-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L3vokGwI/Vj2hC7ZZGexuxx9ubUAW+VmzYLQcKHu5gk9c8Bt7j6lT+//G8r4sytX
 c6UvBY3l+WuT9b3SM3txvw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144230-03-000022.txt : 20031001
<SEC-HEADER>0001144230-03-000022.hdr.sgml : 20031001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031001164336
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144230-03-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IKENBERRY STANLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001144229

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03562
		FILM NUMBER:		03921201

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 13287
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8164673087

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
</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>0001144229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IKENBERRY STANLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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>24896.73</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Leslie J. Parrette  For: Stanley O. Ikenberry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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