PR-10-152 -- MEDIA ADVISORY: Local Public Hearing Schedule In Empire District Electric Company Rate Case

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FEBRUARY 22, 2010

JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold local public hearings in Joplin and Reeds Spring in March to receive customer comment in an electric rate case filed by The Empire District Electric Company (Empire).  Customers who have had any service related issues may also bring those to the attention of the Commission during the local public hearing.  The local public hearing schedule appears below.

 March 22—Joplin.  Webster Hall, Missouri Southern State University, 3950 East Newman Road.  A question and answer session starts at 5:30 p.m.  The local public hearing will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., or until all persons present who wish to testify have done so, whichever is sooner.

March 23—Joplin.  Webster Hall, Missouri Southern State University, 3950 East Newman Road.  A question and answer session starts at 11:30 a.m. The local public hearing will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., or until all persons present who wish to testify have done so, whichever is sooner.

March 23—Reeds Spring.  Tri-Lakes TCRC, University of Missouri Extension at Reeds Spring High School, ITV Room, 20277 State Highway 413 (in the South Wing of Reeds Spring High School).  A question and answer session starts at 5:30 p.m.  The local public hearing will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., or until all persons present who wish to testify have done so, whichever is sooner.

 These local public hearings will be held in facilities that meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Any person who needs additional accommodations to participate in these hearings should call the Public Service Commission’s hotline at 1-800-392-4211 (voice) or Relay Missouri at 711 prior to the hearings.

If customers wish to comment or secure information, they may contact the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone (866) 922-2959, e-mail opcservice@ded.mo.gov or the Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 800-392-4211, e-mail pscinfo@psc.mo.gov .

On October 29, 2009, Empire filed an electric rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to increase annual electric revenues by approximately $68.1 million (19.5%).  According to the company, a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity would experience a monthly increase of approximately $19.21 under the rate request.

The Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 148,000 electric customers in the Missouri counties of Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, St. Clair, Stone and Taney counties.

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Case No. ER-2010-0130