COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments The Company and the Utilities have entered into contracts with various counterparties, expiring on dates through 2019, for the storage, transportation, and supply of natural gas. Minimum payments required under the contracts in place at December 31, 2014 are estimated at approximately $1,607.9, $783.4, and $533.1 for the Company, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, respectively. Additional contracts are generally entered into prior to or during the heating season of November through April. The Missouri Utilities recover their costs from customers in accordance with the Purchase Gas Adjustment (PGA) Clauses and Alagasco recovers its cost through the GSA Rider. Contingencies Laclede Gas The Missouri Utilities own and operates natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage facilities, the operations of which are subject to various environmental laws, regulations, and interpretations. While environmental issues resulting from such operations arise in the ordinary course of business, such issues have not materially affected the Company’s or Laclede Gas' financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and their interpretations change, however, the Company or Laclede Gas may be required to incur additional costs. Similar to other natural gas utility companies, Laclede Gas faces the risk of incurring environmental liabilities. In the natural gas industry, these are typically associated with sites formerly owned or operated by gas distribution companies like Laclede Gas and MGE or its predecessor companies at which manufactured gas operations took place. At this time, Laclede Gas has identified three former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites where costs have been incurred and claims have been asserted: one in Shrewsbury, Missouri and two in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Laclede Gas has enrolled the two sites in the City of St. Louis in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP). MGE has enrolled all of its owned former manufactured gas plant sites in the BVCP. With regard to the former MGP site located in Shrewsbury, Missouri, Laclede Gas and state and federal environmental regulators agreed upon certain remedial actions to a portion of the site in a 1999 Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), which actions have been completed. On September 22, 2008, EPA Region VII issued a letter of Termination and Satisfaction terminating the AOC. However, if after this termination of the AOC, regulators require additional remedial actions, or additional claims are asserted, Laclede Gas may incur additional costs. One of the sites located in the City of St. Louis is currently owned by a development agency of the City, which, together with other City development agencies, has selected a developer to redevelop the site. In conjunction with this redevelopment effort, Laclede Gas and another former owner of the site entered into an agreement (Remediation Agreement) with the City development agencies, the developer, and an environmental consultant that obligates one of the City agencies and the environmental consultant to remediate the site and obtain a No Further Action letter from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Remediation Agreement also provides for a release of Laclede Gas and the other former site owner from certain liabilities related to the past and current environmental condition of the site and requires the developer and the environmental consultant to maintain certain insurance coverage, including remediation cost containment, premises pollution liability, and professional liability. The operative provisions of the Remediation Agreement were triggered on December 20, 2010, on which date Laclede Gas and the other former site owner, as full consideration under the Remediation Agreement, paid a small percentage of the cost of remediation of the site. The amount paid by Laclede Gas did not materially impact the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company. Laclede Gas has not owned the other site located in the City of St. Louis for many years. In a letter dated June 29, 2011, the Attorney General for the State of Missouri informed Laclede Gas that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources had completed an investigation of the site. The Attorney General requested that Laclede Gas participate in the follow up investigations of the site. In a letter dated January 10, 2012, Laclede Gas stated that it would participate in future environmental response activities at the site in conjunction with other potentially responsible parties that are willing to contribute to such efforts in a meaningful and equitable fashion. Accordingly, Laclede Gas was able to enter into a cost sharing agreement for remedial investigation with other potentially responsible parties. Pending Missouri Department of Natural Resources approval, the remedial investigation of the site will begin. Laclede Gas' MGE assets include seven owned MGP sites enrolled in the BVCP, including Joplin MGP #1, St. Joseph MGP #1, Kansas City Coal Gas Station B, Kansas City Station A Railroad, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A North, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A South, and Independence MGP #2. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded a Certificate of Completion to MGE in 2001 for a site located at 20th and Indiana in Kansas City after an initial site analysis and the property was subsequently sold. To date, costs incurred for all Missouri Utility MGP sites for investigation, remediation and monitoring these sites have not been material. However, the amount of costs relative to future remedial actions at these and other sites is unknown and may be material. The actual future costs that Laclede Gas may incur could be materially higher or lower depending upon several factors, including whether remediation actions will be required, final selection and regulatory approval of any remedial actions, changing technologies and government regulations, the ultimate ability of other potential responsible parties to pay, the successful completion of remediation efforts required by the Remediation Agreement described above, and any insurance recoveries. Laclede Gas has notified its insurers that it seeks reimbursement for costs incurred in the past and future potential liabilities associated with the MGP sites. While some of the insurers have denied coverage and reserved their rights, Laclede Gas continues to discuss potential reimbursements with them. In 2013, Laclede Gas retained an outside consultant to conduct probabilistic cost modeling of 19 former MGP sites owned or operated by Laclede Gas or MGE. The purpose of this analysis was to develop an estimated range of probabilistic future liability for each site. That analysis, completed in August 2014, provided a range of demonstrated possible future expenditures to investigate, monitor and remediate all 19 MGP sites from $8.1 to $39.3 based upon current available facts, technology and laws and regulations. Source removal has been conducted at all of the owned sites since 2003 with the exception of Joplin, which is in the early stages of site analysis and characterization. Remediation efforts at these sites are at various stages of completion, ranging from groundwater monitoring and sampling following source removal activities to early site characterization in Joplin. As part of its participation in the BVCP, MGE communicates regularly with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources