
its on-site spent fuel storage capacity. That project,  expected to be completed
by 2000,  should  provide  storage  capacity  for all spent fuel  expected to be
generated by Wolf Creek through the end of its licensed life in 2025.

      The Low-Level  Radioactive  Waste Policy  Amendments  Act of 1985 mandated
that the various states,  individually or through interstate  compacts,  develop
alternative  low-level  radioactive  waste  disposal  facilities.  The states of
Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma formed the Central Interstate
Low-Level  Radioactive Waste Compact and selected a site in northern Nebraska to
locate a disposal facility. The present estimate of the cost for such a facility
is about $154  million.  WCNOC and the owners of the other five nuclear units in
the  compact  have  provided  most of the  pre-construction  financing  for this
project.

                                                         9

There  is  uncertainty  as to  whether  this  project  will be  completed.
Significant  opposition to the project has been raised by Nebraska officials and
residents in the area of the  proposed  facility,  and  attempts  have been made
through  litigation  and proposed  legislation  in Nebraska to slow down or stop
development of the facility.

      Additional  information with respect to insurance  coverage  applicable to
the operations of the company's nuclear generating facility is set forth in Note
7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Coal

      The  three  coal-fired  units  at  Jeffrey  Energy  Center  (JEC)  have an
aggregate  capacity of 1,839 MW (company's 84% share) (See Item 2.  Properties).
The company  has a long-term  coal  supply  contract  with Amax Coal West,  Inc.
(AMAX),  a subsidiary of Cyprus Amax Coal Company,  to supply low sulfur coal to
JEC from AMAX's Eagle Butte Mine or an alternate mine source of AMAX's Belle Ayr
Mine, both located in the Powder River Basin in Campbell  County,  Wyoming.  The
contract expires December 31, 2020. The contract  contains a schedule of minimum
annual delivery quantities based on MMBtu provisions. The coal to be supplied is
surface  mined and has an average  Btu  content of  approximately  8,300 Btu per
pound  and an  average  sulfur  content  of  .43  lbs/MMBtu  (See  Environmental
Matters). The average delivered cost of coal for JEC was approximately $1.13 per
MMBtu or $18.92 per ton during 1997.

      Coal is  transported  from Wyoming under a long-term  rail  transportation
contract  with  Burlington  Northern  Santa Fe  (BNSF)  and Union  Pacific  (UP)
railroads to JEC through December 31, 2013. Rates are based on net load carrying
capabilities  of each rail car. The company  provides  868  aluminum  rail cars,
under a 20 year lease, to transport coal to JEC.

      The two coal-fired units at La Cygne Station have an aggregate  generating
capacity of 677 MW (KGE's 50% share)  (See Item 2.  Properties).  The  operator,
KCPL, maintains coal contracts as summarized in the following paragraphs.

      La Cygne 1 uses low sulfur Powder River Basin coal which is supplied under
a variety of spot market transactions, discussed below. High Btu Kansas/Missouri
coal is blended  with the Powder  River  Basin coal and is secured  from time to
time  under  spot  market  arrangements.  La  Cygne 1 uses a  blended  fuel  mix
containing approximately 85% Powder River Basin coal.

      La Cygne 2 and  additional  La Cygne 1 Powder River Basin coal is supplied
through  several  contracts,  expiring at various times  through 1999.  This low
sulfur coal had an average Btu content of approximately  8,500 Btu per pound and
a  maximum  sulfur  content  of  .50  lbs/MMBtu  (See  Environmental   Matters).
Transportation  is covered  by KCPL  through  its  Omnibus  Rail  Transportation
Agreement with BNSF and Kansas City Southern Railroad through December 31, 2000.

      During  1997,  the average  delivered  cost of all local and Powder  River
Basin coal procured for La Cygne 1 was  approximately  $0.70 per MMBtu or $12.31
per ton and the average delivered cost of Powder River Basin coal for La Cygne 2
was approximately $0.67 per MMBtu or $11.32 per ton.

      The coal-fired units located at the Tecumseh and Lawrence Energy Centers
have an aggregate generating capacity of 795 MW (See Item 2. Properties).  The
company contracted with Cyprus Amax Coal Company's Foidel Creek Mine located in
Routt

                                                        10

County,  Colorado  for low sulfur coal through  December 31, 1998.  This coal is
transported  by  Union  Pacific  and BNSF  railroads  under  contracts  expiring
December 31, 1998. The company anticipates that the Cyprus agreement will supply
the  minimum  requirements  of the  Tecumseh  and  Lawrence  Energy  Centers and
supplemental coal requirements will continue to be supplied from coal markets in
Montana,  Wyoming,  Utah,  Colorado and/or New Mexico.  The company is currently
seeking coal supply through 2000 to replace the expiring  Cyprus coal agreement.
Additional  spot  market  coal for 1998 has been  secured  from  Kennecott  Coal
Company with rail  transportation  supplied by BNSF  railroad.  During 1997, the
average  delivered cost of coal for the Lawrence units was  approximately  $1.24
per  MMBtu or  $26.89  per ton and the  average  delivered  cost of coal for the
Tecumseh  units was  approximately  $1.24 per MMBtu or $26.76 per ton.  The coal
supplied  in 1997 had an average  Btu  content of  approximately  10,842 Btu per
pound  and an  average  sulfur  content  of  .42  lbs/MMBtu  (See  Environmental
Matters).

      The company has entered into all of its coal contracts during the ordinary
course of business and is not substantially dependent upon these contracts.  The
company  believes  there are other  suppliers for and plentiful  sources of coal
available at reasonable  prices to replace,  if  necessary,  fuel to be supplied
pursuant  to these  contracts.  In the event that the company  were  required to
replace its coal agreements, it would not anticipate a substantial disruption of
the company's business.

      The company has entered into all of its  transportation  contracts  during
the ordinary course of business.  At the time of entering into these  contracts,
the company was not  substantially  dependent  upon these  contracts  due to the
availability  of  competitive  rail options.  Due to recent rail  consolidation,
there are now only two rail  carriers  capable of serving the  company's  origin
coal  mines and its  generating  stations.  In the  event one of these  carriers
became  unable to provide  reliable  service,  the company  could  experience  a
short-term  disruption of its business.  However,  due to the  obligation of the
remaining  carriers to provide  service under the  Interstate  Commerce Act, the
company  does  not  anticipate  any  substantial  long-term  disruption  of  its
business.  See also Item 7.  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.

Natural Gas

      The company uses natural gas as a primary fuel in its Gordon Evans, Murray
Gill, Abilene, and Hutchinson Energy Centers and in the gas turbine units at its
Tecumseh generating station.  Natural gas is also used as a supplemental fuel in
the coal-fired units at the Lawrence and Tecumseh generating  stations.  Natural
gas for all facilities is supplied by readily  available gas from the short-term
economical spot market and will supply the system with the flexible  natural gas
supply to meet operational needs.

Oil

      The  company  uses  oil as an  alternate  fuel  when  economical  or  when
interruptions  to  natural  gas  make  it  necessary.  Oil  is  also  used  as a
supplemental fuel at JEC and La Cygne generating stations. All oil burned by the
company  during  the  past  several  years  has  been  obtained  by spot  market
purchases. At December 31, 1997, the company had approximately 3 million gallons
of No. 2 oil and 17  million  gallons  of No.  6 oil  which  it  believes  to be
sufficient  to  meet  emergency   requirements   and  protect  against  lack  of
availability of natural gas and/or the loss of a large generating unit.


                                                        11

Other Fuel Matters

      The company's  contracts to supply fuel for its coal and natural gas-fired
generating  units,  with  the  exception  of  JEC,  do  not  provide  full  fuel
requirements at the various stations.  Supplemental fuel is procured on the spot
market to provide operational  flexibility and, when the price is favorable,  to
take advantage of economic opportunities.

      Set forth in the  table  below is  information  relating  to the  weighted
average cost of fuel used by the company.

   KPL Plants                    1997     1996     1995     1994     1993
   ----------                   -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
    Per Million Btu:
          Coal . . . . . . . .  $1.17    $1.14    $1.15    $1.13    $1.13
          Gas. . . . . . . . .   2.88     2.50     1.63     2.66     2.71
          Oil. . . . . . . . .   3.72     4.01     4.34     4.27     4.41

    Cents per KWH Generation .   1.32     1.30     1.31     1.32     1.31


   KGE Plants                    1997     1996     1995     1994     1993
   ----------                   -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
    Per Million Btu:
          Nuclear. . . . . . .  $0.51    $0.50    $0.40    $0.36    $0.35
          Coal . . . . . . . .   0.89     0.88     0.91     0.90     0.96
          Gas. . . . . . . . .   2.56     2.30     1.68     1.98     2.37
          Oil. . . . . . . . .   3.32     2.74     4.00     3.90     3.15

    Cents per KWH Generation .   1.00     0.93     0.82     0.89     0.93

Environmental Matters

      The company currently holds all Federal and State environmental  approvals
required for the operation of its generating  units.  The company believes it is
presently in substantial  compliance with all air quality regulations (including
those  pertaining to  particulate  matter,  sulfur  dioxide and nitrogen  oxides
(NOx))  promulgated  by the State of  Kansas  and the  Environmental  Protection
Agency (EPA).

      The Federal sulfur dioxide standards,  applicable to the company's JEC and
La Cygne 2 units,  prohibit  the  emission  of more  than 1.2  pounds  of sulfur
dioxide  per  million Btu of heat input.  Federal  particulate  matter  emission
standards applicable to these units prohibit:  (1) the emission of more than 0.1
pounds of  particulate  matter per  million Btu of heat input and (2) an opacity
greater  than 20%.  Federal NOx  emission  standards  applicable  to these units
prohibit  the  emission  of more than 0.7 pounds of NOx per  million Btu of heat
input.

      The JEC and La Cygne 2 units have met:  (1) the sulfur  dioxide  standards
through  the use of low  sulfur  coal (See  Coal);  (2) the  particulate  matter
standards  through  the  use of  electrostatic  precipitators;  and  (3) the NOx
standards through boiler design and operating procedures. The JEC units are also
equipped  with  flue gas  scrubbers  providing  additional  sulfur  dioxide  and
particulate  matter  emission  reduction  capability  when needed to meet permit
limits.

      The  Kansas  Department  of Health  and  Environment  (KDHE)  regulations,
applicable to the company's other generating  facilities,  prohibit the emission
of more than 2.5 pounds of sulfur  dioxide  per million Btu of heat input at two
of the  company's  Lawrence  generating  units  and  3.0  pounds  at  all  other
generating

                                                        12

units.  There is sufficient  low sulfur coal under  contract (See Coal) to allow
compliance with such limits at Lawrence, Tecumseh and La Cygne 1 for the life of
the contracts.  All facilities burning coal are equipped with flue gas scrubbers
and/or electrostatic precipitators.

      The  company  must  comply  with  the  provisions  of The  Clean  Air  Act
Amendments of 1990 that require a two-phase reduction in certain emissions.  The
company has installed continuous  monitoring and reporting equipment to meet the
acid  rain   requirements.   The  company  does  not  expect  material   capital
expenditures  to be required to meet Phase II sulfur  dioxide and nitrogen oxide
requirements.

      All of the company's generating  facilities are in substantial  compliance
with the Best Practicable  Technology and Best Available Technology  regulations
issued by the EPA pursuant to the Clean Water Act of 1977.  Most EPA regulations
are administered in Kansas by the KDHE.

      Additional  information with respect to Environmental Matters is discussed
in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.


NATURAL GAS OPERATIONS

General

      Under the  agreement for the  strategic  alliance with ONEOK,  the company
contributed  substantially  all of its natural gas business to ONEOK on November
30, 1997, in exchange for a 45% equity interest.  See Note 4 of the Notes to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

      ONEOK  is  a  diversified   energy  company  engaged  in  the  production,
gathering,  storage,  transportation,  distribution and marketing of natural gas
and natural gas products. ONEOK's regulated business operations provides natural
gas distribution and transmission in Oklahoma and Kansas.  ONEOK's  nonregulated
business   operations   include  natural  gas  marketing,   gas  processing  and
production.

      The  company's  natural gas  operations  prior to November 30, 1997,  were
comprised  primarily  of the  following  four  components:  a local  natural gas
distribution  division which was subject to  rate-regulation;  Market Center,  a
Kansas  subsidiary  of the company that  engaged  primarily  in  intrastate  gas
transmission,  as well as gas wheeling, parking, balancing and storage services,
and was also subject to rate-regulation; Westar Gas Marketing, Inc., (Westar Gas
Marketing) a Kansas  non-regulated  indirect  subsidiary of the company that was
engaged primarily in marketing and selling natural gas to small and medium-sized
commercial  and  industrial  customers;  and  Westar  Gas  Company,  a  Delaware
non-regulated subsidiary of Westar Gas Marketing that was engaged in extracting,
processing and selling natural gas liquids.

      During,  1997, the company supplied natural gas at retail to approximately
652,000  customers in 362 communities and at wholesale to eight  communities and
two  utilities  in Kansas and  Oklahoma.  The natural gas systems of the company
consisted of  distribution  systems in both states  purchasing  natural gas from
various suppliers and transported by interstate  pipeline companies and the main
system, an integrated storage, gathering,  transmission and distribution system.
The  company  also  transported  gas for its  large  commercial  and  industrial
customers  which   purchased  gas  on  the  spot  market.   The  company  earned
approximately  the same  margin on the volume of gas  transported  as on volumes
sold except where discounting occurred in order to retain the customer's load.

                                                        13

On January 31, 1994,  the company sold  substantially  all of its Missouri
natural gas  distribution  properties  and operations to Southern Union and sold
the remaining Missouri Properties to United Cities on February 28, 1994.

      The percentage of total natural gas deliveries,  including  transportation
and operating  revenues for 1997 (through  November 30, 1997),  by state were as
follows:

                          Total Natural           Total Natural Gas
                          Gas Deliveries          Operating Revenues
          Kansas             96.8%                     95.2%
          Oklahoma            3.2%                      4.8%

      The  company's  natural  gas  deliveries  for the last five  years were as
follows:

                      1997(1)     1996       1995       1994(3)     1993
                     -------    -------    -------     -------    ------
                                       (Thousands of MCF)
    Residential       47,602     62,728     55,810      64,804    110,045
    Commercial        16,968     22,841     21,245      26,526     47,536
    Industrial           296        450        548         605      1,490
    Other             26,448     21,067     17,078(2)       43         41
    Transportation    41,635     45,947     48,292      51,059     73,574
                     -------    -------    -------     -------    -------
      Total          132,949    153,033    142,973     143,037    232,686

      The company's natural gas revenues related to deliveries for the last five
years were as follows:

                      1997(1)     1996        1995      1994(3)     1993
                     -------    --------   ---------   --------   ------
                                   (Dollars in Thousands)
    Residential      $312,665   $352,905    $274,550   $332,348   $529,260
    Commercial        100,394    120,927      94,349    125,570    209,344
    Industrial          1,632      2,885       3,051      3,472      7,294
    Other              63,608     48,643      31,860     11,544     30,143
    Transportation     22,552     23,354      22,366     23,228     28,781
                     --------   --------    --------   --------   --------
      Total          $500,851   $548,714    $426,176   $496,162   $804,822

     (1) The decrease in gas deliveries and revenues  reflects the  contribution
         of the company's natural gas business to ONEOK on November 30, 1997.

     (2) The  increase  in  other  gas   deliveries   reflects  an  increase  in
         as-available gas sales.

     (3) Information  reflects  the sales of the Missouri  Properties  effective
         January 31, and February 28, 1994.

      As-available gas is excess natural gas under contract that the company did
not  require  for  customer  sales  or  storage  that is  typically  sold to gas
marketers.  According  to the  company's  tariff,  the  nominal  margin  made on
as-available  gas sales is  returned  75% to  customers  through the cost of gas
rider and 25% is reflected in wholesale revenues of the company.

Interstate System

      The company  distributed  natural gas at retail to  approximately  520,000
customers located in central and eastern Kansas and northeastern  Oklahoma.  The
largest cities served in 1997 were Wichita and Topeka,  Kansas and Bartlesville,
Oklahoma. The company had transportation agreements for delivery of this gas

                                                        14

with  terms  varying  in length  from one to twenty  years,  with the  following
non-affiliated pipeline transmission  companies:  Williams Natural Gas Pipelines
Central (WNG),  Kansas Pipeline  Partnership  (KPP),  Panhandle Eastern Pipeline
Company  (Panhandle),  and  various  other  intrastate  suppliers.  The  volumes
transported under these agreements in for the past three years were as follows:

                     Transportation Volumes (BCF's)

                                   1997(1)     1996     1995
                                   ------      ----     ----
               WNG. . . . . . .     74.1       79.4     61.8
               KPP. . . . . . .      5.2        7.3      7.1
               Panhandle. . . .      1.1        1.2      1.0
               Others . . . . .      0.8        2.1      8.0

    (1) Information  reflects  the  contribution  of the  company's  natural gas
        business to ONEOK on November 30, 1997.

      The company  purchased this gas from various producers and marketers under
contracts  expiring at various times. The company purchased  approximately  71.5
BCF or 88.1% of its natural  gas supply from these  sources in 1997 and 78.4 BCF
or 91.9% during 1996.

      In October 1994,  the company  executed a long-term gas purchase  contract
(Base Contract) and a peaking supply contract with Amoco Production  Company for
the purpose of meeting at least 50% of the  requirements of the customers served
from the company's interstate system over the WNG pipeline system.

      The company also purchased  natural gas from KPP under contracts  expiring
at various  times.  These  purchases were  approximately  3.3 BCF or 4.1% of its
natural  gas  supply  in  1997  and 5.2 BCF or 5.8%  during  1996.  The  company
purchased  natural gas for the interstate  system from intrastate  pipelines and
from spot market suppliers under short-term contracts. These sources totaled 5.6
BCF and 0.6 BCF for  1997  and 1996  representing  6.8%  and 0.7% of the  system
requirements, respectively.

      During  1997 and 1996,  approximately  0.8 BCF and 1.5 BCF,  respectively,
were transferred from the company's main system to serve a portion of the demand
for the  interstate  system  representing  1.0% and 1.6%,  respectively,  of the
interstate system supply.

