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)           April 1, 1999




                             WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.               
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




             KANSAS                      1-3523              48-0290150     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of       (Commission          (Employer
Incorporation or Organization)        File Number)        Identification No.)



   818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                                 66612   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)




Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code (785) 575-6300   

                     WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

Western Resources herein files the following:

Exhibit 99.1 -Press release issued on April 1, 1999: Western Resources Extends
Filing Period for 10-K




                               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 thereunto duly authorized.




                                             Western Resources, Inc.




Date     April 1, 1999                By      /s/ William B. Moore
                                        William B. Moore, Acting Executive
                                          Vice President, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Treasurer