Continuing along its chosen path of focusing on its wholesale and energy risk management businesses, Kansas City, MO-based Aquila Inc. said on Monday that it has sold the retail energy manager services business of UtiliCorp Energy Solutions to Energy Management Resources Inc., a nationwide provider of energy supply management services to commercial and industrial customers throughout the United States.

Energy Management Resources is an affiliate of Energy Associates, Inc., which is also a provider of energy management services. Energy Associates is headquartered in Cloquet, MN, but also has offices in Kansas City. The firm has been in the energy management business since 1997.

“This acquisition fits well with our existing business of serving the needs of our industrial and commercial customers in this complex arena of natural gas and electric deregulation, said Darrel Palmer, president of Energy Management Resources.

According to the companies, UtiliCorp Energy Management will change its name to Energy Management Resources within 45 days and will establish its office in Kansas City.

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