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 2, 2007
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 2. Financial Information
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On February 2, 2007, we issued a press release announcing our preliminary earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 and preliminary earnings for the year ended December 31, 2006. A copy of our February 2, 2007 press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference.
The information above is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K. Accordingly, the information in Item 2.02 of this Current Report, including the press release attached hereto as exhibit, will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference.
Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| Exhibit | 99.1 Press Release dated February 2, 2007. |
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.
| Westar Energy, Inc. | ||||||
| Date: February 2, 2007 | 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 | Press Release dated February 2, 2007 |
Exhibit 99.1
 |
Media contact: | |||
| Gina Penzig, sr. communications media representative | ||||
| Phone: 785.575.8089 | ||||
| FAX: 785.575.8119 gina.penzig@WestarEnergy.com | ||||
|
Investor contact: | ||||
|
Bruce Burns, director, investor relations | ||||
| Phone: 785.575.8227 bruce.burns@WestarEnergy.com | ||||
WESTAR ENERGY ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY 2006 RESULTS
TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 2, 2007 — Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced preliminary fourth quarter 2006 earnings of 15 cents per share, and preliminary full year 2006 earnings of $1.88 per share. The company said these preliminary results are subject to change until the audit of the company’s year-end 2006 financial statements is completed.
Westar said it was pleased that preliminary earnings exceeded the upper end of the earnings guidance of $1.73 per share that it issued in November 2006, due principally to higher revenue. The company said that its market-based wholesale revenue in the fourth quarter was significantly higher than expected. “We are pleased with the performance of our power plants in the fourth quarter and the ability of our marketing group to get that power to market,” said Doug Sterbenz, Westar’s executive vice president of generation and marketing.
Westar will host a teleconference on March 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. central time to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2006 results. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 866-271-0675, participant code 89659687, no more than 15 minutes before the call. An audio webcast of the call may be accessed by visiting Westar’s web site at www.WestarEnergy.com.
-30-
Page 1 of 2
| Westar Energy announces preliminary 2006 results | Page 2 of 2 |
Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 669,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has more than 6,000 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates approximately 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.
For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://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. Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. Therefore, actual results could vary materially from what we expect. Please review our Form 10-Q for the period ended Sept. 30, 2006 for important risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. 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 except as required by applicable laws or regulations.