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                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D. C.  20549                  
                                
                                
                                
                           FORM 11-K
                                
            (Mark One)
                                
  [X]        ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
                   THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934    
                                
                                
           For the Plan year ended December 31, 1996
                                
                                
                               OR
                                
                                
        [ ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
                     THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934     
                                
                                
For the Transition Period from _________________ to _________________
                                
                                
                 Commission file number 1-3523
                                
                                
                                
                          A.  Full title of the Plan:

                              WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
                              EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN

                         B.   Name of issuer of the securities held     
                              pursuant to the plan and the address
                              of its principal executive office:

                              WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
                              818 Kansas Avenue
                              Topeka, Kansas  66612
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                

                                               EIN:  48-0290150
                                                       PN:  004




                     WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
                                 
                  EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
                                 
                                 
      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
                                 
      TOGETHER WITH REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



             Report of Independent Public Accountants



To the Investment and Benefits Committee of 
Western Resources, Inc. Employees' 401(k) Savings Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for
benefits of WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN, as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of changes in net
assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial
statements and the schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the
Plan's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the changes in net assets available for
benefits for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic 
financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedules of assets
held for investment purposes and of loans or fixed income obligations as of
December 31, 1996, and reportable transactions for the year then ended are
presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part
of the basic financial statements, but are supplementary information required
by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and
Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The
supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied
in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are
fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole.




Kansas City, Missouri,
June 13, 1997


                                               EIN:  48-0290150
                                                        PN: 004
                                                               

                     WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

                  EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN

         STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                    DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995

                                             1996                1995    
                                                       
ASSETS
INVESTMENTS:
  Western Resources, Inc. Investment
    Contract Fund                        $ 64,475,290        $ 63,446,450
  Vanguard Windsor Fund                    90,616,436          69,085,239
  Vanguard Money Market Reserves,
    Prime Portfolio                         8,128,588           6,550,797
  Western Resources, Inc. Common 
    Stock Fund                             51,029,233          51,019,625
  Loan Fund                                16,228,456          13,701,019
  Vanguard Wellington Fund                 11,404,547           7,242,500
  Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio
    Fund                                    8,804,188           3,968,740
  Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund                   13,816,671           8,795,740
  Fidelity Magellan Fund                   28,809,605          25,584,467
  Fixed Income Fund                        16,601,172          18,118,773
    Total Investments                     309,914,186         267,513,350

Other Receivables                              24,529             163,275
Interest and Dividends Receivable             886,090             791,587

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVABLE:
  Participant                                 378,317             385,478
  Employer                                    112,246             109,333
    Total Assets                          311,315,368         268,963,023

LIABILITIES
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE                              112,264             386,899
  
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS        $311,203,104        $268,576,124

