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REGULATORY MATTERS
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
REGULATORY MATTERS
REGULATORY MATTERS
As explained in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Laclede Gas and Alagasco account for regulated operations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 980, "Regulated Operations." The following regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities, including purchase gas adjustments, were reflected in the balance sheets of the Company and the Utilities as of March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014.
 
Laclede Group
 
Laclede Gas
 
Alagasco
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
($ Millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Regulatory Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and postretirement benefit costs
$
21.4

 
$
21.4

 
$
15.0

 
$
15.0

 
$
6.4

 
$
6.4

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 
54.0

 

 
54.0

 

 

Other
6.0

 
5.4

 
2.4

 
3.0

 
3.6

 
2.4

Total Regulatory Assets (current)
27.4

 
80.8

 
17.4

 
72.0

 
10.0

 
8.8

Non-current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future income taxes due from customers
125.6

 
117.0

 
125.6

 
117.0

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs
420.8

 
431.5

 
357.9

 
365.4

 
62.9

 
66.1

Accretion and depreciation of asset retirement obligations
19.1

 
18.4

 

 

 
19.1

 
18.4

Purchased gas costs
18.6

 
4.3

 
18.6

 
4.3

 

 

Energy efficiency
20.4

 
18.9

 
20.4

 
18.9

 

 

Other
28.4

 
24.2

 
22.8

 
18.1

 
5.6

 
6.1

Total Regulatory Assets (non-current)
632.9

 
614.3

 
545.3

 
523.7

 
87.6

 
90.6

Total Regulatory Assets
$
660.3

 
$
695.1

 
$
562.7

 
$
595.7

 
$
97.6

 
$
99.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regulatory Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current:


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RSE adjustment
$
9.9

 
$
19.8

 
$

 
$

 
$
9.9

 
$
19.8

Unbilled service margin
15.0

 
5.2

 

 

 
15.0

 
5.2

Refundable negative salvage
10.8

 
13.4

 

 

 
10.8

 
13.4

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments
76.7

 
22.4

 
39.1

 

 
37.6

 
22.4

Other
2.8

 
2.9

 
0.6

 
0.6

 
2.2

 
2.3

Total Regulatory Liabilities (current)
115.2

 
63.7

 
39.7

 
0.6

 
75.5

 
63.1

Non-current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postretirement liabilities
25.1

 
26.2

 

 

 
25.1

 
26.2

Refundable negative salvage
17.0

 
26.8

 

 

 
17.0

 
26.8

Accrued cost of removal
59.9

 
60.5

 
59.9

 
60.5

 

 

Other
12.3

 
12.3

 
11.8

 
11.6

 
0.7

 
0.7

Total Regulatory Liabilities (non-current)
114.3

 
125.8

 
71.7

 
72.1

 
42.8

 
53.7

Total Regulatory Liabilities
$
229.5

 
$
189.5

 
$
111.4

 
$
72.7

 
$
118.3

 
$
116.8


A portion of the Company's and Laclede Gas' regulatory assets are not earning a return, as shown in the schedule below:
 
Laclede Group
 
Laclede Gas
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
($ Millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future income taxes due from customers
$
125.6

 
$
117.0

 
$
125.6

 
$
117.0

Pension and postretirement benefit costs
232.3

 
240.9

 
232.3

 
240.9

Other
15.2

 
16.0

 
15.2

 
16.0

Total Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return
$
373.1

 
$
373.9

 
$
373.1

 
$
373.9


Like all the Company's regulatory assets, these regulatory assets are expected to be recovered from customers in future rates. The Company and Laclede Gas expect these items to be recovered over a period not to exceed 15 years consistent with precedent set by the Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC). The portion of regulatory assets related to pensions and other postemployment benefits that pertains to unfunded differences between the projected benefit obligation and plan assets also does not earn a rate of return. Alagasco does not have any regulatory assets that are not earning a return.