with respect to its remediation efforts and monitoring activities at these sites. Costs associated with environmental remediation activities are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. To the extent such costs (less any amounts received from insurance proceeds or as contributions from other potential responsible parties), are incurred prior to a rate case, Laclede Gas would request from the MoPSC authority to defer such costs and collect them in the next rate case. The Company does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact the future financial position or results of operations of Laclede Gas or the Company. Alagasco Alagasco owns and operates natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage facilities, the operations of which are subject to various environmental laws, regulations, and interpretations. While environmental issues resulting from such operations arise in the ordinary course of business, such issues have not materially affected the Company’s or the Alagasco's financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and their interpretations change, however, Alagasco may be required to incur additional costs. Alagasco is in the chain of title of nine former MGP sites, four of which it still owns, and five former manufactured gas distribution sites, one of which it still owns. Management expects that, should future remediation of the sites be required, Alagasco’s share of the remediation costs will not materially affect the financial position of Alagasco. During 2011, a removal action was completed at the Huntsville, Alabama manufactured gas plant site pursuant to an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent among the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alagasco and the current site owner. In 2012, Alagasco responded to an EPA Request for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) relating to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site located in North Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. The Request related to a former site of a manufactured gas distribution facility owned by Alagasco and located in the vicinity of the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. In September 2013, Alagasco received from the EPA a General Notice Letter and Invitation to Conduct a Removal Action at the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. The letter identifies Alagasco as a potentially responsible party (PRP) under CERCLA for the cleanup of the Site or costs the EPA incurs in cleaning up the site. The EPA also offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase I of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 50 residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. All Phase I work was conducted by EPA without PRP participation, and is completed or close to completion. In August of 2014, EPA offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase II of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 30 additional residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. EPA will begin conducting the Phase II work soon, if it has not begun already. Alagasco has not agreed to undertake any of the proposed removal activities. Alagasco has discussed its designation as a PRP with the EPA (including an in-person meeting in Atlanta), and Alagasco has requested additional information from the EPA regarding the testing and removal activities and its designation as a PRP. To this point, Alagasco has not been provided information at this time that would allow it to determine the extent, if any, of its potential liability with respect to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. Alagasco has also been approached by a law firm regarding entry into an agreement to toll the statute of limitations with potential plaintiffs related to purported damages allegedly incurred by such potential plaintiffs in connection with the 35th Avenue Superfund Site, and is considering whether to enter into such a tolling arrangement. The EPA published a proposal to add the 35th Avenue Superfund Site to its National Priorities List (NPL). CERCLA requires that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) include a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States. The NPL constitutes this list. Comments regarding the proposed listing were submitted on January 20, 2015. Alagasco is working with other PRP's (and the State of Alabama) to oppose such a listing and will submit comments in opposition by the deadline. Costs associated with environmental remediation activities are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. To the extent such costs (less any amounts received from insurance proceeds or as contributions from other potential responsible parties), are incurred Alagasco would defer such costs and recover them over a period of time in accordance with Alagasco's Enhanced Stability Reserve (ESR). Alagasco does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact on the future financial position or results of operations of Alagasco or the Company. On December 17, 2013, an incident occurred at a Housing Authority apartment complex in Birmingham, Alabama which resulted in one fatality, personal injuries and property damage. Alagasco is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board which is investigating the incident. Alagasco has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits arising from the incident and additional lawsuits and claims may be filed against Alagasco. Alagasco is, from time to time, a party to various pending or threatened legal proceedings and has accrued a provision for its estimated liability. Certain of these lawsuits include claims for punitive damages in addition to other specified relief. Alagasco recognizes its liability for contingencies when information available indicates both a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Based upon information presently available, and in light of available legal and other defenses, contingent liabilities arising from threatened and pending litigation are not considered material in relation to the financial position of Alagasco. It should be noted, however, that there is uncertainty in the valuation of pending claims and prediction of litigation results. Laclede Group The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are involved in other litigation, claims, and investigations arising in the normal course of business. Management, after discussion with counsel, believes that the final outcomes of such matters will not have a material effect on the Statements of Condensed Consolidated Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows of the Company, the Statements of Condensed Income, Balance Sheets and Statements of Condensed Cash Flows of Laclede Gas and the Statements of Condensed Income, Balance Sheet and Statements of Condensed Cash Flows of Alagasco.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company and the Utilities have entered into contracts with various counterparties, expiring on dates through 2019, for the storage, transportation, and supply of natural gas. Minimum payments required under the contracts in place at December 31, 2014 are estimated at approximately $1,607.9, $783.4, and $533.1 for the Company, Laclede Gas, and Alagasco, respectively. Additional contracts are generally entered into prior to or during the heating season of November through April. The Missouri Utilities recover their costs from customers in accordance with the Purchase Gas Adjustment (PGA) Clauses and Alagasco recovers its cost through the GSA Rider.