          The accompanying notes to financial statements
            are an integral part of these statements.
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 1996 1995 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, beginning of year $268,576,124 $218,304,213 ADDITIONS: INVESTMENT INCOME- Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments 8,332,893 23,578,845 Interest 6,222,638 5,364,875 Dividends 17,804,491 14,093,276 Total Investment Income 32,360,022 43,036,996 CONTRIBUTIONS: Participant 15,187,999 15,257,981 Employer 4,510,938 4,583,479 Total Contributions 19,698,937 19,841,460 Total Additions 52,058,959 62,878,456 DEDUCTIONS: BENEFITS PAID (9,721,020) (12,526,938) OTHER (60,154) (29,940) Total Deductions (9,781,174) (12,556,878) TRANSFERS: 349,195 (49,667) NET INCREASE 42,626,980 50,271,911 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, end of year $311,203,104 $268,576,124 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 (1) PLAN DESCRIPTION: The following brief description of the Western Resources, Inc. (the Company) Employees' 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information. (a) General-- The Plan is a defined contribution plan, designed to assist eligible employees in establishing a regular savings plan. Prior to October 1, 1996, substantially all employees were eligible to participate after one year of service as defined. Effective October 1, 1996, newly hired full time employees may contribute to the Plan on a pre-tax or after tax basis without Company match, beginning on the first day of the month following employment. Matching employer contributions continue to commence after the employee has completed one year of service. Starting October 1, 1996, the plan also allows employees to increase their contribution percentages the first of any month from the first of any quarter. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. (b) Contributions--Effective January 1, 1995, participants of the plan are allowed to make tax deferred contributions of between 1% and 14% of earnings subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limits. In addition to or instead of pre-tax cash contributions, effective January 1, 1995, participants could elect to make after-tax contributions of between 1% and 4% of earnings. Cash contributions up to the first 6% of a participant's earnings are matched 50% by the Company. Participants are fully vested in all contributions and earnings thereon. The Plan allows rollover contributions into the Plan. Active participants were allowed to make additional contributions each quarter to meet the maximum contribution percentage based on their annual compensation. These contributions are considered in determining matching employer contributions. Matching employer contributions are suspended for a period of six months in the event that a participant withdrew money from after-tax and/or Company match accounts. Upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment, all vested balances are paid to the participant or the participant's beneficiaries in accordance with Plan terms. (c) Participant Accounts--A separate account is maintained for each participant. Allocations to participant accounts for employer and employee contributions are made when the contributions are received by the trustee. Allocations to participant accounts for the net of interest, dividends, realized and unrealized changes in investment gains and losses and Plan expenses are made when such amounts are earned or incurred. (d) Investment Funds--During 1996 and 1995, participants in the Plan could elect to have their contributions and the Company's matching contributions invested in the funds listed below, excluding the Loan Fund. Allocations between the funds could be made in 10% increments. Participants could also elect to transfer investments between funds. The Western Resources, Inc. Investment Contract Fund is a fund which invests in investment contracts issued by insurance companies that are viewed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company as being financially sound and are highly rated by the major credit agencies. Principal of these investments, and interest thereon, are obligations of the insurance companies. Neither Vanguard nor the Company guarantees either principal or interest in such investments. The Vanguard Windsor Fund is a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing dividend and capital appreciation income. The Vanguard Money Market Reserves - Prime Portfolio is a money market fund invested in high-quality money market obligations issued by financial institutions, nonfinancial corporations, and U.S. and other governmental agencies, and repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities. The Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund, established October 1, 1988, with assets transferred from The