SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

February 17, 2004

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Kansas	1-3523	48-0290150
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission file number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

818 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612

(Address of principal executive offices)

(785) 575-6300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

WESTAR ENERGY, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

On February 17, 2004, we announced that we assigned our rights and obligations as the lender under Protection One, Inc.’s senior credit facility to POI Acquisition, L.L.C. and sold our approximately 87% equity interest in Protection One, Inc. to POI Acquisition I, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of POI Acquisition, L.L.C.). Both POI Acquisition, L.L.C. and POI Acquisition I, Inc. are entities formed by Quadrangle Capital Partners L.P., Quadrangle Select Partners L.P., Quadrangle Capital Partners-A L.P. and Quadrangle Master Funding Ltd. (collectively, Quadrangle). A copy of our press release regarding this transaction, dated February 17, 2004, is attached hereto.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 – Press Release dated February 17, 2004.

The information contained in this report is summary information that is intended to be considered in the context of our SEC filings and other public announcements that we may make, by press release or otherwise, from time to time. We disclaim any current intention to revise or update the information contained in this report, although we may do so from time to time as our management believes is warranted. Any such updating may be made through the filing of other reports or documents with the SEC, through press releases or through other public disclosure.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:    February 17, 2004 Westar Energy, Inc. By: /s/ Mark A. Ruelle Mark A. Ruelle,Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated February 17, 2004