8-K

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):  May 13, 2009

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)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

SECTION 8 — OTHER EVENTS

Item 8.01	Other Events.
	On May 13, 2009, The Empire District Electric Company (the Company) issued a press release regarding storm damage to the Company’s service territory and resulting property damage and reconstruction costs. Furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release, which is incorporated by reference herein.

SECTION 9 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(d)           Exhibits.  The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated May 13, 2009.

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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	/s/  Gregory A. Knapp
	Name:	Gregory A. Knapp
	Title:	Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: May 14, 2009

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated May 13, 2009.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS Amy Bass Director, Corporate Communications 417-625-5114 abass@empiredistrict.com INVESTOR RELATIONS Jan Watson Secretary — Treasurer 417-625-5108 jwatson@empiredistrict.com

EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY

STORM UPDATE

JOPLIN, MO — May 13, 2009 — Currently, The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) has less than 1,000 customers who are still to be reconnected out of the 83,000 that were left in the dark following the storm that struck on Friday, May 8.  Empire expects to re-establish service to the majority of these customers today.  Clean-up work will continue until all customers are restored.

Customers who had damage to their service entrance need to have an electrician make repairs before Empire can safely reconnect service.  Once this work is complete, customers need to contact Empire.

Property damage and reconstruction costs are currently estimated to be in the range of $4 to $6 million.  The allocation of costs associated with the storm is not yet finalized, but Empire expects a significant portion of the costs will be capitalized.

Based in Joplin, Missouri, The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE: EDE) is an investor-owned, regulated utility providing electricity, natural gas (through its wholly owned subsidiary The Empire District Gas Company), and water service, with approximately 215,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.  A subsidiary of the Company also provides fiber optic services.

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Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements address future plans, objectives, expectations, and events or conditions concerning various matters.  Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements, by reason of the factors noted in our filings with the SEC, including the most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

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