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)           January 28, 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 issued on January 28, 1999:  Western Resources
Reports Annual Earnings, Declares Dividend




                               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     January 28, 1999            By      /s/ William B. Moore
                                        William B. Moore, Acting Executive
                                          Vice President, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Treasurer   <PAGE>
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{"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": "99514622"}, "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)           January 28, 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 issued on January 28, 1999:  Western Resources
Reports Annual Earnings, Declares Dividend

                               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     January 28, 1999            By      /s/ William B. Moore
                                        William B. Moore, Acting Executive
                                          Vice President, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Treasurer