      The average wholesale cost per thousand cubic feet (MCF) purchased for the
distribution systems for the past five years were as follows:

                            Interstate Pipeline Supply
                              (Average Cost per MCF)

                                1997      1996      1995      1994      1993
                               -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
       WNG . . . . . . . . .   $ -       $ -       $ -       $ -       $3.57
       Other . . . . . . . .    3.65      3.09      2.78      3.32      3.01
       Total Average Cost. .    3.65      3.09      2.78      3.32      3.23

Main System

      During 1997, the company served approximately 130,000 customers in central
and north central Kansas with natural gas supplied through the main system.  The
principal  market areas include Salina,  Manhattan,  Junction City,  Great Bend,
McPherson and Hutchinson, Kansas.

                                                        15





      Natural gas for the company's main system was purchased from a combination
of direct wellhead production,  the outlet of natural gas processing plants, and
natural gas marketers and production companies.  Such purchases were transported
entirely through company-owned transmission lines in Kansas.

      Natural gas purchased for the company's main system customer  requirements
was  transported  and/or  stored by the Market  Center.  The company  retained a
priority  right to capacity  on the Market  Center  necessary  to serve the main
system customers.  The company had the opportunity to negotiate for the purchase
of natural gas with  producers or marketers  utilizing  Market Center  services,
which  increased the  potential  supply  available to meet main system  customer
demands.


      The  company  purchased  approximately  4.4 BCF and 7.6 BCF of natural gas
during 1997 and 1996,  respectively,  through the spot market.  These  purchases
represented   approximately  35.2%  and  45.5%  of  the  company's  main  system
requirements during 1997 and 1996, respectively.

      Spivey-Grabs field in south-central Kansas supplied  approximately 3.9 BCF
of  natural  gas in 1997  and 4.2 BCF in 1996,  constituting  31.0%  and  25.1%,
respectively, of the main system's requirements during such periods.

      Other  sources of gas for the main  system of 3.0 BCF or 24.0% and 2.7 BCF
or 16.0% of the system  requirements were purchased from or transported  through
interstate  pipelines during 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The remainder of the
supply  for  the  main  system  during  1997  and  1996  of 1.2  BCF and 2.2 BCF
representing 9.8% and 13.4%, respectively, was purchased directly from producers
or gathering systems.

      During 1997 and 1996, approximately 0.8 BCF and 1.5 BCF, respectively,  of
the total main system supply was transferred to the company's  interstate system
(See Interstate System).

      The main system's  average  wholesale  cost per MCF purchased for the past
five years was as follows:
                         Natural Gas Supply - Main System
                              (Average Cost per MCF)

                              1997     1996     1995     1994     1993
                             -----    -----    -----    -----    -----
  Mesa-Hugoton Contract. .   $ -      $ -      $1.44    $1.81    $1.78(1)
  Other. . . . . . . . . .    3.43     2.48     2.47     2.92     2.69
  Total Average Cost . . .    3.43     2.48     2.06     2.23     2.20

      (1) Includes 2.5 BCF @ $1.31/MCF of make-up deliveries.

      The load  characteristics  of the company's  natural gas customers created
relatively  high volume  demand on the main system  during cold winter days.  To
assure  peak day  service  to high  priority  customers  the  company  owned and
operated  and had under  contract  natural gas storage  facilities  (See Item 2.
Properties).


WESTAR GAS MARKETING

      Westar Gas  Marketing  was formed in 1988 to pursue  natural gas marketing
opportunities.  Westar Gas  Marketing  purchased  and  marketed  natural  gas to
approximately 925 customers  located in Kansas,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Colorado,
Oklahoma, Iowa, Wyoming and Arkansas. Westar Gas Marketing purchased natural gas

                                                        16

under both  long-term and  short-term  contracts from producers and operators in
the Hugoton,  Arkoma and Anadarko gas basins.  Westar Gas  Marketing  engaged in
certain   transactions  to  hedge  natural  gas  prices  in  its  gas  marketing
activities.  The  net  assets  and  operations  of  Westar  Gas  Marketing  were
contributed  to ONEOK in November  1997,  upon the  completion  of the strategic
alliance with ONEOK.


WESTAR GAS COMPANY

      Westar Gas Company  owned and operated the Minneola Gas  Processing  Plant
(Minneola) in Ford County,  Kansas.  Minneola  extracts liquids from natural gas
provided  by  outside  producers  and  sells  the  residue  gas  to  third-party
marketers. A portion of the residue gas is sold to Westar Gas Marketing.

      Westar Gas Company,  through its  participation in various joint ventures,
owned a 41.4%  beneficial  interest in the Indian Basin Processing Plant (Indian
Basin) near  Artesia,  New Mexico.  Indian Basin is operated by Marathon Oil and
extracts  natural  gas liquids  for third  party  producers.  The net assets and
operations  of Westar Gas Company were  contributed  to ONEOK in November  1997,
upon the completion of the strategic alliance with ONEOK.


SECURITY ALARM MONITORING OPERATIONS

      On July 30,  1997,  the  company  agreed to  combine  its  security  alarm
monitoring  business  with  Protection  One,  a  publicly  held  security  alarm
monitoring provider. On November 24, 1997, the company completed the transaction
by contributing approximately $532 million in security alarm monitoring business
net assets and approximately $258 million in cash in exchange for an approximate
82.4% ownership in Protection One.

      Protection  One is a leading  provider of security  alarm  monitoring  and
related services in the United States with  approximately  950,000  subscribers.
Protection  One has grown rapidly since its inception by  participating  in both
the  growth  and  consolidation  of  the  security  alarm  monitoring  industry.
Protection  One has  focused its  customer  growth in major  metropolitan  areas
demonstrating strong demand for security alarms.

      Protection  One's revenues  consist  primarily of  subscribers'  recurring
payments for monitoring and related  services.  Protection One monitors  digital
signals arising from  burglaries,  fires,  and other events  utilizing  security
systems installed at subscribers'  premises.  Through a network of approximately
60 branches,  Protection One provides maintenance and repair of security systems
and, in select  markets,  armed  response  to verify  that an actual  emergency,
rather than a false alarm, has occurred.

      Protection  One provides its services to the  residential,  commercial and
wholesale segments of the alarm monitoring  market.  Protection One believes the
residential segment,  which represents in excess of 80% of its customer base, is
the most attractive  because of its growth  prospects,  growth margins and size.
Within the residential segment, 19% of Protection One's customer base resides in
multi-family  complexes  such as  apartments  and  condominiums  and 62%  occupy
single-family  households.  The remainder of Protection  One's  customer base is
split between commercial  subscribers and subscribers owned by independent alarm
dealers that subcontract monitoring services to Protection One.



                                                        17

SEGMENT INFORMATION

      Financial  information  with respect to business  segments is set forth in
Note 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.


FINANCING

      The company's  ability to issue  additional debt and equity  securities is
restricted under limitations imposed by the charter and the Mortgage and Deed of
Trust of Western Resources and KGE.

      Western Resources'  mortgage prohibits  additional Western Resources first
mortgage bonds from being issued (except in connection with certain  refundings)
unless the company's  net earnings  available  for  interest,  depreciation  and
property  retirement  for a period  of 12  consecutive  months  within 15 months
preceding  the  issuance  are not less  than the  greater  of twice  the  annual
interest charges on, or 10% of the principal amount of, all first mortgage bonds
outstanding after giving effect to the proposed issuance. Based on the company's
results for the 12 months ended December 31, 1997, no first mortgage bonds could
be issued (7.25% interest rate assumed).

      Western Resources' bonds may be issued, subject to the restrictions in the
preceding  paragraph,  on the basis of  property  additions  not  subject  to an
unfunded  prior lien and on the basis of bonds  which have been  retired.  As of
December 31, 1997,  the company had  approximately  $25$225 million of net bondable
property  additions not subject to an unfunded  prior lien entitling the company
to issue up to $135 million principal amount of additional bonds. As of December
31, 1997, no first mortgage bonds could be issued on the basis of retired bonds.

      KGE's  mortgage  prohibits  additional KGE first mortgage bonds from being
issued (except in connection with certain  refundings) unless KGE's net earnings
before income taxes and before  provision for  retirement  and  depreciation  of
property for a period of 12  consecutive  months within 15 months  preceding the
issuance are not less than two and one-half  times the annual  interest  charges
on, or 10% of the principal amount of, all KGE first mortgage bonds  outstanding
after giving effect to the proposed issuance.  Based on KGE's results for the 12
months ended December 31, 1997,  approximately  $935 million principal amount of
additional  KGE first  mortgage  bonds  could be  issued  (7.25%  interest  rate
assumed).

      KGE's bonds may be issued,  subject to the  restrictions  in the preceding
paragraph,  on the basis of property  additions not subject to an unfunded prior
lien and on the basis of bonds which have been retired. As of December 31, 1997,
KGE had  approximately  $1.4  billion of net  bondable  property  additions  not
subject to an  unfunded  prior lien  entitling  KGE to issue up to $961  million
principal  amount of additional KGE bonds.  As of December 31, 1997, $17 million
in additional bonds could be issued on the basis of retired bonds.

      The most  restrictive  provision  of the  company's  charter  permits  the
issuance of  additional  shares of preferred  stock  without  certain  specified
preferred  stockholder  approval only if, for a period of 12 consecutive  months
within 15 months preceding the issuance,  net earnings  available for payment of
interest exceed one and one-half times the sum of annual  interest  requirements
plus  dividend  requirements  on  preferred  stock  after  giving  effect to the
proposed issuance.

                                                        18

After giving effect to the annual interest and dividend requirements on all debt
and preferred  stock  outstanding at December 31, 1997,  such ratio was 4.17 for
the 12 months ended December 31, 1997.

      In connection with the combination of the electric  utility  operations of
the  company,   KCPL  and  KGE,  Westar  Energy  will  assume  $1.9  billion  of
indebtedness  for borrowed  money of the company and KGE comprised  primarily of
the companies'  outstanding  long-term  debt. In connection with the transfer of
Western  Resources'  electric  utility  operations,  which constitute all of the
property  subject  to the  Mortgage  and  Deed of  Trust,  dated  July 1,  1939,
(Mortgage)  between the company and Harris Trust and Savings  Bank,  as trustee,
and substantially all of the assets of Western Resources,  to Westar Energy, the
company in accordance  with the Mortgage will assign and be released  from,  and
Westar Energy will assume, the Mortgage and all obligations of the company under
the Mortgage and all first mortgage bonds  outstanding  thereunder.  Pursuant to
the  amended and  restated  agreement  and plan of merger,  KGE's  mortgage,  by
operation  of law,  will be  assumed  by Westar  Energy.  The  company  will not
transfer  and  will  continue  to  hold  its   investments  in  its  unregulated
operations,  including Protection One and ONEOK. See,  "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations"  and Note 5 of
"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements".

      KCPL has  outstanding  first  mortgage  bonds (the "KCPL Bonds") which are
secured by a lien on  substantially  all of KCPL's fixed property and franchises
purported to be conveyed by the General Mortgage Indenture and Deed of Trust and
the various Supplemental  Indentures creating the KCPL Bonds (collectively,  the
"KCPL  Mortgage").  In the event KCPL and the company combine, theWestar Energy has agreed to assume $800 million of debt from
KCPL.  The  KCPL  mortgage  will  have a prior  lien on the  KCPL  property  and
franchises.
franchises to be owned by Westar Energy.


REGULATION AND RATES

      The  company  is  subject  as  an  operating   electric   utility  to  the
jurisdiction  of the  Kansas  Corporation  Commission  (KCC)  which has  general
regulatory  authority over the company's  rates,  extensions and abandonments of
service and facilities,  valuation of property,  the  classification of accounts
and various other  matters.  The company is subject to the  jurisdiction  of the
FERC and KCC with respect to the issuance of securities.

      Electric fuel costs are included in base rates.  Therefore, if the company
wished to recover an increase in fuel costs, it would have to file a request for
recovery  in a rate  filing  with the KCC  which  could be denied in whole or in
part.  Any increase in fuel costs from the  projected  average which the company
did not recover through rates would reduce its earnings.  The degree of any such
impact  would be affected by a variety of factors,  however,  and thus cannot be
predicted.

      The  company is exempt as a public  utility  holding  company  pursuant to
Section  3(a)(1)  of the Public  Utility  Holding  Company  Act of 1935 from all
provisions of that Act,  except Section  9(a)(2).  Additionally,  the company is
subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, including jurisdiction as to rates with
respect  to  sales  of  electricity  for  resale.  KGE is  also  subject  to the
jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as to nuclear plant operations
and safety.

      Additional  information with respect to Rate Matters and Regulation as set
forth  in Note 8 of Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  is  included
herein.


                                                        19

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

      As of December 31, 1997, the company had 2,412 employees.  The company did
not experience any strikes or work stoppages during 1997. The company's  current
contract  with the  International  Brotherhood  of  Electrical  Workers  extends
through June 30, 1999. The contract covers approximately 1,483 employees.