Contingencies

Laclede Gas

The Missouri Utilities own and operates natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage facilities, the operations of which are subject to various environmental laws, regulations, and interpretations. While environmental issues resulting from such operations arise in the ordinary course of business, such issues have not materially affected the Company’s or Laclede Gas' financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and their interpretations change, however, the Company or Laclede Gas may be required to incur additional costs.

Similar to other natural gas utility companies, Laclede Gas faces the risk of incurring environmental liabilities. In the natural gas industry, these are typically associated with sites formerly owned or operated by gas distribution companies like Laclede Gas and MGE or its predecessor companies at which manufactured gas operations took place. At this time, Laclede Gas has identified three former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites where costs have been incurred and claims have been asserted: one in Shrewsbury, Missouri and two in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Laclede Gas has enrolled the two sites in the City of St. Louis in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP). MGE has enrolled all of its owned former manufactured gas plant sites in the BVCP.

With regard to the former MGP site located in Shrewsbury, Missouri, Laclede Gas and state and federal environmental regulators agreed upon certain remedial actions to a portion of the site in a 1999 Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), which actions have been completed. On September 22, 2008, EPA Region VII issued a letter of Termination and Satisfaction terminating the AOC. However, if after this termination of the AOC, regulators require additional remedial actions, or additional claims are asserted, Laclede Gas may incur additional costs.

