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                                                                  Exhibit 10 (r)

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

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$________                                                 ________________, 2001
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                                                                  Topeka, Kansas

      1. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________, an individual
("Debtor"), unconditionally promises to pay to the order of Western Resources,
Inc., a Kansas corporation ("Payee"), at its principal business offices located
at 818 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612, or at any other place
designated in writing at any time by the holder hereof, the principal sum of
$_______ (or, if less, so much thereof as may have been advanced).

      2. Debtor promises to pay principal and interest as follows:

      (a) Interest shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears commencing on
April 10, 2002 and continuing on the tenth day of each July, October, January
and April to occur thereafter and on the Maturity Date (as defined below) for
the immediately preceding calendar quarter (or other period).

      (b) The entire unpaid principal balance hereof is due and payable on
________, 2004 (the Maturity Date).

      3. Interest shall be payable each quarter on unpaid principal advances at
a rate equal to the average daily interest rate paid by Payee during such
quarter on all borrowings under Payee's $500,000,000 Five-Year Competitive
Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated March 27, 1998 with The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, or the revolving credit facility
replacing such agreement. All payments of interest shall be calculated on the
basis of actual number of days elapsed in a calendar year of 365 or 366 days, as
the case may be.

      4. Borrower may prepay at any time all or any party of the unpaid
principal advances.

      5. All payments shall be made in lawful currency of the United Sates of
America in immediately available funds. All amounts payable under this Note
shall be paid when due without offset, defense, or counterclaim of any kind,
nature, or description. All payments shall be applied first to accrued but
unpaid interest and then to unpaid principal balances. If any payment of
interest or principal hereunder becomes due and payable on a Saturday, Sunday,
or holiday when banks are closed, such payment shall be made on the next
business day and interest shall accrue at the applicable rate to the payment
date.

      6. The occurrence of any of the following events shall be deemed an "Event
of Default" under this Note: (a) the failure of Debtor to pay when due any
principal, interest, or other charges payable under this Note; (b) Debtor makes
an assignment for

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the benefit of creditors; (c) attachment or garnishment proceedings are
commenced against Debtor; (e) a receiver, trustee or liquidator is appointed
over or execution levied upon any property of Debtor; (f) proceedings are
instituted by or against Debtor under bankruptcy, relief of debtors, including,
without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code.

      7. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Payee may immediately,
at its option, pursue any one or more of the following remedies: (a) declare the
entire unpaid principal balance of this Note, together with all accrued interest
and any other charges or amounts payable hereunder immediately due and payable,
regardless of the maturity date, without presentment, demand, or notice of any
kind, all of which are expressly waived; (b) pursue any other rights and
remedies of Payee under applicable law; or (c) offset against any amounts
payable under this Note any other debts or obligations of the Payee to Debtor,
whether or not then due. The remedies provided in this Note are cumulative and
not mutually exclusive. Such remedies may be exercised and enforced
alternatively, successively, and concurrently, at the sole discretion of the
Payee, as often and whenever an occasion may arise.

      8. After maturity of any amount payable under this Note, as to such
amount, and from and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, as to the
unpaid principal balance of this Note, all accrued interest payable under this
Note from the date due, and all other charges payable under this Note, interest
shall accrue at a rate equal to the then applicable interest rate plus two
percent (the Maturity Rate).

      9. In no event shall the total of all amounts payable hereunder, whether
of interest or of other charges which may or might be characterized as interest,
exceed the maximum rate or amount permitted to be charged under applicable law.
If Payee receives any payment that is or would be in excess of the interest or
other charge permitted to be charged under applicable law, the portion of the
payment which is in excess of the permissible amount shall have been, and shall
be deemed to have been, a payment in reduction of the principal balance of this
Note or, if such portion exceeds the unpaid principal balance, the excess shall
be refunded to Debtor.

      10. Debtor and all endorsers, sureties, guarantors, and other persons who
are or may become liable for payment of all or any part of the obligations
evidenced by this Note agree jointly and severally to pay on demand all costs,
charges, and expenses, including attorneys' fees, to the extent permitted by
law, which may be incurred by the Payee for the collection of any sums due
hereunder or for defending or enforcing any of the Debtor's rights hereunder,
together with interest on such costs from the date incurred by the Payee until
paid at the Maturity Rate.

      11. Debtor, for itself and for all endorsers, sureties, guarantors, and
other persons who now are or who may become liable for payment of all or any
part of the obligations evidenced by this Note, jointly and severally and
irrevocably hereby (a) waives demand for payment, protest, notice of dishonor or
nonpayment, valuation and appraisement, notice of protest, and presentment for
payment and any and all other

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notices and demands whatsoever and any and all delays or lack of diligence in
the collection thereof; (b) waives all rights to have the indebtedness and other
obligations evidenced by or arising under this Note marshaled; and (c) consents
and agrees to and waives ay notice of any and all renewals, extension,
modifications or indulgences pertaining to the terms of this Note, and to any
and all releases or substitutions of any party liable for the payment of, or any
security for the payment of, any sums due under this Note. Any such renewal,
extension, modification, release, or substitution may be made without notice to
any such party and without discharging any such party's liability hereunder.

      12. No delay, failure or forbearance on the part of Payee in exercising
any right, power, privilege or remedy hereunder shall affect such right, power
or remedy or be deemed a waiver of the same or any part thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise thereof or any failure to exercise the same in any
instance preclude any further or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power, privilege or remedy hereunder.

      13. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given
pursuant to the provisions of this Note shall be deemed to have been duly given
or make: if by hand, immediately upon delivery; if by telex, immediately upon
sending; if by express mail or any other public, semi-public, or private
overnight delivery service, one (1) day after dispatch; and if mailed by
certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, one (1) day after
deposit in the mail. All such notices and communications shall be given to the
parties at their respective addresses set forth in this Note, or to such other
addresses as either party may designate by notice in accordance with the terms
of this Section.

      14. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Kansas, except to the extent that federal usury law may be
applicable. The terms of this Note are severable. If any provision, or the
application of any provision, shall be declared invalid or unenforceable, the
remaining provision and all other applications of such provisions shall remain
in full force and effect, and in no way shall be impaired.

      14. This Note and every covenant and agreement herein contained shall be
jointly and severally binding upon Debtor and Debtor's heirs, successors and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Payee and its successors and
assigns.

      15. Time is of the essence of this Note.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Note has been executed on the day and year first
above written.