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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,
 DAVq8tl7g89O8l5U6fUKDPyoks0H96pPAi1reHU56wQc1aoP8GdxZCjTAYTPwvkC
 cnKgPvUKLANyb2jtJUzuTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000032689-04-000006.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000032689-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105164446
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000032689-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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:			HARTLEY ROSS C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106138

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03368
		FILM NUMBER:		04505669

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 477
		STREET 2:		7885 GRANITE RIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			TETON VILLAGE
		STATE:			WY
		ZIP:			83025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3077347305

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 477
		CITY:			TENTON VILLAGE
		STATE:			WY
		ZIP:			83025
</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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032689</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EDE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106138</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARTLEY ROSS C</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><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>641</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>21.785</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16789.779</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectO
wnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1147.579</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>21.785</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyin
gSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1147.579</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13079.706</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>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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