Kansas Power and Light Company Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan (TRASOP) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan of The Gas Service Company (ESOP) upon termination, is invested primarily in the Company's common stock. Dividends from stock held in the fund are used to purchase additional shares of Company stock. The Loan Fund is a conduit for the distribution and repayment of loan proceeds. The investments in the fund represent loans due from participants. The Vanguard/Wellington Fund is a balanced fund which invests in stocks for potential capital growth and dividend income and in bonds for current income potential and conservation of principal. The Vanguard Index Trust-500 Portfolio is a growth and income fund which seeks to provide long-term capital growth. The Vanguard Index Trust-500 Portfolio attempts to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of publicly traded stocks, in the aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index. The Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund is invested entirely in the Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund, a growth fund seeking long-term growth of capital by investing principally in a portfolio of common stocks. The Fidelity Magellan Fund is invested entirely in the Fidelity Magellan Fund, a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing long-term capital appreciation. Fixed Income Fund is invested in a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Investment Contract. No new monies are allowed to be deposited in this fund after the transfer of its interest from the KG&E 401(k) Plan. The above funds are managed by the Plan's trustee, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, except the Fidelity Magellan Fund which is managed by Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company. All investments are stated at quoted market values, except as follows. Investments in Western Resources, Inc. Investment Contract Fund, Fixed Income Fund, and Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio are stated at cost which approximates market value determined by Vanguard. Investments in the Loan Fund are stated at face value. (e) Loans to Participants--Participants are permitted to borrow a specified portion of the balance in their individual account. Loan interest rates and terms are established by the Investment and Benefits Committee and all loans must be approved by that Committee. Loans are evidenced by promissory notes payable to the Plan over 1 to 5 years for general purpose loans and up to 30 years for principle residence loans, provided that the age criteria is met. (f) Income Taxes--The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on May 15, 1996, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The plan administrator believes the plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes is included in these financial statements. (g) Plan Termination--The Company is free to terminate the Plan at any time. Upon termination, all participant accounts remain fully vested. (2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (a) Basis of Accounting--The Plan's financial statements are maintained on the accrual basis. Employer and employee contributions are accrued as the employees' salaries are earned. (b) Use of Estimates--The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (c) Administrative Expenses--All administrative expenses of the Plan were paid by the Company with the exception of loan administrative charges which were paid by the participants. The Company has no continuing obligation to pay these expenses. (3) INVESTMENTS: The following investments represent over 5% of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 1996 and/or 1995: 1996 1995 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, investment contract #14403, general account $12,214,391 $13,501,792 Vanguard/Windsor Fund 90,616,436 69,085,239 Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock 51,021,493 50,781,965 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, investment contract #12651/20105, general account 16,600,616 17,354,167 Fidelity Magellan Fund 28,809,605 25,584,467 Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio 20,886,443 4,783,208 Loan Fund 16,228,456 13,701,019