                                                        20


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY Other Offices or Positions Name Age Present Office Held During Past Five Years John E. Hayes, Jr. 60 Chairman of the Board President and Chief Executive Officer David C. Wittig 42 President Executive Vice President, (since March 1996) Corporate Strategy (May 1995 to March 1996) Salomon Brothers Inc - Managing Director, Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions Norman E. Jackson 60 Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President, Electric Operations Electric Transmission and (since November 1996) Engineering Services (May 1995 to November 1996) Executive Vice President, Electric Engineering and Field Operations (1992 to 1995) Steven L. Kitchen 52 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Carl M. Koupal, Jr. 44 Executive Vice President Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Corporate Communications, Officer (since July 1995) Marketing, and Economic Development (January 1995 to July 1995) Vice President, Corporate Marketing, And Economic Development, (1992 to 1994) John K. Rosenberg 52 Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jerry D. Courington 52 Controller Executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. There are no family relationships among any of the executive officers, nor any arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and other persons pursuant to which he was appointed as an executive officer.
21 ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The company owns or leases and operates an electric generation, transmission, and distribution system in Kansas. ELECTRIC FACILITIES Unit Year Principal Unit Capacity Name No. Installed Fuel (MW) (1) Abilene Energy Center: Combustion Turbine 1 1973 Gas 66 Gordon Evans Energy Center: Steam Turbines 1 1961 Gas--Oil 152 2 1967 Gas--Oil 382 Hutchinson Energy Center: Steam Turbines 1 1950 Gas 16 2 1950 Gas 17 3 1951 Gas 26 4 1965 Gas 197 Combustion Turbines 1 1974 Gas 50 2 1974 Gas 49 3 1974 Gas 52 4 1975 Diesel 78 Diesel Generator 1 1983 Diesel 3 Jeffrey Energy Center (84%)(2): Steam Turbines 1 1978 Coal 617 2 1980 Coal 617 3 1983 Coal 605 La Cygne Station (50%)(2): Steam Turbines 1 1973 Coal 343 2 1977 Coal 334 Lawrence Energy Center: Steam Turbines 2 1952 Gas 0 (3) 3 1954 Coal 58 4 1960 Coal 115 5 1971 Coal 384 Murray Gill Energy Center: Steam Turbines 1 1952 Gas--Oil 44 2 1954 Gas--Oil 74 3 1956 Gas--Oil 107 4 1959 Gas--Oil 106 22 Unit Year Principal Unit Capacity Name No. Installed Fuel (MW) (1) Neosho Energy Center: Steam Turbines 3 1954 Gas--Oil 0 (3) Tecumseh Energy Center: Steam Turbines 7 1957 Coal 85 8 1962 Coal 153 Combustion Turbines 1 1972 Gas 19 2 1972 Gas 20 Wichita Plant: Diesel Generator 5 1969 Diesel 3 Wolf Creek Generating Station (47%)(2): Nuclear 1 1985 Uranium 547 ----- Total 5,319 (1) Based on MOKAN rating. (2) The company jointly owns Jeffrey Energy Center (84%), La Cygne Station (50%) and Wolf Creek Generating Station (47%). KCPL jointly owns 50% of La Cygne Station and 47% of Wolf Creek Generating Station. (3) These units have been "mothballed" for future use. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS On January 8, 1997, Innovative Business Systems, Ltd. (IBS) filed suit against the company and Westinghouse Electric Corporation (WEC), Westinghouse Security Systems, Inc. (WSS) and WestSec, Inc. (WestSec), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company established to acquire the assets of WSS, in Dallas County, Texas district court (Cause No 97-00184) alleging, among other things, breach of contract by WEC and interference with contract against the company in connection with the sale by WEC of the assets of WSS to the company. IBS claims that WEC improperly transferred software owned by IBS to the company and that the company is not entitled to its use. The company has demanded WEC defend and indemnify it. WEC and the company have denied IBS' allegations and are vigorously defending against them. Management does not believe that the ultimate disposition of this matter will have a material adverse effect upon the company's overall financial condition or results of operations. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has commenced a private investigation relating, among other things, to the timeliness and adequacy of disclosure filings with the SEC by the company with respect to securities of ADT Ltd. The company is cooperating with the SEC staff in the production of records relating to the investigation. Additional information on legal proceedings involving the company is set forth in Notes 7, 8, and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. See also Item 1. Business, Environmental Matters, and Regulation and Rates and Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 23 ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS No matter was submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of the company's security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Stock Trading Western Resources common stock, which is traded under the ticker symbol WR, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of March 17, 1998, there were 58,669 common shareholders of record. For information regarding quarterly common stock price ranges for 1997 and 1996, see Note 21 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. Dividends Western Resources common stock is entitled to dividends when and as declared by the Board of Directors. At December 31, 1997, the company's retained earnings were restricted by $857,600 against the payment of dividends on common stock. However, prior to the payment of common dividends, dividends must be first paid to the holders of preferred stock and second to the holders of preference stock based on the fixed dividend rate for each series. Dividends have been paid on the company's common stock throughout the company's history. Quarterly dividends on common stock normally are paid on or about the first of January, April, July, and October to shareholders of record as of or about the third day of the preceding month. Dividends increased four cents per common share in 1997 to $2.10 per share. In January 1998, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 53 1/2 cents per common share, an increase of one cent over the previous quarter. The payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Future dividends depend upon such matters as future earnings, expectations and the financial condition of the company. For information regarding quarterly dividend declarations for 1997 and 1996, see Note 21 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. See also Item 7. Management's Discussion and AnaylsisAnalysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 24
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Year Ended December 31, 1997(1)(2) 1996 1995 1994(3) 1993 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------- (Dollars in Thousands) Income Statement Data: Sales: Energy. . . . . . . . . . . $1,999,418 $2,038,281 $1,743,930 $1,764,769 $2,028,411 Security. . . . . . . . . . 152,347 8,546 344 - - ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------- Total sales. . . . . . . . . 2,151,765 2,046,827 1,744,274 1,764,769 2,028,411 Income from operations. . . . 142,925 388,553 373,721 370,672 370,338 Net income . . . . . . . . . 494,094 168,950 181,676 187,447 177,370 Earnings available for common stock. . . . . . . . . . . 489,175 154,111 168,257 174,029 163,864 December 31, 1997(2) 1996 1995 1994(3) 1993 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------- (Dollars in Thousands) Balance Sheet Data: Total assets. . . . . . . . . $6,976,960 $6,647,781 $5,490,677 $5,371,029 $5,412,048 Long-term debt, preference stock, and other mandatorily redeemable securities. . . . 2,451,855 1,951,583 1,641,263 1,507,028 1,673,988 Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 1994(3) 1993 ------ ------ ------ ------- ----- Common Stock Data: Basic earnings per share . . . . . $ 7.51 $ 2.41 $ 2.71 $ 2.82 $ 2.76 Dividends per share. . . . . . . . $ 2.10 $ 2.06 $ 2.02 $ 1.98 $ 1.94 Book value per share . . . . . . . $30.79 $25.14 $24.71 $23.93 $23.08 Average shares outstanding(000's) 65,128 63,834 62,157 61,618 59,294 Interest coverage ratio (before income taxes, including AFUDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.52 2.67 3.14 3.42 2.79 (1) Information reflects the gain on the sale of Tyco common shares. (2) Information reflects the contribution of the natural gas business to ONEOK on November 30, 1997. (3) Information reflects the sales of the Missouri Properties.
25 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS INTRODUCTION In Management's Discussion and Analysis we explain the general financial condition and the operating results for Western Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We explain: - What factors impact our business - What our earnings and costs were in 1997 and 1996 - Why these earnings and costs differed from year to year - How our earnings and costs affect our overall financial condition - What our capital expenditures were for 1997 - What we expect our capital expenditures to be for the years 1998 through 2000 - How we plan to pay for these future capital expenditures - Any other items that particularly affect our financial condition or earnings As you read Management's Discussion and Analysis, please refer to our Consolidated Statements of Income on page 41. These statements show our operating results for 1997, 1996 and 1995. In Management's Discussion and Analysis, we analyze and explain the significant annual changes of specific line items in the Consolidated Statements of Income. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain matters discussed here and elsewhere in this Annual Report 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 we "believe," "anticipate," "expect" or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe our future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Such statements address future events and conditions concerning capital expenditures, earnings, litigation, rate and other regulatory matters, possible corporate restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions liquidity and capital resources, interest and dividend rates, environmental matters, changing weather, nuclear operations and accounting matters. What happens in each case could vary materially from what we expect because of such things as electric utility deregulation, including ongoing state and federal activities; future economic conditions; legislative developments; our regulatory and competitive markets; and other circumstances affecting anticipated operations, revenues and costs. 1997 HIGHLIGHTS GAIN ON SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES: During the third quarter of 1997, we sold all of our Tyco International Ltd. (Tyco) common shares for approximately $1.5 billion. We recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $864 million on the sale which is included in "Other Income" on the Consolidated Statements of Income. We recorded tax expense of approximately $345 million in connection with this gain. The tax on the gain is included in "Income Taxes" on the Consolidated Statements of Income. As discussed further in "Financial Condition" below, this significantly affected our financial results for 1997 (see Note 2). PURCHASE OF PROTECTION ONE, INC.: On July 30, 1997, we agreed to combine our security alarm monitoring business with Protection One, Inc. (Protection One), a publicly held security alarm monitoring provider. On November 24, 1997, we completed 26 the transaction by contributing approximately $532 million in security alarm monitoring business net assets and approximately $258 million in cash. The cash contributed included funds used for a special dividend of $7.00 per common share to Protection One shareowners, option holders and warrant holders other than Western Resources. In exchange for our net security alarm monitoring business assets and cash, we received approximately 82.4% ownership in Protection One. We entered the security alarm monitoring business to make our company more diverse and to achieve growth. In December 1997, Protection One recorded a special non-recurring charge of approximately $40 million. Approximately $28 million of this charge reflects the elimination of redundant facilities and activities and the write-off of inventory and other assets which are no longer of continuing value to Protection One. The remaining $12 million of this charge reflects the estimated costs to transition all security alarm monitoring operations to the Protection One brand. Protection One intends to complete these activities by the fourth quarter of 1998. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH ONEOK INC.: On December 12, 1996, we agreed to form a strategic alliance with ONEOK Inc. (ONEOK) to combine the natural gas assets of both companies. In November 1997, we completed this strategic alliance. We contributed substantially all of our regulated and non-regulated natural gas business net assets totaling approximately $594 million to a new company which merged with ONEOK and adopted the name ONEOK. ONEOK operates its natural gas business in Kansas using the name Kansas Gas Service Company. In exchange for our contribution, we received a 45% ownership interest in ONEOK. The structure of the strategic alliance had no immediate income tax consequences to our company or our shareowners. Our 45% ownership interest in ONEOK is comprised of 3.1 million common shares and approximately 19.9 million convertible preferred shares. If we converted all the preferred shares, we would own approximately 45% of ONEOK's common shares presently outstanding. Our agreement with ONEOK allowed us to appoint two members to ONEOK's board of directors. ONEOK currently pays a common dividend of $1.20 per share. The initial annual dividend rate on the convertible preferred shares is $1.80 per share. MERGER AGREEMENT WITH KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY: On February 7, 1997, we entered intosigned a merger agreement with Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCPL). The merger agreement contemplated a tax-free, stockKCPL by which KCPL would be merged with and into the company in exchange for stock exchange valued at approximately $2 billion or $32 in value for each common share of KCPL.company stock. In December 1997, representatives of our financial advisor indicated that they believed it was unlikely that they would be in a position to issue a required fairness opinion required for the merger on the basis of the previously announced terms. On March 18, 1998, we and KCPL announced a restructuring of our February 7, 1997, merger agreement which will result in the formation of Westar Energy, a new electric company. Under the terms of the merger agreement, our electric utility operations will be transferred to KGE, and KCPL and KGE will be merged into NKC, Inc., a subsidiary of the company. NKC, Inc. will be renamed Westar Energy. In addition, under the terms of the merger agreement, KCPL shareowners will receive $23.50 of Western Resources common stock per KCPL share, subject to a collar mechanism, and one share of Westar Energy common stock per KCPL share. Upon consummation of the combination, we will own approximately 80.1% of the outstanding equity of Westar Energy and KCPL shareowners will own approximately 19.9%. As part of the combination, Westar Energy will assume all of the electric utility related assets and liabilities of Western Resources, KCPL and KGE. Westar Energy will assume $2.7 billion in debt, consisting of $1.9 billion of indebtedness for borrowed money of Western Resources and KGE, and $800 million of debt of KCPL. Long-term debt of Western Resources and KGE was $2.1 billion at December 31, 27 1997. Under the terms of the merger agreement, it is intended that we will be released from our obligations with respect to our debt to be assumed by Westar Energy. Pursuant to the merger agreement, we have agreed, among other things, to call for redemption all outstanding shares of our 4 1/2% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, 4 1/4% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, and 5% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share. Consummation of the merger is subject to customary conditions including obtaining the approval of our and KCPL's shareowners and various regulatory agencies. We canceled our shareowner meeting scheduled for January 21,estimate the transaction to close by mid-1999, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals. KCPL is a public utility company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to customers in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. We, KCPL and KGE have joint interests in certain electric generating assets, including Wolf Creek. For additional information, see "Financing in Item 1. Business" and Note 5 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements". Following the closing of the combination Westar Energy is expected to have approximately one million electric utility customers in Kansas and Missouri, approximately $8.2 billion in assets and the ability to generate more than 8,000 megawatts of electricity. On March 23, 1998 we and KCPL filed a letter informing the FERC that we had signed a revised merger agreement, dated March 18, 1998. We sent similar letters on March 24, 1998 to approve the merger. KCPL canceled a similar meeting for its shareowners. WeKCC and KCPL have met to discuss alternative terms of a potential merger. We cannot predict the timing or the ultimate outcome of these discussions. On January 13, 1998, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) issued an order suspending the merger proceedings and waived an eight-month time requirement to approve the merger. On January 26, 1998, the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued an order suspending the merger proceedings.. We and KCPL have agreedwill submit appropriate modifications to these suspensions. On January 9, 1998, we askedour merger filings at FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to holdKCC and the docket on our proposed merger in abeyance until April 10, 1998, at which time we will advise the FERC whether to continue to hold the docket in abeyance or that a new agreement has been reached with KCPL.MPSC as soon as practicable. As of December 31, 1997, we had spent and deferred on the Consolidated Balance Sheet approximately $53 million in our efforts to acquire KCPL. We had planned to expense these costs in the first period following the merger. Given the status of the KCPL transaction, we haveWe reviewed the deferred costs and have determined that for accounting purposes, $48 million of the deferred costs should be expensed. We recorded a special non-recurring charge of $29 million after taxes, or $0.44 per share in December 1997, to expense the costs that were incurred solely as a result of the original merger agreement. At December 31, 1997, we had deferred approximately $5 million related to the KCPL transaction currently being negotiated.transaction. See "Financial Condition" below and Note 5. OTHER SECURITY ALARM MONITORING BUSINESS PURCHASES: We acquired Network Multi-FamilyMultiFamily Security Corporation (Network Multi-Family), a security alarm monitoring provider for multi-unit dwellings based in Dallas, Texas, for approximately $171 million in cash in September 1997. On February 4, 1998, Protection One exercised its option to acquire the stock of Network Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Network Multi-Family, from us for approximately $178$180 million. We expect this transaction to occur in the first quarter of 1998. We expect Protection One to borrow money from a revolving credit agreement provided by Westar Capital, a subsidiary of Western Resources, to purchase Network Multi-Family. In November 1997, we acquired Centennial Security Holdings, Inc. (Centennial) for approximately $94 million in cash. Centennial is based in Madison, New Jersey and provides security alarm monitoring services to more than 50,000 customers in Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. We contributed our Centennial security alarm monitoring business to Protection One on November 24, 1997. In March 1998, Protection One acquired the subscribers and assets of Wichita, Kansas-based Multimedia Security Services, Inc. Multimedia Security Services, Inc. has approximately 140,000 subscribers concentrated primarily in California, Florida, 28 Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. We expect Protection One to borrow money from a revolving credit agreement provided by Westar Capital to complete this transaction. OTHER INVESTMENTS: In December 1997, we invested $28 million to acquire an interest in two 55-megawatt power plants in the People's Republic of China. We invested approximately $3 million in power projects in the Republic of Turkey and Colombia in 1997 (see Note 7). We also invested in other miscellaneous investments. ELECTRIC RATE DECREASE: On May 23, 1996, we reduced our electric rates to Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KGE)KGE customers by $8.7 million annually on an interim basis. On October 22, 1996, the KCC Staff, the City of Wichita, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board and we filed an agreement asking the KCC to reduce our retail electric rates. The KCC approved this agreement on January 15, 1997. Per the agreement: - We made permanent the May 1996 interim $8.7 million decrease in KGE rates on February 1, 1997 - We reduced KGE's rates by $36 million annually on February 1, 1997 - We reduced KPL's rates by $10 million annually on February 1, 1997 - We rebated $5 million to all of our electric customers in January 1998 - We will reduce KGE's rates by $10 million more annually on June 1, 1998 - We will rebate $5 million to all of our electric customers in January 1999 - We will reduce KGE's rates by $10 million more annually on June 1, 1999 All rate decreases are cumulative. Rebates are one-time events and do not influence future rates. See "Financial Condition" below and Note 8. FINANCIAL CONDITION 1997 compared to 1996: Earnings increased to $489 million for 1997 from $154 million for 1996, an improvement of 218%. Basic earnings per share rose to $7.51 for 1997 compared to $2.41 for 1996, an increase of 212%. Basic earnings per share is calculated based upon the average weighted number of common shares outstanding during the period. There were no significant amounts of dilutive securities outstanding at December 31, 1997 or 1996. Four factors primarily affected 1997 earnings and basic earnings per share compared to 1996: - The gain on the sale of the Tyco common stock increased earnings before taxes by $864 million and basic earnings per share by $7.97 - The write-off of approximately $48 million in costs related to the KCPL Merger decreased basic earnings per share by $0.44 - The operating results and special one-time charges from our first full year of security alarm monitoring business reduced 1997 earnings by $47 million and basic earnings per share by $0.72 - Our reduced electric rates implemented on February 1, 1997 decreased revenues by $46 million and basic earnings per share by $0.42 Dividends declared for 1997 increased four cents per common share to $2.10 per share. On January 29, 1998, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of 53 1/2 cents per common share for the first quarter of 1998, an increase of one cent from the previous quarter. Our book value per common share was $30.79 at December 31, 1997, compared to $25.14 at December 31, 1996. The 1997 closing stock price of $43.00 was 140% of book value and 39% higher than the closing price of $30.875 on December 31, 1996. Book value is 29 the total common stock equity divided by the common shares outstanding at December 31. There were 65,409,603 common shares outstanding at December 31, 1997. 1996 compared to 1995: Basic earnings per share were $2.41 based on 63,833,783 average common shares for 1996, a decrease from $2.71 in 1995. Net income for 1996 decreased to $169 million from $182 million. The decrease in basic earnings per share and net income is primarily due to the impact of an $11.8 million or $0.19 per share charge, net of tax, attributable to one-time restructuring and other charges recorded by ADT Limited (ADT). Abnormally cool summer weather during the third quarter of 1996 and the $8.7 million electric rate decrease to KGE customers also lowered earnings. OPERATING RESULTS In our "1997 Highlights", we discussed five factors that most significantly changed our operating results for 1997 compared to 1996. The following explains significant changes from prior year results in revenues, cost of sales, operating expenses, other income (expense), interest expense, income taxes and preferred and preference dividends. After 1997, because of the ONEOK alliance, we will no longer separately report natural gas operations financial information in our financial statements, or in our Management's Discussion and Analysis. Also, we had minimal security alarm monitoring business operations in 1995 and, therefore, we do not discuss variations relating to it between 1996 and 1995. SALES: Energy revenues include electric revenues, power marketing revenues, natural gas revenues and other insignificant energy-related revenues. Certain state regulatory commissions and the FERC authorize rates for our electric revenues. Our energy revenues vary with levels of sales volume. Changing weather affects the amount of energy our customers use. Very hot summers and very cold winters prompt more demand, especially among our residential customers. Mild weather reduces demand. Many things will affect our future energy sales. They include: - The weather - Our electric rates - Competitive forces - Customer conservation efforts - Wholesale demand - The overall economy of our service area 1997 compared to 1996: Electric revenues increased three percent because of revenues of $70 million from the expansion of power marketing activity in 1997. Our involvement in electric power marketing anticipates a deregulated electric utility industry. We are involved in both the marketing of electricity and risk management services to wholesale electric customers and the purchase of electricity for our retail customers. Our margin from power marketing activity is significantly less than our margins on other energy sales. Our power marketing activity has resulted in energy purchases and sales made in areas outside of our historical marketing territory. In 1997, this additional power marketing activity had an insignificant effect on operating income. Higher electric revenues from power marketing were offset by our reduced electric rates implemented February 1, 1997. Reduced electric rates lowered 1997 revenues by an estimated $46 million compared to 1996. The rate decreases we have agreed to make will impact future revenues. 