PR-10-49 -- PSC Sets Intervention Deadline In Empire District Electric Case

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY---The staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission has filed a notice indicating it has started a prudence audit of the fuel adjustment clause established by the Commission for The Empire District Electric Company.  Such an audit is required by PSC rules and state statutes if a fuel adjustment clause (FAC) is authorized by the PSC during a rate case before the Commission.

The rules provide that there shall be a periodic review of fuel and energy costs subject to the FAC and that the prudence reviews need to occur no less frequently than at 18 month intervals.  This prudence audit will look at costs associated with Empire’s FAC for the period of September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009.

Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed no later than September 28, 2009, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.  All parties to the rate case in which the Commission established Empire’s fuel adjustment clause are automatically parties to the prudence audit.

The Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 147,000 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.

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Case No. EO-2010-0084