Westar Energy Declares Dividends

TOPEKA, KS -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/23/11 -- The Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of 32 cents per share payable Jan. 3, 2012, on the company's common stock.

The board also declared regular quarterly dividends on the company's 4.25 percent, 4.5 percent and 5 percent series preferred stocks payable Jan. 1, 2012.

The dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of Dec. 9, 2011.

Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is the largest electric utility in Kansas, providing electric service to about 687,000 customers in the state. Westar Energy has about 7,100 megawatts of electric generation resources and operates and coordinates more than 34,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.

For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com.

Source: Westar Energy, Inc.