EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
V. E. BRILL
_________________________________
V. E. BRILL
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
M. F. CHUBB, JR.
_________________________________
M. F. CHUBB, JR.
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
R. D. HAMMONS
_________________________________
R. D. HAMMONS
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
R. C. HARTLEY
_________________________________
R. C. HARTLEY
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
J. R. HERSCHEND
_________________________________
J. R. HERSCHEND
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
F. E. JEFFRIES
_________________________________
F. E. JEFFRIES
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
R. E. MAYES
_________________________________
R. E. MAYES
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 22nd day of January 1998.
R. L. LAMB
_________________________________
R. L. LAMB
EXHIBIT (24)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a
director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas,
does hereby constitute and appoint M. W. MCKINNEY and R. B.
FANCHER, 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 the Company's
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any
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 fourth day of February 1998.
M. M. POSNER
_________________________________
M. M. POSNER