On February 22, 2017, we issued a press release announcing our earnings for the period ended December 31, 2016. A copy of our February 22, 2017>press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. We are also including our 2016>Fourth Quarter and Year-End Earnings package, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information furnished to this Item 2.02, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

We are furnishing our updated 2017-2021 Capital Forecast, which is included in Exhibit 99.2 attached hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. This information is available to the public on our website, http://www.WestarEnergy.com. The information furnished to this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2, will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated February 22, 2017>

Exhibit 99.2 2016>Fourth Quarter and Year-End Earnings package

About WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (NYSE:WR)

Westar Energy, Inc. (Westar Energy) is an electric utility in Kansas. The Company provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services to approximately 700,000 customers in Kansas. The Company provides these services in central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, Salina and Hutchinson. Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KGE), Westar Energy’s subsidiary, provides the services in south-central and southeastern Kansas, including the city of Wichita. Both Westar Energy and KGE conduct business using the name Westar Energy. It supplies electric energy at retail to customers in Kansas. It also supplies electric energy at wholesale to municipalities and electric cooperatives in Kansas, and has contracts for the sale or purchase of wholesale electricity with other utilities. The Company classifies it customers as residential, commercial and industrial. It has approximately 6,270 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in service.

WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (NYSE:WR) Recent Trading Information

WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (NYSE:WR) closed its last trading session down -0.10 at 53.25 with 458,967 shares trading hands.