SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

BASIS OF PRESENTATION – These notes are an integral part of the accompanying audited financial statements of Spire Inc. presented on a consolidated basis (“Spire” or the “Company”), Spire Missouri Inc. (“Spire Missouri” or the “Missouri Utilities”) and Spire Alabama Inc. (“Spire Alabama”). Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth Inc. (“Spire EnergySouth”) are collectively referred to as “the Utilities.” The subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth are Spire Gulf Inc. and Spire Mississippi Inc. The accompanying audited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Unless otherwise indicated, references to years herein are references to the fiscal years ending September 30 for the Company and its subsidiaries.

The consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Spire include the accounts of the Company and all its subsidiaries. One subsidiary acquired an 80% voting interest in a natural gas storage facility in December 2017, and the redeemable noncontrolling interest is shown as temporary equity on the balance sheet. Transactions and balances between consolidated entities have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements of Spire. In compliance with GAAP, transactions between Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama and their affiliates, as well as intercompany balances on their balance sheets, have not been eliminated from their separate financial statements.

USE OF ESTIMATES

USE OF ESTIMATES – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS

SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS – The accounts of the Utilities are maintained in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the applicable state public service commissions, which systems substantially conform to that prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”).

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT –

Utility Plant – Utility plant is stated at original cost. The cost of additions to utility plant includes contracted work, direct labor and materials, allocable overheads and an allowance for funds used during construction. The costs of units of property retired, replaced or renewed are removed from utility plant and are charged to accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs of property and replacement and renewal of items determined to be less than units of property are charged to maintenance expenses.

For Spire Missouri, utility plant is depreciated on a straight-line basis at rates based on estimated service lives of the various classes of property. In fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, annual depreciation and amortization expense averaged 3.0% of the original cost of depreciable and amortizable property.

For Spire Alabama, depreciation is provided using the composite method of depreciation on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of utility property at rates approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission (“APSC”). The composite depreciation rate in fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately 3.1%.

Non-utility Property – Non-utility property is recorded at the original cost of acquisition or construction, which includes material, labor, contractor services and, for FERC-regulated projects, an allowance for funds used during construction. Repairs, replacements and renewals of items of property determined to be less than a unit of property or that do not increase the property’s life or functionality are charged to maintenance expense. Upon retirement or sale of non-utility property, the original cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in the income statements. Costs related to software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the related software. If software is retired prior to being fully amortized, the difference is recorded as a loss in the income statements.

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS – Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama record legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets in the period in which the obligations are incurred, if sufficient information exists to reasonably estimate the fair value of the obligations. Obligations are recorded as both a cost of the related long-lived asset and as a corresponding liability. Subsequently, the asset retirement costs are depreciated over the life of the asset and the asset retirement obligations are accreted to the expected settlement amounts. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama record asset retirement obligations associated with certain safety requirements to purge and seal gas distribution mains upon retirement, the plugging and abandonment of storage wells and other storage facilities, specific service line obligations, and certain removal and disposal obligations related to components of Spire Missouri’s, Spire Alabama’s and Spire Gulf’s distribution systems and general plant. Asset retirement obligations recorded by Spire’s other subsidiaries are not material. As authorized by the Missouri Public Service Commission (“MoPSC”) and APSC, Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf accrue future asset removal costs associated with their property, plant and equipment even if a legal obligation does not exist. Such accruals are provided for through depreciation expense and are recorded with corresponding credits to regulatory liabilities or regulatory assets. When those utilities retire depreciable utility plant and equipment, they charge the associated original costs to accumulated depreciation and amortization, and any related removal costs incurred are charged to regulatory liabilities or regulatory assets. The difference between removal costs recognized in depreciation rates and the accretion expense and depreciation expense recognized for financial reporting purposes is a timing difference between recovery of these costs in rates and their recognition for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, these differences are deferred as regulatory liabilities or regulatory assets. In the rate setting process, the regulatory liabilities or regulatory assets are excluded from the rate base upon which those utilities have the opportunity to earn their allowed rates of return. The costs associated with asset retirement obligations of Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf are either currently being recovered in rates or are probable of recovery in future rates.

REGULATED OPERATIONS

REGULATED OPERATIONS – The Utilities account for their regulated operations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“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. See additional discussion on regulated operations in Note 14, Regulatory Matters.

NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE GAS

NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE GAS – For Spire Missouri East, inventory of natural gas in storage is priced on a last in, first out (“LIFO”) basis and inventory of propane gas in storage is priced on a first in, first out (“FIFO”) basis. For the rest of the Gas Utility segment, inventory of natural gas in storage is priced on the weighted average cost basis. The replacement cost of Spire Missouri’s natural gas for current use in eastern Missouri at September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was less than the LIFO cost by $14.5 and $20.8, respectively. The carrying value of the Utilities’ inventory is not adjusted to the lower of net realizable value or market prices because, pursuant to Purchased Gas Adjustment (“PGA”) clauses or a Gas Supply Adjustment (“GSA”) rider, actual gas costs are recovered in customer rates. Natural gas and propane gas storage inventory in Spire’s other operating segments is recorded at the lower of average cost or market.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS – Spire’s acquisitions, including the recent transactions described below, were accounted for using business combination accounting. Under this method, the purchase price paid by the acquirer is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date based on their fair value.

GOODWILL

GOODWILL – Goodwill is measured as the excess of the acquisition-date fair value of the consideration transferred over the amount of acquisition-date identifiable assets acquired net of assumed liabilities. Spire and Spire Missouri evaluate goodwill for impairment as of July 1 of each year, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. At July 1, 2018, 2017 and 2016, Spire and Spire Missouri each applied a quantitative goodwill evaluation model to their reporting units and concluded goodwill was not impaired because the fair value exceeded the carrying amount.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS – Long-lived assets classified as held and used are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. Whether impairment has occurred is determined by comparing the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets with the carrying value of the assets. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, the Company recognizes an impairment charge equal to the amount of the carrying value that exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. In the period in which the Company determines an asset meets held-for-sale criteria, an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the book value exceeds its fair value less cost to sell.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION – The Utilities read meters and bill customers on monthly cycles. The Missouri Utilities, Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi 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 Spire Missouri at September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $29.7 and $30.1, respectively. Spire Alabama records natural gas distribution revenues in accordance with the tariff established by the APSC. Unbilled revenue is accrued in an amount equal to the related gas cost, as profit margin is not considered earned until billed. The amount of accrued unbilled revenues for Spire Alabama was $1.9 at both September 30, 2018 and 2017. Spire’s other subsidiaries, including Spire Marketing, record revenues when earned, either when the product is delivered or when services are performed.

In the course of their business, certain subsidiaries of the Company enter into commitments associated with the purchase or sale of natural gas. Certain of its derivative natural gas contracts are designated as normal purchases or normal sales and, as such, are excluded from the scope of 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. For additional information on derivative instruments, refer to Note 9, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. Certain of Spire Marketing’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 (or expenses, if negative) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. This net presentation has no effect on operating income or net income.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES – Spire and its subsidiaries account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and the respective tax basis and for tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. The effects on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in enacted tax rates is recognized in income or loss for non-regulated operations, and in a regulatory asset or regulatory liability for regulated operations. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with authoritative guidance. The authoritative guidance addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed, or expected to be claimed, on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Spire may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. Tax-related interest and penalties, if any, are classified as a liability on the balance sheets. For additional information on the accounting for income taxes, refer to Note 11, Income Taxes.

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH – All highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. Such instruments are carried at cost, which approximates market value. Outstanding checks on the Company’s and Utilities’ bank accounts in excess of funds on deposit create book overdrafts (which are funded at the time checks are presented for payment) and are classified as Other in the Current Liabilities section of the balance sheets. Changes in book overdrafts are reflected as Operating Activities in the statements of cash flows.

NATURAL GAS RECEIVABLE

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS – Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the amounts due from customers, including unbilled amounts. Estimates of the collectability of trade accounts receivable are based on historical trends, age of receivables, economic conditions, credit risk of specific customers, and other factors. Accounts receivable are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when they are deemed to be uncollectible.

NATURAL GAS RECEIVABLE – Spire Marketing enters into natural gas transactions with natural gas pipeline companies known as park and loan arrangements. Under the terms of the arrangements, Spire Marketing purchases natural gas from a third party and delivers that natural gas to the pipeline company for the right to receive the same quantity of natural gas from the pipeline company at the same location in a future period. These arrangements are accounted for as non-monetary transactions under GAAP and are recorded at the carrying amount. As such, natural gas receivables are reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, which includes related pipeline fees associated with the transactions. In the period that the natural gas is returned to Spire Marketing, concurrent with the sale of the natural gas to a third party, the related natural gas receivable is expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In conjunction with these transactions, Spire Marketing usually enters into New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) and Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) natural gas futures, options, and swap contracts or fixed price sales agreements to protect against market changes in future sales prices.

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE – GAAP requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). EPS is computed using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation method for computing EPS that treats a participating security as having rights to earnings that would otherwise have been available to common shareholders. Certain of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards pay non-forfeitable dividends to the participants during the vesting period and, as such, are deemed participating securities. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding that are increased for additional shares that would be outstanding if potentially dilutive non-participating securities were converted to common shares, pursuant to the treasury stock method. Shares attributable to equity units, non-participating stock options and time-vested restricted stock/units are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share if the effect would be antidilutive. Shares attributable to non-participating performance-contingent restricted stock awards are only included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share to the extent the underlying performance and/or market conditions are satisfied (a) prior to the end of the reporting period or (b) would be satisfied if the end of the reporting period were the end of the related contingency period and the result would be dilutive.

