UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 5, 2009 (February 4, 2009)
WESTAR ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| KANSAS | 1-3523 | 48-0290150 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 818 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas | 66612 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (785) 575-6300
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
WESTAR ENERGY, INC.
| Section 8. | Other Events |
| Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
On February 4, 2009, the United States Department of Justice announced that it had filed a civil lawsuit against us in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The lawsuit alleges that we violated the Clean Air Act. As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007, on January 22, 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified us that certain projects completed at Jeffrey Energy Center violated certain requirements of the EPA’s New Source Review Program under the Clean Air Act, and we have been in discussions with the EPA and the DOJ concerning this matter in an attempt to reach a settlement.
A copy of the complaint is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
| Section 9. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| Exhibit 99.1 | Complaint filed by United States Department of Justice. |
The information contained in this report is summary information that is intended to be considered in the context of our SEC filings and other public announcements that we may make, by press release or otherwise, from time to time. We disclaim any current intention to revise or update the information contained in this report, although we may do so from time to time as our management believes is warranted. Any such updating may be made through the filing of other reports or documents with the SEC, through press releases or through other public disclosure.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Westar Energy, Inc. | ||||||
| Date: February 5, 2009 | By: | /s/ Larry D. Irick | ||||
| Name: | Larry D. Irick | |||||
| Title: | Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description of Exhibit | |
Exhibit 99.1 | Complaint filed by United States Department of Justice. |
