EX-24 4 ex24.txt POWERS OF ATTORNEY Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 4th day of May 2001. /s/ M.F. Chubb, Jr. ---------------------------------------------- M.F. Chubb, Jr. POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ R.D. Hammons --------------------------------------------------- R.D. Hammons POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 7th day of May 2001. /s/ R.C. Hartley ------------------------------------------------- R.C. Hartley POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ J.R. Herschend --------------------------------------------------- J.R. Herschend POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ F.E. Jeffries ----------------------------------------------------- F.E. Jeffries POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ R.L. Lamb ----------------------------------------------------- R.L. Lamb POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 8th day of May 2001. /s/ J.S. Leon -------------------------------------------------- J.S. Leon POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ R.E. Mayes ----------------------------------------------- R.E. Mayes POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer and/or director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, which Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance by the Company of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, does hereby constitute and appoint Myron W. McKinney and David W. Gibson, and each of them, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to sign the name of the undersigned to said Registration Statement and any Amendment or Post-Effective Amendment thereto, and to cause the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 3rd day of May 2001. /s/ M.M. Posner ----------------------------------------------- M.M. Posner