ILA Aquila

Consumers Save Money, Energy and the Environment with The Twist of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs - Over 5.2 Million CFLs Sold Through the Change A Light Program JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and AmerenUE, Aquila, Inc. (NYSE:ILA), City Utilities of Springfield (CU), Columbia Water & Light, Crawford Electric Cooperative, Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE), Independence Power & Light, Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), and The Missouri Department of Natural Resources are launching the 2007 Change A Light, Change The World campaign to help consumers save money and energy with a twist of an ENERGY STAR(R) qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). It's a quick and easy solution to lowering utility bills in addition to saving energy and protecting the environment. Since 2001, MEEA and its sponsors have sold more than 2.5 million CFLs, saved nearly 1 billion kWh of energy, and avoided the release of 2.7 million tons of CO2 emissions into the environment. Change A Light, Change The World has attracted 17 sponsoring companies and over 500 retail organizations throughout the Midwest to coordinate a public message and collaborate around a critical initiative. From October 1 through December 31, 2007, Missouri's sponsor organizations and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) are encouraging Missouri residents to "Change the World" one light, one step at a time by replacing their home's five most frequently used light fixtures, or the bulbs in them, with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. In the average home, the most frequently used fixtures are: kitchen ceiling dome light, living room table lamp, living room floor lamp, bathroom vanity light and outdoor porch or post lamp. By making this change, a household can save at least $60 a year in energy costs in addition to protecting the environment. The program is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) national "ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World" campaign. MEEA and its sponsoring partner are helping Missouri residents make the simple switch to energy-efficient lighting by offering $2 instant rebates on ENERGY STAR qualified CFL purchases while supplies last. With the instant rebates, the CFLs will sell for as little as $0.99 at select retail locations. For more information about the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, call 888-476-9548 or visit http://www.mwalliance.org/cal2007. About Aquila, Inc. (NYSE:ILA) Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Aquila, Inc. (NYSE:ILA) operates electricity and natural gas distribution utilities serving 1.3 million customers in seven U.S. states. Aquila also owns and operates power generation assets. Aquila serves 446,000 electric distribution customers in three states: Missouri, Kansas and Colorado; and 901,000 natural gas distribution customers in seven states: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota. For more information, visit http://www.aquila.com/. About AmerenUE AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation and is Missouri's largest electric utility and third largest distributor of natural gas. AmerenUE operates nine power plants and provides energy services to 1.1 million electric customers and 110,000 natural gas customers in eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area. For more information, visit http://www.ameren.com/. About City Utilities of Springfield (CU) City Utilities of Springfield (CU) is a progressive, community-owned utility serving southwest Missouri with electricity, natural gas, water, telecommunications and transit services. City Utilities' 100,000 customers enjoy utility prices among the lowest in the United States, the convenience of one bill for all utilities, and dependable hometown services delivered with a personal touch. For more information, visit http://www.cityutilities.net/. About Columbia Water & Light Columbia Water & Light was formed by voter approval in 1904. Since that time, the utility has been furnishing Columbia Missourians with low cost, reliable electricity and high quality water. Every customer is an owner of the utility and has a say in how the utility is operated. The utility has been offering a variety of conservation programs since 1979 and has been participating in MEEA's Change a Light, Change the World rebate program for three years. About Crawford Electric Cooperative Crawford Electric Cooperative is based in Bourbon, Missouri, and is a member of Touchstone Energy, a national alliance of locally owned, community-minded electric co-ops with high standards of service. Crawford Electric serves more than 18,000 meters along more than 3,200 miles of distribution lines in Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Washington and Dent counties. About Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) Based in Joplin, Missouri, the Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) is an investor-owned utility providing electric service to approximately 157,000 customers in southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. The Company also provides fiber optic and Internet services, customer information software services, and has an investment in close-tolerance, custom manufacturing. Empire provides water service in three incorporated communities in Missouri. For more information, visit http://www.empiredistrict.com/. About Independece Power & Light Established in 1901, IPL is a non-profit, municipally owned electric utility serving the needs of more than 50,000 customers in Independence, Missouri. IPL maintains and operates 12 generating units, 15 major substations and more than 650 miles of power lines. For more information, visit http://www.independencemo.org/pl. About Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, is a leading regulated provider of energy-related products and services for homes, businesses, industries, and municipalities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our proven reliability and affordable rates have helped build satisfaction among our residential and commercial customers in Missouri and Kansas. For more information, visit http://www.kcpl.com/. About The Missouri Department of Natural Resources The Missouri Department of Natural Resources preserves, protects, restores and enhances Missouri's natural, cultural, and energy resources and works to inspire their enjoyment and responsible use for present and future generations. For more information, visit http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/. About Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is a regional network of organizations collaborating to promote energy efficiency. MEEA's vision is to be a leader in raising and sustaining the level of energy efficiency in the Midwest by fostering increased market penetration of existing energy efficient technologies and promoting new technologies, products and best practices, including renewable energy. About ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR program offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 8,000 organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information, visit http://www.energystar.gov/. DATASOURCE: Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance CONTACT: Karen Andre of K Andre Consulting, +1-773-472-3200, , for Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Web site: http://www.aquila.com/ http://www.ameren.com/ http://www.cityutilities.net/ http://www.empiredistrict.com/ http://www.independencemo.org/pl http://www.kcpl.com/ http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/ http://www.energystar.gov/

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