Exhibit 99

Media Contact: Tom Robinson
816-556-2902

Investor Contact: Todd Kobayashi
816-556-2904

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY ANNOUNCES RECORD WHOLESALE SALES
AND THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL STRATEGIC ENERGY STAKE

KANSAS CITY, MO, April 21, 2004 –Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP) today announced first quarter 2004 earnings of $26.9 million, or $0.39 per share compared to first quarter 2003 earnings of $14.1 million, or $0.20 per share. Ongoing earnings, defined as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) earnings adjusted for certain unusual items, were $29.1 million or $0.42 per share, compared to $21.6 million or $0.31 per share in the first quarter of 2003. Ongoing earnings exclude KLT Gas and other discontinued operations.

Great Plains Energy also announced the purchase of an additional 11.45% stake in Strategic Energy for $88.8 million increasing its ownership to approximately 99%. The acquisition, subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval, is expected to be minimally accretive to the Company’s 2004 earnings.

For 2004, the Company affirms ongoing earnings guidance to be in the range of $2.20 to $2.32 per share.

First Quarter Highlights:


	-		KCP&L reported record wholesale revenues of $53.6 million, an increase of 16%.

	-		KCP&L's coal fleet availability rose to 82.5% compared to 75.7% last year.

	-		Strategic Energy continued its expansion with a 16% increase in MWh's delivered.

	-		Great Plains Energy announced the purchase of an additional stake in Strategic
			Energy increasing its ownership position to approximately 99%.

Chairman Michael Chesser commented, “Our continued focus on KCP&L’s operational excellence drove substantial improvement in the generation fleet’s availability, leading to record gains in wholesale sales.” He continued, “ With the additional investment of Strategic Energy, we are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in both regulated and competitive markets.”

Kansas City Power & Light

KCP&L, an integrated and regulated electric utility, reported earnings for the current quarter of $21.6 million or $0.31 per share compared to $13.4 million, or $0.19 per share in 2003. First quarter revenues were $246.5 million, up 5% from $234.4 million in the first quarter of 2003.

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Record wholesale revenues of $53.6 million were driven by significantly higher coal fleet availability when compared to last year. The coal fleet equivalent availability of 82.5% was achieved by the timing of scheduled plant maintenance outages and proactive plant maintenance. The increased availability combined with successful sales efforts drove a 15% increase in wholesale sales to 1.7 million MWh during the first quarter of 2004 compared to the first quarter of 2003. Wholesale electricity prices were favorable in the quarter when compared to the average price for all of 2003, while approximately 5% lower than the first quarter of 2003.

Retail revenues increased approximately 2% to $189.2 million in 2004 compared to the same period last year. Weather, as measured by heating degree-days, was 3% milder than normal in the first quarter of 2004 and 4% milder than the first quarter of 2003. Adjusted for weather, KCP&L’s retail growth was approximately 3%.

Strategic Energy

Strategic Energy, a competitive electricity supplier, continued its expansion in the first quarter. Revenues were $294.5 million, up 28% compared to $229.2 million last year. Earnings for the current quarter were $9.3 million or $0.13 per share compared to $9.8 million or $0.14 per share last year. MWh’s delivered increased 16% to 4.4 million from 3.8 million in the same period of 2003. This increase was more than offset by previously forecasted margin reduction driven primarily by the expiration of older, higher margin contracts. As projected, gross margin per MWh declined to $6.86 compared to $7.70 in the same quarter last year. Strategic Energy’s expected gross margin per MWh range for the year remains $6.20-6.50. Margins on new business remain in the $5.00-$6.00 per MWh range.

New customer accounts grew by 48% to almost 50,000 compared to approximately 33,800 in last year’s first quarter. The customer re-sign rate remained firm at approximately 80% and the average contract length remained approximately 1.7 years.

Great Plains Energy announced the purchase of an additional 11.45% stake in Strategic Energy for $88.8 million, increasing the ownership stake to approximately 99%. This transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter, subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval.

“We are pleased with the success Strategic Energy has created in the competitive supply market. This acquisition will bring our total investment in the company to approximately $125 million, a small portion of their total enterprise value,” commented Chesser. “We believe the depth of the experienced management team at Strategic Energy along with their strong performance track record will allow us to fully participate in the future growth of this business.”

The value of the stake was determined through independent third party appraisers that conducted in-depth reviews of Strategic Energy. They examined the market opportunity, growth potential, and competitive landscape among other factors to determine an estimated value for the business.

Rick Zomnir, CEO of Strategic Energy, will leave the company upon the completion of the search for his successor.

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KLT Gas

As previously announced, the Company is in the process of exiting the gas business. KLT Gas’ financial results are reported as discontinued operations and are not reflected in ongoing earnings. The Company anticipates completing a sale of the business before year-end.

