Exhibit 99.1

WESTERN RESOURCES DISAPPOINTED WITH KCPL ANNOUNCEMENT

     TOPEKA, Kansas, January 3, 2000, Western Resources (NYSE:WR) today
announced that while it is disappointed that Kansas City Power & Light Company
(KCPL) has terminated the proposed merger with the company it will continue to
pursue its business plan.
     "Merging the electric operations of KCPL and Western Resources made good
business sense for a variety of reasons, but it simply took too long to
complete the process," said David C. Wittig, Western Resources chairman of the
board, president and chief executive officer.
     Wittig thanked employees for their hard work on the Western
Resources/KCPL merger. He noted the fact that their commitment to the process
stretched over many years.


     Western Resources (NYSE: WR) is a consumer services company with
interests in monitored services and energy. The company has total assets of
more than $8 billion, including security company holdings through ownership of
Protection One (NYSE: POI), which has more than 1.6 million security customers
in 48 states and Europe. Its utilities, KPL and KGE, provide electric service
to approximately 614,000 customers in Kansas. Through its ownership in ONEOK
Inc. (NYSE: OKE), a Tulsa-based natural gas company, Western Resources has a
45 percent interest in the eighth largest natural gas distribution company in
the nation, serving more than 1.4 million customers. For more information
about Western Resources and its operating companies, visit us on the Internet
at http://www.wr.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 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, the
outcome of accounting issues being reviewed by the SEC staff, possible
corporate restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, liquidity and
capital resources, interest and dividend rates, year 2000 issue, environmental
matters, changing weather, nuclear operations, ability to enter new markets
successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in nonregulated
businesses, events in foreign markets in which investments have been made, and
accounting matters. Our actual results may differ materially from those
discussed here. See the company's and Protection One's 1998 Annual Report on
Form 10-K and 10K/A, quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and current reports on
Form 8K for further discussion of factors affecting the company's and
Protection One's performance.  Western Resources disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring
after the date of this news release.


/CONTACT: Media: Michel' Philipp, news@wr.com, 785.575.1927, or fax:
785.575.6399, or Investors: Jim Martin, jim_martin@wr.com, 785.575.6549, or
fax: 785.575.8160, both of Western Resources/

/Web site:http://www.wr.com