(4) PLAN AMENDMENTS: Effective January 1, 1997, two new investment choices will be added to the Plan, Vanguard Bond Index Fund-Total Bond Market Portfolio and the Vanguard International Growth Fund. (5) FUND INFORMATION: The following tables present changes in net assets available for benefits in fund detail. (5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1996 Money Company Investment Market Common Contracts Windsor Reserves Stock Loan ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $10,062,095 $ - $(3,783,983) $ - Interest 3,780,296 - 369,912 11,216 1,017,792 Dividends - 8,660,885 - 2,563,118 - 3,780,296 18,722,980 369,912 (1,209,649) 1,017,792 Contributions: Participant 2,302,303 4,775,895 428,544 1,680,865 - Employer 703,075 1,398,776 140,738 500,479 - 3,005,378 6,174,671 569,282 2,181,344 - Total additions 6,785,674 24,897,651 939,194 971,695 1,017,792 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (3,420,750) (2,470,027) (298,645) (1,245,537) (244,282) Other 29,289 (12,820) (5,200) (940) - Total deductions (3,391,461) (2,482,847) (303,845) (1,246,477) (244,282) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 3,394,213 22,414,804 635,349 (274,782) 773,510 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (2,372,193) (933,908) 869,564 249,807 1,753,927 Transfers-other plans 6,820 50,301 72,878 34,583 - Total transfers (2,365,373) (883,607) 942,442 284,390 1,753,927 Net increase (decrease) 1,028,840 21,531,197 1,577,791 9,608 2,527,437 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 63,446,450 69,085,239 6,550,797 51,019,625 13,701,019 End of year $64,475,290 $90,616,436 $ 8,128,588 $51,029,233 $16,228,456
(Continued) (5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1996 Index Trust-500 Fixed Wellington Portfolio PRIMECAP Magellan Income ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 595,109 $ 1,131,350 $1,569,703 $(1,241,381) $ - Interest - - - - 1,011,334 Dividends 870,404 167,541 401,350 4,287,191 - 1,465,513 1,298,891 1,971,053 3,045,810 1,011,334 Contributions: Participant 1,419,079 873,678 1,488,955 1,840,363 - Employer 422,321 262,124 421,761 549,418 - 1,841,400 1,135,802 1,910,716 2,389,781 - Total additions 3,306,913 2,434,693 3,881,769 5,435,591 1,011,334 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (430,212) (178,761) (177,898) (484,640) (770,268) Other (8,060) (540) (700) - 26,552 Total deductions (438,272) (179,301) (178,598) (484,640) (743,716) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,868,641 2,255,392 3,703,171 4,950,951 267,618 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers 1,272,883 2,526,326 1,281,960 (1,800,373) (1,785,219) Transfers-other plans 20,523 53,730 35,800 74,560 - Total transfers 1,293,406 2,580,056 1,317,760 (1,725,813) (1,785,219) Net increase (decrease) 4,162,047 4,835,448 5,020,931 3,225,138 (1,517,601) Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 7,242,500 3,968,740 8,795,740 25,584,467 18,118,773 End of year $11,404,547 $ 8,804,188 $13,816,671 $28,809,605 $16,601,172
(continued) (5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1996 Other Total ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ 8,332,893 Interest 32,088 6,222,638 Dividends 854,002 17,804,491 886,090 32,360,022 Contributions: Participant 378,317 15,187,999 Employer 112,246 4,510,938 490,563 19,698,937 Total additions 1,376,653 52,058,959 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (9,721,020) Other (87,735) (60,154) Total deductions (87,735) (9,781,174) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 1,288,918 42,277,785 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (1,062,774) - Transfers-other plans - 349,195 Total transfers (1,062,774) 349,195 Net increase (decrease) 226,144 42,626,980 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 1,062,774 268,576,124 End of year $ 1,288,918 $311,203,104
(5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1995 Money Company Investment Market Common Contracts Windsor Reserves Stock Loan ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation in fair value of investments $ - $ 8,001,570 $ - $ 7,431,654 $ - Interest 4,057,549 - 356,395 14,744 910,595 Dividends - 7,794,388 - 2,283,194 - 4,057,549 15,795,958 356,395 9,729,592 910,595 Contributions: Participant 2,670,628 4,880,477 457,608 1,684,741 - Employer 806,965 1,442,959 158,016 509,300 - 3,477,593 6,323,436 615,624 2,194,041 - Total additions 7,535,142 22,119,394 972,019 1,923,633 910,595 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (5,039,706) (2,561,376) (492,371) (2,131,525) (330,078) Other 143,102 (10,200) (4,980) (880) - Total deductions (4,896,604) (2,571,576) 497,351) (2,132,405) (330,078) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,638,538 19,547,818 474,668 9,791,228 580,517 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (1,995,428) 4,137,947 503,269 8,042,712 3,793,819 Transfers-other plans 221,682 136,682 17,861 (517,531) (795) Total transfers (1,773,746) 4,274,629 521,130 7,525,181 3,793,024 Net increase (decrease) 864,792 23,822,447 995,798 17,316,409 4,373,541 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 62,581,658 45,262,792 5,554,999 33,703,216 9,327,478 End of year $63,446,450 $69,085,239 $ 6,550,797 $51,019,625 $13,701,019
