-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L1agbIlDMSd/HBuylddgttbGgu/nga4YfWqq/MI5+CLGTGr/DwSZ/VwRUOKrk2xA
 PBAD0J+anZCUe6b2QpY3yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236304-03-000049.txt : 20031119
<SEC-HEADER>0001236304-03-000049.hdr.sgml : 20031119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031119154401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236304-03-000049
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERBENZ DOUGLAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184814

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03523
		FILM NUMBER:		031012876

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		818 S KANSAS AVE
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7855751617

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTAR ENERGY INC /KS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000054507
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				480290150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KS
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		818 KANSAS AVE
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7855756300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 889
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WESTERN RESOURCES INC /KS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920507
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000054507</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTAR ENERGY INC /KS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184814</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERBENZ DOUGLAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>818 S. KANSAS AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOPEKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6300</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.88</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>148942</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnersh
ip><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>700</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.89</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>148242</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwne
rship></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>505</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.97</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>147737</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6008</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held in 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person sold shares purchased with the proceeds of a loan made to the officer by the issuer pursuant to a stock purchase loan program.  The proceeds of the sale will be used to reduce the outstanding balance of the loan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 129,660 restricted share units which are subject to forfeiture and 1,660 shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends in July and October, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Cynthia S. Couch by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-19</signatur
eDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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