Side by side (MO, EIA-861)
| Metric | Evergy Missouri West | Empire District Electric Co |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.55 | 14.99 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.62 | 15.94 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,355 | $1,619 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 305,583 | 142,537 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in MO | 31 | 17 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Evergy Missouri West · Empire District Electric Co · Missouri overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Barton · Cedar · Dade · St Clair counties (MO, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Evergy Missouri West and Empire District Electric Co do not compete for the same meters. Missouri is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.mo.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Evergy Missouri West cheaper than Empire District Electric Co?
- Yes — in 2024 Evergy Missouri West customers averaged 12.55 cents/kWh versus 14.99 for Empire District Electric Co (EIA-861). Evergy Missouri West was cheaper by 2.44 cents, about $263 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Empire District Electric Co to Evergy Missouri West?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Missouri has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Empire District Electric Co more expensive than Evergy Missouri West?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Empire District Electric and Evergy Missouri West territory all feed the 2.44-cent gap.