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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H4pLeHw8J3IIyoxBrIFCxh3U1k95nc2Gh7CDZFehIb/A1XjBSarorLuIORknGbPa
 Z9GzQTV7cHQ3mhO0QR4Uuw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236304-03-000054.txt : 20031202
<SEC-HEADER>0001236304-03-000054.hdr.sgml : 20031202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031202172706
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236304-03-000054
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IRICK LARRY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236086

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03523
		FILM NUMBER:		031033431

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WWESTERN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		818 SOUTH KANSAS AVENUE
		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>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000054507</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTAR ENERGY INC /KS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236086</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IRICK LARRY D</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>VP, Gen. Counsel, Corp. Sec.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67881</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectO
wnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>727</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held in 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>374</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held by Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHold
ing></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person sold 1,900 shares that were 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 57,800 restricted share units subject to forfeiture.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 90 restricted share units subject to forfeiture.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Larry D. Irick</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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