30 Natural gas revenues decreased $58 million or seven percent in 1997 compared to 1996 because we transferred our net natural gas business assets to ONEOK as of November 30, 1997 and we had warmer than normal weather in the first quarter of 1997. In December 1997, we began reporting investment income for ONEOK based upon our common and preferred equity interests. Security alarm monitoring business revenues increased $144 million from our minimal 1996 security alarm monitoring business revenues. This increase is because of our December 31,30, 1996, purchase of the net assets of Westinghouse Security Systems, Inc. (Westinghouse Security Systems) and our acquisition on November 24, 1997, of approximately 82.4% of Protection One. As a result, we have included a full year of operating results from Westinghouse Security Systems and one month of operating results from Protection One. See "1997 Highlights" above and Note 3. 1996 compared to 1995: Electric revenues were five percent higher in 1996 compared to 1995. Our service territory experienced colder winter and warmer spring temperatures during the first six months of 1996 compared to 1995, which yielded higher sales in the residential and commercial customer classes. We experienced a 17% increase in heating degree days during the first quarter of 1996 and had double the cooling degree days during the second quarter of 1996 compared to the same periods in 1995. Partially offsetting the increase in electric revenues was abnormally cool summer weather during the third quarter of 1996 compared to 1995 and a KCC-ordered electric rate decrease of $8.7 million for KGE customers (see Note 8). Colder winter temperatures, higher natural gas costs passed on to customers as permitted by the KCC and more as-available natural gas sales increased regulated natural gas revenues 29% for 1996 as compared to 1995. The natural gas revenue increase approved by the KCC on July 11, 1996, raised regulated natural gas revenues $14 million for the last six months of 1996. COST OF SALES: Items included in energy cost of sales are fuel expense, purchased power expense (electricity we purchase from others for resale), power marketing expense and natural gas purchased. Items included in security alarm monitoring cost of sales are the cost of direct monitoring and the cost of installing security monitoring equipment that is not capitalized. 1997 compared to 1996: Energy business cost of sales was $49 million or six percent higher. Our power marketing activity in 1997 increased energy cost of sales by $70 million. Actual cost of fuel to generate electricity (coal, nuclear fuel, natural gas or oil) and the amount of power purchased from other utilities were $14 million higher in 1997 than in 1996. Our Wolf Creek nuclear generating station was off-line in the fourth quarter of 1997 for scheduled maintenance and our La Cygne coal generation station was off-line during 1997 for an extended maintenance outage. As a result, we burned more natural gas to generate electricity at our facilities. Natural gas is more costly to burn than coal and nuclear fuel for generating electricity. Railroad transportation limitations prevented scheduled fuel deliveries, reducing our coal inventories. To compensate for low coal inventories, we purchased more power from other utilities and burned more expensive natural gas to meet our energy requirements. We also purchased more power from other utilities because our Wolf Creek and La Cygne generating stations were not generating electricity for parts of 1997. Due to the contribution of our natural gas business to ONEOK, our natural gas cost of sales decreased $24 million. We will no longer reflect such costs in our financial statements. 31 The security alarm monitoring cost of sales increased $35 million. The increase is a result of the purchase of the assets of Westinghouse Security Systems on December 31,30, 1996, and our acquisition on November 24, 1997, of approximately 82.4% of Protection One. 1996 compared to 1995: Energy business cost of sales was $220 million higher in 1996 than 1995. We purchased more power from other utilities because our Wolf Creek nuclear generating station was off-line in the first quarter of 1996 for a planned refueling outage. Higher net generation due to warmer weather and higher customer demand for air conditioning during the second quarter of 1996 also contributed to the higher fuel and purchased power expenses. Security alarm monitoring cost of sales increased $4 million due to the purchases of several small security alarm monitoring companies. OPERATING EXPENSES OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSE: Operating and maintenance expense increased slightly from 1996 to 1997. Operating and maintenance expense increased $23 million or six percent from 1995 to 1996 due to expenses associated with our regulated natural gas transmission service provider, Mid Continent Market Center. DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE: The amortization of capitalized security alarm monitoring accounts and goodwill for our security alarm monitoring business increased our depreciation and amortization expense approximately $41 million for 1997 versus 1996. A full year of amortization of the acquisition adjustment for the 1992 acquisition of KGE increased our depreciation and amortization expense for 1996 compared to 1995 by approximately $14 million. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE: Selling, general and administrative expense has increased $113 million from 1996 to 1997. Higher employee benefit costs of approximately $30 million and higher security alarm monitoring business selling, general and administrative expense of approximately $83 million caused this increase. The security alarm monitoring business increase is because of our December 31,30, 1996, purchase of the assets of Westinghouse Security Systems and our acquisition on November 24, 1997, of approximately 82.4% of Protection One. OTHER: We recorded a special non-recurring charge in December 1997 to expense $48 million of deferred KCPL Merger costs. Protection One recorded a special non-recurring charge of approximately $40 million in December 1997, to reflect the phase out of certain business activities which are no longer of continuing value to Protection One, to eliminate redundant facilities and activities and to bring all customers under the Protection One brand. OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Other income (expense) includes miscellaneous income and expenses not directly related to our operations. The gain on the sale of Tyco common stock increased other income $864 million for 1997 compared to 1996. Other income (expense) decreased slightly from 1995 to 1996. INTEREST EXPENSE: Interest expense includes the interest we paid on outstanding debt. We recognized $27 million more short-term debt interest in 1997 than in 1996. Average short-term debt balances were higher in 1997 than 1996 because we used short-term debt to finance our investment in ADT and to purchase the assets of Westinghouse Security Systems. Short-term debt interest expense declined in the second half of 1997 after we used the proceeds from the sale of Tyco common stock and a long-term debt 32 financing to reduce our short-term debt balance. From December 31, 1996, to December 31, 1997, our short-term debt balance decreased $744 million. From 1996 to 1997, interest recorded on long-term debt increased $14 million or 13% due to the issuance of $520 million in senior unsecured notes. We had $16 million more in interest expense on short-term and other debt in 1996 than in 1995 because we used short-term debt to finance our investment in ADT and we issued Western Resources obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts. 33 We also recognized $10 million more long-term debt interest in 1996 compared to 1995 due to a higher revolving credit agreement balance. INCOME TAXES: Income taxes on the gain from the sale of Tyco common stock increased total income tax expense by approximately $345 million for 1997 compared to 1996. Income taxes did not vary significantly from 1995 to 1996. PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE DIVIDENDS: We redeemed all of our 8.50% preference stock due 2016 on July 1, 1996; therefore, 1997 preferred and preference dividends were $10 million lower compared to 1996. Preferred and preference dividends varied slightly from 1995 to 1996. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES OVERVIEW: Most of our cash requirements consist of capital expenditures and maintenance costs associated with the electric utility business, continued growth in the security alarm monitoring business, payment of common stock dividends and investments in foreign power projects. Our ability to attract necessary financial capital on reasonable terms is critical to our overall business plan. Historically, we have paid for acquisitions with cash on hand, or the issuance of stock or short-term debt. Our ability to provide the cash, stock or debt to fund our capital expenditures depends upon many things, including available resources, our financial condition and current market conditions. As of December 31, 1997, we had $77 million in cash and cash equivalents. We consider highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents increased $73 million from December 31, 1996, due to cash held by Protection One. Other than operations, our primary source of short-term cash is from short-term bank loans, unsecured lines of credit and the sale of commercial paper. At December 31, 1997, we had approximately $237 million of short-term debt outstanding, of which $76 million was commercial paper. An additional $773 million of short-term debt was available from committed credit arrangements. Other funds are available to us from the sale of securities we register for sale with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).SEC. As of December 31, 1997, these included $30 million of Western Resources first mortgage bonds which may also be issued as unsecured senior notes at our option, $50 million of KGE first mortgage bonds and approximately 11 million Western Resources common shares. Our embedded cost of long-term debt was 7.5% at December 31, 1997, a drop of 0.1% from December 31, 1996. CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Cash provided by operations declined $355 million from 1996 primarily due to income taxes paid on the gain on the sale of Tyco stock. Individual items of working capital will vary with our normal business cycles and operations, including the timing of receipts and payments. Amortization of goodwill and subscriber accounts associated with the security alarm monitoring business increased, because security alarm monitoring operations were small during 1996. CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Cash used in investing activities varies with the timing of capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments. For 1997, we had positive net cash flow from investing activities because of the receipt of approximately $1.5 billion in proceeds on the sale of Tyco common stock. 34 We had two significant investing activities during 1997 which partially offset the proceeds from the sale of the Tyco common stock. We invested $484 million to acquire security alarm monitoring companies and accounts. We also invested approximately $31 million in international power projects in the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Turkey and Colombia. CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: We paid off $275 million borrowed under a multi-year revolving credit agreement with short-term debt in the first quarter of 1997. In August 1997, we issued $520 million in convertible first mortgage bonds. We used the proceeds, after expenses, to reduce short-term debt. In November 1997, we converted the first mortgage bonds into unsecured senior notes having the same principal amount, interest rate and maturity date as the first mortgage bonds. This conversion satisfied mortgage requirements to retire bonds in order to release our natural gas properties from the mortgage and contribute them to ONEOK (see Note 15). We used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Tyco common stock to reduce short-term debt. In aggregate, our short-term debt has declined from $981 million at December 31, 1996, to $237 million at December 31, 1997. On February 27, 1998, we sent a notice of redemption to the holders of our 7.58% Preference Stock due 2007. On April 1, 1998, we will redeem this stock at a premium, including dividends, for $53 million. CAPITAL STRUCTURE: Our capital structures at December 31, 1997, and 1996 were as follows: 1997 1996 Common stock 45% 45% Preferred and preference stock 2% 2% Western Resources obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trust holding solely company subordinated debentures 5% 6% Long-term debt 48% 47% ---- ---- Total 100% 100% SECURITY RATINGS: Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (S&P), Fitch Investors Service (Fitch) and Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) are independent credit-rating agencies. These agencies rate our preferred equity and debt securities. These ratings indicate the agencies' assessment of our ability to pay interest dividends and principal on these securities. These ratings affect how much we will have to pay as interest or dividends on securities we sell to obtain additional capital. The better the rating, the less we will have to pay on preferred equity and debt securities we sell. At December 31, 1997, ratings with these agencies were as follows: Kansas Gas Western Western and Electric Resources' Resources' Company's Mortgage Short-term Mortgage Bond Debt Bond Rating Agency Rating Rating Rating ------------- ---------- ---------- --------- S&P A- A-2 BBB+ Fitch A- F-2 A- Moody's A3 P-2 A3 35 Following the announcement of our restructured merger agreement with KCPL, S&P placed its ratings of Western Resources and KGE bonds on CreditWatch with positive implications. Moody's changed the direction of its ongoing review of Western Resources' debt rating from possible downgrade to possible upgrade. FUTURE CASH REQUIREMENTS: We believe that internally generated funds and new and existing credit agreements will be sufficient to meet our operating and capital expenditure requirements, debt service and dividend payments through the year 2000. Uncertainties affecting our ability to meet these requirements with internally generated funds include the effect of competition and inflation on operating expenses, sales volume, regulatory actions, compliance with future environmental regulations, the availability of generating units and weather. The amount of these requirements and our ability to fund them will also be significantly impacted by the pending combination of our electric utility operations with KCPL. We believe that we will meet the needs of our electric utility customers without adding any major generation facilities in the next five years. Our business requires a significant capital investment. We currently expect that through the year 2000, we will need cash mostly for: - Ongoing utility construction and maintenance program designed to maintain and improve facilities providing electric service - Growth within the security alarm monitoring business, including acquisition of subscriber accounts - Investment opportunities in international power development projects and generation facilities - Expansion of our nonregulated operations Capital expenditures for 1997 and anticipated capital expenditures for 1998 through 2000 are as follows: Security Alarm Electric Monitoring International Other Total (Dollars in Thousands) 1997. . . . . $159,800 $ 45,200 $30,500 $17,300 $252,800 1998. . . . . 142,000 216,900 52,500 41,700 453,100 1999. . . . . 121,400 263,200 79,200 11,700 475,500 2000. . . . . 137,800 280,800 9,200 800 428,600 Capital expenditures in 1997 included an additional $47 million in improvements to our natural gas system. Because we contributed our natural gas business net assets to ONEOK, we will not incur any direct capital expenditures related to that business in future years. "Electric" capital expenditures include the cost of nuclear fuel. "Security Alarm Monitoring" capital expenditures include anticipated acquisitions of subscriber accounts. "International" expenditures include commitments to international power development projects and generation facilities. "Other" primarily represents our commitments to our Affordable Housing Tax Credit program (AHTC). See discussion in "Other Information" below. 36 These estimates are prepared for planning purposes and may be revised (see Note 7). Electric expenditures will be significantly more than shown in the table above if we completedo not take into account the mergerpending combination of our electric utility operations with KCPL (see Note 5). Bond maturities and preference stock sinking fund requirements will require cash of approximately $303 million through the year 2002. Protection One is required to retire long-term debt of approximately $63 million through 1999. Our currently authorized quarterly dividend of 53 1/2 cents per common share or $2.14 on an annual basis is paid from our earnings. The payment of dividends is at the discretion of our board of directors. Each quarter, the board makes a determination on the amount of dividends to declare, considering such matters as future earnings expectations and our financial condition. OTHER INFORMATION COMPETITION AND ENHANCED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: The United States electric utility industry is evolving from a regulated monopolistic market to a competitive marketplace. The 1992 Energy Policy Act began deregulating the electricity industry. The Energy Policy Act permitted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)FERC to order electric utilities to allow third parties the use of their transmission systems to sell electric power to wholesale customers. A wholesale sale is defined as a utility selling electricity to a "middleman", usually a city or its utility company, to resell to the ultimate retail customer. As part of the 1992 KGE merger, we agreed to open access of our transmission system for wholesale transactions. FERC also requires us to provide transmission services to others under terms comparable to those we provide to ourselves. During 1997, wholesale electric revenues represented approximately 12% of total electric revenues. Various states have taken steps to allow retail customers to purchase electric power from providers other than their local utility company. The Kansas Legislature has created a Retail Wheeling Task Force (the Task Force) to study the effects of a deregulated and competitive market for electric services. Legislators, regulators, consumer advocates and representatives from the electric industry make up the Task Force. The Task Force submitted a bill to the Kansas Legislature without recommendation. This bill seeks competitive retail electric service on July 1, 2001. The bill was introduced to the Kansas Legislature in the opening days of the 1998 legislative session, but is not expected to come to a vote this year. The Task Force also is evaluating how to recover certain investments in generation and related facilities which were approved and incurred under the existing regulatory model. Some of these investments may not be recoverable in a competitive marketplace. We have opposed the Task Force's bill for this reason. These unrecovered investments are commonly called "stranded costs." See "Stranded Costs" below for further discussion. Until a bill is passed by the Kansas Legislature, we cannot predict its impact on our company, but the impact could be material. We believe successful providers of energy in a deregulated market will provide energy-related services. We believe consumers will demand innovative options and insist on efficient products and services to meet their energy-related needs. We believe that our strong core utility business provides a platform to offer the efficient energy products and services that customers will desire. We continue to seek new ways to add value to the lives and businesses of our customers. We recognize that our current customer base must expand beyond our existing service area. We view every person in the United States and abroad as a potential customer. Increased competition for retail electricity sales may reduce future electric utility earnings compared to our historical electric utility earnings. After all 37 electric rate decreases are implemented, our rates will range from 73% to 91% of the national average for retail customers. Because of these reduced rates, we expect to retain a substantial part of our current sales volume in a competitive environment. Finally, we believe the deregulated energy market may prove beneficial to us. We also plan to compensate for competitive pressure in our current regulated business with the nationwide security alarm monitoring services we offer to customers. While operating in this competitive environment may place pressure on our profit margins, common dividends and credit ratings, we expect it to create opportunities. Wholesale and industrial customers may pursue cogeneration, self-generation, retail wheeling, municipalization or relocation to other service territories in an attempt to cut their energy costs. Credit rating agencies are applying more stringent guidelines when rating utility companies due to increasing competition. We offer competitive electric rates for industrial improvement projects and economic development projects in an effort to maintain and increase electric load. In light of competitive developments, we are pursuing the following strategic plan: - Maintain a strong core energy business - Build a national branded presence - Create value through energy-related investments To better position ourselves for the competitive energy environment, we have consummated a strategic alliance with ONEOK (see Note 4), have acquired a controlling interest in Protection One (see Note 3) and continue to develop international power projects. STRANDED COSTS: The definition of stranded costs for a utility business is the investment in and carrying costs on property, plant and equipment and other regulatory assets which exceed the amount that can be recovered in a competitive market. We currently apply accounting standards that recognize the economic effects of rate regulation and record regulatory assets and liabilities related to our generation, transmission and distribution operations. If we determine that we no longer meet the criteria of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (SFAS 71), we may have a material extraordinary non-cash charge to operations. Reasons for discontinuing SFAS 71 accounting treatment include increasing competition that restricts our ability to charge prices needed to recover costs already incurred and a significant change by regulators from a cost-based rate regulation to another form of rate regulation. We periodically review SFAS 71 criteria and believe our net regulatory assets, including those related to generation, are probable of future recovery. If we discontinue SFAS 71 accounting treatment based upon competitive or other events, we may significantly impact the value of our net regulatory assets and our utility plant investments, particularly the Wolf Creek facility. See "Competition and Enhanced Business Opportunities" above for initiatives taken to restructure the electric industry in Kansas. Regulatory changes, including competition, could adversely impact our ability to recover our investment in these assets. As of December 31, 1997, we have recorded regulatory assets which are currently subject to recovery in future rates of approximately $380 million. Of this amount, $213 million is a receivable for income tax benefits previously passed on to customers. The remainder of the regulatory assets are items that may give rise to stranded costs including coal contract settlement costs, deferred employee benefit costs, deferred plant costs and debt issuance costs. In a competitive environment, we may not be able to fully recover our entire investment in Wolf Creek. We presently own 47% of Wolf Creek. Our ownership would 38 increase to 94% ifwhen the KCPL mergercombination is completed. We also may have stranded costs from an inability to recover our environmental remediation costs and long-term fuel contract costs in a competitive environment. If we determine that we have stranded costs and we cannot recover our investment in these assets, our future net utility income will be lower than our historical net utility income has been unless we compensate for the loss of such income with other measures. YEAR 2000 ISSUE: We are currently addressing the effect of the Year 2000 Issue on our reporting systems and operations. We face the Year 2000 Issue because many computer systems and applications abbreviate dates by eliminating the first two digits of the year, assuming that these two digits are always "19". On January 1, 2000, some computer programs may incorrectly recognize the date as January 1, 1900. Some computer systems may incorrectly process critical financial and operational information, or stop processing altogether because of the date abbreviation. Calculations using the year 2000 will affect computer applications before January 1, 2000. We have recognized the potential adverse effects the Year 2000 Issue could have on our company. In 1996, we established a formal Year 2000 remediation program to investigate and correct these problems in the main computer systems of our company. In 1997, we expanded the program to include all business units and departments of our company. The goal of our program is to identify and assess every critical system potentially affected by the yearYear 2000 date change and to repair or replace those systems found to be incompatible with yearYear 2000 dates. We plan to have our yearYear 2000 readiness efforts substantially completed by the end of 1998. We expect no significant operational impact on our ability to serve our customers, pay suppliers, or operate other areas of our business. We currently estimate that total costs to update all of our systems for year 2000 compliance will be approximately $7 million. In 1997, we expensed approximately $3 million of these costs and based on what we now know, we expect to incur about $4 million in 1998 to complete our efforts. There can be no assurance, however, that our suppliers will not be affected by the Year 2000 Issue which could affect our operations. AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM: We have received authorization from the KCC to invest up to $114 million in AHTC investments. An example of an AHTC project is housing for residents who are elderly or meet certain income requirements. At December 31, 1997, the company had invested approximately $17 million to purchase limited partnership interests. We are committed to investing approximately $55 million more in AHTC investments by January 1, 2000. These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Based upon an order received from the KCC, income generated from the AHTC investments, primarily tax credits, will be used to offset costs associated with postretirement and postemployment benefits offered to our employees. Tax credits are recognized in the year generated. DECOMMISSIONING: Decommissioning is a nuclear industry term for the permanent shut-downshutdown of a nuclear power plant when the plant's license expires. