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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P/WTjjE4MBCM6jH8hzQTYPVOKYe7+cwtJV1weiOxqcV4A1sw18OG/5GBYGOXFiZj
 Tn8Hn+jIptOCPhSWI1ik0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001236304-04-000009.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001236304-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107181200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236304-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUDWIG JAMES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236088

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03523
		FILM NUMBER:		04513980

	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>2004-01-06</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000054507</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTAR ENERGY INC /KS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236088</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUDWIG JAMES J</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, Public Affairs</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, Par Value $5.00</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3404</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.115</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20246</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">3,404 shares were forfeited for the payment of taxes after 10,000 restricted share units vested and were distributed to the Reporting Person. The restricted shares units were included in the Reporting Person's previously filed Form 3.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 12,000 restricted share units which are subject to forfeiture and 43 shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends in 2003 and 2004.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>James J. Ludwig</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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