2008-04-25 00:28:18 -
www.empiredistrict.com - At the annual meeting of stockholders of The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) held today, Kenneth R. Allen, William L. Gipson and Bill D. Helton were re-elected to three-year terms as Directors of the Company. Stockholders also ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. On a non-binding advisory
proposal to declassify the Board of Directors, shareholders voted 44.7% in favor, 3.7% against and 51.6% abstained or were non-votes.
At the Board of Directors meeting held today, the following officers were re-elected: William L. Gipson, President and Chief Executive Officer; Bradley P. Beecher, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Electric; Ronald F. Gatz, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Gas; Gregory A. Knapp, Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer; Harold R. Colgin II, Vice President-Energy Supply; Michael E. Palmer, Vice President-Commercial Operations; Kelly S. Walters; Vice President-Regulatory and General Services; Janet S. Watson, Secretary-Treasurer; and Laurie A. Delano, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer.
Based in Joplin, Missouri, The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) is an investor-owned utility providing electric, natural gas (through its wholly owned subsidiary The Empire District Gas Company) and water service, with approximately 215,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A subsidiary of the Company also provides fiber optic services.
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements address future plans, objectives, expectations, and events or conditions concerning various matters. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements, by reason of the factors noted in our filings with the SEC, including the most recent Form 10-K.
The Empire District Electric Company
Media Communications
Amy Bass, 417-625-5114
Director of Corporate Communications
abass@empiredistrict.com
or
Investor Relations
Jan Watson, 417-625-5108
Secretary - Treasurer
jwatson@empiredistrict.com 
