Exhibit 10(a)

 

May 24, 2004

 

Re: Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of March 12, 2004 among
Westar Energy, Inc., as Borrower, the Several Lenders Party Thereto, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent, The Bank of New York, as Syndication Agent,
and Citibank, N.A., Union Bank of California, N.A., and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as Documentation Agents, and the First Mortgage Bonds of the
Borrower and Kansas Gas and Electric Company (“KGE”). Capitalized terms have the
meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

The Lenders under the Credit Agreement

c/o The Administration Agent

 

Gentlemen:

 

As you know, the Borrower and KGE have financed or refinanced the acquisition,
construction and installation of pollution control equipment through the
issuance of pollution control bonds secured by pledges of their First Mortgage
Bonds. The Administrative Agent and the Borrower believe that the existing
pollution control bonds and their refinancings, as well as pledges to support
pollution control bonds of First Mortgage Bonds that are otherwise permitted
under the Credit Agreement, are intended to be permitted under the Credit
Agreement, but since the Borrower is in the process of refinancing one or more
of these pollution control bonds, we want to avoid any misinterpretation of the
negative pledge clause in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower seeks your consent
to (i) include an express reference to those pollution control bonds and related
Liens outstanding as of the Closing Date in Schedule 6.2(f) “Existing Liens” of
the Credit Agreement as permitted Liens under the Credit Agreement and (ii)
insert “(or secured by bonds issued)” prior to “under the Indentures” in the
second line of Section 6.2(m) of the Credit Agreement to more clearly provide
that First Mortgage Bonds of the Borrower and KGE that are otherwise permitted
to be issued may also be pledged, all within the existing limits of that Section
on the aggregate principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds that can be issued.

 

Please indicate your consent to the Administrative Agent and each of the Loan
Parties making the foregoing supplements and modifications to the Credit
Agreement by inserting the name of your institution and signing in the space
indicated below.

 

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Greg A. Greenwood

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Greg A. Greenwood

Treasurer

 

We hereby consent to such supplements and modifications:

 

Name of Lender:

 

Bank One NA

By:

 

/s/ Jane Bekkeil

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

 

Jane Bekkeil

Title:

 

Director

Name of Lender:

 

The Bank of New York

By:

 

/s/ Nathan S. Howard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

 

Nathan S. Howard

Title:

 

Vice President

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name of Lender:

 

Barclays Bank PLC

By:

 

/s/ Sydney G. Dennis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Sydney G. Dennis

   

Title:

 

Director

   

Name of Lender:

 

Credit Swisse First Boston Acting Through Its Cayman Islands Branch

By:

 

/s/ James P. Moran

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

/s/ Denise L. Alvarez

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

 

James P. Moran

 

Denise L. Alvarez

Title:

 

Director

 

Director

Name of Lender:

 

CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Robert J. Harrity, Jr.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Robert J. Harrity, Jr.

   

Title:

 

Managing Director

   

Name of Lender:

 

Commerzbank AG, New York and Grand Cayman Branches

By:

 

/s/ Andrew Kjoller

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

/s/ Steve R. Pottle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

 

Andrew Kjoller

 

Steven Pottle

Title:

 

Vice President

 

Vice President

Name of Lender:

 

Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

By:

 

/s/ Joel Makowsky

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

/s/ Richard Henshall

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:

 

Joel Makowsky

 

Richard Henshall

Title:

 

Director

 

Director

Name of Lender:

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank

By:

 

/s/ Peter M. Ling

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Peter M. Ling

   

Title:

 

Managing Director

   

Name of Lender:

 

LaSalle Bank National Association

By:

 

/s/ Meghan C. Payne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Meghan C. Payne

   

Title:

 

First Vice President

   

Name of Lender:

 

Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Janine M. Shugan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Janine M. Shugan

   

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

   

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name of Lender:

 

Union Bank of California, N.A.

   

By:

 

/s/ Kevin M. Zitar

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

Kevin M. Zitar

   

Title:

 

Vice President

   

Name of Lender:

 

UMB Bank, N.A.

   

By:

 

/s/ David A. Proffitt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

David A. Proffitt

   

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

   

Name of Lender:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

   

By:

 

/s/ John P. Mills

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

John P. Mills

   

Title:

 

Vice President

   

Name of Lender:

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

   

By:

 

/s/ D. Mitch Wilson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:

 

D. Mitch Wilson

   

Title:

 

Vice President