EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Maus
Director of Corporate Communications
417-625-5101 jmaus@empiredistrict.com
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY PLUGS INTO ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES
JOPLIN, MO - July 1, 2015 - The Empire District Electric Company announced today that it is plugging into electric hybrid vehicles.
The Company's fleet now includes five Ford Fusion Energi plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. The vehicles can achieve the equivalent of 88 miles per gallon when operating in combined electric/gas mode. This will provide about $900 in annual fuel savings compared to the company's standard gas-powered fleet vehicle.
According to Kelly Walters, Vice President and COO - Electric, 'Including plug-in electric hybrids in our fleet is a natural fit for Empire. They will help us hold down fuel costs and lower vehicle emissions.'
Walters continues, 'Empire has been a leader in environmental stewardship as one of the first utilities in the region to incorporate wind into its energy mix, encouraging energy efficiency and making record investments in environmental improvements to its generation fleet. We will continue to evaluate hybrid vehicles in other areas of our fleet as we strive to provide safe, reliable service to our customers with least-cost resources.'
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 218,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A subsidiary of the Company also provides fiber optic services. For more information regarding Empire, visit www.empiredistrict.com.
###
T H E E M P I R E D I S T R I C T E L E C T R I C C O M P A N Y 6 0 2 J O P L I N A V E N U E J O P L I N , M I S S O U R I 6 4 8 0 2 4 1 7 - 625 - 5 1 0 0 F AX : 4 1 7 - 625 - 5 1 6 9 w w w . e m p i r e d i s t r i c t . c o m
|
distributed by
|
