Great Plains Energy Inc. this week announced that it had settled all issues in Kansas pertaining to the company’s pending acquisition of Aquila Inc., the latest step toward securing a new owner for Aquila’s Lawrence-based natural gas operations in Kansas.

The agreement awaits approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission. A hearing is set for Friday.

Aquila’s natural gas operations – which serve more than 100,000 customers in Kansas, including Lawrence – would be sold to Black Hills Corp. for about $143 million.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Aquila is selling the majority of its assets to Great Plains Energy, part of a deal that has yet to receive regulatory approval in Missouri.

In an earnings report Friday, Aquila said that its overall gas operations – which include those in Kansas – recorded a gross profit of $188.2 million last year, up by $20.1 million from 2006. The company attributed the gain to favorable weather and other volume increases, plus rate increases in Kansas and Nebraska.