Empire District Electric : 09-21-16 - EVOLVe Initiative Ozark Charging Station

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Julie Maus

Director of Corporate Communications 417-625-5101

jmaus@empiredistrict.com

JOPLIN, MO - September 21, 2016 -The Empire District Electric Company announced today the availability of a new electric vehicle charging station in Ozark, Missouri. The charging station, located at the Company's Ozark Contact Center office at 201 West Brick Street is free and open to the public.

The charging station was installed as part of the Company's new electric vehicle incentive program. EVOLVe is an initiative to encourage broader adoption of clean, efficient electric vehicles. The initiative includes rebate incentives, educational outreach, and increased availability of electric vehicle charging stations within the Empire District Electric Company service area.

"Utilizing electric vehicles (EV) makes sense - both environmentally and economically," explains Brad Beecher, President and CEO, Empire District Electric Company. "To accelerate the evolution to EVs, Empire is making a significant investment that includes an education and awareness campaign; increase in the availability of public charging stations; and offering customer rebates on the purchase or lease of new plug-in electric vehicles."

Qualified applicants will be eligible for a $2,000 direct consumer rebate with the purchase or lease of a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) or a $1,000 rebate with the purchase or lease of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Rebates at this level will be available through December 31, 2016 or while funds last.

"At Empire, our mission is making lives better every day with reliable energy and service," adds Beecher. "Today we are taking the next step in making lives better every day as we encourage the evolution to electric vehicles."

For information on the EVOLVe program, visit www.evolvewithempire.com.

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 218,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A subsidiary of the Company also provides fiber optic services.

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THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY 602 JOPLIN AVENUE JOPLIN, MISSOURI 64802 417- 625- 5100 FAX: 417- 625- 5169 www.empiredistrict.com