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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, 1998


                               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:

                      WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.
                      401(K) PROFIT SHARING 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:  48-1123483
                                                         PN:  001










                  WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.

                         401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN

           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997

     TOGETHER WITH REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

          


            Report of Independent Public Accountants



To the Investment and Benefits Committee of
Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for
benefits of WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of changes in net
assets available for benefits for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997.
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, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in net assets available for
benefits for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, 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 as of December 31, 1998, 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.

Arthur Andersen


Kansas City, Missouri,
June 25, 1999



                                                 EIN:  48-1123483
                                                         PN:  001

WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 ASSETS 1998 1997 INVESTMENTS: Investment Vanguard Contract Fund $ 4,991 $ 4,548 Vanguard Windsor Fund 114,278 78,445 Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund 19,777 6,886 Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund 97,675 78,263 Loan Fund 16,962 - Vanguard Wellington Fund 31,325 30,999 Vanguard 500 Index Fund 49,921 40,462 Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund 105,159 61,319 Fidelity Magellan Fund 97,381 34,235 Vanguard International Growth Fund 20,968 12,764 Vanguard-Total Bond Market Index Fund 3,217 2,513 Total Investments 561,654 350,434 DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE 1,564 954 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $563,218 $351,388 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
EIN: 48-1123483
PN: 001 WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 1998 1997 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, beginning of period $351,388 $166,560 ADDITIONS: INVESTMENT INCOME- Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments 1,834 48,214 Interest 1,811 580 Dividends 26,540 24,659 Total Investment Income 30,185 73,453 PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS 37,108 82,331 Total Additions 67,293 155,784 DEDUCTIONS: Benefits Paid (9,381) (3,337) Total Deductions (9,381) (3,337) TRANSFERS FROM OTHER PLANS 153,918 32,381 NET INCREASE 211,830 184,828 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS, end of period $563,218 $351,388 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 (1) PLAN DESCRIPTION: The following brief description of the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information. (a) General--In 1995, Western Resources, Inc. (WRI) acquired two security service providers, Mobilfone Security of Topeka and Communications & Signaling, Inc. (CSI), which together formed the WRI subsidiary, Westar Security Services, Inc. (the Company). This defined contribution plan was established for employees of the Company effective February 1, 1996. All employees are eligible to participate in the Plan after ninety days of service. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. (b) Contributions--Participants are allowed to make elective deferral contributions of between 1 percent and 14 percent of taxable wages subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limits. These contributions effectively reduce a participant's taxable wages because they are withheld from earnings on a pre-tax basis. An employee may transfer a qualifying rollover distribution to the trustee under the Plan subject to terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company may make qualified nonelective employer contributions or regular employer contributions at its discretion. In order to share in either employer contribution, the eligible employee must be an employee of the Company on the last day of the plan year and must have completed 1,000 hours of service during the plan year. Participants are fully vested in elective deferral contributions, qualified nonelective employer contributions, and amounts representing qualifying rollover distributions. Participants vest in regular employer contributions on a five-year graded schedule. Upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment, all vested balances are paid to the participant or his beneficiaries in accordance with plan terms. (c) Investment Funds--Participants may elect to have their contributions and the Company's qualified nonelective contributions invested in the funds listed below, excluding the Loan Fund. The Vanguard Investment Contract Trust seeks to preserve the value of an investment and provide an attractive level of interest by investing in investment contracts issued by financial institutions and in contracts backed by high-quality bonds and bond mutual funds. The Vanguard Windsor Fund is a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing dividend and capital appreciation income. The Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund is a money market fund invested in high-quality money market obligations issued by financial institutions, nonfinancial corporations, U.S. and other governmental agencies, and repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities. The Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund provides the possibility of long-term growth through increases in the value of the stock and the reinvestment of its dividends. A portion of the fund may also be invested in cash reserves, such as money market instruments, to accommodate daily transactions. 