The Empire District Electric Company Announces Retirement of CFO Greg Knapp

The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE: EDE) announces Mr. Greg Knapp, vice president - finance and chief financial officer, will retire July 31, 2011.

Mr. Knapp was elected vice president – finance and chief financial officer in 2002. He was previously general manager of finance for the Company. During an 18-month separation in employment, he held the position of controller for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Prior to that, Mr. Knapp had twenty-two years of service with the Company, beginning as the director of auditing in 1978 and in1983 was named controller and assistant treasurer.