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Form 8-K

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) January 12, 2005

 


 

KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

KANSAS   1-7324   48-1093840

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 208, Wichita, Kansas   67201
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (316) 261-6611

 

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))

 



KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

Section 8. Other Events

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On January 4 and 5, 2005, substantially all of our service territory experienced a severe ice storm. The storm was especially intense in the City of Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding areas. As a result of the storm, electric service was interrupted in a large portion of our service territory and a significant portion of our electric distribution system sustained damage, with the City of Wichita, Kansas and surrounding areas sustaining the greatest amount of damage. We have restored power to approximately 200,000 customers, including customers who have had power restored more than once. In total, approximately 155,000 customers, or approximately half of our customer base, were without power for some period of time as a result of the ice storm. Currently, approximately 2,600 customers remain without power.

 

Our storm restoration efforts began on January 4, 2005 and are expected to be substantially complete by January 14, 2005. While at this time we are unable to determine the costs of our restoration efforts, they will be material.

 

Upon the completion of our restoration efforts we will likely seek an order from the Kansas Corporation Commission that will permit us to accumulate and defer for recovery our storm-related restoration costs. In the past, the Commission has permitted us to preserve for recovery costs incurred in similar situations.

 

Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 12   Computation of Kansas Gas and Electric Company’s Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

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.

 

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K 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,” “likely,” “estimate,” “intend” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe our future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and we do 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.


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.

 

    Kansas Gas and Electric Company

Date: January 12, 2005

 

By:

 

/s/    Larry D. Irick


   

Name:

 

Larry D. Irick

   

Title:

 

Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description of Exhibit


Exhibit 12   Computation of Kansas Gas and Electric Company’s Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Computation of Kansas Gas & Electric Company's Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charge

Exhibit 12

 

Kansas Gas and Electric Company

Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,


  
   Year Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2003

   2002

   2001

   2000

   1999

Earnings from continuing operations (a)

   $ 88,137    $ 83,317    $ 93,630    $ 75,618    $ 35,701    $ 120,683    $ 119,248
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

Fixed Charges:

                                                

Interest expense

     25,661      43,423      55,467      47,844      49,610      49,605      49,518

Interest on corporate-owned life insurance borrowings

     35,181      36,410      47,245      46,853      44,063      39,444      31,450

Interest applicable to rentals

     13,810      14,624      19,688      20,766      22,822      23,039      24,108
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total Fixed Charges

     74,652      94,457      122,400      115,463      116,495      112,088      105,076
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

Earnings (a)

   $ 162,789    $ 177,774    $ 216,030    $ 191,081    $ 152,196    $ 232,771    $ 224,324
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     2.18      1.88      1.76      1.65      1.31      2.08      2.13

 

(a) Earnings are deemed to consist of earnings from continuing operations and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of all interest on indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and expense, and the portion of rental expense that represents an interest factor.