8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  September 21, 2005

THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Kansas

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

1-3368	44-0236370
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)
602 Joplin Street, Joplin, Missouri	64801
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:       (417) 625-5100

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

SECTION 1 – REGISTRANT’S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

Item 1.01.Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 21, 2005, The Empire District Electric Company (the “Company”) announced that it has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and between Aquila, Inc. (“Aquila”) and the Company, pursuant to which the Company will acquire (the “Acquisition”) the Missouri natural gas distribution operations of Aquila (the “Business”). The Business has approximately 48,500 customers, which includes about 42,650 residential, 5,600 commercial and industrial, and 250 transportation customers.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company will pay a base purchase price of $84.0 million in cash to Aquila at the closing of the Acquisition, plus working capital and subject to net plant adjustments.

Aquila and the Company have each made customary representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement.

The Boards of Directors of the Company and Aquila have each approved the Purchase Agreement.

Closing of the Acquisition is conditioned on the termination or expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, receipt of regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Missouri Public Service Commission, and other customary closing conditions.

The Company and Aquila are each partial owners of the 670 megawatt coal-fired Unit No. 1 at the Iatan Generating Station located 35 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, the site where the Iatan Plant is located and the common facilities.  The Company and Aquila have 12% and 18% interests in Unit No. 1, respectively.

SECTION 8 – OTHER EVENTS

Item 8.01.Other Events.

On September 21, 2005, the Company released a press release announcing the execution of the Purchase Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report, and incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release dated September 21, 2005.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY
By	/s/	Gregory A. Knapp
	Name:	Gregory A. Knapp
	Title:	Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: September 22, 2005

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	Exhibit
99.1	Press release dated September 21, 2005.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS	INVESTOR RELATIONS
Amy Bass	Jan Watson
Director of Corporate Communications	Secretary – Treasurer
417-625-5114	417-625-5108
abass@empiredistrict.com	jwatson@empiredistrict.com

THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY

ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE MISSOURI

NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES OF AQUILA, INC.

JOPLIN, MO – September 21, 2005 – The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE) today announced that it has agreed to acquire the Missouri natural gas distribution operations of Aquila, Inc. (Missouri Gas).  The base purchase price is $84.0 million in cash, plus working capital and subject to net plant adjustments.   The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings.

“We see this as an excellent opportunity for our shareholders and for our customers,” said Bill Gipson, President and CEO.  “This acquisition is clearly in our core business, a regulated utility delivering energy and energy services to customers.  It will allow us to help diversify our weather risk, balancing our current summer air conditioning peak with this natural gas winter heating peak.  Natural gas customers, in turn, will be well-served by our organization’s established reputation for quality service, prudent management, and fair rates.”

Mr. Gipson continued, “This Missouri property, which is in close proximity to our current service territory, will be governed by a regulatory jurisdiction with whom we are familiar and respected.”

The Missouri Gas properties consist of approximately 48,500 customers, which includes about 42,650 residential, 5,600 commercial and industrial, and 250 transportation customers.  These customers are in 44 Missouri communities in northwest, north central, and west central Missouri and are served with 1,274 miles of transmission and distribution mains.

(more)

THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY • 602 JOPLIN STREET • JOPLIN, MISSOURI 64802 • 417-625-5100 • FAX: 417-625-5169 • www.empiredistrict.com

All Missouri Gas employees involved in field operations are expected to be transferred to Empire and retained to operate the system and continue to provide service to customers.  Empire expects to add 25 to 30 employees, some at system locations and some in Joplin for central services support.

This transaction is subject to the approval of the Missouri Public Service Commission and other customary closing conditions.  Empire anticipates closing the transaction in mid 2006.

Bill Gipson, President and CEO, will host a conference call Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss the Missouri Gas acquisition.  To phone into the conference call, parties in the United States should dial 1-866-761-0748 (International 617-614-2706), passcode #52701023, any time after 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation can also be accessed from Empire’s web site at www.empiredistrict.com.  A replay of the call will be available for two weeks by dialing 1-888-286-8010 (International 1-617-801-6888) and entering passcode #47925012. Forward-looking and other material information may be discussed during the conference call.

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.

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Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements address future plans, objectives, expectations, and events or conditions concerning various matters.  Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements, by reason of the factors noted in our filings with the SEC, including the most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q.

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