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8-K - 8-K - WESTAR ENERGY INC /KSwr-9302014xearningsrelease.htm
EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT - WESTAR ENERGY INC /KSwr-09302014x8xkexhibit992.htm
Exhibit 99.1



Westar Energy announces 3rd quarter 2014 results.
TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 5, 2014 - Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced earnings of $147 million, or $1.13 per share, for the third quarter 2014 compared with earnings of $133 million, or $1.04 per share, for the third quarter 2013. Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $270 million, or $2.08 per share, compared with $251 million, or $1.97 per share, for the same period in 2013.

Higher net income for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was driven largely by higher prices and lower operating and maintenance costs at the company’s power plants.
    
Higher net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was largely driven by higher revenues. The higher revenues are due primarily to higher prices resulting from investments in transmission infrastructure and air quality controls and to a lesser extent to higher energy sales from cooler winter weather earlier this year and increased sales from industrial customers. The higher revenues were partially offset by an increase in general and administrative costs.

Earnings Guidance

The company tightened its 2014 earnings guidance to $2.35 to $2.45 per share with a bias towards the upper end of the range. The earnings guidance drivers are located under Supplemental Materials within the investor section of the company website at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Conference Call and Additional Company Information

Westar Energy management will host a conference call Thursday, Nov. 6 with the investment community at 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing 877-703-6106, participant code 64808703. A webcast of the live conference call will be available at www.WestarEnergy.com.

Members of the media are invited to listen to the conference call and then contact Gina Penzig with any follow-up questions.

This earnings announcement, a package of detailed third quarter financial information, the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2014 and other filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available on the company's website at www.WestarEnergy.com.
- 30 -


WESTAR ENERGY NEWS RELEASE    Page 1 of 3

Westar Energy announces 3rd quarter results

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, digital meters 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.

Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release 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 “believe,” “anticipate,” “target,” “expect,” “pro forma,” “estimate,” “intend,” “guidance” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those discussed herein as well as (1) those discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013 (a) under the heading, “Forward-Looking Statements,” (b) in ITEM 1. Business, (c) in ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (d) in ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (e) in ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes 13 and 15; (2) those discussed in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed Nov. 5, 2014, (a) under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements." (b) in ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) in Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Notes 10 and 12; and (3) other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made.


Media Contact:
Gina Penzig
Director, corporate communications
Phone: 785-575-8089
Gina.Penzig@westarenergy.com
Media line: 888-613-0003

Investor Contact:
Bruce Burns
Director, investor relations
Phone: 785-575-8227
Bruce.Burns@westarenergy.com


WESTAR ENERGY NEWS RELEASE    Page 2 of 3

Westar Energy announces 3rd quarter results

Westar Energy, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended Sep. 30,
 
Nine Months Ended Sep. 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
 
% Change
 
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
261,106

 
$
237,984

 
$
23,122

 
9.7

 
$
629,064

 
$
568,662

 
$
60,402

 
10.6

Commercial
223,588

 
199,921

 
23,667

 
11.8

 
562,882

 
513,049

 
49,833

 
9.7

Industrial
113,039

 
98,410

 
14,629

 
14.9

 
314,518

 
282,155

 
32,363

 
11.5

Other retail
(6,032
)
 
3,849

 
(9,881
)
 
(256.7
)
 
(17,587
)
 
2,905

 
(20,492
)
 
(705.4
)
Total Retail Revenues
591,701

 
540,164

 
51,537

 
9.5

 
1,488,877

 
1,366,771

 
122,106

 
8.9

Wholesale
97,680

 
94,496

 
3,184

 
3.4

 
290,727

 
262,749

 
27,978

 
10.6

Transmission
67,145

 
52,410

 
14,735

 
28.1

 
192,311

 
156,725

 
35,586

 
22.7

Other
7,514

 
7,904

 
(390
)
 
(4.9
)
 
33,349

 
24,531

 
8,818

 
35.9

Total Revenues
764,040

 
694,974

 
69,066

 
9.9

 
2,005,264

 
1,810,776

 
194,488

 
10.7

OPERATING EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Fuel and purchased power
200,755

 
178,562

 
22,193

 
12.4

 
539,373

 
483,014

 
56,359

 
11.7

SPP network transmission costs
55,720

 
45,315

 
10,405

 
23.0

 
163,211

 
133,711

 
29,500

 
22.1

Operating and maintenance
84,213

 
93,377

 
(9,164
)
 
(9.8
)
 
277,841

 
265,532

 
12,309

 
4.6

Depreciation and amortization
72,279

 
68,861

 
3,418

 
5.0

 
213,270

 
203,305

 
9,965

 
4.9

Selling, general and administrative
60,977

 
54,245

 
6,732

 
12.4

 
179,633

 
157,668

 
21,965

 
13.9

Taxes other than income tax
34,677

 
30,408

 
4,269

 
14.0

 
104,248

 
91,889

 
12,359

 
13.4

Total Operating Expenses
508,621

 
470,768

 
37,853

 
8.0

 
1,477,576

 
1,335,119

 
142,457

 
10.7

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
255,419

 
224,206

 
31,213

 
13.9

 
527,688

 
475,657

 
52,031

 
10.9

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Investment earnings
1,655

 
2,863

 
(1,208
)
 
(42.2
)
 
7,208

 
8,612

 
(1,404
)
 
(16.3
)
Other income
14,991

 
12,321

 
2,670

 
21.7

 
26,566

 
29,748

 
(3,182
)
 
(10.7
)
Other expense
(6,242
)
 
(6,195
)
 
(47
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(14,192
)
 
(13,911
)
 
(281
)
 
(2.0
)
Total Other Income
10,404

 
8,989

 
1,415

 
15.7

 
19,582

 
24,449

 
(4,867
)
 
(19.9
)
Interest expense
44,531

 
45,708

 
(1,177
)
 
(2.6
)
 
138,075

 
135,790

 
2,285

 
1.7

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
221,292

 
187,487

 
33,805

 
18.0

 
409,195

 
364,316

 
44,879

 
12.3

Income tax expense
71,532

 
52,392

 
19,140

 
36.5

 
132,643

 
106,514

 
26,129

 
24.5

NET INCOME
149,760

 
135,095

 
14,665

 
10.9

 
276,552

 
257,802

 
18,750

 
7.3

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
2,378

 
1,970

 
408

 
20.7

 
6,742

 
6,344

 
398

 
6.3

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC.
$
147,382

 
$
133,125

 
$
14,257

 
10.7

 
$
269,810

 
$
251,458

 
$
18,352

 
7.3

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (See 10-Q Note 2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
1.13

 
$
1.04

 
$
0.09

 
8.7

 
$
2.08

 
$
1.97

 
$
0.11

 
5.6

Diluted earnings per common share
$
1.10

 
$
1.04

 
$
0.06

 
5.8

 
$
2.04

 
$
1.96

 
$
0.08

 
4.1

AVERAGE EQUIVALENT COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
130,196

 
127,445

 
2,751

 
2.2

 
129,526

 
127,318

 
2,208

 
1.7

Diluted
133,029

 
128,111

 
4,918

 
3.8

 
132,200

 
127,851

 
4,349

 
3.4

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
$
0.35

 
$
0.34

 
$
0.01

 
2.9

 
$
1.05

 
$
1.02

 
$
0.03

 
2.9

Effective income tax rate
32.32
%
 
27.94
%
 
 
 
 
 
32.42
%
 
29.24
%
 
 
 
 


WESTAR ENERGY NEWS RELEASE    Page 3 of 3