Aquila will go dark at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Then it’s lights, camera, action for Kansas City Power & Light in Northwest Missouri.

“Everything is on schedule for day one,” said Matt Tidwell, director of public relations.

At that point, KCP&L will complete a takeover that was more than a year and a half in the works. The $1.7 billion deal in which KCP&L purchased Aquila’s entire Missouri electric operations was announced in February 2007. The merger received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission on July 1.

Now that the regulatory and financial details have been hammered out, final work is being done to complete the transaction, such as changing signs on utility trucks.

“We’ve spent the last several weeks preparing and we’re very excited,” Mr. Tidwell said. “We’re in the throes of the final integration steps.”

About 100 people will lose their jobs as a result of the merger; most are administrative workers from Aquila. Mr. Tidwell said he was not sure when the layoffs would become effective.

Bills for customers in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri will still have the Aquila logo for the time being. Mr. Tidwell said customers need to make sure they pay the bill. Over time, the bills will transition to KCP&L. Customers who have automatic bill pay do not need to sign up again but should update the information on their online accounts to KCP&L. The billing date will not change.

As of Monday, to report a power outage, call (888) LIGHT-KC (544-4852). For service or billing questions, call (888) 471-KCPL (5275). Information is online at www.kcpl.com.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.