KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT CO
DEFA14A, 1996-07-29
ELECTRIC SERVICES
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                    SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
        PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the Registrant  [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted
     by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[X]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 240.14a-11(c) or Rule
     240.14a-12

                KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
        (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ ]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1),
     14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.

[ ]  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange
     Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).

[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
     14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction
          applies:

     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
          applies:

     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
          computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     (5)  Total fee paid:

[X]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
     Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
     which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the
     previous filing by registration statement number, or the
     Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     (3)  Filing Party:

     (4)  Date Filed:

                              ####
                                

<PAGE>

[Text of a mailgram sent to KCPL shareholders]




07/26/96  21:35:45


[Addressee]

  IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT CO.
                                   
Earlier today, it was announced that Western Resources had agreed with
the staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to the imposition
of rate reductions which exceed by $180 million those initially
proposed by Western.  The proposed 5-year settlement contemplates an
initial rate reduction of $54.7 million per year, escalating to $64.7
million annually on January 1, 1998.  This will result in revenue
reductions of more than $300 million for Western over the next five
years, underscoring our concerns regarding Western's ability to pay
dividends at its promised rate.  In addition, the proposed rate
reductions are subject to approval by the KCC and can be adjusted
further.

We believe the imposition of these rate reductions should be a major
cause of concern for KCPL shareholders.  Not surprisingly, in the
closing days of this proxy contest, Western is trying to portray this
loss of more than $300 million in revenue as a favorable development.
In addition, the announced agreement does nothing to address our
previously expressed concerns regarding Western's overstated merger
savings estimates and allowable savings retention rates.

The special meeting to approve the KCPL/UtiliCorp merger will be held
on August 7.  We strongly urge you to vote "FOR" the KCPL/UtiliCorp
merger today by signing, dating and returning one of the WHITE proxy
cards previously forwarded to you.

A failure to approve the KCPL/UtiliCorp merger would deprive you of its
potential for growth in revenue, income and share value --along with an
18% increase in your annual dividend, without any assurance that
Western's hostile exchange offer would ever be consummated.

Sincerely,                                   KCPL Investor Relations
                                             1-(800) 245-5275

Drue Jennings                                D. F. King & Co., Inc.
Chairman of the Board and President          1-(800) 714-3312


July 26, 1996



<PAGE>


July 27, 1996



DEAR SHAREHOLDER:

We are writing to let you know about an important recent
development.  Yesterday, it was announced that Western Resources
had agreed with the staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission
(KCC) to the imposition of rate reductions which exceed by $180
million those initially proposed by Western.  The proposed 5-year
settlement contemplates an initial rate reduction of $54.7
million per year, escalating to $64.7 million annually on January
1, 1998.

This will result in revenue reductions of more than $300 million
for Western over the next five years, underscoring our concerns
regarding Western's ability to pay dividends at its promised
rate.  In addition, the proposed rate reductions are subject to
approval by the KCC and can be adjusted further.

As indicated on the reverse side of this letter, we believe the
loss of revenue resulting from these rate reductions, coupled
with our previously expressed concerns regarding Western's
overstated merger-related savings projections, will negatively
impact Western's future stock value.

We believe the imposition of these rate reductions should be a
major cause of concern for KCPL shareholders.  Not surprisingly,
in the closing days of this proxy contest, Western is trying to
portray this loss of more than $300 million in revenue as a
favorable development.

The special meeting to approve the KCPL/UtiliCorp merger will be
held on August 7.  WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE "FOR" THE
KCPL/UTILICORP MERGER TODAY BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE
ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD.

A failure to approve the KCPL/UtiliCorp merger would deprive you
of its potential for growth in revenue, income and share value --
along with an 18% increase in your annual dividend -- without any
assurance that Western's hostile exchange offer would ever be
consummated.


Sincerely,

/s/Drue Jennings


Western Resources Forecast of 1998 Earnings Per Share            
  for Western Resources/KCPL Combination*                   $2.52

Adjustment to Reflect $64.7 Million Revenue Reduction            
  Contemplated by Proposed Settlement with KCC Staff**      (0.08)

Adjustment to Reflect Overstatement of Merger-Related            
  Savings by Western Resources***                           (0.11)

Revised Estimate of Western Resources' 1998 Earnings             
  per Share for Western Resources/KCPL Combination          $2.33

Implied REDUCTION in Western Resources Common Stock              
  value in 1998 based on assumed price/earnings ratio
  of 11.5****                                               $2.19


*    As reported in the Western Resources Prospectus dated July
     3, 1996 and excluding costs to achieve savings and
     transaction costs.  In the Western Resources Prospectus,
     Western Resources estimated earnings per share for 1998
     based on Western Resources' closing stock price on July 2,
     1996 resulting in an exchange ratio of 1.01224.

**   In its agreement with the KCC staff, Western committed to
     $64.7 million in cash rate reductions in 1998 and agreed
     that certain other depreciation adjustments would be
     considered by the KCC staff in the future.  KCPL believes
     the difference between this $64.7 million stipulated revenue
     reduction and Western's original regulatory proposal
     negatively impacts earnings before income taxes by
     approximately $17 million.  When adjusted by an effective
     tax rate of 40%, the resulting after-tax effect is $10.2
     million.  This results in a reduction to earnings per share
     of approximately $.08, based on 128,136,000 shares
     outstanding.

