JOPLIN, Mo., Nov. 6, 2002 -- The Empire District Electric Co. announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with the staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) in its case involving a request for new rates for its water customers.
The agreement, which was filed with the MPSC on November 4, 2002, is subject to MPSC approval.
The request for new rates was submitted on May 15, 2002, and is needed to meet current operating expenses. The company was seeking to increase annual revenues by approximately $361,000, or 33.9 percent, and filed under the MPSC's small company rate increase procedure.
The agreement provides for an increase in the company's annual operating water revenues of approximately $358,000, or 33.7 percent. If approved by the MPSC, a residential customer using 6,000 gallons of water per month would see an increase of $5.68.
In making the announcement, Mike Palmer, Vice President-Commercial Operations, stated: "This would be the first increase in rates for our water customers since February 1994. Since that time, we have invested approximately $3.6 million in our system. We have made significant improvements and additions to the infrastructure including a new well, the addition of new water mains, and improved fire protection."
Based in Joplin, Missouri, The Empire District Electric Co. is an investor-owned utility providing electric service to approximately 152,000 customers in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas and water service to approximately 4,500 customers in the Missouri communities of Aurora, Marionville and Verona.
The company also provides monitored security, decorative lighting and fiber optic service and has investments in wireless Internet service and close-tolerance custom manufacturing.
Source: The Empire District Electric Company
