Empire District 3Q earnings up 26%

The investor-owned utility posted earnings of 78 cents per fully diluted share in the third quarter, compared to 63 cents per share last year. Quarterly earnings of $20.4 million were up 26 percent.

Company revenues were $28.2 million higher than the third quarter of 2004.

The company cited increased electric rates in Missouri and Arkansas as having the most significant impact on revenues, as well as favorable weather patterns in the third quarter and continued customer base growth.

The increase in revenue came despite increases of more than $18 million in total fuel and purchased power costs, resulting in part from the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico. The company expects high natural gas prices to continue to negatively impact fuel and purchased power expenses short term.

Empire District Electric serves more than 157,000 customers in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, providing electric, fiber optic, Internet and information software services. Shares of the company’s stock (NYSE: EDE) closed Oct. 31 at $20.20, compared to a 52-week range of $19.25 to $25.01.