The Company wrote down the KLT Gas portfolio to its estimated net realizable value, which reduced first quarter 2004 earnings by $1.2 million, or $0.02 per share. The first quarter 2004 loss from discontinued operations also reflects a $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share loss from the wind down operations. The first quarter of 2003 reflects a loss from discontinued operations of $6.3 million, or $0.09 per share and includes a $5.5 million, or $0.08 per share loss related to an impairment on a Rocky Mountain project.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Great Plains Energy provides in its quarterly earnings releases descriptions of “ongoing earnings” in addition to earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP. Great Plains Energy also provides its earnings guidance in terms of ongoing earnings. Ongoing earnings are a non-GAAP financial measure that differs from GAAP earnings because it excludes the effect of certain unusual items. Ongoing earnings are reconciled to GAAP earnings for the same periods on Attachment B. Great Plains Energy is unable to reconcile its ongoing earnings guidance to GAAP earnings per share because we do not predict the future impact of unusual items.

We believe ongoing earnings provide to investors a useful indicator of our results that are comparable among periods because it excludes the effects of unusual items, which may occur on an irregular basis. Investors should note that this non-GAAP measure involves judgments by management including whether an item is classified as an unusual item. We use ongoing earnings internally to measure performance against budget and in reports for management.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP), headquartered in Kansas City, MO, is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company, a leading regulated provider of electricity in the Midwest; and Strategic Energy LLC, a competitive electricity supplier. The Company’s web site is www.greatplainsenergy.com.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated will broadcast a discussion of these results via web cast on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 9:00 AM EDT / 8:00 AM CDT. The web cast can be accessed on the Company’s web site:www.greatplainsenergy.com. A replay will be available on the web site.

CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION — Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include: future economic conditions in the regional, national and international markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale electricity markets; market perception of the energy industry and the Company; changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry and constraints placed on the Company’s actions by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on the Company’s pension plan assets and costs; ability to maintain current credit ratings; inflation rates;

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effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts; increased competition including, but not limited to, retail choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including weather-related damage; cost, availability and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence of unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses; performance of projects undertaken by the Company’s non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; and other risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors.

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Attachment A

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)


Three Months Ended March 31	2004			2003
	(thousands)
Operating Revenues
Electric revenues - KCP&L	$	246,535		$	234,392
Electric revenues - Strategic Energy		294,111			228,952
Other revenues		832			864

Total		541,478			464,208

Operating Expenses
Fuel		40,600			37,394
Purchased power - KCP&L		12,467			16,073
Purchased power - Strategic Energy		264,354			199,943
Other		79,734			69,505
Maintenance		20,471			22,952
Depreciation and depletion		36,520			35,267
General taxes		24,721			24,408
Gain on property		(35	)		(27	)

Total		478,832			405,515

Operating income		62,646			58,693
Loss from equity investments		(307	)		(293	)
Minority interest in subsidiaries		(845	)		(2,254	)
Non-operating income		1,412			1,265
Non-operating expenses		(2,902	)		(4,722	)
Interest charges		(18,339	)		(19,474	)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes		41,665			33,215
Income taxes		12,163			11,131

Income from continuing operations		29,502			22,084
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(2,178	)		(7,529	)

Net income		27,324			14,555
Preferred stock dividend requirements		411			411

Earnings available for common stock	$	26,913		$	14,144


Average number of common shares outstanding		69,257			69,190

Basic and diluted earnings per common share
Continuing operations	$	0.42		$	0.31
Discontinued operations		(0.03	)		(0.11	)

Basic and diluted earnings per common share	$	0.39		$	0.20


Cash dividends per common share	$	0.415		$	0.415

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Attachment B

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Earnings and Earnings Per Share
Three Months Ended March 31


							Earnings per Great
	Earnings						Plains Energy Share

	2004			2003			2004			2003

	(millions)

KCP&L	$	21.6		$	13.4		$	0.31		$	0.19
Strategic Energy		9.3			9.8			0.13			0.14
KLT Investments		3.2			2.3			0.05			0.03
Other		(4.6	)		(3.5	)		(0.06	)		(0.04	)

Earnings from continuing operations		29.5			22.0			0.43			0.32
KLT Gas discontinued operations,
net of income taxes		(2.2	)		(6.3	)		(0.03	)		(0.09	)
R. S. Andrews discontinued operations,
net of income taxes		-			(1.2	)		-			(0.02	)
Preferred dividends		(0.4	)		(0.4	)		(0.01	)		(0.01	)

Earnings available for common stock	$	26.9		$	14.1		$	0.39		$	0.20


Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP
Earnings available for common stock	$	26.9		$	14.1		$	0.39		$	0.20
Reconciling items
KLT Gas -- Discontinued operations		2.2			6.3			0.03			0.09
R. S. Andrews -- Discontinued operations		-			1.2			-			0.02

Ongoing earnings	$	29.1		$	21.6		$	0.42		$	0.31

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Attachment C

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Summary Income Statement by Segment
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004


