WESTAR ENERGY (WR)

[johnsyn]

Westar Energy, Inc. declares dividend

TOPEKA, Kan., May 16, 2013 - The Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share payable Jul. 1, 2013, on the company's common stock. The dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of Jun. 7, 2013.

Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is Kansas' largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided Kansans the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. Every day our team of professionals takes on projects to generate and deliver electricity, protect the environment and provide excellent service to our nearly 700,000 customers. Westar has 7,200 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by coal, uranium, natural gas, wind and landfill gas. We are also a leader in electric transmission in Kansas. Our innovative customer service programs include mobile-enabled customer care, a smart meter pilot project and paving the way for electric vehicle adoption. Our employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve.

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