Exhibit 23(a)


                       Consent of Independent Accountants



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 31, 2001 relating to the
financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in The
Empire District Electric Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in such Registration Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


St. Louis, Missouri
May  15, 2001