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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CFbwrm5fh9JojD3P4huVbMsmhHpWThPDDD3OVpW1531r61bPZBvnhZMHuzlTcQls
 OhtEukAkwTYg/Jch0SH9aQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000032689-03-000052.txt : 20030919
<SEC-HEADER>0000032689-03-000052.hdr.sgml : 20030919
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030919153314
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000032689-03-000052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030919

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000032689
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				440236370
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KS
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		602 JOPLIN ST
		CITY:			JOPLIN
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4176255100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 127
		CITY:			JOPLIN
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JEFFRIES FRANCIS E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001141991

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03368
		FILM NUMBER:		03902656

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 SCUDDERS HILL ROAD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6092822000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 SCUDDERS HILL ROAD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032689</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EDE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001141991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JEFFRIES FRANCIS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>602 JOPLIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JOPLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>225.649</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>21.66</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSec
urityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>225.649</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15499.269</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares of Phantom Stock units are awarded to director pursuant to Stock Unit Plan for Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares of Phantom Stock units are exercisable upon retirement or death and do not expire.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Janet S. Watson Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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