MO: Empire District to raise natural gas rates by 8 percent

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Friday February 16, 5:47 pm Eastern Time

Empire District files request to raise rates JOPLIN, Mo., Feb 16 (Reuters) - Empire District Electric Co. (NYSE:EDE - news) on Friday said it filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to raise interim rates by more than 8 percent because of a significant increase in natural gas prices.

Empire said it was seeking to increase rates $16,770,495, or 8.18 percent.

In addition to higher natural gas prices, the company said it also was struggling with construction costs associated with its new State Line Combined Cycle Power Plant.

Unlike natural gas distributors, electric utilities in Missouri are not allowed any recovery for fuel costs except through the rate case procedure.

The company filed a $41 million rate case with the commission to be heard this summer. Any interim rates granted would be subject to adjustment at the conclusion of that case.

The company asked the commission to approve interim rates for fuel cost and purchased power recovery beginning March 1, 2001.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010216/n16588487.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), February 16, 2001


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