(Continued) (5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1995 Index Trust-500 Fixed Wellington Portfolio PRIMECAP Magellan Income ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation in fair value of investments $1,081,082 $ 717,244 $1,280,963 $ 5,066,332 $ - Interest - - - - - Dividends 317,419 79,714 249,276 1,472,940 1,130,350 1,398,501 796,958 1,530,239 6,539,272 1,130,350 Contributions: Participant 1,433,967 681,507 1,238,143 1,825,432 - Employer 433,915 214,415 357,443 551,133 - 1,867,882 895,922 1,595,586 2,376,565 - Total additions 3,266,383 1,692,880 3,125,825 8,915,837 1,130,350 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (323,087) (61,427) (217,181) (308,025) (1,062,162) Other (7,400) (1,820) (420) - 76,282 Total deductions (330,487) (63,247) (217,601) (308,025) (985,880) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,935,896 1,629,633 2,908,224 8,607,812 144,470 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers 2,134,729 1,140,183 3,555,695 17,093,655 17,980,611 Transfers-other plans 84,360 15,759 115,623 (117,000) (6,308) Total transfers 2,219,089 1,155,942 3,671,318 16,976,655 17,974,303 Net increase (decrease) 5,154,985 2,785,575 6,579,542 25,584,467 18,118,773 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 2,087,515 1,183,165 2,216,198 - - End of year $ 7,242,500 $ 3,968,740 $ 8,795,740 $25,584,467 $18,118,773 (continued)
(5) Fund Information (continued): Year Ended December 31, 1995 Other Total ADDITIONS Investment Income: Net appreciation in fair value of investments $ - $ 23,578,845 Interest 25,592 5,364,875 Dividends 765,995 14,093,276 791,587 43,036,996 Contributions: Participant 385,478 15,257,981 Employer 109,333 4,583,479 494,811 19,841,460 Total additions 1,286,398 62,878,456 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (12,526,938) Other (223,624) (29,940) Total deductions (223,624) (12,556,878) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 1,062,774 50,321,578 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (56,387,192) - Transfers-other plans - (49,667) Total transfers (56,387,192) (49,667) Net increase (decrease) (55,324,418) 50,271,911 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 56,387,192 218,304,213 End of year $ 1,062,774 $268,576,124
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 PAGE 1 OF 2 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1996 Number Current Description Of Units Cost Value Deutsche Bank, investment contract #1 general account 4,149,702 $4,149,702 $4,149,702 Deutsche Bank, investment contract #2, general account 4,128,666 4,128,666 4,128,666 John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, investment contract #7307, general account 9,886,676 9,886,676 9,886,676 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, investment contract #14403, general account 12,214,391 12,214,391 12,214,391 Morgan Guaranty, investment contract #96-17, general account 2,027,880 2,027,880 2,027,880 Morgan Guaranty, investment contract #96-18, general account 2,013,433 2,013,433 2,013,433 Prudential Insurance Company of America, investment contract #7168, general account 2,336,685 2,336,685 2,336,685 New York Life Insurance Company, investment contract #30313 4,112,038 4,112,038 4,112,038 Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company, investment contract #418026 4,492,467 4,492,467 4,492,467 Union Bank of Switzerland, investment contract #2127 6,363,793 6,363,793 6,363,793 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Group Annuity Contract #20105, general account 16,600,616 16,600,616 16,600,616 *Vanguard/Windsor Fund 5,462,112 78,611,124 90,616,436 *Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio 20,886,443 20,886,443 20,886,443
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 PAGE 2 OF 2 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1996 Number Current Description Of Units Cost Value *Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund 459,331 11,461,717 $13,816,671 *Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio Fund 127,302 7,147,948 8,804,188 *Vanguard/Wellington Fund 436,120 10,079,727 11,404,547 *Fidelity Magellan Fund 357,218 25,779,363 28,809,605 *Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock 1,652,518 37,809,998 51,021,493 *Participant Loans, at interest rates ranging from 14% to 5% 16,228,456 16,228,456 Total Investments $276,331,123 $309,914,186 *Investment with party-in-interest to the Plan.
