-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SOe5W7s03+cSXPINLWbZt1KUCqK478Nrxg1FAtCl/qeR9OrwdezgfTEazbuY/jrs
 aCoOfGUJspmYqllhzhm5GA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144230-03-000017.txt : 20031001
<SEC-HEADER>0001144230-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20031001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031001164207
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144230-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AQUILA  INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066960
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				440541877
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 WEST NINTH STREET
		STREET 2:		--
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64105-1711
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8164216600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 WEST NINTH STREET
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64105-1711

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UTILICORP UNITED INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850516

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAKER JOHN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001144230

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03562
		FILM NUMBER:		03921179

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1281 INDIAN MOUND TRAIL
		CITY:			VERO BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34963
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5613981388

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1281 INDIAN MOUND TRAIL
		CITY:			VERO BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34963
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066960</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AQUILA  INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ILAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001144230</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1281 INDIAN MOUND TRAIL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VERO BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34963</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30560.023</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3045.6378</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401k/ESOP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by trust SCP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Contribution Plan (Portion of Restated Savings Plan). </footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Leslie J. Parrette  For: John R. Baker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----