Westar Energy Declares Dividend

The Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of 29 cents per share payable Oct. 1, 2008, on the company's common stock.

The board also declared regular quarterly dividends on the company 4.25 percent, 4.5 percent and 5 percent series preferred stocks payable Oct. 1, 2008.

Dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of Sept. 9, 2008.

Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 675,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has about 6,500 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.