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will terminate a plant's license and release the property for unrestricted use when a company has reduced the residual radioactivity of a nuclear plant to a level mandated by the NRC. The NRC requires companies with nuclear power plants to prepare formal financial plans. These plans ensure that funds required for decommissioning will be accumulated during the estimated remaining life of the related nuclear power plant. 39 The SEC staff has questioned the way electric utilities recognize, measure and classify decommissioning costs for nuclear electric generating stations in their financial statements. In response to the SEC's questions, the Financial Accounting Standards Board is reviewing the accounting for closure and removal costs, including decommissioning of nuclear power plants. If current accounting practices for nuclear power plant decommissioning are changed, the following could occur: - Our annual decommissioning expense could be higher than in 1997 - The estimated cost for decommissioning could be recorded as a liability (rather than as accumulated depreciation) - The increased costs could be recorded as additional investment in the Wolf Creek plant We do not believe that such changes, if required, would adversely affect our operating results due to our current ability to recover decommissioning costs through rates. (See Note 7). REGULATORY ISSUES: On November 27, 1996, the KCC issued a Suspension Order and on December 3, 1996, the KCC issued an order which suspended, subject to refund, the collection of costs related to purchases from Kansas Pipeline Partnership included in our cost of natural gas. On November 25, 1997, the KCC issued its order lifting the suspension and closing the docket. PRONOUNCEMENT ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE: In January 1998, the company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS 131). This statement establishes standards for public business enterprises to report information about operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. Interim disclosure requirements are not required until 1999. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. Adoption of the disclosure requirements of SFAS 131 will impact the presentation of the company's business segments. 40 Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Not applicable. 41 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Report of Independent Public Accountants 39 Financial Statements: Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 1997 and 1996 40 Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 41 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended 1997, 1996 and 1995 42 Consolidated Statements of Cumulative Preferred and Preference Stock, December 31, 1997 and 1996 43 Consolidated Statements of Common Shareowners' Equity for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 44 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 45 SCHEDULES OMITTED The following schedules are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required or the information is included in the financial statements and schedules presented: I, II, III, IV, and V. 42 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS To the Shareowners and Board of Directors of Western Resources, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of cumulative preferred and preference stock of Western Resources, Inc., and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and common shareowners' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Western Resources, Inc., and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Kansas City, Missouri, January 29, 1998 (March 24, 1998 with respect to Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.) 43
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in Thousands) December 31, 1997 1996 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 76,608 $ 3,724 Accounts receivable (net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325,043 318,966 Inventories and supplies (net). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86,398 135,255 Marketable securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,258 - Prepaid expenses and other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,483 36,503 ---------- ---------- Total Current Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 588,790 494,448 ---------- ---------- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,786,528 4,384,017 ---------- ---------- OTHER ASSETS: Investment in ADT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 590,102 Investment in ONEOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 596,206 - Subscriber accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549,152 265,530 Goodwill (net). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 854,163 225,892 Regulatory assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380,421 458,296 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221,700 229,496 ---------- ---------- Total Other Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,601,642 1,769,316 ---------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,976,960 $6,647,781 ---------- ---------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current maturities of long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . $ 21,217 $ - Short-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236,500 980,740 Accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151,166 180,540 Accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249,447 140,204 Accrued income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,360 27,053 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89,106 23,555 ----------- ---------- Total Current Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774,796 1,352,092 ----------- ---------- LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Long-term debt (net). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,181,855 1,681,583 Western Resources obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts holding solely company subordinated debentures. . . . . . . . . 220,000 220,000 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits. . . . . 1,065,565 1,235,900 Minority interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164,379 - Deferred gain from sale-leaseback . . . . . . . . . . . . 221,779 233,060 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259,521 225,608 ---------- ---------- Total Long-term Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,113,099 3,596,151 ---------- ---------- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY: Cumulative preferred and preference stock . . . . . . . . 74,858 74,858 Common stock, par value $5 per share, authorized 85,000,000 shares, outstanding 65,409,603 and 64,625,259 shares, respectively . . . . . . . . . . . . 327,048 323,126 Paid-in capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 760,553 739,433 Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 914,487 562,121 Net change in unrealized gain on equity securities (net). 12,119 - ---------- ------- Total Shareowners' Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,089,065 1,699,538 ---------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES & SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY . . . . . . . . . . $6,976,960 $6,647,781 ---------- ---------- The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
44
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 SALES: Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,999,418 $2,038,281 $1,743,930 Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152,347 8,546 344 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,151,765 2,046,827 1,744,274 ---------- ---------- ---------- COST OF SALES: Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 928,324 879,328 658,935 Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,800 3,798 68 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Cost of Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 967,124 883,126 659,003 ---------- ---------- ---------- GROSS PROFIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,184,641 1,163,701 1,085,271 ---------- ---------- ---------- OPERATING EXPENSES: Operating and maintenance expense . . . . . . . . . . 383,912 374,369 351,589 Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . 256,725 201,331 177,830 Selling, general and administrative expense . . . . . 312,927 199,448 182,131 Write-off of deferred merger costs. . . . . . . . . . 48,008 - - Security asset impairment charge. . . . . . . . . . . 40,144 - - ---------- ---------- ------- Total Operating Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,041,716 775,148 711,550 ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME FROM OPERATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142,925 388,553 373,721 ---------- ---------- ---------- OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Gain on sale of Tyco securities . . . . . . . . . . . 864,253 - - Special charges from ADT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (18,181) - Investment earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,646 20,647 - Minority interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,737 - - Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,403 12,841 18,657 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Other Income (Expense). . . . . . . . . . . . 923,039 15,307 18,657 ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXES. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,065,964 403,860 392,378 ---------- ---------- ---------- INTEREST EXPENSE: Interest expense on long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . 119,389 105,741 95,962 Interest expense on short-term debt and other . . . . 73,836 46,810 30,360 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Interest Expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193,225 152,551 126,322 ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 872,739 251,309 266,056 ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME TAXES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378,645 82,359 84,380 ---------- ---------- ---------- NET INCOME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494,094 168,950 181,676 ---------- ---------- ---------- PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE DIVIDENDS. . . . . . . . . . . 4,919 14,839 13,419 ---------- ---------- ---------- EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR COMMON STOCK . . . . . . . . . . $ 489,175 $ 154,111 $ 168,257 ---------- ---------- ---------- AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING . . . . . . . . . . . 65,127,803 63,833,783 62,157,125 BASIC EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING . . $ 7.51 $ 2.41 $ 2.71 DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE . . . . . . . . . . $ 2.10 $ 2.06 $ 2.02 The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
45
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in Thousands) Year ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 494,094 $ 168,950 $ 181,676 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256,725 201,331 177,830 Gain on sale of securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (864,253) - - Equity in earnings from investments . . . . . . . . . . . (25,405) (9,373) - Write-off of deferred merger costs. . . . . . . . . . . . 48,008 - - Security asset impairment charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,144 - - Changes in working capital items (net of effects from acquisitions): Accounts receivable, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,156 (47,474) (37,532) Inventories and supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,249 10,624 (715) Marketable securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10,461) - - Prepaid expenses and other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,230 (14,900) 6,958 Accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (48,298) 15,353 18,578 Accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,071 10,261 (5,079) Accrued income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,869 26,377 (14,209) Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8,584) (4,824) (28,642) Changes in other assets and liabilities . . . . . . . . . (69,353) (87,285) 5,134 ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash flows (used in) from operating activities. . . (85,808) 269,040 303,999 ---------- ---------- ---------- CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Additions to property, plant and equipment (net). . . . . 210,738 195,602 232,252 Customer account acquisitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,163 - - Proceeds from sale of securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . (1,533,530) - - Security alarm monitoring acquisitions, net of cash acquired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438,717 368,535 - Purchase of ADT common stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 589,362 - Other investments (net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,318 6,563 15,408 ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash flows (from) used in investing activities. . . (793,594) 1,160,062 247,660 ---------- ---------- ---------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Short-term debt (net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (744,240) 777,290 (104,750) Proceeds of long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520,000 225,000 50,000 Retirements of long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (293,977) (16,135) (105) Issuance of other mandatorily redeemable securities . . . - 120,000 100,000 Issuance of common stock (net). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,042 33,212 36,161 Redemption of preference stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - (100,000) - Cash dividends paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (141,727) (147,035) (137,946) ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities. . . (634,902) 892,332 (56,640) ---------- ---------- ---------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. . . . 72,884 1,310 (301) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: Beginning of the period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,724 2,414 2,715 ---------- ---------- ---------- End of the period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 76,608 $ 3,724 $ 2,414 ========== ========== ========== SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION CASH PAID FOR: Interest on financing activities (net of amount capitalized). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 193,468 $ 170,635 $ 136,526 Income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404,548 66,692 84,811 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: During 1997, the company contributed the net assets of its natural gas business totaling approximately $594 million to ONEOK in exchange for an ownership interest of 45% in ONEOK. The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
46
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CUMULATIVE PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK (Dollars in Thousands) December 31, 1997 1996 CUMULATIVE PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK: Preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption, Par value $100 per share, authorized 600,000 shares, Outstanding - 4 1/2% Series, 138,576 shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 13,858 $ 13,858 4 1/4% Series, 60,000 shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000 6,000 5% Series, 50,000 shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 5,000 --------- ---------- 24,858 24,858 --------- ---------- Preference stock subject to mandatory redemption, Without par value, $100 stated value, authorized 4,000,000 shares, outstanding - 7.58% Series, 500,000 shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000 50,000 --------- ----------- TOTAL CUMULATIVE PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK . . . . . . . . $ 74,858 $ 74,858 ========= =========== The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
47
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) Unrealized Gain on Equity Common Paid-in Retained Securities Stock Capital Earnings (net) BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1994, 61,617,873 SHARES. . . . . $308,089 $667,992 $498,374 $ - Net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181,676 Cash dividends: Preferred and preference stock. . . . . . . . . . . (13,419) Common stock, $2.02 per share . . . . . . . . . . . (125,763) Expenses on common stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (772) Issuance of 1,238,088 shares of common stock. . . . . 6,191 30,742 -------- -------- BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1995, 62,855,961 SHARES. . . . . 314,280 697,962 540,868 - Net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168,950 Cash dividends: Preferred and preference stock. . . . . . . . . . . (14,839) Common stock, $2.06 per share . . . . . . . . . . . (131,611) Issuance of 1,769,298 shares of common stock. . . . . 8,846 41,471 (1,247) -------- -------- -------- BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1996, 64,625,259 SHARES. . . . . 323,126 739,433 562,121 - Net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494,094 Cash dividends: Preferred and preference stock. . . . . . . . . . . (4,919) Common stock, $2.10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (136,809) Expenses on common stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Issuance of 784,344 shares of common stock. . . . . . 3,922 21,125 Net change in unrealized gain on equity securities (net of tax effect of $13,129). . . . . . . . . . . 12,119 -------- -------- -------- --------- BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1997, 65,409,603 SHARES. . . . . $327,048 $760,553 $914,487 $ 12,119 -------- -------- -------- --------- The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.
48 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of Business: Western Resources, Inc. (the company) is a publicly traded holding company. The company's primary business activities are providing electric generation, transmission and distribution services to approximately 614,000 customers in Kansas; providing security alarm monitoring services to approximately 950,000 customers located throughout the United States, providing natural gas transmission and distribution services to approximately 1.4 million customers in Oklahoma and Kansas through its investment in ONEOK Inc. (ONEOK) and investing in international power projects. Rate regulated electric service is provided by KPL, a division of the company and Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KGE),KGE, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Security services are primarily provided by Protection One, Inc. (Protection One), a publicly-traded, approximately 82.4%-owned subsidiary. Principles of Consolidation: The company prepares its financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Western Resources and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Common stock investments that are not majority-owned are accounted for using the equity method when the company's investment allows it the ability to exert significant influence. The company currently applies accounting standards for its rate regulated electric business that recognize the economic effects of rate regulation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation", (SFAS 71) and, accordingly, has recorded regulatory assets and liabilities when required by a regulatory order or when it is probable, based on regulatory precedent, that future rates will allow for recovery of a regulatory asset. The financial statements require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, to disclose contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and to report amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents: The company considers highly liquid collateralized debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Available-for-sale Securities: The company classifies marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method as available-for-sale. These securities are reported at fair value based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, are reported as a separate component of shareowners' equity until realized. At December 31, 1997, an unrealized gain of $12 million (net of deferred taxes of $13 million) was included in shareowners' equity. These securities had a fair value of approximately $75 million and a cost of approximately $50 million at December 31, 1997. There were no available-for-sale securities held at December 31, 1996. Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. For utility plant, cost includes contracted services, direct labor and materials, indirect charges for engineering, supervision, general and administrative costs and an 49 allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC). The AFUDC rate was 5.80% in 1997, 5.70% in 1996 and 6.31% in 1995. The cost of additions to utility plant and replacement units of property are capitalized. Maintenance costs and replacement of minor items of property are charged to expense as incurred. When units of depreciable property are retired, they are removed from the plant accounts and the original cost plus removal charges less salvage value are charged to accumulated depreciation. In accordance with regulatory decisions made by the KCC, the acquisition premium of approximately $801 million resulting from the acquisition of KGE in 1992 is being amortized over 40 years. The acquisition premium is classified as electric plant in service. Accumulated amortization through December 31, 1997 totaled $47.9 million. Depreciation: Utility plant is depreciated on the straight-line method at rates approved by regulatory authorities. Utility plant is depreciated on an average annual composite basis using group rates that approximated 2.89% during 1997, 2.97% during 1996 and 2.84% during 1995. Nonutility property, plant and equipment of approximately $20 million is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Fuel Costs: The cost of nuclear fuel in process of refinement, conversion, enrichment and fabrication is recorded as an asset at original cost and is amortized to expense based upon the quantity of heat produced for the generation of electricity. The accumulated amortization of nuclear fuel in the reactor at December 31, 1997 and 1996, was $20.9 million and $25.3 million, respectively. Subscriber Accounts: The direct costs incurred to install a security system for a customer are capitalized. These costs include the costs of accounts purchased, the estimated fair value at the date of the acquisition for accounts acquired in business combinations, equipment, direct labor and other direct costs for internally generated accounts. