SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 2, 1998
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Kansas
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-3368 44-0236370
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification Number)
602 Joplin Street, Joplin, Missouri 64801
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (417) 625-5100
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5 Other Events
Attached hereto as Exhibit 99 is a press release issued by the
Company on October 2, 1998, announcing the Company's plans to construct
350 megawatt addition at State Line Power Plant.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY
By
Name: R. B. Fancher
Title: Vice President - Finance
Dated: October 5, 1998
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number Description
99 Press Release dated October 2, 1998, announcing
the Company's plans to construct 350 megawatt
addition at State Line Power Plant.
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY 602 JOPLIN STREET JOPLIN,
MISSOURI 64802 417-625-5100 FAX: 417-625-5169
www.empiredistrict.com
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Amy Bass
417-625-5100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES
PLANS TO CONSTRUCT 350 MEGAWATT ADDITION
AT STATE LINE POWER PLANT
JOPLIN, MO - October 2, 1998--The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE)
today announced plans for the construction of an additional 350 megawatts of
electric power generation at its State Line Power Plant located on State Line
Road between Joplin and Galena, Kansas. The Company currently has an option
to purchase a 150 MW gas-fired combustion turbine from Westinghouse that will
be constructed on the Plant site. That turbine, together with the Company's
existing 150 MW combustion turbine (State Line Unit 2), would be used as a
heat source to power an additional 200 megawatts of steam-powered combined-
cycle generation to be constructed at the Plant.
It is estimated that construction of the new turbine and combined-cycle
generation would begin in the fall of 1999 and that the generation would be
operational approximately 20 months later. The estimated cost of the additional
generating facilities would be approximately $180 million. The Company
indicated that it has submitted requests for proposals to supply the gas, as as
well as requests for proposals for the purchase of power from the plant or to
join with the Company in the construction and ownership of the planned
facilities.
The Company's plans to proceed with the construction of the combined-cycle
plant are dependent upon making these arrangements, as well as obtaining any
required governmental permits.
In announcing the construction project, Myron McKinney, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, stated, "After a thorough evaluation of our
needs in the year of 2001 and beyond, and considering the state of the electric
energy supply in our region, we have determined that this construction project
is the most appropriate action to ensure our customers reliable, economical
energy. By using 150 megawatts of the existing generation at our State Line
Power Plant, our investment would create a total of 500 megawatts of economical
energy. Upon completion, the State Line combined-cycle unit will be one of the
most energy-efficient plants in the United States."
McKinney continued, "The proposed addition to this plant is testimony to the
growing, thriving economy in the four-state area."
Empire District Electric Company is an investor-owned utility supplying
electric service to approximately 143,000 customers in a 10,000 square-mile
area in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest
Arkansas. The Company also provides water service in three incorporated
communities in Missouri.