	Consolidated						Strategic
	GPE			KCP&L			Energy			Other

				(millions)
Operating revenues	$	541.5		$	246.5		$	294.5		$	0.5
Fuel		(40.6	)		(40.6	)		-			-
Purchased power		(276.8	)		(12.5	)		(264.3	)		-
Other operating expense		(125.0	)		(107.6	)		(11.7	)		(5.7	)
Depreciation and depletion		(36.5	)		(35.7	)		(0.6	)		(0.2	)

Operating income (loss)		62.6			50.1			17.9			(5.4	)
Loss from equity investments		(0.3	)		-			-			(0.3	)
Non-operating income (expenses)		(2.3	)		0.9			(1.9	)		(1.3	)
Interest charges		(18.3	)		(17.1	)		0.5			(1.7	)
Income taxes		(12.2	)		(12.3	)		(7.2	)		7.3
Discontinued operations (KLT Gas)		(2.2	)		-			-			(2.2	)

Net income (loss)	$	27.3		$	21.6		$	9.3		$	(3.6	)

Earnings (loss) per GPE common share	$	0.39		$	0.31		$	0.13		$	(0.05	)

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Attachment D

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)


	March 31		December 31
	2004		2003
	(thousands)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	91,298	$	114,227
Restricted cash		19,556		20,850
Receivables		234,240		240,344
Fuel inventories, at average cost		19,770		22,543
Materials and supplies, at average cost		55,187		56,599
Deferred income taxes		1,716		686
Assets of discontinued operations		27,825		27,830
Other		23,772		14,293

Total		473,364		497,372

Nonutility Property and Investments
Affordable housing limited partnerships		50,461		52,644
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund		77,846		74,965
Other		43,004		44,428

Total		171,311		172,037

Utility Plant, at Original Cost
Electric		4,751,378		4,700,983
Less-accumulated depreciation		2,113,132		2,082,419

Net utility plant in service		2,638,246		2,618,564
Construction work in progress		62,899		53,250
Nuclear fuel, net of amortization of $116,950 and $113,472		28,519		29,120

Total		2,729,664		2,700,934

Deferred Charges
Regulatory assets		146,326		145,627
Prepaid pension costs		103,228		108,247
Goodwill		26,105		26,105
Other deferred charges		33,557		31,628

Total		309,216		311,607

Total	$	3,683,555	$	3,681,950

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Attachment D [continued]

GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)


	March 31			December 31
	2004			2003
	(thousands)
LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION
Current Liabilities
Notes payable	$	95,850		$	87,000
Current maturities of long-term debt		59,303			59,303
EIRR bonds classified as current		129,288			129,288
Accounts payable		186,525			186,747
Accrued taxes		42,745			39,886
Accrued interest		12,034			11,937
Accrued payroll and vacations		22,994			34,762
Accrued refueling outage costs		4,400			1,760
Supplier collateral		19,556			20,850
Liabilities of discontinued operations		3,855			4,607
Other		22,911			28,944

Total		599,461			605,084

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes		611,637			609,333
Deferred investment tax credits		36,575			37,571
Asset retirement obligations		108,398			106,694
Pension liability		90,402			89,488
Other		77,565			79,141

Total		924,577			922,227

Capitalization
Common stock equity
Common stock-150,000,000 shares authorized without par value
69,259,203 shares issued, stated value		611,424			611,424
Unearned compensation		(1,580	)		(1,633	)
Capital stock premium and expense		(7,228	)		(7,240	)
Retained earnings		389,867			391,750
Treasury stock-448 and 3,265 shares, at cost		(15	)		(121	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(33,347	)		(36,886	)

Total		959,121			957,294
Cumulative preferred stock $100 par value
3.80% - 100,000 shares issued		10,000			10,000
4.50% - 100,000 shares issued		10,000			10,000
4.20% - 70,000 shares issued		7,000			7,000
4.35% - 120,000 shares issued		12,000			12,000

Total		39,000			39,000
Long-term debt		1,161,396			1,158,345

Total		2,159,517			2,154,639

Commitments and Contingencies

Total	$	3,683,555		$	3,681,950

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Attachment E

Ongoing Earnings Guidance


	2003			2004 Range

Kansas City Power & Light	$	1.68		$	1.68		$	1.74

Strategic Energy*		0.57			0.57			0.60

KLT Investments		0.12			0.15			0.17

Other**		(0.22	)		(0.20	)		(0.19	)


Consolidated Ongoing EPS***	$	2.15		$	2.20		$	2.32

*Represents Great Plains Energy’s 89% indirect ownership interest in Strategic Energy.

**Other includes Home Service Solutions, Holding Company cost and other miscellaneous items.

*** 2004 ongoing earnings guidance excludes the effect of KLT Gas operations and divestiture costs of $0.05 to $0.08 per share. Great Plains Energy is unable to reconcile its 2004 ongoing earnings guidance to GAAP earnings per share because we do not predict the future impact of unusual items. The impact of unusual items could be material to our operating results computed in accordance with GAAP.

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