Great Plains Energy
Aquila Transaction Update
Exhibit 99.1
2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding projected delivered volumes and margins, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of
the comprehensive energy plan and other matters affecting future operations. In connection with the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the registrants are 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, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L; 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; decisions of regulators regarding rates KCP&L can charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws,
regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to,
air and water 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 pension plan assets and costs; credit ratings; inflation rates;
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, quality and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and
the occurrence and duration of unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost increases
of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth
opportunities in non-regulated businesses and the effects of competition; workforce risks including compensation and
benefits costs; performance of projects undertaken by non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and
develop new opportunities; the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans (including the
acquisition of Aquila, Inc., and Aquila’s sale of assets to Black Hills Corporation); the outcome of Great Plains Energy’s review
of strategic and structural alternatives for its subsidiary Strategic Energy, L.L.C.; and other risks and uncertainties. Other
risk factors are detailed from time to time in Great Plains Energy’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual
report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is
not possible to predict all factors.
uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding projected delivered volumes and margins, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of
the comprehensive energy plan and other matters affecting future operations. In connection with the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the registrants are 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, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L; 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; decisions of regulators regarding rates KCP&L can charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws,
regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to,
air and water 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 pension plan assets and costs; credit ratings; inflation rates;
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, quality and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and
the occurrence and duration of unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost increases
of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth
opportunities in non-regulated businesses and the effects of competition; workforce risks including compensation and
benefits costs; performance of projects undertaken by non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and
develop new opportunities; the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans (including the
acquisition of Aquila, Inc., and Aquila’s sale of assets to Black Hills Corporation); the outcome of Great Plains Energy’s review
of strategic and structural alternatives for its subsidiary Strategic Energy, L.L.C.; and other risks and uncertainties. Other
risk factors are detailed from time to time in Great Plains Energy’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual
report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is
not possible to predict all factors.
Forward Looking Statement
Great Plains Energy
Aquila Transaction Update
Mike Chesser,
Chairman and CEO
Chairman and CEO
4
• Strong performance at KCP&L
• Comprehensive Energy Plan
• Sierra Club agreement
• Strategic alternative review of
Strategic Energy
Strategic Energy
• Pending acquisition of Aquila’s
Missouri electric operations
Missouri electric operations
Strategic Context - - GPE / KCP&L
5
ü Strong support for transaction from
shareholders of both companies
shareholders of both companies
ü FERC approval received
ü Nebraska, Iowa, & Colorado approval of
Black Hills transaction
Black Hills transaction
ü Kansas settlement reached for Black Hills;
agreement in principle for Great Plains
agreement in principle for Great Plains
• Missouri hearings expected to begin in April
• Transaction anticipated to close in first half
of 2008
of 2008
+
FORGING A STRONGER
REGIONAL UTILITY
Aquila Transaction Update
6
Highlights of Revised Missouri Proposal
• Earlier savings to customers, plus mitigation of
future rate increases for both companies
future rate increases for both companies
• Recovery of interest on Aquila non-investment grade
debt through 2012 consistent with Aquila’s current
approach
debt through 2012 consistent with Aquila’s current
approach
• Great Plains shareholders see accretion beginning in
year 2
year 2
• Aquila shareholders become part of a financially
stronger company, including investment grade credit
rating and dividend payment
stronger company, including investment grade credit
rating and dividend payment
7
Note: Projection based on terms of revised regulatory proposal, including synergy capture assumptions
Customer Savings
Projected Customer Savings Mitigate
Future Rate Increases
Future Rate Increases
Revised Proposal
Terry Bassham, CFO
Executive Vice President
Finance & Strategic Development
Executive Vice President
Finance & Strategic Development
9
• Agreement in principle reached
• Terms of agreement will remain confidential until
definitive document is signed and filed with the
Commission
definitive document is signed and filed with the
Commission
• Testimony supporting the agreement is expected to
be filed on March 4, with a hearing on March 7
be filed on March 4, with a hearing on March 7
Kansas Agreement
10
What Has Changed
In Missouri
In Missouri
Previous “ask” | Current “ask” |
•Immediate approval for retention of 50% of utility operational synergies ($260 million net of transition costs) over 5 years | •Recovery of utility operational synergies through traditional ratemaking process •Regulatory lag expected to provide opportunity for the retention of approximately 50% of the synergies |
•Recovery of 50% of transition costs ($45 million) over 5 years | •Recovery of 100% of updated transition cost ($58.9 million) over five years |
•Recovery of 100% of the transaction costs ($95 million) over 5 years | •Recovery of 100% of the revised transaction costs ($64.9 million) over 5 years •Company no longer requesting recovery of CIC and Rabbi Trust for Senior Aquila officers |
•Recovery requested of actual interest costs in Aquila customer rates | •No recovery of Aquila actual interest costs in excess of equivalent investment grade costs |
•Authorization to use additional amortizations in Aquila rate cases to meet credit metrics, consistent with KCP&L’s treatment | •Will include as a component in a future regulatory plan for Aquila |
Amounts shown are total amounts before allocations between Missouri and Kansas jurisdictions.
11
Missouri Hearings, Approval
and Close
and Close
Shareholders
receive benefits of
synergies
receive benefits of
synergies
File rate case
File rate case
Shareholders
receive benefits of
new synergies
receive benefits of
new synergies
Rates Effective
Rates Effective
Path to Synergy Sharing
12
Great Plains expects to realize $675 million of total savings and
synergies over five years
synergies over five years
Interest Savings
Corporate Retained
& Merchant Savings
& Merchant Savings
$302
$305
$68
$120
$131
$54
$27
$275
Significant Synergies Expected
13
Proximity Helps to Achieve
Synergy Numbers
Synergy Numbers
14
Announced Synergies as a % of Combined Total O&M
Announced Synergies as a % of Combined Non-Fuel O&M
Source: RJ Rudden Associates, based on $279mm of regulated operational synergies net of purchased power
Estimates Are In Line With Comparable
Merger Savings
Merger Savings
15
Shareholder Value Proposition
Great Plains Shareholders
• Accretion in 2009 and beyond
• Investment in Aquila’s growth
expands rate base
expands rate base
• Operational and financial scale:
shared synergies mitigate future
rate increases
shared synergies mitigate future
rate increases
• Efficient use of Aquila’s tax
position
position
Aquila Shareholders
• Investment grade credit rating
to support rate base
investments at lower costs
to support rate base
investments at lower costs
• Dividends
• Operational and financial scale:
shared synergies mitigate future
rate increases
shared synergies mitigate future
rate increases
• New regulatory plan to support
future investment
future investment
Great Plains Energy
Aquila Transaction Update