The Company, an operator of regulated electric, gas and water utilities, announced today the results for the quarter and twelve months ended June 30, 2009.

Highlights

The Company reported consolidated earnings for the second quarter of 2009 of $7.6 million, or $0.22 per share, compared with 2008 same quarter earnings of $4.8 million, or $0.14 per share. Earnings for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 were $46.5 million, or $1.37 basic and $1.36 diluted earnings per share. This compares to earnings of $34.7 million, or $1.08 per share, for the 2008 twelve month period.

The Company announced on June 5 that it filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to increase gas segment annual revenues by approximately $2.9 million, or about 4.9 percent. The proposed increase for residential customers would be approximately $4.83 per month. With this rate case filing, Empire is also seeking to add three additional energy efficiency programs to assist customers. These include, an ENERGY STAR® rebate program for residential water heaters and space heating appliances, an ENERGY STAR home performance program, and a large commercial audit and rebate program. Results from the case would likely take effect in the second quarter of 2010.

On May 8, a severe wind storm referred to as a "derecho" or "inland hurricane" swept through the Company's service territory causing close to 83,000 customers to be without service. Incremental expenditures related to this storm totaled approximately $6.4 million of which $5.7 million were capitalized costs due to the nature of the restoration efforts. The remaining $0.7 million has been recorded as a regulatory asset as the Company anticipates the costs will be recovered in future rate cases.

  THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANYSEGMENT FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(in 000's except per share information, certain segment amounts exclude eliminations)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Quarter Ended June 30, 2009                          Quarter Ended June 30, 2008                                                                                                Electric     Gas           Other      Consolidated   Electric     Gas           Other      Consolidated   Revenues                                                              $  103,083   $  7,919      $  1,376   $  112,230     $  100,943   $  9,148      $  1,321   $  111,280     Fuel, Purchased Power, and Cost of Natural Gas Sold and Transported      41,548       4,211         -- --      45,759         46,942       5,297         -- --      52,239      Other Operating Expenses                                                 46,035       3,553         1,004      50,444         42,288       3,590         969        46,715      Operating Income                                                         15,500       155           372        16,027         11,713       261           352        12,326      Net Income (Loss)                                                     $  8,018     $  (750   )   $  359     $  7,627       $  5,157     $  (648   )   $  308     $  4,817       Earnings Per Weighted-Average Share, Common and Diluted                                                     $  0.22                                              $  0.14                                                                                                                                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Second Quarter Electric Results

Rate increases, primarily from our Missouri jurisdiction, increased revenues for the 2009 quarter over 2008 but were partially offset by lower off-system sales. Rate increases increased revenues by approximately $6.4 million while weather and modest customer growth added another $0.6 million. Off-system sales decreased approximately $4.7 million. Overall, 2009 electric revenues increased $2.1 million which represents a 2.1% increase over the 2008 second quarter.