Recognizing a large federal income tax benefit, <strong>Westar Energy, Inc. </strong>today said the utility turned a $60.9 million profit during the first three months of the year, more than double that recorded a year ago.</p><p>The company recorded earnings of 63 cents per share for the first quarter, compared with earnings of $29.9 million, or 34 cents per share, a year ago.</p><p>Westar attributed the increase to a $39.4 million benefit from the completion of a federal income tax audit covering multiple years.</p><p>Setting aside that benefit, first quarter earnings were down at $21.5 million, or 23 cents per share.</p><p>&#8220;Earnings in the first quarter 2008 were consistent with our expectations,&#8221; Bill Moore, Westar Energy&#8217;s chief executive, said in a statement. &#8220;We expected earnings in the quarter apart from the tax benefit to be down compared to last year, largely because of capital investments we have made to serve customers that are not yet reflected in our prices.&#8221;