PR-12-64 -- Change In Fuel Adjustment Charge Approved For The Empire District Electric Company

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- NOVEMBER 22, 2011

JEFFERSON CITY---To reflect changes in fuel and purchased power costs, the Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by The Empire District Electric Company (Empire) to adjust the fuel adjustment charge (FAC) on the bills of its electric customers.

The FAC change reflects fuel and purchased power costs during the six month period of March 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011.  The company stated in its filing that the major factors responsible for the increases in Empire’s fuel and purchased power costs were abnormally warm weather during June, July and August 2011, limitations on the coal-fired Iatan generating units due to flooding and Iatan 2 construction accounting through June 14, 2011. 

A residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a month, currently pays an FAC of approximately $0.88 a month.  The FAC will increase to approximately $4.17 a month.  This change will take effect on December 1, 2011.

The PSC staff reviewed Empire’s filing and on November 1, 2011, filed a memorandum recommending the tariff be approved. 

The Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 149,500 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. ER-2012-0098