Exhibit 12

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and

Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges

and Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements

(Dollars in Thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2002			2001			2000		1999			1998
Earnings (losses) from continuing operations (a)	$	(443,551	)	$	(123,218	)	$	196,538	$	(48,798	)	$	58,088
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense		271,529			269,545			290,879		294,104			226,120
Interest on Corporate-owned Life Insurance Borrowings		52,768			50,408			45,634		36,908			38,236
Interest Applicable to Rentals		26,394			28,908			28,898		34,252			32,796
Total Fixed Charges		350,691			348,861			365,411		365,264			297,152
Distributed income of equity investees		2,916			2,769			2,686		3,728			3,812
Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements:
Preferred and Preference Dividends (e)		399			895			1,129		1,129			3,591
Income Tax Required		264			591			746		746			1,095
Total Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements		663			1,486			1,875		1,875			4,686
Total Fixed Charges and Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements		351,354			350,347			367,286		367,139			301,838
Earnings (losses) (b)	$	(89,944	)	$	228,412		$	564,635	$	320,194		$	359,052
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		(c)			(c)			1.55		(c)			1.21
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements		(d)			(d)			1.54		(d)			1.19

(a) Earnings (losses) from continuing operations consists of earnings (losses) before income taxes adjusted for minority interest and undistributed earnings from equity investees.

(b) Earnings (losses) are deemed to consist of earnings (losses) from continuing operations, fixed charges and distributed income of equity investees. Fixed charges consist of all interest on indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and expense, and the portion of rental expense which represents an interest factor.

(c) The company’s earnings (losses) were deficient to cover fixed charges by $440.6 million, $120.4 million and $45.1 million at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 1999, respectively.

(d) The company’s earnings (losses) were deficient to cover fixed charges and preferred and preference dividend requirements by $441.3 million, $121.9 million and $46.9 million at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 1999, respectively.

(e) Preferred and preference dividend requirements consist of an amount equal to the pre-tax earnings which would be required to meet dividend requirements on preferred and preference stock.