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 500 Index Fund is a growth and income fund which seeks to provide long-term capital growth. The Vanguard 500 Index Fund 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 a growth fund seeking long-term growth of capital by investing principally in a portfolio of common stocks. The Fidelity Magellan Fund is a diversified equity fund invested in equity securities providing long-term capital appreciation. Vanguard International Growth Fund invests in the stocks of about 200 companies located in 30 countries around the world. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund invests in about 1,500 bonds from a variety of industries in an attempt to match the performance and risk characteristics of the unmanaged Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. The investments range from short-term bonds that mature in a year to long-term bonds that mature in 20 or 30 years, giving the Fund an average maturity of nine years. The above funds are managed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (Vanguard) 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 Vanguard Investment Contract Trust and Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund are stated at cost which approximates market value as determined by Vanguard. Investments in the Loan Fund are stated at face value. (d) Loans to Participants--In accordance with plan provisions, participants are permitted to borrow a specified portion of the vested balances in their individual accounts. Loans are evidenced by promissory notes payable to the Plan. (e) Income Taxes--The Plan obtained a determination letter on March 27, 1998, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan administrator believes the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in these financial statements. (f) Plan Termination--The Company is free to terminate the Plan at any time. (2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (a) Basis of Accounting--The Plan's financial statements are maintained on the accrual basis. 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) Participant Accounts--A separate account is maintained for each participant. Allocations to participant accounts for 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 market value and plan expenses are made when such amounts are earned or incurred. Forfeitures arise when participants leave the Plan before any discretionary regular employer contributions become fully vested. Forfeitures are reallocated to the accounts of all participants entitled to share in the employer contribution. (d) Administrative Expenses--All administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company with the exception of loan administrative charges which will be paid by the participants. The Company has no continuing obligation to pay these expenses. (3) ASSET TRANSFERS: The accounts of participants who change employment status and new employees with assets in previous employers' qualified plans are transferred into the Plan in accordance with plan provisions. (4) SECURITY ALARM MONITORING ACQUISITION: As a result of the acquisition of Protection One, certain security service employees were transferred to Protection One. At March 31, 1997, those employees' contributions ceased although account balances continue to be maintained in the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. These employees became participants in the Westar Security Services 401(k) Plan at April 1, 1997. On July 1, 1998, the Westar Security Services 401(k) Plan was merged into Protection One 401(k) Plan (formerly Protection One Employees Savings Plan). In April, 1999 the account balances for these employees totaling $284,289 were transferred to the Protection One 401(k) Plan. (5) FUND INFORMATION: The following tables present changes in net assets available for benefits in fund detail: (4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1998 Prime Company Investment Money Common Contract Windsor Market Stock Loans ADDITIONS Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ (13,030) $ - $ (23,295) $ - Interest 289 - 720 51 751 Dividends - 9,710 - 3,225 - 289 (3,320) 720 (20,019) 751 Participant contributions 154 8,587 - 4,778 - Total additions 443 5,267 720 (15,241) 751 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (842) (236) (3,452) - Total deductions - (842) (236) (3,452) - Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 443 4,425 484 (18,693) 751 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers - (5,918) 12,407 23,233 (3,513) Transfers-Other plans - 37,326 - 14,872 19,724 Total transfers - 31,408 12,407 38,105 16,211 Net increase 443 35,833 12,891 19,412 16,962 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 4,548 78,445 6,886 78,263 - End of period $ 4,991 $ 114,278 $ 19,777 $ 97,675 $ 16,962 (continued)
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1998 500 Wellington Index PRIMECAP Magellan ADDITIONS Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ (59) $ 10,020 $ 13,676 $ 12,300 Interest - - - - Dividends 3,491 763 3,822 3,372 3,432 10,783 17,498 15,672 Participant contributions 689 1,255 12,038 3,514 Total additions 4,121 12,038 29,536 19,186 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (1,979) (831) (1,941) (100) Total deductions (1,979) (831) (1,941) (100) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,142 11,207 27,595 19,086 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers (1,816) (1,748) (23,197) 1,506 Transfers-Other plans - - 39,442 42,554 Total transfers (1,816) (1,748) 16,245 44,060 Net increase 326 9,459 43,840 63,146 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 30,999 40,462 61,319 34,235 End of period $ 31,325 $ 49,921 $ 105,159 $ 97,381 (continued)