One of the sites located in the City of St. Louis is currently owned by a development agency of the City, which, together with other City development agencies, has selected a developer to redevelop the site. In conjunction with this redevelopment effort, Laclede Gas and another former owner of the site entered into an agreement (Remediation Agreement) with the City development agencies, the developer, and an environmental consultant that obligates one of the City agencies and the environmental consultant to remediate the site and obtain a No Further Action letter from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Remediation Agreement also provides for a release of Laclede Gas and the other former site owner from certain liabilities related to the past and current environmental condition of the site and requires the developer and the environmental consultant to maintain certain insurance coverage, including remediation cost containment, premises pollution liability, and professional liability. The operative provisions of the Remediation Agreement were triggered on December 20, 2010, on which date Laclede Gas and the other former site owner, as full consideration under the Remediation Agreement, paid a small percentage of the cost of remediation of the site. The amount paid by Laclede Gas did not materially impact the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company.

Laclede Gas has not owned the other site located in the City of St. Louis for many years. In a letter dated June 29, 2011, the Attorney General for the State of Missouri informed Laclede Gas that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources had completed an investigation of the site. The Attorney General requested that Laclede Gas participate in the follow up investigations of the site. In a letter dated January 10, 2012, Laclede Gas stated that it would participate in future environmental response activities at the site in conjunction with other potentially responsible parties that are willing to contribute to such efforts in a meaningful and equitable fashion. Accordingly, Laclede Gas was able to enter into a cost sharing agreement for remedial investigation with other potentially responsible parties. Pending Missouri Department of Natural Resources approval, the remedial investigation of the site will begin.

Laclede Gas' MGE assets include seven owned MGP sites enrolled in the BVCP, including Joplin MGP #1, St. Joseph MGP #1, Kansas City Coal Gas Station B, Kansas City Station A Railroad, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A North, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A South, and Independence MGP #2. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded a Certificate of Completion to MGE in 2001 for a site located at 20th and Indiana in Kansas City after an initial site analysis and the property was subsequently sold.

To date, costs incurred for all Missouri Utility MGP sites for investigation, remediation and monitoring these sites have not been material. However, the amount of costs relative to future remedial actions at these and other sites is unknown and may be material. The actual future costs that Laclede Gas may incur could be materially higher or lower depending upon several factors, including whether remediation actions will be required, final selection and regulatory approval of any remedial actions, changing technologies and government regulations, the ultimate ability of other potential responsible parties to pay, the successful completion of remediation efforts required by the Remediation Agreement described above, and any insurance recoveries. Laclede Gas has notified its insurers that it seeks reimbursement for costs incurred in the past and future potential liabilities associated with the MGP sites. While some of the insurers have denied coverage and reserved their rights, Laclede Gas continues to discuss potential reimbursements with them. In 2013, Laclede Gas retained an outside consultant to conduct probabilistic cost modeling of 19 former MGP sites owned or operated by Laclede Gas or MGE. The purpose of this analysis was to develop an estimated range of probabilistic future liability for each site. That analysis, completed in August 2014, provided a range of demonstrated possible future expenditures to investigate, monitor and remediate all 19 MGP sites from $8.1 to $39.3 based upon current available facts, technology and laws and regulations.

Source removal has been conducted at all of the owned sites since 2003 with the exception of Joplin, which is in the early stages of site analysis and characterization. Remediation efforts at these sites are at various stages of completion, ranging from groundwater monitoring and sampling following source removal activities to early site characterization in Joplin. As part of its participation in the BVCP, MGE communicates regularly with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources with respect to its remediation efforts and monitoring activities at these sites.

Costs associated with environmental remediation activities are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. To the extent such costs (less any amounts received from insurance proceeds or as contributions from other potential responsible parties), are incurred prior to a rate case, Laclede Gas would request from the MoPSC authority to defer such costs and collect them in the next rate case. The Company does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact the future financial position or results of operations of Laclede Gas or the Company.

Alagasco

Alagasco owns and operates natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage facilities, the operations of which are subject to various environmental laws, regulations, and interpretations. While environmental issues resulting from such operations arise in the ordinary course of business, such issues have not materially affected the Company’s or the Alagasco's financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and their interpretations change, however, Alagasco may be required to incur additional costs.