***  Assumes that $70.421 million in first year savings claimed
     in the Western Resources Prospectus are overstated by
     $23.474 million.  KCPL's analysis of Western Resources'
     claimed merger-related savings indicated that Western
     Resources overestimated total purchasing savings by 62.7%
     and overestimated total administrative savings by 48.5%.
     Applying such percentages to the first year purchasing and
     administrative savings in Western Resources' Prospectus
     indicates that first year merger-related savings are
     overstated by slightly more than one-third.  One-third of
     Western Resources' estimate of $70.421 million equals
     $23.474 million.  The $23.474 million adjustment as reduced
     by 40% to reflect the effect of taxes results in an after-
     tax adjustment of $14.084 million, which results in a
     reduction to earnings per share of approximately $0.11 based
     upon 128,136,000 shares outstanding.

**** Utility industry estimated average for 1996 as calculated in
     Merrill Lynch report dated June 24, 1996.

The foregoing contains certain statements of opinion and belief
of KCPL.  The foregoing information is provided to facilitate an
analysis of the potential value of Western Resources' offer.  The
implied reduction, if any, in Western Resources' common stock
value may be greater or less than indicated above.

The chart set forth above supersedes charts previously furnished
to shareholders in which rate reduction adjustments were based on
the $105 million annual rate reduction initially recommended by
the KCC staff.  As previously calculated, the implied reduction
in Western's 1998 per share common stock value ranged from $3.68-
$3.80.



<PAGE>

[Other solicitation materials revising materials filed on July 11, 1996]



<PAGE>




To:  Followers of Kansas City Power & Light Company

From:  David Myers
       Manager, Investor Relations

Date:  July 29, 1996

     In light of Western Resources' announcement of its proposed
settlement with the Staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission,
we have revised page 13 of KCPL's booklet entitled, "A Guide To
The Merger".  The proposed 5-year settlement contemplates an
initial rate reduction of $54.7 million per year, escalating to
$64.7 million annually on January 1, 1998.  This will result in
revenue reductions of more than $300 million for Western over the
next five years, underscoring our concerns regarding Western's
ability to pay dividends at its promised rate.  We believe the
imposition of these rate reductions should be a major cause of
concern for KCPL shareholders.  Not surprisingly, in the closing
days of this proxy contest, Western is trying to portray this
loss of $300 million in revenues as a favorable development.

     Please replace the enclosed page 13 with the one included in
the "Guide To The Merger".





<PAGE>


 [KCPL Logo]                                   [UtiliCorp United
                                                EnergyOne Logo]


                      A GUIDE TO THE MERGER


                                        Revised July 29, 1996


<PAGE>

The following is not a prediction as to specific future market
values and should be read in conjunction with page 3 hereof.
Specific future market values cannot be predicted with certainty

                        Potential for significant rate reductions
                                                                 
We Believe Western Rate Reductions Will Result in Lower Values
for Shareholders

                                                     Incremental Annual
                        $8.7MM     $64.7MM            Net Depreciation
                       Rate Red/  Reduction/             Increases
                          WR       KCC/WR            __________________
Rate Case Scenarios:   Proposal*  Stipulation**
____________________   ________   ___________        _______    _______
 Pro forma 1998 EPS    $2.52(1)    $2.44(4)
                                 
 Less:  Synergy                     0.11
 adjustment-See                   ___________
 page 14                                                       
                                   
 Adjusted pro forma                $2.33
 1998 EPS
 
 Cash flow impact                 ($48MM)
 
 Combined dividend      84.9%      91.8%
 payout(2)
 
 Implied WR price      $28.98     $26.80
 at P/E of 11.5(3)
 
 Implied KCPL share    $31.00     $29.48
 value

(1)  As reported in Amendment No. 2 to S-4 dated July 3, 1996
     filed by Western with the SEC; EPS based on exchange ratio of
     1.01224

(2)  Using $2.14 dividend rate reported in Amendment No. 2 to
     Western S-4

(3)  Utility industry average as calculated in Merrill Lynch report
     dated June 24, 1996

(4)  Represents an $0.08 reduction from Western's estimated 1998 EPS of
     $2.52.  In its agreement with the KCC staff, Western committed to
     $64.7 million in cash rate reductions in 1998 and agreed that certain
     other depreciation adjustments would be considered by the KCC staff in
     the future.  KCPL believes the difference between this $64.7 million
     stipulated revenue reduction and Western's original regulatory proposal
     negatively impacts earnings before income taxes by approximately $17
     million.  When adjusted by an effective tax rate of 40%, the resulting
     after-tax effect is $10.2 million.  This results in a reduction to
     earnings per share of approximately $0.08, based on 128,136,000 shares
     outstanding.


  *As filed with the KCC in the WR stand-alone regulatory plan

 **Per Western Resources' stipulation agreement with KCC Utilities Division
   staff




13





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