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1998 Total Bond International Market Growth Index Other Total Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 2,176 $ 46 $ - $ 1,834 Interest - - - 1,811 Dividends 414 179 1,564 26,540 2,590 225 1,564 30,185 Participant contributions 5,614 479 - 37,108 Total additions 8,204 704 - 67,293 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - - - (9,381) Total deductions - - - (9,381) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 8,204 704 1,564 57,912 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers - - (954) - Transfers-Other plans - - - 153,918 Total transfers - - (954) 153,918 Net increase 8,204 704 610 211,830 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 12,764 2,513 954 351,388 End of period $ 20,968 $ 3,217 $ 1,564 $ 563,218
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Prime Company Investment Money Common Contract Windsor Market Stock Loans ADDITIONS Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ - $ 202 $ - $ 21,806 $ - Interest 244 - 323 5 8 Dividends - 12,445 - 2,722 - 244 12,647 323 24,533 8 Participant contributions 1,927 12,388 4,259 12,019 - Total additions 2,171 25,035 4,582 36,552 8 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (281) - (1,251) (400) Other - - - - - Total deductions - (281) - (1,251) (400) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 2,171 24,754 4,582 35,301 (392) TRANSFERS Interfund Transfers (91) 8,094 76 (11,236) (92) Transfers-Other plans 1,925 6,372 1,925 3,239 - Total transfers 1,834 14,466 2,001 (7,997) (92) Net increase 4,005 39,220 6,583 27,304 (484) Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 543 39,225 303 50,959 484 End of period $ 4,548 $ 78,445 $ 6,886 $ 78,263 $ - (continued)
(4) Fund Information (continued):
Year Ended December 31, 1997 500 Wellington Index PRIMECAP Magellan ADDITIONS Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 2,594 $ 8,724 $ 10,474 $ 4,706 Interest - - - - Dividends 2,769 817 2,081 2,190 5,363 9,541 12,555 6,896 Participant contributions 6,336 11,375 17,626 7,233 Total additions 11,699 20,916 30,181 14,129 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid (482) (235) (80) (424) Other - - - - Total deductions (482) (235) (80) (424) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 11,217 20,681 30,101 13,705 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers 2,681 (838) 2,325 200 Transfers-Other plans 1,925 - 11,083 - Total transfers 4,606 (838) 13,408 200 Net increase 15,823 19,843 43,509 13,905 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period 15,176 20,619 17,810 20,330 End of period $ 30,999 $ 40,462 $ 61,319 $ 34,235 (continued)
(4) Fund Information:
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Total Bond International Market Growth Index Other Total Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ (368) $ 76 $ - $ 48,214 Interest - - - 580 Dividends 544 137 954 24,659 176 213 954 73,453 Participant contributions 6,676 2,492 - 82,331 Total additions 6,852 2,705 954 155,784 DEDUCTIONS Benefits paid - (184) - (3,337) Other - - - - Total deductions - (184) - (3,337) Net increase (decrease) prior to transfers 6,852 2,521 954 152,447 TRANSFERS Interfund transfers - (8) (1,111) - Transfers-Other plans 5,912 - - 32,381 Total transfers 5,912 (8) (1,111) 32,381 Net increase 12,764 2,513 (157) 184,828 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of period - - 1,111 166,560 End of period $ 12,764 $ 2,513 $ 954 $ 351,388
EIN: 48-1123483 PN: 001
WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN LINE 27a - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1998 Number Current Description of Units Cost Value Vanguard Windsor Fund 7,339.6051 $125,105 $ 114,278 Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund 19,777.2400 19,777 19,777 Vanguard Wellington Fund 1,067.2988 28,781 31,325 Vanguard 500 Index Fund 438.0989 33,249 49,921 Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund 2,206.4474 88,808 105,159 Fidelity Magellan Fund 806.0001 80,330 97,381 Vanguard International Growth Fund 1,117.1064 19,146 20,968 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund 313.2373 3,059 3,217 Vanguard Investment Contract Trust 4,990.5200 4,864 4,991 *Western Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund 2,937.6003 104,566 97,675 * Participant Loan, at interest rate of 7.5% 16,962 16,962 Total investments $524,647 $561,654 *Investment with party-in-interest to the Plan.
EIN: 48-1123483 PN: 001
WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN LINE 27d - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 Type of Dollar Net Gain Investment Transaction Number Value (Loss) Series of Transactions in Excess of 5% (1) Fidelity Magellan Fund Purchases 45 $20,836 $ - Sales 4 11,347 (582) Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Purchases 45 27,897 - Sales 6 37,299 5,022 Vanguard Windsor Fund Purchases 40 22,410 - Sales 6 9,808 (302) Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund Purchases 44 75,590 - Sales 29 62,676 - Vanguard 500 Index Fund Purchases 42 16,814 - Sales 5 17,537 4,104 Western Resources, Inc. Stock Fund Purchases 35 61,626 - Sales 8 30,880 3,709 Single Transactions in Excess of 5% Fidelity Magellan Fund Purchase 1 41,178 - Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund Purchase 1 24,262 - Sale 1 19,135 - (1) Amount shown in this column is cost of purchases or proceeds from sales.
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment and Benefits Committee for the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. WESTAR SECURITY SERVICES, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN By: Signature Title Date /s/William B. Moore Chairman June 29, 1999 /s/Ira W. McKee, Jr. Member June 29, 1999 /s/Carl M. Koupal, Jr. Member June 29, 1999 /s/Richard D. Terrill Member June 29, 1999 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
by reference of our report dated June 25, 1999, included in the Form 11-K for
the Westar Security Services, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, into the
Western Resources, Inc. previously filed Registration Statements File Nos.
333-59673, 33-49467, 33-49553, 333-02023, 33-50069, 33-62375, and 333-26115
of Western Resources, Inc. on Form S-3;  Nos. 333-02711 and 333-56369 of
Western Resources, Inc. on Form S-4; Nos. 333-70891, 33-57435, 333-13229,
333-06887, 333-20393, 333-20413 and 333-75395 of Western Resources, Inc. on
Form S-8; and No. 33-50075 of Kansas Gas and Electric Company on Form S-3.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Kansas City, Missouri,
 June 25, 1999