SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION –These notes are an integral part of the accompanying unaudited financial statements of Spire Inc. (Spire or the Company) Laclede Gas Company (Laclede Gas or the Missouri Utilities) and Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco or the Alabama Utility). Spire was formerly known as The Laclede Group, Inc., which changed its name to Spire Inc. effective April 28, 2016. Laclede Gas, which includes the operations of Missouri Gas Energy (MGE), and Alagasco are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Collectively, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are referred to as the Utilities. The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S‑X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary for the fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods presented. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Financial Statements contained in Spire's, Laclede Gas' and Alagasco's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

The consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Spire are primarily derived from the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Utilities. In compliance with GAAP, transactions between the Utilities and their affiliates, as well as intercompany balances on the Utilities' balance sheets, have not been eliminated from the Utilities' financial statements.

Certain amounts in the prior period have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation for Spire, Laclede Gas and Alagasco. The Company considered the impact of the adjustments on prior period results and determined that the amounts were not material to those periods.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION – The Utilities read meters and bill customers on monthly cycles. The Missouri Utilities record their gas utility revenues from gas sales and transportation services on an accrual basis that includes estimated amounts for gas delivered but not yet billed. The accruals for unbilled revenues are reversed in the subsequent accounting period when meters are actually read and customers are billed. The amounts of accrued unbilled revenues for Laclede Gas at March 31, 2016, September 30, 2015, and March 31, 2015 were $57.4, $27.6, and $63.5, respectively.

Alagasco records natural gas distribution revenues in accordance with the tariff established by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). The amount of accrued unbilled revenues, which is not recorded as revenue until billed, for Alagasco at March 31, 2016, September 30, 2015, and March 31, 2015 were $14.9, $6.4, and $15.0, respectively.

Spire's other subsidiaries, including LER, record revenues when earned, either when the product is delivered or when services are performed.

In the course of its business, LER enters into commitments associated with the purchase or sale of natural gas. Certain of LER’s derivative natural gas contracts are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and, as such, are excluded from the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” Those contracts are accounted for as executory contracts and recorded on an accrual basis. Revenues and expenses from such contracts are recorded using a gross presentation. Contracts not designated as normal purchases or normal sales are recorded as derivatives with changes in fair value recognized in earnings in the periods prior to physical delivery. Certain of LER’s wholesale purchase and sale transactions are classified as trading activities for financial reporting purposes. Under GAAP, revenues and expenses associated with trading activities are presented on a net basis in Gas Marketing Operating Revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. This net presentation has no effect on operating income or net income.

GROSS RECEIPTS TAXES

GROSS RECEIPTS TAXES – Gross receipts taxes associated with the Utilities' services are imposed on the Utilities and billed to customers. The revenue and expense amounts are recorded gross in the "Operating Revenues" and "Taxes, other than income taxes" lines, respectively, in the statements of income.

REGULATED OPERATIONS

REGULATED OPERATIONS –The Utilities account for their regulated operations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 980, “Regulated Operations.” This Topic sets forth the application of GAAP for those companies whose rates are established by or are subject to approval by an independent third-party regulator. The provisions of this accounting guidance require, among other things, that financial statements of a regulated enterprise reflect the actions of regulators, where appropriate. These actions may result in the recognition of revenues and expenses in time periods that are different than non-regulated enterprises. When this occurs, costs are deferred as assets in the balance sheet (regulatory assets) and recorded as expenses when those amounts are reflected in rates. In addition, regulators can impose liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for recovery of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future (regulatory liabilities). Management believes that the current regulatory environment supports the continued use of these regulatory accounting principles and that all regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities are recoverable or refundable through the regulatory process.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS – In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the standard is when an entity transfers goods or services to customers it will recognize revenue in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 also requires disclosures that will enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which made the guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those years, but companies may choose to adopt it one year earlier. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently assessing the available transition methods and the potential impacts of the standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, to require debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2017.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This standard provides guidance for the subsequent measurement of inventory and requires that inventory that is measured using average cost be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this new standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, to require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified entirely as non-current. This amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, and the amended guidance may be applied prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently evaluating the effects and timing of the adoption of this new standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which provides revised guidance concerning certain matters involving the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of financial instruments. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for almost all lease contracts based on the present value of lease payments. There is an exemption for short-term leases. The ASU provides new guidelines for identifying and classifying a lease, and classification affects the pattern and income statement line item for the related expense. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2020.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The standard is intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.