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 Page 1 of 2 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27b - SCHEDULE OF LOANS OR FIXED INCOME OBLIGATIONS DECEMBER 31, 1996 Amount Received Unpaid Original During Reporting Balance Amount Year at End Amount Overdue Identity and Address of Obligator of Loan Principal Interest of Year Principal Interest Gurley, Bobby G. $10,000.00 $1,736.66 $ 210.74 $ 3,335.97 $ 355.39 $ 34.07 RR5, Box 108 Arkansas City, KS 67005 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 4/20/93; 6.3% interest rate; 120 successive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Lewis, Lilah J. $10,000.00 $1,765.49 $ 537.31 $ 7,876.32 $ 482.75 $123.25 810 Lawrence Emporia, KS 66801 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 10/30/95; 7.7% interest rate, 96 successive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Alvarez, Allyson A. $ 4,800.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 1,601.47 $1,056.65 $ 75.91 10924 West 58th St., Apt. 101 4,700.00 0.00 0.00 3,214.77 922.56 169.44 Shawnee, KS 66203 5,300.00 0.00 0.00 5,007.92 923.81 361.15 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - Three general purpose loans, dated 6/17/92, 3/23/94, and 8/29/95, respectively; interest rates of 6.7%, 6.1%, and 7.9%, respectively; 60 monthly, 120 semi-monthly, 120 semi-monthly successive installments, respectively. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Sorenson, Evelyn C. $ 4,100.00 $ 763.38 $ 64.12 $ 562.33 $ 238.83 $ 9.42 2221 NW 65th Street Kansas City, MO 64151 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 4/28/92, 7.8% interest rate, 60 successive monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Suther, Rose A. $ 3,100.00 $ 224.39 $ 75.05 $ 2,875.61 $ 406.39 $117.63 2410 Honeysuckle Drive Richardson, TX 75082 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 1/26/96, 7.5% interest rate, 96 successive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant.
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 Page 2 of 2 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27b - SCHEDULE OF LOANS OR FIXED INCOME OBLIGATIONS DECEMBER 31, 1996 Amount Received Unpaid Original During Reporting Balance Amount Year at End Amount Overdue Identity and Address of Obligator of Loan Principal Interest of Year Principal Interest Huston, Ronald A. $ 2,000.00 $ 838.48 $ 67.52 $ 531.20 $ 174.75 $ 6.45 6506 Cheswick Road N Hixon, TN 37415 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 4/12/95, 8.3% interest rate, 48 successive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Werner, Kenneth F. $ 3,000.00 $ 276.45 $ 44.53 $ 1,390.71 $ 337.17 $ 42.17 3106 Faye Parsons, KS 67357 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan - General purpose loan; dated 7/28/93, 6.3% interest rate, 120 successive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant. Fields, Tamara B. $ 5,000.00 $ 716.92 $ 77.96 $ 1,240.52 $ 371.54 $ 25.90 3854 SE 32nd Street 6,800.00 283.71 123.63 6,516.29 583.40 231.28 Topeka, KS 66605 ###-##-#### Detailed Description of Loan: Two general purpose loans; dated 9/21/92 and 3/28/96, respectively, interest rates of 7.2% and 7.4%, respectively, both with 120 consecutive semi-monthly installments. Action to be Taken - The employee will be given the option to pay off the loan. If not paid, the loan will be defaulted in 1997 and will be treated as a 1997 distribution to the participant.
EIN: 48-0290150 PN: 004 WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27d - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 Type of Dollar Net Gain Investment Transaction Number Value (1) (Loss) Vanguard Money Market Purchases 104 $34,413,390 $ - Reserves, Prime Sales 166 26,776,563 - Portfolio Vanguard/Windsor Fund Purchases 292 20,891,926 - Sales 428 9,501,565 985,323 Western Resources, Inc. Purchases 247 9,720,783 - Common Stock Fund* Sales 395 6,026,632 845,390 (1) Amount shown in this column is cost of purchases or proceeds from sales. * This fund consists of two investments, Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock and Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Prime Portfolio. The Trustee is unable to split the transaction detail between the two investments.
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment and Benefits Committee for the Western Resources Inc. Employees' 401(K) Savings Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. WESTERN RESOURCES, INC. EMPLOYEES' 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN By: Signature Title Date S. L. Kitchen Chairman June 27, 1997 Ira W. McKee, Jr. Member June 27, 1997 John K. Rosenberg Member June 27, 1997 Kenneth T. Wymore Member June 27, 1997 David E. Roth Member June 27, 1997 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description of Documents Page 23 Consent of Independent Public Accountants (filed electronically)
                                             Exhibit 23



            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our report included in the Form 11-K for the Western Resources, Inc.
Employees' 401(k) Savings Plan, into the Company's previously filed
Registration Statements File Nos. 33-49467, 33-49553, 333-02023, 33-50069,
33-62375, and 333-26115 of Western Resources, Inc. on Form S-3; Nos. 333-18097
and 333-02711 of Western Resources, Inc. on Form S-4; Nos. 33-57435,
333-13229, 333-06887, 333-20393, and 333-20413 of Western Resources, Inc.
on Form S-8.




Arthur Andersen LLP  

Kansas City, Missouri,
June 13, 1997