Great Plains Energy Announces John Marshall and Barbara Curry as Senio

    Business Editors/Energy Editors

    KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2005--Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP) has named John Marshall as senior vice president of Delivery for Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) and Barbara Curry as senior vice president, Corporate Services and Corporate Secretary for Great Plains Energy.
    Marshall will oversee Customer Operations, Transmission Services, Information Technology and Energy Solutions. Curry will have responsibility for corporate Human Resource functions, including Benefits and Leadership Development, as well as Corporate Governance and Security.
    Marshall previously was senior vice president, Customer Services, of TVA, the nation's largest public power company. Prior to that, he was president of Duquesne Light Company.
    "As we solidify our management team to achieve our Strategic Intent, we are pleased to add John Marshall," said KCP&L President and CEO Bill Downey. "With more than 20 years of utility experience in Delivery, Customer Service and Information Technology, he will be a key leader in creating value-added energy solutions, including implementation of new technologies."
    Curry previously was executive vice president for Global Human Resources and senior vice president for Retail Operations with TXU Corp., a diversified energy company serving 2.5 million customers in Texas.
    "We are fortunate to have Barbara joining the company," said GPE Chairman and CEO Mike Chesser. "Her broad experience in human resources and retail customer service will strengthen our leadership team as we implement our long-term strategy. Her focus on performance and teamwork and her record of community involvement will be excellent models as our Winning Culture continues to evolve."
    Finally, the Company announced Mark English has been promoted to general counsel for Great Plains Energy. He has worked for the Company for 24 years and also will retain his current position as assistant secretary for Great Plains Energy, reporting to Barbara Curry.
    Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company, a leading regulated provider of electricity in the Midwest; and Strategic Energy LLC, a competitive electricity supplier. The Company's Web site is www.greatplainsenergy.com.

    CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION -- Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include: future economic conditions in the regional, national and international markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale electricity markets; market perception of the energy industry and the Company; changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry and constraints placed on the Company's actions by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on the Company's pension plan assets and costs; ability to maintain current credit ratings; inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts; increased competition including, but not limited to, retail choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including weather-related damage; cost, availability and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence of unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses; performance of projects undertaken by the Company's non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; and other risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors.

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CONTACT: Great Plains Energy Media: Tom Robinson, 816-556-2902 or Investors: Todd Kobayashi, 816-556-2312

KEYWORD: MISSOURI INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS BANKING ENERGY UTILITIES MANAGEMENT CHANGES SOURCE: Great Plains Energy

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