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


Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)           May 11, 1999
                                                          (May 6, 1999)



                             WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.               
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




             KANSAS                      1-3523               48-0290150     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of       (Commission             (Employer     
Incorporation or Organization)        File Number)        Identification No.)



   818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                                 66612   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)




Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code (785) 575-6300   
<PAGE>
                              WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

Western Resources herein files the following:

Exhibit 99.1 - Press release and employee update issued on May 6, 1999: 
Western Resources and KCPL Reach Merger Settlement With KCC Staff and Others













































                               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.




                                             Western Resources, Inc.




Date     May 11, 1999                By      /s/ William B. Moore         
                                        William B. Moore, Executive Vice
                                          President, Chief Financial 
                                            Officer and Treasurer
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "5/11/99 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2003}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WESTERN RESOURCES INC /KS", "cik": "0000054507", "assigned-sic": "4931", "irs-number": "480290150", "state-of-incorporation": "KS", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-03523", "film-number": "99616911"}, "business-address": {"street1": "818 KANSAS AVE", "city": "TOPEKA", "state": "KS", "zip": "66612", "phone": "9135756300"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "KANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO", "date-changed": "19920507"}}
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

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)           May 11, 1999
                                                          (May 6, 1999)

                             WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.               
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             KANSAS                      1-3523               48-0290150     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of       (Commission             (Employer     
Incorporation or Organization)        File Number)        Identification No.)

   818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                                 66612   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code (785) 575-6300
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

Western Resources herein files the following:

Exhibit 99.1 - Press release and employee update issued on May 6, 1999: 
Western Resources and KCPL Reach Merger Settlement With KCC Staff and Others

                               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.

                                             Western Resources, Inc.

Date     May 11, 1999                By      /s/ William B. Moore         
                                        William B. Moore, Executive Vice
                                          President, Chief Financial 
                                            Officer and Treasurer