GROSS RECEIPTS AND SALES TAXES

GROSS RECEIPTS AND SALES TAXES – Gross receipts taxes associated with the Company’s natural gas utility services are imposed on the Company, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama and billed to its 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.

The following table presents gross receipts taxes recorded as revenues:



	2018		2017		2016
Spire	$	98.2	$	84.6	$	75.5
Spire Missouri	68.9		60.7		57.4
Spire Alabama	25.4		19.5		17.9

Sales taxes imposed on applicable Spire Alabama and Spire Missouri sales are billed to customers. These amounts are not recorded in the statements of income but are recorded as tax collections payable and included in the “Other” line of the Current Liabilities section of the balance sheets.

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES – Transactions between affiliates of the Company have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements of Spire. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama borrowed funds from the Company and incurred related interest, as reflected in their separate financial statements, and they participated in normal intercompany shared services transactions.

GROUP MEDICAL AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION RESERVES

GROUP MEDICAL AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RESERVES – The Company self-insures its group medical and workers’ compensation costs and carries stop-loss coverage in relation to medical claims and workers’ compensation claims. Reserves for amounts incurred but not reported are established based on historical cost levels and lags between occurrences and reporting.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – Certain assets and liabilities are recognized or disclosed at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value.

The levels of the hierarchy are described below:


•	Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2 – Pricing inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability as of the reporting date. These inputs are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.


•	Level 3 – Pricing that is based upon inputs that are generally unobservable that are based on the best information available and reflect management’s assumptions about how market participants would price the asset or liability.

Assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements may require judgment and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and its placement within the fair value hierarchy.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – The Company accounts for share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The Company measures stock-based compensation awards at fair value at the date of grant and recognizes the compensation cost of the awards over the requisite service period. Effective with the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09 at the beginning of fiscal 2017, forfeitures are recognized in the period they occur. Prior to fiscal 2017, forfeitures were estimated at the time of grant and revised, when necessary, in subsequent periods when the actual forfeitures differed from those estimates.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS – In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash. This guidance requires the statement of cash flows to present changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. Prior to the adoption of this ASU, the relevant accounting guidance did not require the statement of cash flows to include changes in restricted cash. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama adopted the standard retrospectively in 2018 with no impact to 2017 or 2016.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This guidance permits companies to make an election to reclassify stranded income tax effects from the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss (“AOCI”) to retained earnings. ASU 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama elected to early adopt this guidance in the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The reclassifications from the adoption of this standard are shown on the statements of shareholders’ equity of the Company and Spire Missouri. There was no effect for Spire Alabama.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under the new standard, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under previous guidance. 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. Existing alternative revenue program guidance, though excluded by the FASB in updating specific guidance associated with revenue from contracts with customers, was relocated without substantial modification to accounting guidance for rate-regulated entities. It will require separate presentation of such revenues in the statement of income. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach in adopting this guidance. 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. In 2016 and 2017, the FASB issued related ASU Nos. 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-11, 2016-12, 2016-20, and 2017-14, which further modified the standards for accounting for revenue. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have completed their evaluation of their sources of revenue and related contracts and plan to adopt the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using the modified retrospective approach with no material effect on their financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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. ASU Nos. 2018-01, 2018-10, and 2018-11, issued in January and July of 2018, amended several aspects of the new lease guidance, including providing an additional practical expedient, an additional transition method, and clarification of the related transition and accounting for land easements. The updates may be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of (1) the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements or (2) the period of adoption. The ASUs are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are currently assessing the impacts of adopting these standards in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope, including trade receivables. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and may be adopted a year earlier. The new guidance will be initially applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard, which must be adopted by the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The amended guidance requires that the service cost component of pension and postretirement benefit costs be presented within the same line item in the income statement as other compensation costs (except for the amount being capitalized), while other components are to be presented outside the subtotal of operating income and are no longer eligible for capitalization. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The amended guidance will be applied retrospectively for income statement presentation and prospectively for capitalization. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama will adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 using a practical expedient permitting the use of the amounts disclosed in its pension and other postretirement benefit plan note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. They will continue to capitalize the non-service cost components as allowed for regulatory reporting, but those capitalized amounts will be reported as regulatory assets rather than plant.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this ASU more closely align the results of hedge accounting with risk management activities through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results in the financial statements. They are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, and early application is permitted. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are currently assessing the effects of this new guidance, as well as the timing of adoption.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. Previous GAAP did not specifically address the accounting for implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract. The amendments in this update clarify that accounting and align the accounting for implementation costs for hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The amendments in this ASU may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are still assessing the effects of this new guidance but currently expect early adoption.