Exhibit 23(a)

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 28, 2007 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in The Empire District Electric Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2006. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.