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average expected life of a subscriber account, currently ten years. It is the company's policy to periodically evaluate subscriber account attrition utilizing historical attrition experience. Goodwill: Goodwill, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, is generally amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities: Regulatory assets represent probable future revenue associated with certain costs that will be recovered from customers through the ratemaking process. The company has recorded these regulatory assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." If the company were required to terminate application of that statement for all of its regulated operations, the company would have to record the amounts of all regulatory assets and liabilities in its Consolidated Statements of Income at that time. The company's earnings would be reduced by the total net amount in the table below, net of applicable income taxes. Regulatory assets reflected in the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 1997 are as follows: 50 December 31, 1997 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Recoverable taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . $212,996 $217,257 Debt issuance costs. . . . . . . . . . . 75,336 78,532 Deferred employee benefit costs. . . . . 37,875 40,834 Deferred plant costs . . . . . . . . . . 30,979 31,272 Coal contract settlement costs . . . . . 16,032 21,037 Other regulatory assets. . . . . . . . . 7,203 8,794 Phase-in revenues. . . . . . . . . . . . - 26,317 Deferred cost of natural gas purchased . - 21,332 Service line replacement . . . . . . . . - 12,921 -------- -------- Total regulatory assets . . . . . . . . $380,421 $458,296 ======== ======== Recoverable income taxes: Recoverable income taxes represent amounts due from customers for accelerated tax benefits which have been flowed through to customers and are expected to be recovered when the accelerated tax benefits reverse. Debt issuance costs: Debt reacquisition expenses are amortized over the remaining term of the reacquired debt or, if refinanced, the term of the new debt. Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the associated debt. Deferred employee benefit costs: Deferred employee benefit costs will be recovered from income generated from the company's Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC) investment program. Deferred plant costs: Disallowances related to the Wolf Creek nuclear generating facility. Coal contract settlement costs: The company deferred costs associated with the termination of certain coal purchase contracts. These costs are being amortized over periods ending in 2002 and 2013. The company expects to recover all of the above regulatory assets in rates. The regulatory assets noted above, with the exception of some coal contract settlement costs and debt issuance costs, other than the refinancing of the La Cygne 2 lease, are not included in rate base and, therefore, do not earn a return. On November 30, 1997, deferred costs associated with the service line replacement program and the deferred cost of natural gas purchased were transferred to ONEOK. Phase-in revenues were fully amortized in 1997. Minority Interests: Minority interests represent the minority shareowner's proportionate share of the shareowners' equity and net income of Protection One. Sales: Energy sales are recognized as services are rendered and include estimated amounts for energy delivered but unbilled at the end of each year. Unbilled revenue of $37 million and $83 million is recorded as a component of accounts receivable (net) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Security sales are recognized when installation of an alarm system occurs and when monitoring or other security-related services are provided. The company's allowance for doubtful accounts receivable totaled $23.4$8.4 million which included approximately $20 million of Protection One allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, and $6.3 million at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Income Taxes: Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences in amounts recorded for financial reporting purposes and their respective tax bases. Investment tax credits previously deferred are being amortized to income over the life of the property which gave rise to the credits.credits 51 Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program (AHTC): The company has received authorization from the KCC to invest up to $114 million in AHTC investments. At December 31, 1997, the company had invested approximately $17 million to purchase AHTC investments in limited partnerships. The company is committed to investing approximately $55 million more in AHTC investments by January 1, 2000. These investments are accounted for using the equity method. Based upon an order received from the KCC, income generated from the AHTC investment, primarily tax credits, will be used to offset costs associated with postretirement and postemployment benefits offered to the company's employees. Tax credits are recognized in the year generated. Risk Management: To minimize the risk from market fluctuations in the price of electricity, the company utilizes financial and commodity instruments (derivatives) to reduce price risk. Gains or losses on derivatives associated with firm commitments are generally recognized as adjustments to cost of sales or revenues when the associated transactions affect earnings. Gains or losses on derivatives associated with forecasted transactions are generally recognized when such forecasted transactions affect earnings. New Pronouncements: In 1997, the company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" (SFAS 128). Basic earnings per share is calculated based upon the average weighted number of common shares outstanding during the period. There were no significant amounts of dilutive securities outstanding at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995. Effective January 1, 1997, the company adopted the provisions of Statement of Position (SOP) 96-1, "Environmental Remediation Liabilities". This statement provides authoritative guidance for recognition, measurement, display and disclosure of environmental remediation liabilities in financial statements. Adoption of this statement did not have a material adverse effect upon the company's overall financial position or results of operations. Reclassifications: Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform with classifications used in the current year presentation. 2. GAIN ON SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES During 1996, the company acquired 27% of the common shares of ADT Limited, Inc. (ADT) and made an offer to acquire the remaining ADT common shares. ADT rejected this offer and in July 1997, ADT merged with Tyco International Ltd. (Tyco). ADT and Tyco completed their merger by exchanging ADT common stock for Tyco common stock. Following the ADT and Tyco merger, the company's equity investment in ADT became an available-for-sale security. During the third quarter of 1997, the company sold its Tyco common shares for approximately $1.5 billion. The company recorded a pre-tax gain of $864 million on the sale and recorded tax expense of approximately $345 million in connection with this gain. 3. SECURITY ALARM MONITORING BUSINESS PURCHASES In 1997 the company acquired three monitored security alarm companies. Each acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the operating results for each acquired company have been included in the company's consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. Preliminary purchase price allocations have been made based upon the fair value of the net assets acquired. The company acquired 52 Network Multi-Family Security Corporation (Network Multi-Family) in September, 1997 for approximately $171 million and acquired Centennial Holdings, Inc. (Centennial) in November 1997 for approximately $94 million. The company also acquired an approximate 82.4% equity interest in Protection One in November 1997. Protection One is a publicly traded security company. The company paid approximately $258 million in cash and contributed all of its existing security business net assets, other than Network Multi-Family, in exchange for its ownership interest in Protection One. Amounts contributed included funds used to pay existing Protection One common shareowners, option holders and warrant holders a dividend of $7.00 per common share. The company has an option to purchase up to 2.8 million additional common shares of Protection One for $15.50 per share. The option period extends to a date not later than October 31, 1999. The company assigned approximately $278 million of the total purchase price to subscriber accounts and approximately $620 million to goodwill in connection with these security acquisitions. The subscriber accounts are being amortized over ten years and goodwill is being amortized over 40 years. Consideration paid, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with these security acquisitions is summarized as follows: (Dollars in Thousands) Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired . . . . . $1,001,094 Cash paid, net of cash acquired of $88,822 . . . . . . . . . . (438,717) Total liabilities assumed. . $ 562,377 The following unaudited, pro forma information for the company's security business segment has been prepared assuming the Centennial, Network Multi-Family and Protection One acquisitions occurred at the beginning of each period. 1997 1996 (Dollars in Thousands, except per share data) Net Revenues. . . . . . . $284,411 $241,841 Net Loss. . . . . . . . . (47,290) (24,762) Net Loss per Share. . . . ($0.73) ($0.39) The pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations had the entities been combined for the entire period, nor do they purport to be indicative of results which will be obtained in the future. In December 1997, Protection One recorded a special non-recurring charge of approximately $40 million. Approximately $28 million of this charge reflects the elimination of redundant facilities and activities and the write-off of inventory and other assets which are no longer of continuing value to Protection One. The remaining $12 million of this charge reflects the estimated costs to transition all security alarm monitoring operations to the Protection One brand. Protection One intends to complete these exit activities by the fourth quarter of 1998. In January 1998, Protection One announced that it will acquire the monitored security alarm business of Multimedia Security Services, Inc. (Multimedia Security) for approximately $220 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 1998. Multimedia Security has approximately 140,000 subscribers concentrated primarily in California, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. 53 On February 4, 1998, Protection One exercised its option to acquire the stock of Network Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Network Multi-Family, from the company for approximately $178$180 million. The company expects Protection One to borrow money from a revolving credit agreement provided by Westar Capital, a subsidiary of Western Resources, to purchase Network Multi-Family. 4. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH ONEOK INC. In November 1997, the company completed its strategic alliance with ONEOK. The company contributed substantially all of its regulated and non-regulated natural gas business to ONEOK in exchange for a 45% ownership interest in ONEOK. The company's ownership interest in ONEOK is comprised of approximately 3.1 million common shares and approximately 19.9 million convertible preferred shares. If all the preferred shares were converted, the company would own approximately 45% of ONEOK's common shares presently outstanding. The agreement with ONEOK allows the company to appoint two members to ONEOK's board of directors. The company will account for its common ownership in accordance with the equity method of accounting. Subsequent to the formation of the strategic alliance, the consolidated energy revenues, related cost of sales and operating expenses for the company's natural gas business have been replaced by investment earnings in ONEOK. 5. MERGER AGREEMENT WITH KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY The original merger agreement signed with KCPL onOn February 7, 1997, is currently being renegotiated and the regulatory approval process for the originalcompany signed a merger agreement has been suspended.with KCPL by which KCPL would be merged with and into the company in exchange for company stock. In December 1997, representatives of ourthe company's financial advisor indicated that they believed it was unlikely that they would be in a position to issue a required fairness opinion required for the merger on the basis of the previously announced terms. On March 18, 1998, the company and KCPL announced a restructuring of their February 7, 1997, merger agreement which will result in the formation of Westar Energy, a new electric company. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the electric utility operations of the company will be transferred to KGE, and KCPL and KGE will be merged into NKC, Inc., a subsidiary of the company. NKC, Inc. will be renamed Westar Energy. In addition, under the terms of the merger agreement, KCPL shareowners will receive $23.50 of company common stock per KCPL share, subject to a collar mechanism, and one share of Westar Energy common stock per KCPL share. Upon consummation of the combination, the company will own approximately 80.1% of the outstanding equity of Westar Energy and KCPL shareowners will own approximately 19.9%. As part of the combination, Westar Energy will assume all of the electric utility related assets and liabilities of the company, KCPL and KGE. Westar Energy will assume $2.7 billion in debt, consisting of $1.9 billion of indebtedness for borrowed money of the company and KGE, and $800 million of debt of KCPL. Long-term debt of Western Resources and KGE was $2.1 billion at December 31, 1997. Under the terms of the merger agreement, it is intended that the company will be released from its obligations with respect to the company's debt to be assumed by Westar Energy. Pursuant to the merger agreement, the company has agreed, among other things, to call for redemption all outstanding shares of its 4 1/2% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, 4 1/4% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, and 5% Series Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share. 54 Consummation of the merger is subject to customary conditions including obtaining the approval of the company's and KCPL's shareowners and various regulatory agencies. The company cannot predictestimates the timing ortransaction to close by mid-1999, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals. KCPL is a public utility company engaged in the ultimate outcomegeneration, transmission, distribution, and sale of these discussions. Givenelectricity to customers in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. The company, KCPL and KGE have joint interests in certain electric generating assets, including Wolf Creek. On March 23, 1998 the status ofcompany and KCPL filed a letter informing the FERC that it had signed a revised merger agreement, dated March 18, 1998. The company sent similar letters on March 24, 1998 to the KCC and the MPSC. We and KCPL transaction, we havewill submit appropriate modifications to our merger filings at FERC, the KCC and the MPSC as soon as practicable. The company reviewed the deferred costs and have determined that for accounting purposes, $48 million of the deferred costs relating to the original merger agreement should be expensed. These costs were expensed in the fourth quarter of 1997. At December 31, 1997, The company had deferred approximately $5 million related to the KCPL transaction. 6. INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES The consolidated financial statements include the company's equity investments in ONEOK, Guardian International (Guardian) and Onsite Energy Corporation (Onsite). The company's equity investments, net of the amortization of goodwill in these entities, at December 31, 1997 and equity in earnings in 1997, are as follows: Ownership Equity Percentage Investment in Earnings (Dollars in Thousands) ONEOK Inc. (1). . . . . . . 45% $596,206 $1,970 Guardian (2). . . . . . . . 41% 9,174 $25 Onsite (3). . . . . . . . . 30% 3,312 - (1) Includes equity earnings on the company's common stock investment between ONEOK and the company. (2) The company acquired a common and convertible preferred stock interest in Guardian, a Florida-based security alarm monitoring company, during October 1997, in exchange for cash. (3) The company acquired a common and convertible preferred stock interest in Onsite, a California energy services company, during October, 1997, in exchange for cash and certain energy service assets of the company. 55 Summarized combined financial information for the company's equity investments is presented below. December 31, 1997 (Dollars in Thousands) Balance Sheet: Current assets . . . . . . . $ 535,348 Non-current assets . . . . . 1,771,900 Current liabilities. . . . . 445,770 Non-current liabilities. . . 737,975 Equity . . . . . . . . . . . 1,123,503 Year ended December 31, 1997 (Dollars in Thousands) Income Statement: Revenues . . . . . . . . . . $1,241,164 Operating expenses . . . . . 1,147,866 Net income . . . . . . . . . 57,248 Balance sheet and income statement information is presented as of and for the most recent twelve-month period for which public information is available. ONEOK's balance sheet and income statement information is presented as of and for the twelve months ended November 30, 1997. Guardian and Onsite's balance sheet and income statement information is presented as of and for the twelve months ended September 30, 1997. The company cannot give any assurance as to the accuracy of the public information so obtained. During 1997, the company's equity investment in ADT was converted to an available-for-saleavailable- for-sale security investment in Tyco. The company recognized equity in earnings from the ADT investment of $24 million and $7 million in 1997 and 1996, respectively. At December 31, 1996, the company's 27% investment in ADT was approximately $597 million. 7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES As part of its ongoing operations and construction program, the company has commitments under purchase orders and contracts which have an unexpended balance of approximately $87.8 million at December 31, 1997. International Power Project Commitments: The company has ownership interests in international power generation projects under construction in Colombia and the Republic of Turkey and in existing power generation facilities in the People's Republic of China. In 1998, commitments are not expected to exceed $53 million. Currently, equity commitments beyond 1998 approximate $88 million. Manufactured Gas Sites: The company has been associated with 15 former manufactured gas sites located in Kansas which may contain coal tar and other potentially harmful materials. The company and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) entered into a consent agreement governing all future work at the 15 sites. The terms of the consent agreement will allow the company to investigate these sites and set remediation priorities based upon the results of the investigations and risk analysis. At December 31, 1997, the costs incurred for preliminary site investigation and risk assessment have been minimal. In accordance with the terms of the strategic alliance with ONEOK, ownership of twelve of these sites and the responsibility for clean-up of 56 these sites were transferred to ONEOK. The ONEOK agreement limits our future liability to an immaterial amount. Our share of ONEOK income could be impacted by these costs. Clean Air Act: The company must comply with the provisions of The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 that require a two-phase reduction in certain emissions. The company has installed continuous monitoring and reporting equipment to meet the acid rain requirements. The company does not expect material capital expenditures to be required to meet Phase II sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide requirements. Decommissioning: The company accrues decommissioning costs over the expected life of the Wolf Creek generating facility. The accrual is based on estimated unrecovered decommissioning costs which consider inflation over the remaining estimated life of the generating facility and are net of expected earnings on amounts recovered from customers and deposited in an external trust fund. In February 1997, the KCC approved the 1996 Decommissioning Cost Study. Based on the study, the company's share of Wolf Creek's decommissioning costs, under the immediate dismantlement method, is estimated to be approximately $624 million during the period 2025 through 2033, or approximately $192 million in 1996 dollars. These costs were calculated using an assumed inflation rate of 3.6% over the remaining service life from 1996 of 29 years. Decommissioning costs are currently being charged to operating expenses in accordance with the prior KCC orders. Electric rates charged to customers provide for recovery of these decommissioning costs over the life of Wolf Creek. Amounts expensed approximated $3.7 million in 1997 and will increase annually to $5.6 million in 2024. These expenses are deposited in an external trust fund. The average after tax expected return on trust assets is 5.7%. The company's investment in the decommissioning fund, including reinvested earnings approximated $43.5 million and $33.0 million at December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996, respectively. Trust fund earnings accumulate in the fund balance and increase the recorded decommissioning liability. The SEC staff has questioned the way electric utilities recognize, measure and classify decommissioning costs for nuclear electric generating stations in their financial statements. In response to the SEC's questions, the Financial Accounting Standards Board is reviewing the accounting for closure and removal costs, including decommissioning of nuclear power plants. If current accounting practices for nuclear power plant decommissioning are changed, the following could occur: - The company's annual decommissioning expense could be higher than in 1997 - The estimated cost for decommissioning could be recorded as a liability (rather than as accumulated depreciation) - The increased costs could be recorded as additional investment in the Wolf Creek plant The company does not believe that such changes, if required, would adversely affect its operating results due to its current ability to recover decommissioning costs through rates. Nuclear Insurance: The company carries premature decommissioning insurance which has several restrictions. One of these is that it can only be used if Wolf Creek incurs an accident exceeding $500 million in expenses to safely stabilize the reactor, to decontaminate the reactor and reactor station site in accordance with a plan approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and to pay for on-site property 57 damages. This decommissioning insurance will only be available if the insurance funds are not needed to implement the NRC-approved plan for stabilization and decontamination. The Price-Anderson Act limits the combined public liability of the owners of nuclear power plants to $8.9 billion for a single nuclear incident. If this liability limitation is insufficient, the U.S. Congress will consider taking whatever action is necessary to compensate the public for valid claims. The Wolf Creek owners (Owners) have purchased the maximum available private insurance of $200 million. The remaining balance is provided by an assessment plan mandated by the NRC. Under this plan, the Owners are jointly and severally subject to a retrospective assessment of up to $79.3 million ($37.3 million, company's share) in the event there is a major nuclear incident involving any of the nation's licensed reactors. This assessment is subject to an inflation adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index and applicable premium taxes. There is a limitation of $10 million ($4.7 million, company's share) in retrospective assessments per incident, per year. The Owners carry decontamination liability, premature decommissioning liability and property damage insurance for Wolf Creek totaling approximately $2.8 billion ($1.3 billion, company's share). This insurance is provided by Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited (NEIL). In the event of an accident, insurance proceeds must first be used for reactor stabilization and site decontamination. The company's share of any remaining proceeds can be used for property damage or premature decommissioning costs. Premature decommissioning coverage applies only if an accident at Wolf Creek exceeds $500 million in property damage and decommissioning expenses and only after trust funds have been exhausted. The Owners also carry additional insurance with NEIL to cover costs of replacement power and other extra expenses incurred during a prolonged outage resulting from accidental property damage at Wolf Creek. If losses incurred at any of the nuclear plants insured under the NEIL policies exceed premiums, reserves and other NEIL resources, the company may be subject to retrospective assessments under the current policies of approximately $9 million per year. Although the company maintains various insurance policies to provide coverage for potential losses and liabilities resulting from an accident or an extended outage, the company's insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover the costs that could result from a catastrophic accident or extended outage at Wolf Creek. Any substantial losses not covered by insurance, to the extent not recoverable through rates, would have a material adverse effect on the company's financial condition and results of operations. Fuel Commitments: To supply a portion of the fuel requirements for its generating plants, the company has entered into various commitments to obtain nuclear fuel and coal. Some of these contracts contain provisions for price escalation and minimum purchase commitments. At December 31, 1997, Wolf Creek's nuclear fuel commitments (company's share) were approximately $9.9 million for uranium concentrates expiring at various times through 2001, $35.1 million for enrichment expiring at various times through 2003 and $67.4 million for fabrication through 2025. At December 31, 1997, the company's coal contract commitments in 1997 dollars under the remaining terms of the contracts were approximately $2.4 billion. The largest coal contract expires in 2020, with the remaining coal contracts expiring at various times through 2013. 