Evergy Kansas Central 8-K Westar Energy Announces First Quarter 2010 Results

Exhibit 99.1

	Media contact:
	Karla Olsen,
	director, corporate communications
	Phone: 316.299.7463
	karla.olsen@WestarEnergy.com
	Investor contact:
	Bruce Burns,
	director, investor relations
	Phone: 785.575.8227
	bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com

WESTAR ENERGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2010 RESULTS

TOPEKA, Kan., May 6, 2010 — Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced earnings of $30 million, or $0.27 per share, for the first quarter 2010 compared with earnings of $44 million, or $0.40 per share, for the first quarter 2009. Earnings for 2009 included federal tax benefits related to prior period activity which contributed $0.30 per share.

Following is a reconciliation of basic earnings per share:

	Three Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2010		Mar. 31, 2009
Earnings available from continuing operations	$	0.27	$	0.10
Discontinued operations, net of tax		—		0.30
Earnings per share, basic	$	0.27	$	0.40

Per share results for the first quarter 2010 reflect more shares outstanding as a result of the company having issued shares to fund capital investments.

Income from continuing operations for the first quarter increased $20 million compared with the same period in 2009 due principally to greater electricity sales and higher prices. Retail electricity sales increased 7 percent due primarily to improved economic conditions and the effects of colder weather. Partially offsetting the higher retail revenues were higher interest and income tax expense.

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Earnings Guidance

The company affirmed its 2010 earnings guidance of $1.65 to $1.80 per share. The company has posted to its website a summary of factors it considers to be principal drivers and adjustments used in arriving at its earnings guidance. The summary is located under Investor Presentations within the Investors section of the company website atwww.WestarEnergy.com.

Conference Call and Additional Company Information

Westar Energy management will host a conference call Friday, May 7 with the investment community at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing 866-700-7477, participant code 69107716. A webcast of the live conference call will be available atwww.WestarEnergy.com.

Members of media are invited to listen to the conference call and then contact Karla Olsen with any follow-up questions.

This earnings announcement, a package of detailed first quarter 2010 financial information, the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar. 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission May 6, 2010, and other filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available on the company’s website atwww.WestarEnergy.com.

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Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 685,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has about 6,800 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates more than 35,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.

For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet athttp://www.WestarEnergy.com.

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release are “forward-looking statements.” The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like “believe,” “anticipate,” “target,” “expect,” “pro forma,” “estimate,” “intend,” “guidance” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, objectives, expectations or goals.

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Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those discussed herein as well as (1) those discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 (a) under the heading, “Forward-Looking Statements,” (b) in ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (c) in ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (d) in ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes 13 and 15; (2) those discussed in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 6, 2010 (a) in ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (b) in Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Notes 7 and 8; and (3) other factors discussed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made.

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WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009			Change
Retail	$	333,245		$	290,661		$	42,584
Wholesale		82,748			85,744			(2,996	)
Transmission		36,629			26,897			9,732
Other		7,208			18,465			(11,257	)
Total Revenues	$	459,830		$	421,767		$	38,063
Fuel and purchased power		133,800			140,644			(6,844	)
Operating and maintenance		121,172			122,167			(995	)
Depreciation and amortization		66,930			58,214			8,716
Selling, general and administrative		45,927			47,982			(2,055	)
Total Operating Expenses		367,829			369,007			(1,178	)
Income from Operations		92,001			52,760			39,241
Other expense		(1,883	)		(2,096	)		213
Interest expense		44,616			35,077			9,539
Income tax expense		13,820			4,401			9,419
Income from Continuing Operations		31,682			11,186			20,496
Results of discontinued operations, net of tax		—			32,978			(32,978	)
Net Income		31,682			44,164			(12,482	)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,002			—			1,002
Net income attributable to Westar Energy		30,680			44,164			(13,484	)
Preferred dividends		242			242			—
Net Income Attributable to Common Stock	$	30,438		$	43,922		$	(13,484	)
Basic Earnings Per Share:
Earnings available from continuing operations	$	0.27		$	0.10		$	0.17
Discontinued operations, net of tax		—			0.30			(0.30	)
Earnings per common share, basic	$	0.27		$	0.40		$	(0.13	)
Average equivalent common shares outstanding		110,925			109,331			1,594
Dividends declared per share	$	0.31		$	0.30		$	0.01