News Release

March 23, 2007

KCC to hold public hearing on Westar Energy's request to build a new transmission line

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold a public hearing concerning Westar Energy's (Westar) request to build a new 345 kilovolt high-capacity transmission line from northwest of Wichita, near its Gordon Evans Energy Center, to the Hutchinson area and then to the Summit Substation near Salina. The public hearing will be held in McPherson, Kansas at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at the Best Western Holiday Manor Convention Center, 2211 E. Kansas.

The public hearing provides an opportunity for the public to testify before the Commission on the company's request. The hearing is comprised of two parts. First, a question and answer session will allow the public to ask questions of Commission staff and company representatives pertaining to the project. In the second part of the hearing, the public will have the opportunity to make statements to the Commissioners.

The Commission also will accept comments from the public. Written comments should reference Docket No. 07-WSEE-715-MIS and be sent to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604 or emailed to . The public may also contact the Commission at 1.800.662.0027.

The Commission will hold a technical hearing beginning at 9:00 a.m., April 17, 2007, in the first floor hearing room at the KCC's Topeka office building located at 1500 SW Arrowhead Road. At this hearing, the Commission staff, company officials and interveners will present their case to the Commission. The Commission must issue a decision by May 16, 2007.

Following a comprehensive investigation and review of Westar's application, along with a physical inspection of the proposed approximate 86 mile route, KCC staff has filed testimony recommending the Commission approve the company's request. The Electric Transmission Line Siting Act, K.S.A. 66-1,177, et seq., requires the Commission to base its decision on the necessity of the proposed transmission line and the reasonableness of the proposed route.

Under the company's proposal, the line would be built in two phases. In phase one of the project, Westar proposes to construct a transmission line from northwest of Wichita, near its Gordon Evans Energy Center, to Reno County, with completion anticipated between late 2008 and June 2009. In phase two, Westar would construct a line from Reno County to the Summit Substation near Salina. Phase two would take about one year to complete. Based on current costs, the company estimates the entire project would cost between $80 million to $100 million.

In its application, Westar said the line will help alleviate congestion in the transmission system serving Kansas and the region, and allow the company to use its power plants more efficiently. Westar also said, in the future it plans to build additional high capacity power lines to improve the electric transmission network in Kansas and strengthen Kansas' access to the broader regional wholesale power market.

Westar provides retail electric service throughout Kansas to approximately 660,000 customers. Westar also provides wholesale electric service to 51 municipalities and cooperatives that provide retail service to additional Kansas customers. The company currently has nearly 6,100 megawatts of electric generation capacity and operates and coordinates approximately 33,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.

Docket No. 07-WSEE-715-MIS