58 8. RATE MATTERS AND REGULATION KCC Rate Proceedings: In January 1997, the KCC approved an agreement that reduced electric rates for both KPL and KGE. Significant terms of the agreement are as follows: - The company made permanent an interim $8.7 million rate reduction implemented by KGE in May 1996. This reduction was effective February 1, 1997. - The company reduced KGE's annual rates by $36 million effective February 1, 1997. - The company reduced KPL's annual rates by $10 million effective February 1, 1997. - The company rebated $5 million to all of it electric customers in January 1998. - The company will reduce KGE's annual rates by an additional $10 million on June 1, 1998. - The company will rebate an additional $5 million to all of its electric customers in January 1999. - The company will reduce KGE's annual rates by an additional $10 million on June 1, 1999. All rate decreases are cumulative. Rebates are one-time events and do not influence future rates. 9. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS On January 8, 1997, Innovative Business Systems, Ltd. (IBS) filed suit against the company and Westinghouse Electric Corporation (WEC), Westinghouse Security Systems, Inc. (WSS) and WestSec, Inc. (WestSec), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company established to acquire the assets of WSS, in Dallas County, Texas district court (Cause No 97-00184) alleging, among other things, breach of contract by WEC and interference with contract against the company in connection with the sale by WEC of the assets of WSS to the company. IBS claims that WEC improperly transferred software owned by IBS to the company and that the company is not entitled to its use. The company has demanded WEC defend and indemnify it. WEC and the company have denied IBS' allegations and are vigorously defending against them. Management does not believe that the ultimate disposition of this matter will have a material adverse effect upon the company's overall financial condition or results of operations. The company and its subsidiaries are involved in various other legal, environmental and regulatory proceedings. Management believes that adequate provision has been made and accordingly believes that the ultimate dispositions of these matters will not have a material adverse effect upon the company's overall financial position or results of operations. 10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Pension: The company maintains qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all utility employees. Pension benefits are based on years of service and the employee's compensation during the five highest paid consecutive years out of ten before retirement. The company's policy is to fund pension costs accrued, subject to limitations set by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code. 59 Salary Continuation: The company maintains a non-qualified Executive Salary Continuation Program for the benefit of certain management employees, including executive officers. The following tables provide information on the components of pension and salary continuation costs funded status and actuarial assumptions for the company: Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) SFAS 87 Expense: Service cost. . . . . . . . . . $ 11,337 $ 11,644 $ 11,059 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation. . . . . . 35,836 34,003 32,416 (Gain) loss on plan assets. . . (113,287) (65,799) (102,731) Deferred investment gain (loss) 73,731 30,119 70,810 Net amortization. . . . . . . . 1,084 2,140 1,132 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519 - - -------- -------- ----- Net expense . . . . . . . . $ 9,220 $ 12,107 $ 12,686 ======== ======== ======== December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Reconciliation of Funded Status: Actuarial present value of benefit obligations: Vested . . . . . . . . . . . $365,809 $347,734 $331,027 Non-vested . . . . . . . . . 21,024 23,220 21,775 -------- -------- -------- Total. . . . . . . . . . . $386,833 $370,954 $352,802 ======== ======== ======== Plan assets (principally debt and equity securities) at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . $584,792 $495,993 $444,608 Projected benefit obligation . . . 462,964 483,862 456,707 -------- -------- -------- Funded status. . . . . . . . . . . 121,828 12,131 (12,099) Unrecognized transition asset. . . (369) (448) (527) Unrecognized prior service costs . 39,763 62,434 57,087 Unrecognized net (gain). . . . . . (193,313) (103,132) (75,312) -------- -------- -------- Accrued liability. . . . . . . . $(32,091) $(29,015) $(30,851) ======== ======== ======== Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Actuarial Assumptions: Discount rate. . . . . . . . . . 7.5% 7.5% 7.5% Annual salary increase rate. . . 3.5-4.75% 4.75% 4.75% Long-term rate of return . . . . 9.0-9.25% 8.5-9.0% 8.5-9.0% Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits: The company accrues the cost of postretirement benefits, primarily medical benefit costs, during the years an employee provides service. The company accrues postemployment benefits when the liability has been incurred. Based on actuarial projections and adoption of the transition method of implementation which allows a 20-year amortization of the accumulated benefit obligation, postretirement benefits expense approximated $16.6 million, $16.4 million and $15.0 million for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The company's total postretirement benefit obligation approximated $83.7 million and $123.0 million at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The following table summarizes the status of the company's postretirement benefit plans for financial statement purposes and the related amounts included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: 60 December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Reconciliation of Funded Status: Actuarial present value of postretirement benefit obligations: Retirees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 53,910 $ 76,588 $ 81,402 Active employees fully eligible . . 6,814 10,060 7,645 Active employees not fully eligible 22,949 36,345 34,144 -------- -------- -------- Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,673 122,993 123,191 Fair value of plan assets . . . . . . . 118 78 46 -------- -------- -------- Funded status . . . . . . . . . . . . . (83,555) (122,915) (123,145) Unrecognized prior service cost . . . . (4,592) (8,157) (8,900) Unrecognized transition obligation. . . 60,146 104,920 111,443 Unrecognized net (gain) . . . . . . . . (828) (8,137) (7,271) -------- -------- -------- Accrued postretirement benefit costs $(28,829) $(34,289) $(27,873) ======== ======== ======== Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actuarial Assumptions: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5% 7.5% 7.5% Annual salary increase rate . . . . . 4.75% 4.75% 4.75% Expected rate of return . . . . . . . 9.0% 9.0% 9.0% For measurement purposes, an annual health care cost growth rate of 9% was assumed for 1997, decreasing one percent per year to five percent in 2001 and thereafter. The health care cost trend rate has a significant effect on the projected benefit obligation. Increasing the trend rate by one percent each year would increase the present value of the accumulated projected benefit obligation by $3.5 million and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components by $0.3 million. In accordance with an order from the KCC, the company has deferred postretirement and postemployment expenses in excess of actual costs paid. In 1997 the company received authorization from the KCC to invest in AHTC investments. Income from the AHTC investments will be used to offset the deferred and incremental costs associated with postretirement and postemployment benefits offered to the company's employees. The income generated from the AHTC investments replaces the income stream from COLI contracts purchased in 1992 and 1993 which was used for the same purpose. Savings: The company maintains savings plans in which substantially all employees participate. The company matches employees' contributions up to specified maximum limits. The funds of the plans are deposited with a trustee and invested at each employee's option in one or more investment funds, including a company stock fund. The company's contributions were $5.0 million, $4.6 million and $5.1 million for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Protection One also maintains a savings plan. Contributions, made at Protection One's election, are allocated among participants based upon the respective contributions made by the participants through salary reductions during the year. Protection One's matching contributions may be made in Protection One common stock, in cash or in a combination of both stock and cash. Protection One's matching contribution to the plan for 1997 was $34,000. Protection One maintains a qualified employee stock purchase plan that allows eligible employees to acquire shares of Protection One common shares at 85% of fair market value of the common stock. A total of 650,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance in this program. 61 Stock Based Compensation Plans: The company has two stock-based compensation plans, a long-term incentive and share award plan (LTISA Plan) and a long-term incentive program (LTI Program). The company accounts for these plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 and the related Interpretations. Had compensation cost been determined pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123), the company would have recognized additional compensation costs during 1997, 1996 and 1995. However, recognition of the compensation costs would not have been material to the Consolidated Statements of Income nor would these costs have affected basic earnings per share. The LTISA Plan was implemented to help ensure that managers and board members (Plan Participants) were properly incented to increase shareowner value. It was established to replace the company's LTI Program, discussed below. Under the LTISA Plan, the company may grant awards in the form of stock options, dividend equivalents, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares and performance share units to Plan Participants. Up to three million shares of common stock may be granted under the LTISA Plan. The LTISA Plan granted 459,700 and 205,700 stock options and 459,700 and 205,700 dividend equivalents to Plan Participants during 1997 and 1996, respectively. The exercise price of the stock options granted was $30.75 and $29.25 in 1997 and 1996, respectively. These options vest in nine years. Accelerated vesting allows stock options to vest within three years, dependent upon certain company performance factors. The options expire in approximately ten years. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the dividend equivalent was $6.21 and $5.82 in 1997 and 1996, respectively. The value of each dividend equivalent is calculated as a percentage of the accumulated dividends that would have been paid or payable on a share of company common stock. This percentage ranges from zero to 100%, based upon certain company performance factors. The dividend equivalents expire after nine years from the date of grant. All stock options and dividend equivalents granted were outstanding at December 31, 1997. The fair value of stock options and dividend equivalents were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The model assumed a dividend yield of 6.58% and 6.33%, expected volatility of 13.56% and 14.12%; and an expected life of 9.0 and 8.7 years for 1997 and 1996, respectively. Additionally, the stock option model assumed a risk-free interest rate of 6.72% and 6.45% for 1997 and 1996, respectively. The dividend equivalent model assumed a risk-free interest rate of 6.36% and 6.61% for 1997 and 1996, respectively, an award percentage of 100% and a dividend accumulation period of five years. The LTI Program is a performance-based stock plan which awards performance shares to executive officers (Program Participants) of the company equal in value to 10% of the officer's annual base compensation. Each performance share is equal in value to one share of the company's common stock. Each Program Participant may be entitled to receive a common stock distribution based on the value of performance shares awarded multiplied by a distribution percentage not to exceed 110%. This distribution percentage is based upon the Program Participants' and the company's performance. Program Participants also receive cash equivalent to dividends on common stock for performance shares awarded. In 1995, the company granted 14,756 performance shares, with a weighted-average fair value of $28.81. The fair value of each performance share is based on market price at the date of grant. No performance shares were granted in 1997 or 1996. At December 31, 1997, shares granted in 1995 no longer have a remaining contractual life and will be paid in March 1998. 62 11. PROTECTION ONE STOCK WARRANTS AND OPTIONS Protection One has outstanding stock warrants and options which were considered reissued and exercisable upon the company's acquisition of Protection One on November 24, 1997. In lieu of adjusting the number of outstanding options and warrants, holders of options or warrants received a $7 per share equivalent cash payment in the acquisition. Stock option activity subsequent to the acquisition was as follows: Warrants and Options Price Range Balance at November 24, 1997. . . . . . 2,198,389 $0.05-$16.375 Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (306) $ 0.05 Surrendered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - Balance at December 31, 1997. . . . . . 2,198,083 $0.05-$16.375 Stock options and warrants outstanding at December 31, 1997 are as follows: Number Weighted Weighted Range of Outstanding Average Average Exercise and Remaining Life Exercise Price Exercisable (Years) Price $ 5.875-$ 9.125 244,560159,360 8 $ 6.5666.602 $ 8.000-$10.313 444,000384,300 8 $ 8.0768.088 $12.125-$16.375 148,000 8 $14.857 $ 9.50 278,000253,000 9 $ 9.50 $15.00 50,000 9 $15.00 $14.268 50,000 4 $14.268 $ 0.05 1,425 9 $ 0.05 $ 3.633 103,697 4 $ 3.633 $ 0.167 462,001 6 $ 0.167 $ 6.60 466,400 8 $ 6.60 The company holds a call option for an additional 2,750,238 shares of Protection One, exercisable at a price of $15.50. The option expires no later than October 31, 1999. Certain options outstanding have been issued as incentive awards to directors, officers, and key employees in accordance with Protection One's 1994 Stock Option Plan. Had the fair value based method been used to determine compensation expense for these stock options, recognition of the compensation costs would not have been material. 12. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value as set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107 "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments". Cash and cash equivalents, short-term borrowings and variable-rate debt are carried at cost which approximates fair value. The decommissioning trust is recorded at fair value and is based on the quoted market prices at December 31, 1997 and 1996. The fair value of fixed-rate debt, redeemable preference stock and other mandatorily redeemable securities is estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered for instruments of the same remaining maturities and 63 redemption provisions. The estimated fair values of contracts related to commodities have been determined using quoted market prices of the same or similar securities. The recorded amount of accounts receivable and other current financial instruments approximate fair value. The fair value estimates presented herein are based on information available at December 31, 1997 and 1996. These fair value estimates have not been comprehensively revalued for the purpose of these financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein. Because a substantial portion of the company's operations are regulated, the company believes that any gains or losses related to the retirement of debt or redemption of preferred securities would not have a material effect on the company's financial position or results of operations. The carrying values and estimated fair values of the company's financial instruments are as follows: Carrying Value Fair Value December 31, 1997 1996 1997 1996 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Decommissioning trust. . $ 43,514 $ 33,041 $ 43,514 $ 33,041 Fixed-rate debt. . . . . 2,019,103 1,224,743 2,101,167 1,260,722 Redeemable preference stock. . . . . . . . . 50,000 50,000 51,750 52,500 Other mandatorily redeemable securities. 220,000 220,000 226,088 214,800 The company is involved in both the marketing of electricity and risk management services to wholesale electric customers and the purchase of electricity for the company's retail customers. In addition to the purchase and sale of electricity, the company engages in price risk management activities, including the use of forward contracts, futures, swap agreements and put and call options. The availability and use of these types of contracts allow the company to manage and hedge its contractual commitments, reduce its exposure relative to the volatility of cash market prices and take advantage of selected arbitrage opportunities via open positions. Such open positions during 1997 were not material to the company's financial position or results of operations. In general, the company does not seek to take significant commodity risk for the purpose of generating margins in the ordinary course of its trading activities. The company has established a risk management policy designed to limit the company's exposure to price risk, and it continually monitors and reviews this policy to ensure that it is responsive to changing business conditions. This policy requires that, in general, positions taken with derivatives be offset by positions in physical transactions or other derivatives. Due to the illiquid nature of the emerging electric markets, net open positions in terms of price, volume and specified delivery point can occur. 64 December 31, 1997 1996 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Notional Notional Volumes Estimated Gain/ Volumes Estimated Gain/ (MWH's) Fair Value (loss) (mmbtu's) Fair Value (loss) Forward contracts 359,200 $9,086 $202 - - - Options 924,000 $1,790 ($329) - - - Natural gas futures - $ - $ - 6,540,000 $16,032 $2,061 Natural gas swaps - $ - $ - 2,344,000 $ 5,500 $1,315 In November 1997, the company contributed its natural gas marketing business to ONEOK. As a result, the company did not have any natural gas futures or natural gas swaps as of December 31, 1997. 13. COMMON STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK, PREFERENCE STOCK, AND OTHER MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE SECURITIES The company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, provide for 85,000,000 authorized shares of common stock. At December 31, 1997, 65,409,603 shares were outstanding. The company has a Direct Stock Purchase Plan (DRIP). Shares issued under the DRIP may be either original issue shares or shares purchased on the open market. The company has issued original issue shares under DRIP from January 1, 1995 until October 15, 1997. On November 1, 1997, DRIP began issuing shares purchased on the open market. During 1997, a total of 837,549 shares were issued under DRIP including 784,344 original issue shares and 53,205 shares purchased on the open market. At December 31, 1997, 1,244,617 shares were available under the DRIP registration statement. Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption: The cumulative preferred stock is redeemable in whole or in part on 30 to 60 days notice at the option of the company. Preference Stock Subject to Mandatory Redemption: The mandatory sinking fund provisions of the 7.58% Series preference stock require the company to redeem 25,000 shares annually beginning on April 1, 2002 and each April 1 through 2006 and the remaining shares on April 1, 2007, all at $100 per share. The company may, at its option, redeem up to an additional 25,000 shares on each April 1 at $100 per share. The 7.58% Series also is redeemable in whole or in part, at the option of the company, subject to certain restrictions on refunding, at a redemption price of $103.79, $103.03 and $102.27 per share beginning April 1, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. Other Mandatorily Redeemable Securities: On December 14, 1995, Western Resources Capital I, a wholly-owned trust, issued four million preferred securities of 7-7/8% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A, for $100 million. The trust interests represented by the preferred securities are redeemable at the option of Western Resources Capital I, on or after December 11, 2000, at $25 per preferred security plus accrued interest and unpaid dividends. Holders of the securities are entitled to receive distributions at an annual rate of 7-7/8% of the liquidation preference value of $25. Distributions are payable quarterly and in substance are tax deductible by the company. These distributions are recorded as interest expense. The sole asset of the trust is $103 million principal amount of 7-7/8% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series A due December 11, 2025 (the Subordinated Debentures). 65 On July 31, 1996, Western Resources Capital II, a wholly-owned trust, of which the sole asset is subordinated debentures of the company, sold in a public offering, 4.8 million shares of 8-1/2% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series B, for $120 million. The trust interests represented by the preferred securities are redeemable at the option of Western Resources Capital II, on or after July 31, 2001, at $25 per preferred security plus accumulated and unpaid distributions. Holders of the securities are entitled to receive distributions at an annual rate of 8-1/2% of the liquidation preference value of $25. Distributions are payable quarterly and in substance are tax deductible by the company. These distributions are recorded as interest expense. The sole asset of the trust is $124 million principal amount of 8-1/2% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures, Series B due July 31, 2036. In addition to the company's obligations under the Subordinated Debentures, the company has agreed to guarantee, on a subordinated basis, payment of distributions on the preferred securities. These undertakings constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the company of the trust's obligations under the preferred securities. 14. LEASES At December 31, 1997, the company had leases covering various property and equipment. The company currently has no significant capital leases. Rental payments for operating leases and estimated rental commitments are as follows: Operating Year Ended December 31, Leases (Dollars in Thousands) 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 63,353 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,181 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71,126 Future Commitments: 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,998 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,634 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,456 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,303 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,999 Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . 655,558 -------- Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $935,948 ======== In 1987, KGE sold and leased back its 50% undivided interest in the La Cygne 2 generating unit. The La Cygne 2 lease has an initial term of 29 years, with various options to renew the lease or repurchase the 50% undivided interest. KGE remains responsible for its share of operation and maintenance costs and other related operating costs of La Cygne 2. The lease is an operating lease for financial reporting purposes. The company recognized a gain on the sale which was deferred and is being amortized over the initial lease term. In 1992, the company deferred costs associated with the refinancing of the secured facility bonds of the Trustee and owner of La Cygne 2. These costs are being amortized over the life of the lease and are included in operating expense. Approximately $21.4 million of this deferral remained on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1997. Future minimum annual lease payments, included in the table above, required under the La Cygne 2 lease agreement are approximately $34.6 million for each year through 66 2002 and $576.6 million over the remainder of the lease. KGE's lease expense, net of amortization of the deferred gain and refinancing costs, was approximately $27.3 million for 1997 and $22.5 million for 1996 and 1995. 15. LONG-TERM DEBT The amount of the company's first mortgage bonds authorized by its Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated July 1, 1939, as supplemented, is unlimited. The amount of KGE's first mortgage bonds authorized by the KGE Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated April 1, 1940, as supplemented, is limited to a maximum of $2 billion. Amounts of additional bonds which may be issued are subject to property, earnings and certain restrictive provisions of each mortgage. 