PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:

Amy Bass

Director, Corporate Communications (417) 625-5114 abass@empiredistrict.com

THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES A NEW SPIN ON OLD TIRES
JOPLIN, MO - April 16, 2013 - Empire District Electric Company announced today that customers can place an environmentally friendly new spin on their old tires this Saturday, April 20, by bringing them to Empire's used tire collection. Held in partnership with the city of Joplin, the free tire drop off will take place at the Joplin Recycling Center at 1310 West "A" Street from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
The tires receive a new spin to become tire-derived fuel (TDF) for use in generating electricity at Empire's Asbury Power Plant. Tires from the Joplin collection provide about a two-day supply of TDF which supplements the on-going supply the Company purchases.
In addition to electricity production, the use of TDF helps free the environment of used tires that are considered an environmental hazard. The benefits of TDF, as described by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, include:

• Saves landfill space.

• Removes tires from the environment and alleviates the need for tire landfills.

• Reduces the amount of illegal tire dumping.

• Reduces mosquito-breeding habitat, the mosquito population, and the spread of West

Nile Virus.

• Preserves our natural resources by replacing coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels.

• Reduces the amount of coal that must be mined to keep up with electricity demands.

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THE EMPIRE DIS T RICT ELECTRI C C O MPANY • 6 02 S J O PLIN AVEN UE • J O PLI N , MI SSO URI 64 80 2 • 4 17- 62 5- 51 00 • F AX: 4 1 7 - 6 25- 51 69 • w ww. emp i re dist r i ct . c om

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Empire began using TDF in July 2002. Since that time, the Company has used about 96 million pounds of TDF, or approximately 4.8 million tires. The TDF burned at Asbury accounts for approximately one percent of the plant's total fuel mix by weight.
Residential customers of Empire may bring up to ten automotive tires per household to the free collection. Collection officials do ask that the tires be free of excess mud and debris. No commercial tires will be accepted.
This is a special event for residential customers with automotive tires needing disposal. Commercial businesses who need help contracting with a tire disposal company may contact the Joplin Recycling Center at 624-0820, Ext. 501, for assistance in locating a firm.
Based in Joplin, Missouri, The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE: EDE) is an investor- owned, regulated utility providing electric, natural gas (through its wholly owned subsidiary The Empire District Gas Company), and water service, with approximately 216,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A subsidiary of the Company also provides fiber optic services.
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THE EMPIRE DIS T RICT ELECTRI C C O MPANY • 6 02 S J O PLIN AVEN UE • J O PLI N , MI SSO URI 64 80 2 • 4 17- 62 5- 51 00 • F AX: 4 1 7 - 6 25- 51 69 • w ww. emp i re dist r i ct . c om

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