Alagasco is in the chain of title of nine former MGP sites, four of which it still owns, and five former manufactured gas distribution sites, one of which it still owns. Management expects that, should future remediation of the sites be required, Alagasco’s share of the remediation costs will not materially affect the financial position of Alagasco. During 2011, a removal action was completed at the Huntsville, Alabama manufactured gas plant site pursuant to an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent among the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alagasco and the current site owner.

In 2012, Alagasco responded to an EPA Request for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) relating to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site located in North Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. The Request related to a former site of a manufactured gas distribution facility owned by Alagasco and located in the vicinity of the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. In September 2013, Alagasco received from the EPA a General Notice Letter and Invitation to Conduct a Removal Action at the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. The letter identifies Alagasco as a potentially responsible party (PRP) under CERCLA for the cleanup of the Site or costs the EPA incurs in cleaning up the site. The EPA also offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase I of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 50 residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. All Phase I work was conducted by EPA without PRP participation, and is completed or close to completion. In August of 2014, EPA offered the PRP group the opportunity to conduct Phase II of the proposed removal action which involved removal activities at approximately 30 additional residences that purportedly exceed certain risk levels for contamination. EPA will begin conducting the Phase II work soon, if it has not begun already. Alagasco has not agreed to undertake any of the proposed removal activities.

Alagasco has discussed its designation as a PRP with the EPA (including an in-person meeting in Atlanta), and Alagasco has requested additional information from the EPA regarding the testing and removal activities and its designation as a PRP. To this point, Alagasco has not been provided information at this time that would allow it to determine the extent, if any, of its potential liability with respect to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site.

Alagasco has also been approached by a law firm regarding entry into an agreement to toll the statute of limitations with potential plaintiffs related to purported damages allegedly incurred by such potential plaintiffs in connection with the 35th Avenue Superfund Site, and is considering whether to enter into such a tolling arrangement.

The EPA published a proposal to add the 35th Avenue Superfund Site to its National Priorities List (NPL). CERCLA requires that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) include a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States. The NPL constitutes this list. Comments regarding the proposed listing were submitted on January 20, 2015. Alagasco is working with other PRP's (and the State of Alabama) to oppose such a listing and will submit comments in opposition by the deadline.

Costs associated with environmental remediation activities are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable. To the extent such costs (less any amounts received from insurance proceeds or as contributions from other potential responsible parties), are incurred Alagasco would defer such costs and recover them over a period of time in accordance with Alagasco's Enhanced Stability Reserve (ESR). Alagasco does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact on the future financial position or results of operations of Alagasco or the Company.

On December 17, 2013, an incident occurred at a Housing Authority apartment complex in Birmingham, Alabama which resulted in one fatality, personal injuries and property damage. Alagasco is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board which is investigating the incident. Alagasco has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits arising from the incident and additional lawsuits and claims may be filed against Alagasco.

Alagasco is, from time to time, a party to various pending or threatened legal proceedings and has accrued a provision for its estimated liability. Certain of these lawsuits include claims for punitive damages in addition to other specified relief. Alagasco recognizes its liability for contingencies when information available indicates both a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Based upon information presently available, and in light of available legal and other defenses, contingent liabilities arising from threatened and pending litigation are not considered material in relation to the financial position of Alagasco. It should be noted, however, that there is uncertainty in the valuation of pending claims and prediction of litigation results.

Laclede Group

The Company, Laclede Gas and Alagasco are involved in other litigation, claims, and investigations arising in the normal course of business. Management, after discussion with counsel, believes that the final outcomes of such matters will not have a material effect on the Statements of Condensed Consolidated Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows of the Company, the Statements of Condensed Income, Balance Sheets and Statements of Condensed Cash Flows of Laclede Gas and the Statements of Condensed Income, Balance Sheet and Statements of Condensed Cash Flows of Alagasco.