67 Debt discount and expenses are being amortized over the remaining lives of each issue. During the years 1998 through 2002, $21 million of other long-term debt will mature in 1998, $125 million of bonds and $42 million of other long-term debt will mature in 1999, $75 million of bonds will mature in 2000 and $100 million of bonds will mature in 2002. No other bonds will mature during this time period. Long-term debt outstanding is as follows at December 31: 1997 1996 ---------- ------- (Dollars in Thousands) Western Resources First mortgage bond series: 7 1/4% due 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 125,000 $ 125,000 8 7/8% due 2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,000 75,000 7 1/4% due 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 100,000 8 1/2% due 2022. . . . . . . . . . . . . 125,000 125,000 7.65% due 2023. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 100,000 ---------- ---------- 525,000 525,000 Pollution control bond series: Variable due 2032 (1). . . . . . . . . . 45,000 45,000 Variable due 2032 (2). . . . . . . . . . 30,500 30,500 6% due 2033. . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,420 58,420 ---------- ---------- 133,920 133,920 KGE First mortgage bond series: 7.60 % due 2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . 135,000 135,000 6 1/2% due 2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,000 65,000 6.20 % due 2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 100,000 ---------- ---------- 300,000 300,000 Pollution control bond series: 5.10 % due 2023. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,757 13,822 Variable due 2027 (3). . . . . . . . . . 21,940 21,940 7.0 % due 2031. . . . . . . . . . . . . 327,500 327,500 Variable due 2032 (4). . . . . . . . . . 14,500 14,500 Variable due 2032 (5). . . . . . . . . . 10,000 10,000 ---------- ---------- 387,697 387,762 Revolving credit agreement . . . . . . . . . - 275,000 Western Resources 6 7/8% unsecured senior notes due 2004. . . . . . . . . . . 370,000 - Western Resources 7 1/8% unsecured senior notes due 2009 . . . . . . . . . . 150,000 - Protection One 6.4% senior subordinated discount notes due 2005. . . . . . . . . 171,926 - Protection One 6.75% convertible senior subordinated discount notes due 2003. . . 102,500 - Other long-term agreements . . . . . . . . . 67,748 65,190 Less: Unamortized debt discount. . . . . . . . 5,719 5,289 Long-term debt due within one year . . . 21,217 - ---------- ---------- Long-term debt (net). . . . . . . . . . . . $2,181,855 $1,681,583 ========== ========== Rates at December 31, 1997: (1) 4.00%, (2) 4.05%, (3) 3.95%, (4) 3.85% and (5) 3.89% 68 Protection One maintains a $100 million revolving credit facility that expires in January 2000. Under the terms of this agreement, Protection One may, at its option, borrow at different market-based interest rates. At December 31, 1997, there were no borrowings under this facility. 16. SHORT-TERM DEBT The company has arrangements with certain banks to provide unsecured short-term lines of credit on a committed basis totaling approximately $773 million. The agreements provide the company with the ability to borrow at different market-based interest rates. The company pays commitment or facility fees in support of these lines of credit. Under the terms of the agreements, the company is required, among other restrictions, to maintain a total debt to total capitalization ratio of not greater than 65% at all times. The unused portion of these lines of credit are used to provide support for commercial paper. In addition, the company has agreements with several banks to borrow on an uncommitted, as available, basis at money-market rates quoted by the banks. There are no costs, other than interest, for these agreements. The company also uses commercial paper to fund its short-term borrowing requirements. Information regarding the company's short-term borrowings, comprised of borrowings under the credit agreements, bank loans and commercial paper, is as follows: December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Borrowings outstanding at year end: Lines of credit $ - $525,000 $ - Bank loans 161,000 162,300 177,600 Commercial paper notes 75,500 293,440 25,850 -------- -------- -------- Total $236,500 $980,740 $203,450 ======== ======== ======== Weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding at year end (including fees) 6.28% 5.94% 6.02% Weighted average short-term debt outstanding during the year $787,507 $491,136 $301,871 Weighted daily average interest rates during the year (including fees) 5.93% 5.72% 6.15% Unused lines of credit supporting commercial paper notes $772,850 $447,850 $121,075 69 17. INCOME TAXES Income tax expense is composed of the following components at December 31: 1997 1996 1995 -------- -------- ------ (Dollars in Thousands) Currently payable: Federal. . . . . . . . . $336,150 $54,644 $50,674 State. . . . . . . . . . 72,143 20,280 17,003 Deferred: Federal. . . . . . . . . (19,766) 14,808 22,911 State. . . . . . . . . . (3,217) (615) 601 Amortization of investment tax credits . . . . . . . (6,665) (6,758) (6,809) -------- ------- ------- Total income tax expense . $378,645 $82,359 $84,380 ======== ======= ======= Under SFAS 109, temporary differences gave rise to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as follows at December 31: 1997 1996 ---------- ------- (Dollars in Thousands) Deferred tax assets: Deferred gain on sale-leaseback. . . . . $ 97,634 $ 99,466 Security business deferred tax assets. . 103,054 - Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,008 30,195 ---------- ---------- Total deferred tax assets. . . . . . . $ 294,696 $ 129,661 ========== ========== Deferred tax liabilities: Accelerated depreciation and other . . . $ 625,176 $ 654,102 Acquisition premium. . . . . . . . . . . 299,162 307,242 Deferred future income taxes . . . . . . 213,658 217,257 Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112,555 61,432 ---------- ---------- Total deferred tax liabilities . . . . $1,250,551 $1,240,033 ========== ========== Investment tax credits . . . . . . . . . . $ 109,710 $ 125,528 ========== ========== Accumulated deferred income taxes, net . . $1,065,565 $1,235,900 ========== ========== In accordance with various rate orders, the company has not yet collected through rates certain accelerated tax deductions which have been passed on to customers. As management believes it is probable that the net future increases in income taxes payable will be recovered from customers, it has recorded a deferred asset for these amounts. These assets also are a temporary difference for which deferred income tax liabilities have been provided. The effective income tax rates set forth below are computed by dividing total federal and state income taxes by the sum of such taxes and net income. The difference between the effective tax rates and the federal statutory income tax rates are as follows: 70 Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Effective Income Tax Rate. . . . . . . . . 43.4% 32.8% 31.8% Effect of: State income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . (5.0) (5.1) (4.3) Amortization of investment tax credits. . 0.8 2.7 2.5 Corporate-owned life insurance policies . 0.9 3.7 3.2 Accelerated depreciation flow through and amortization, net . . . . . . . . . (0.4) (.2) (.2) Adjustment to tax provision . . . . . . . (3.7) - - Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1.0) 1.1 2.0 Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate. . . . . 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 18. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment at December 31: 1997 1996 ---------- ------- (Dollars in Thousands) Electric plant in service. . . . . . . $5,564,695 $5,448,489 Natural gas plant in service . . . . . - 834,330 ---------- ---------- 5,564,695 6,282,819 Less - accumulated depreciation. . . . 1,895,084 2,058,596 ---------- ---------- 3,669,611 4,224,223 Construction work in progress. . . . . 60,006 93,834 Nuclear fuel (net) . . . . . . . . . . 40,696 38,461 ---------- ---------- Net utility plant. . . . . . . . . . 3,770,313 4,356,518 Non-utility plant in service . . . . . 20,237 41,965 Less - accumulated depreciation. . . . 4,022 14,466 ---------- ---------- Net property, plant and equipment. . $3,786,528 $4,384,017 ========== ========== The carrying value of long-lived assets, including intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate they may not be recoverable. 19. JOINT OWNERSHIP OF UTILITY PLANTS Company's Ownership at December 31, 1997 In-Service Invest- Accumulated Net Per- Dates ment Depreciation (MW) cent (Dollars in Thousands) La Cygne 1 (a) Jun 1973 $ 162,400 $109,481 343 50 Jeffrey 1 (b) Jul 1978 291,624 131,397 617 84 Jeffrey 2 (b) May 1980 290,468 121,854 617 84 Jeffrey 3 (b) May 1983 403,046 153,084 605 84 Wolf Creek (c) Sep 1985 1,380,660 399,551 547 47 (a) Jointly owned with KCPL (b) Jointly owned with UtiliCorp United Inc. (c) Jointly owned with KCPL and Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Amounts and capacity presented above represent the company's share. The company's share of operating expenses of the plants in service above, as well as such expenses 71 for a 50% undivided interest in La Cygne 2 (representing 334 MW capacity) sold and leased back to the company in 1987, are included in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The company's share of other transactions associated with the plants is included in the appropriate classification in the company's Consolidated Financial Statements. 20. SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS The company is a diversified energy and security alarm monitoring service company principally engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in Kansas and a security alarm monitoring provider for residential and multi-family units operating in 48 states in the U.S. through Protection One. Electric consists of the company's regulated electric utility business. Natural gas includes the company's regulated and non-regulated natural gas business. Security alarm monitoring includes the company's security alarm monitoring business activities, including installation activities. Energy related includes the company's international power development projects and other domestic energy related services. Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) Sales: Electric. . . . . . . . . . . $1,160,166 $1,197,441 $1,146,869 Natural gas(1). . . . . . . . 739,059 797,021 436,692 Security alarm monitoring . . 152,347 8,546 344 Energy related. . . . . . . . 100,193 43,819 160,369 ---------- ---------- ---------- 2,151,765 2,046,827 1,744,274 ---------- ---------- ---------- Income from operations: Electric. . . . . . . . . . . 207,026 347,097 360,321 Natural gas(1). . . . . . . . 27,840 43,111 8,457 Security alarm monitoring . . (48,442) (3,553) (787) Energy related. . . . . . . . (43,499) 1,898 5,730 ---------- ---------- ---------- $ 142,925 $ 388,553 $ 373,721 ========== ========== ========== Identifiable assets at December 31: Electric. . . . . . . . . . . $4,640,322 $4,735,335 $4,740,817 Natural gas(1). . . . . . . . - 724,302 623,198 Security alarm monitoring . . 1,504,738 488,849 5,615 Energy related. . . . . . . . 831,900 699,295 121,047 ---------- ---------- ---------- $6,976,960 $6,647,781 $5,490,677 ========== ========== ========== Depreciation and amortization: Electric. . . . . . . . . . . $ 183,339 $ 170,094 $ 150,997 Natural gas(1). . . . . . . . 29,941 28,011 25,075 Security alarm monitoring . . 41,179 944 45 Energy related. . . . . . . . 2,266 2,282 1,713 ---------- ---------- ---------- $ 256,725 $ 201,331 $ 177,830 ========== ========== ========== Capital expenditures: Electric. . . . . . . . . . . $ 159,760 $ 138,475 $ 179,090 Natural gas(1). . . . . . . . 47,151 57,128 62,901 Security alarm monitoring . . 45,163 - - Energy related. . . . . . . . 47,845 - - ---------- ---------- ------- $ 299,919 $ 195,603 $ 241,991 ========== ========== ========== (1) On November 30, 1997 the company contributed substantially all of its natural gas segment in exchange for an equity interest in ONEOK. 72 21. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED) The amounts in the table are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results of such periods. The business of the company is seasonal in nature and, in the opinion of management, comparisons between the quarters of a year do not give a true indication of overall trends and changes in operations. First Second Third Fourth (Dollars in Thousands, except Per Share Amounts) 1997 Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . $626,198 $454,006 $559,996 $511,565 Income from operations(1) . . . 103,297 57,498 110,391 (128,261) Net income(1),(2) . . . . . . . 41,033 24,335 508,372 (79,646) Earnings applicable to common stock. . . . . . . . . 39,803 23,106 507,142 (80,876) Basic earnings per share. . . . $ 0.61 $ 0.36 $ 7.77 $ (1.23) Dividends per share . . . . . . $ 0.525 $ 0.525 $ 0.525 $ 0.525 Average common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . 64,807 65,045 65,243 65,408 Common stock price: High. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 31.50 $ 32.75 $ 35.00 $ 43.438 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 30.00 $ 29.75 $ 32.25 $ 33.625 1996 Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . $555,623 $436,123 $490,175 $564,906 Income from operations. . . . . 95,475 73,196 129,504 90,378 Net income. . . . . . . . . . . 44,789 28,746 62,949 32,466 Earnings applicable to common stock. . . . . . . . . 41,434 25,392 56,049 31,236 Basic earnings per share. . . . $ 0.66 $ 0.40 $ 0.87 $ 0.48 Dividends per share . . . . . . $ 0.515 $ 0.515 $ 0.515 $ 0.515 Average common shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . 63,164 63,466 64,161 64,523 Common stock price: High. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 34.875 $ 30.75 $ 30.75 $ 31.75 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 29.25 $ 28.00 $ 28.25 $ 28.625 (1) During the fourth quarter of 1997, the company expensed deferred costs of approximately $48 million associated with the original KCPL merger agreement. Protection One recorded a special charge to income of approximately $40 million. (2) During the third quarter of 1997, the company recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $864 million upon selling its Tyco common stock. 73 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The information relating to the company's Directors required by Item 10 is set forth in the company's definitive proxy statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC. Such information is incorporated herein by reference to the material appearing under the caption Election of Directors in the proxy statement to be filed by the company with the SEC. See EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY in the proxy statement for the information relating to the company's Executive Officers as required by Item 10. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information required by Item 11 is set forth in the company's definitive proxy statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC. Such information is incorporated herein by reference to the material appearing under the captions Information Concerning the Board of Directors, Executive Compensation, Compensation Plans, and Human Resources Committee Report in the proxy statement to be filed by the company with the SEC. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The information required by Item 12 is set forth in the company's definitive proxy statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC. Such information is incorporated herein by reference to the material appearing under the caption Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities in the proxy statement to be filed by the company with the SEC. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS None. 74 PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K The following financial statements are included herein. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Report of Independent Public Accountants Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 1997 and 1996 Consolidated Statements of Income, for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 Consolidated Statements of Cumulative Preferred and Preference Stock, December 31, 1997 and 1996 Consolidated Statements of Common Shareowners' Equity, for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements SCHEDULES Schedules omitted as not applicable or not required under the Rules of regulation S-X: I, II, III, IV, and V REPORTS ON FORM 8-K Form 8-K filed November 24, 1997 - Press release regarding the closing of the combination of the security businesses of the company and Protection One, Inc. Form 8-K filed January 5, 1998 - Press release regarding merger with Kansas City Power and Light Company. Form 8-K filed March 23, 1998 - Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between the company and KCPL, dated as of March 18, 1998. 75 EXHIBIT INDEX All exhibits marked "I" are incorporated herein by reference. Description 3(a) -Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between I the company and KCPL, dated as of March 18, 1998. (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the March 23, 1998 Form 8-K) 3(b) -By-laws of the company. (filed as Exhibit 3 to the I March 31, 1997 Form 10-Q) 3(b)3(c) -Agreement and Plan of Merger between the company and KCPL, I dated as of February 7, 1997. (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the February 10, 1997 Form 8-K) 3(c)3(d) -Agreement between the company and ONEOK dated as of I December 12, 1996. (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the December 12, 1997 Form 8-K) 3(d)3(e) -Form of Shareholder Agreement between New ONEOK and the I company. (filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the December 12, 1997 Form 8-K) 3(e)3(f) -Restated Articles of Incorporation of the company, as amended I May 7, 1996. (filed as Exhibit 3(a) to June, 1996 Form 10-Q) 3(f)3(g) -Restated Articles of Incorporation of the company, as amended I May 25, 1988. (filed as Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-23022) 3(g)3(h) -Certificate of Correction to Restated Articles of Incorporation. I (filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the December 1991 Form 10-K) 3(h)3(i) -Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended I May 5, 1992. (filed as Exhibit 3(c) to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 3(i)3(j) -Amendments to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the I Company (filed as Exhibit 3 to the June 1994 Form 10-Q) 3(j)3(k) -Certificate of Designation of Preference Stock, 8.50% Series, I without par value. (filed as Exhibit 3(d) to the December 1993 Form 10-K) 3(k)3(l) -Certificate of Designation of Preference Stock, 7.58% Series, I without par value. (filed as Exhibit 3(e) to the December 1993 Form 10-K) 4(a) -Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures dated November 29, I 1995, between the company and Wilmington Trust Delaware, Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4(c) to Registration Statement No. 33-63505) 4(b) -Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated July 1, 1939 between the Company I and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Trustee. (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(c) -First through Fifteenth Supplemental Indentures dated July 1, I 1939, April 1, 1949, July 20, 1949, October 1, 1949, December 1, 1949, October 4, 1951, December 1, 1951, May 1, 1952, October 1, 1954, September 1, 1961, April 1, 1969, September 1, 1970, February 1, 1975, May 1, 1976 and April 1, 1977, respectively. (filed as Exhibit 4(b) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(d) -Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated June 1, 1977. (filed as I Exhibit 2-D to Registration Statement No. 2-60207) 4(e) -Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1978. I (filed as Exhibit 2-E to Registration Statement No. 2-61310) 4(f) -Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated January 1, 1979. (filed I as Exhibit (b) (1)-9 to Registration Statement No. 2-64231) 4(g) -Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated May 1, 1980. (filed as I 76 Exhibit 4(f) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(h) -Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated November 1, 1981. (filed I as Exhibit 4(g) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(i) -Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated April 1, 1982. (filed I as Exhibit 4(h) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(j) -Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1983. I (filed as Exhibit 4(i) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(k) -Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 2, 1986. I (filed as Exhibit 4(j) to Registration Statement No. 33-12054) 4(l) -Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated March 1, 1987. I (filed as Exhibit 4(k) to Registration Statement No. 33-21739) 4(m) -Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 1988. I (filed as Exhibit 4 to the September 1988 Form 10-Q) 4(n) -Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated February 15, 1990. I (filed as Exhibit 4(m) to the December 1989 Form 10-K) 4(o) -Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated March 12, 1992. I (filed as exhibit 4(n) to the December 1991 Form 10-K) 4(p) -Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated July 1, 1992. I (filed as exhibit 4(o) to the December 1992 Form 10-K) 4(q) -Twenty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated August 20, 1992. I (filed as exhibit 4(p) to the December 1992 Form 10-K) 4(r) -Thirtieth Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1993. I (filed as exhibit 4(q) to the December 1992 Form 10-K) 4(s) -Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated April 15, 1993. I (filed as exhibit 4(r) to Registration Statement No. 33-50069) 4(t) -Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated April 15, 1994, (filed as Exhibit 4(s) to the December 31, 1994 Form 10-K) Instruments defining the rights of holders of other long-term debt not required to be filed as exhibits will be furnished to the Commission upon request. 10(a) -Long-term Incentive and Share Award Plan (filed as Exhibit I 10(a) to the June 1996 Form 10-Q) 10(b) -Form of Employment Agreement with officers of the Company I (filed as Exhibit 10(b) to the June 1996 Form 10-Q) 10(c) -A Rail Transportation Agreement among Burlington Northern I Railroad Company, the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10 to the June 1994 Form 10-Q) 10(d) -Agreement between the Company and AMAX Coal West Inc. I effective March 31, 1993. (filed as Exhibit 10(a) to the December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 10(e) -Agreement between the Company and Williams Natural Gas Company I dated October 1, 1993. (filed as Exhibit 10(b) to the December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 10(f) -Letter of Agreement between The Kansas Power and Light Company I and John E. Hayes, Jr., dated November 20, 1989. (filed as Exhibit 10(w) to the December 31, 1989 Form 10-K) 10(g) -Amended Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among The Kansas I Power and Light Company, KCA Corporation, and Kansas Gas and Electric Company, dated as of October 28, 1990, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of January 18, 1991. (filed as Annex A to Registration Statement No. 33-38967) 10(h) -Deferred Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(i) to the I December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 10(i) -Long-term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(j) to the I December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 77 10(j) -Short-term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10(k) to the I December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 10(k) -Outside Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit I 10(l) to the December 31, 1993 Form 10-K) 10(l) -Executive Salary Continuation Plan of Western Resources, Inc., I as revised, effective September 22, 1995. (filed as Exhibit 10(j)to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 10(m) -Executive Salary Continuation Plan for John E. Hayes, Jr., I Dated March 15, 1995. (filed as Exhibit 10(k) to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 10(n) -Stock Purchase Agreement between the company and Laidlaw I Transportation Inc., dated December 21, 1995. (filed as Exhibit 10(l) to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 10(o) -Equity Agreement between the company and Laidlaw Transportation I Inc., dated December 21, 1995. (filed as Exhibit 10(l)1 to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 10(p) -Letter Agreement between the company and David C. Wittig, I dated April 27, 1995. (filed as Exhibit 10(m) to the December 31, 1995 Form 10-K) 12 -Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges. (filed electronically) 21 -Subsidiaries of the Registrant. (filed electronically) 23 -Consent of Independent Public Accountants, Arthur Andersen LLP (filed electronically) 27 -Financial Data Schedule (filed electronically) 78 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. March 17,30, 1998 By /s/ JOHN E. HAYES, JR. John E. Hayes, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 79 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated: Signature Title Date Chairman of the Board, /s/ JOHN E. HAYES, JR. and Chief Executive Officer March 17,30, 1998 (John E. Hayes, Jr.) (Principal Executive Officer) Executive Vice President and /s/ S. L. KITCHEN Chief Financial Officer March 17,30, 1998 - --------------------------- (S. L. Kitchen) (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ FRANK J. BECKER (Frank J. Becker) /s/ GENE A. BUDIG (Gene A. Budig) /s/ C. Q. CHANDLER (C. Q. Chandler) /s/ THOMAS R. CLEVENGER (Thomas R. Clevenger) /s/ JOHN C. DICUS Directors March 17,30, 1998 - --------------------------- (John C. Dicus) /s/ DAVID H. HUGHES (David H. Hughes) /s/ RUSSELL W. MEYER, JR. (Russell W. Meyer, Jr.) /s/ JOHN H. ROBINSON (John H. Robinson) /s/ LOUIS W. SMITH (Louis W. Smith) /s/ DAVID C. WITTIG (David C. Wittig) 80