News Release

February 25, 2008

KCC to hold Public Hearing on Westar Energy's request to build a new Transmission Line

The Kansas Corporation Commission (Commission) will hold a public hearing concerning the request by Westar Energy (Westar) to build a new 345 kilovolt high-capacity transmission line from the company's Rose Hill Substation near Rose Hill, Kansas, south to the Kansas/Oklahoma border.

The public hearing will be held in Rose Hill, Kansas at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2008, at Rose Hill High School, 506 S. Rose Hill Road.

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 through March 17, 2008. Comment should reference Docket No. 08-WSEE-609-MIS and be sent to the Kansas Corporation Commission, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604 or emailed to . The public may also contact the Commission at 1.800.662.0027.

The Commission will conduct an evidentiary hearing on the transmission line construction proposal begin March 18, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the first floor hearing room at the Kansas Corporation Commission, 1500 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka. At this hearing, Commission staff, company representatives and any interveners will present their case to the Commission. The Commission must issue a decision by April 25, 2008.

On December 27, 2007, Westar filed an application with the Commission requesting permission to build a new 345 kilovolt high-capacity transmission line at an estimated cost of $60 to $70 million. The proposed line would be approximately 49 miles in length and connect with a line to be constructed by Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) from the Kansas/Oklahoma border to OG&Es Sooner Substation, located north of the Sooner Plant in Noble County, Oklahoma. Under Westar's proposal, the company would begin working with affected landowners to acquire easements this spring continuing into late 2009. The company hopes to have the necessary right-of-ways in place to allow construction of the line to begin in late 2009, with completion in approximately 9 to 12 months. Westar believes the line is an essential expansion of the transmission network to serve not only Westar's retail and wholesale customers but also electric users throughout Kansas and the region. This transmission expansion has been identified by the Southwest Power Pool, Inc., the regional transmission planning organization for the region that includes Kansas, as an investment that is needed to allow Westar to import and export energy. Further, this transmission expansion would help assure reliable electric service throughout the region.

For more information about the proposed project, public hearing or technical hearing contact the Kansas Corporation Commission's Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Any person requiring special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act needs to give notice to the Commission prior to the scheduled hearing date.

Docket No. 08-WSEE-609-MIS