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EX-99.3 - EXHIBIT 99.3 - WESTAR ENERGY INC /KSwr-09302016x8xkexhibit99x3.htm
EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT 99.2 - WESTAR ENERGY INC /KSwr-09302016x8xkexhibit992.htm
8-K - 8-K - WESTAR ENERGY INC /KSwr-09302016xearningsreleas.htm
Exhibit 99.1

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Westar Energy announces 3rd quarter 2016 results.
TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 1, 2016 - Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced earnings of $155 million, or $1.09 per share, for the third quarter 2016 compared with earnings of $138 million, or $0.97 per share, for the third quarter 2015. Earnings for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2016 were $293 million, or $2.06 per share, compared with $253 million, or $1.84 per share, for the same period in 2015.

Higher net income for the third quarter, compared with last year, was driven by better cost recovery through recent rate adjustments and an increase in corporate-owned life insurance income. The higher revenue was partially offset by a Southwest Power Pool assessment and higher expenses due to improving long-term grid reliability.
    
Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 also increased primarily from better cost recovery and lower interest expense. The higher revenue was partially offset by merger related-expenses and the Southwest Power Pool assessment.

Earnings Guidance
    
The company affirmed its 2016 earnings guidance of $2.38 to $2.53 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.

Additional Information

Due to the pending transaction with Great Plains Energy, Westar Energy will no longer host a quarterly webcast and conference call. Investors may continue to contact our Investor Relations Department at (785) 575-8227.

This earnings announcement, a package of detailed third-quarter financial information, the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended Sept. 30, 2016 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, 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

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WESTAR ENERGY NEWS RELEASE    Page 1 of 3

Westar Energy announces 3rd quarter results

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. Westar Energy is on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/westarenergy and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WestarEnergy.


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, 2015 (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 Reports on Form 10-Q filed on Aug. 2, 2016 and Nov. 1, 2016, (a) under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements." (b) in ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, (c) in Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Notes 3, 11 and 12, and (d) ITEM 1A. Risk Factors; 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
Media Relations Manager
Phone: 785-575-8089
Gina.Penzig@westarenergy.com
Media line: 888-613-0003

Investor Contact:
Cody VandeVelde
Director, Investor Relations
Phone: 785-575-8227
Cody.VandeVelde@westarenergy.com


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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 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
 
% Change
 
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
282,272

 
$
255,804

 
$
26,468

 
10.3

 
$
664,400

 
$
610,775

 
$
53,625

 
8.8

Commercial
218,377

 
213,461

 
4,916

 
2.3

 
572,247

 
550,761

 
21,486

 
3.9

Industrial
106,021

 
105,307

 
714

 
0.7

 
314,723

 
304,937

 
9,786

 
3.2

Other retail
7,883

 
1,620

 
6,263

 
386.6

 
(23,002
)
 
(5,503
)
 
(17,499
)
 
(318.0
)
Total Retail Revenues
614,553

 
576,192

 
38,361

 
6.7

 
1,528,368

 
1,460,970

 
67,398

 
4.6

Wholesale
86,421

 
87,918

 
(1,497
)
 
(1.7
)
 
220,520

 
249,502

 
(28,982
)
 
(11.6
)
Transmission
58,462

 
61,190

 
(2,728
)
 
(4.5
)
 
188,996

 
181,070

 
7,926

 
4.4

Other
5,218

 
7,529

 
(2,311
)
 
(30.7
)
 
17,668

 
21,657

 
(3,989
)
 
(18.4
)
Total Revenues
764,654

 
732,829

 
31,825

 
4.3

 
1,955,552

 
1,913,199

 
42,353

 
2.2

OPERATING EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Fuel and purchased power
155,673

 
163,943

 
(8,270
)
 
(5.0
)
 
374,361

 
459,504

 
(85,143
)
 
(18.5
)
SPP network transmission costs
57,939

 
57,487

 
452

 
0.8

 
173,925

 
171,651

 
2,274

 
1.3

Operating and maintenance
86,758

 
80,444

 
6,314

 
7.8

 
250,135

 
248,263

 
1,872

 
0.8

Depreciation and amortization
84,972

 
77,184

 
7,788

 
10.1

 
252,838

 
228,529

 
24,309

 
10.6

Selling, general and administrative
60,582

 
60,485

 
97

 
0.2

 
192,762

 
179,567

 
13,195

 
7.3

Taxes other than income tax
48,154

 
37,682

 
10,472

 
27.8

 
145,529

 
113,047

 
32,482

 
28.7

Total Operating Expenses
494,078

 
477,225

 
16,853

 
3.5

 
1,389,550

 
1,400,561

 
(11,011
)
 
(0.8
)
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
270,576

 
255,604

 
14,972

 
5.9

 
566,002

 
512,638

 
53,364

 
10.4

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Investment earnings
2,619

 
314

 
2,305

 
734.1

 
6,916

 
4,427

 
2,489

 
56.2

Other income
13,353

 
637

 
12,716

 
nm

 
26,212

 
18,572

 
7,640

 
41.1

Other expense
(5,887
)
 
(5,392
)
 
(495
)
 
(9.2
)
 
(14,338
)
 
(13,737
)
 
(601
)
 
(4.4
)
Total Other Income (Expense)
10,085

 
(4,441
)
 
14,526

 
327.1

 
18,790

 
9,262

 
9,528

 
102.9

Interest expense
40,897

 
44,306

 
(3,409
)
 
(7.7
)
 
121,011

 
134,120

 
(13,109
)
 
(9.8
)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
239,764

 
206,857

 
32,907

 
15.9

 
463,781

 
387,780

 
76,001

 
19.6

Income tax expense
81,211

 
66,293

 
14,918

 
22.5

 
160,376

 
127,810

 
32,566

 
25.5

NET INCOME
158,553

 
140,564

 
17,989

 
12.8

 
303,405

 
259,970

 
43,435

 
16.7

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
3,833

 
2,561

 
1,272

 
49.7

 
10,760

 
7,277

 
3,483

 
47.9

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC.
$
154,720

 
$
138,003

 
$
16,717

 
12.1

 
$
292,645

 
$
252,693

 
$
39,952

 
15.8

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (See 10-Q Note 2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
1.09

 
$
0.97

 
$
0.12

 
12.4

 
$
2.06

 
$
1.84

 
$
0.22

 
12.0

Diluted earnings per common share
$
1.08

 
$
0.97

 
$
0.11

 
11.3

 
$
2.05

 
$
1.82

 
$
0.23

 
12.6

AVERAGE EQUIVALENT COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
142,091

 
141,623

 
468

 
0.3

 
142,039

 
136,686

 
5,353

 
3.9

Diluted
142,578

 
141,838

 
740

 
0.5

 
142,413

 
138,182

 
4,231

 
3.1

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
$
0.38

 
$
0.36

 
$
0.02

 
5.6

 
$
1.14

 
$
1.08

 
$
0.06

 
5.6

Effective income tax rate
34
%
 
32
%
 
 
 
 
 
35
%
 
33
%
 
 
 
 
nm - not meaningful

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WESTAR ENERGY NEWS RELEASE    Page 3 of 3