<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001143068</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001352500</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Heidtbrink Scott</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1201 WALNUT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64106</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP - Corporate Services</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>824</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>147.13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-02-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2382</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>121.90</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>784</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>181.11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-01-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>470</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.91</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4707</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person held Aquila, Inc., common stock. As provided in the agreement and plan of merger dated February 6, 2007, between Great Plains Energy and Aquila, Inc., each share of Aquila, Inc. common stock was converted into the right to receive $1.80 per share plus 0.0856 of a share of Great Plains Energy common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person held Aquila, Inc., non-qualified stock options. As provided in the agreement and plan of merger dated February 6, 2007, Aquila, Inc. options converted into options to acquire shares of Great Plains Energy common stock upon completion of the merger transaction with Aquila, Inc. based upon the conversion ratio set forth in the merger agreement. The Option Exchange Ratio, as defined in the merger agreement, equals 0.1569.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Executed on behalf of Scott H. Heidtbrink by Mark G. English, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
