SPIRE INC - Quarter Report: 2018 December (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[ X ]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2018

[ ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number	Name of Registrant, Address of Principal Executive Offices and Telephone Number	State of Incorporation	I.R.S. Employer Identification Number

1-16681	Spire Inc. 700 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63101 314-342-0500	Missouri	74-2976504

1-1822	Spire Missouri Inc. 700 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63101 314-342-0500	Missouri	43-0368139

2-38960	Spire Alabama Inc. 2101 6th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 205-326-8100	Alabama	63-0022000

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such report) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Spire Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]
Spire Missouri Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]
Spire Alabama Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Spire Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]
Spire Missouri Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]
Spire Alabama Inc.	Yes [ X ]	No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

	Large accelerated filer	Accelerated filer	Non- accelerated filer	Smaller reporting company	Emerging growth company
Spire Inc.	X
Spire Missouri Inc.			X
Spire Alabama Inc.			X

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Spire Inc.		[ ]
Spire Missouri Inc.		[ ]
Spire Alabama Inc.		[ ]

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Spire Inc.	Yes [ ]	No [ X ]
Spire Missouri Inc.	Yes [ ]	No [ X ]
Spire Alabama Inc.	Yes [ ]	No [ X ]

The number of shares outstanding of each registrant’s common stock as of February 4, 2019, was as follows:

Spire Inc.	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share	50,740,277
Spire Missouri Inc.	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (all owned by Spire Inc.)	24,577
Spire Alabama Inc.	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (all owned by Spire Inc.)	1,972,052

Spire Missouri Inc. and Spire Alabama Inc. meet the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-Q and are therefore filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format specified in General Instructions H(2) to Form 10-Q.

This combined Form 10-Q represents separate filings by Spire Inc., Spire Missouri Inc., and Spire Alabama Inc. Information contained herein relating to an individual registrant is filed by that registrant on its own behalf. Each registrant makes no representation as to information relating to the other registrants, except that information relating to Spire Missouri Inc. and Spire Alabama Inc. are also attributed to Spire Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

			Page No.

GLOSSARY			2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1	Financial Statements (Unaudited):
	Spire Inc.
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income	4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	5
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	6
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity	8
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	9
	Spire Missouri Inc.
		Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income	10
		Condensed Balance Sheets	11
		Condensed Statements of Shareholder’s Equity	13
		Condensed Statements of Cash Flows	14
	Spire Alabama Inc.
		Condensed Statements of Income	15
		Condensed Balance Sheets	16
		Condensed Statements of Shareholder’s Equity	18
		Condensed Statements of Cash Flows	19
	Notes to Financial Statements
		Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	20
		Note 2. Revenue Recognition	23
		Note 3. Earnings Per Share	25
		Note 4. Regulatory Matters	26
		Note 5. Financing Arrangements and Long-term Debt	29
		Note 6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments	30
		Note 7. Fair Value Measurements	31
		Note 8. Concentrations of Credit Risk	35
		Note 9. Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits	35
		Note 10. Information by Operating Segment	38
		Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies	39
		Note 12. Income Taxes	43

Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		44

Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		57

Item 4	Controls and Procedures		57

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1	Legal Proceedings		58

Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		58

Item 6	Exhibits		59

SIGNATURES			60

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AFUDC	Allowance for Funds Used During Construction	PGA	Purchased Gas Adjustment
APSC	Alabama Public Service Commission	RSE	Rate Stabilization and Equalization
ASC	Accounting Standards Codification	SEC	U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Company	Spire Inc.	Spire	Spire Inc.
Degree days	The average of a day’s high and low temperature below 65, subtracted from 65, multiplied by the number of days impacted	Spire Alabama	Spire Alabama Inc.
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board	Spire EnergySouth	Spire EnergySouth Inc., the parent of Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi
FERC	Federal Energy Regulatory Commission	Spire Gulf	Spire Gulf Inc.
GAAP	Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America	Spire Marketing	Spire Marketing Inc.
Gas Marketing	Segment including Spire Marketing, which is engaged in the non-regulated marketing of natural gas and related activities	Spire Mississippi	Spire Mississippi Inc.
Gas Utility	Segment including the regulated operations of the Utilities	Spire Missouri	Spire Missouri Inc.
GSA	Gas Supply Adjustment	Spire Missouri East	Spire Missouri’s eastern service territory
ISRS	Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge	Spire Missouri West	Spire Missouri’s western service territory
Missouri Utilities	Spire Missouri, including Spire Missouri East and Spire Missouri West, the utilities serving Missouri	Spire STL Pipeline	Spire STL Pipeline LLC
MMBtu	Million British thermal units	Spire Storage	Spire’s physical natural gas storage operations at two facilities in Wyoming
MoPSC	Missouri Public Service Commission	TCJA	The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
MSPSC	Mississippi Public Service Commission	U.S.	United States
NYSE	New York Stock Exchange	Utilities	Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth
O&M	Operation and maintenance expense

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by three separate registrants — Spire Inc. (“Spire” or the “Company”), Spire Missouri Inc. (“Spire Missouri” or “Missouri Utilities”) and Spire Alabama Inc. (“Spire Alabama”) — without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States (“U.S.”) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the registrants’ combined Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

The Financial Information in this Part I includes separate financial statements (i.e., balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income, statements of shareholders’ equity and statements of cash flows) for Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. The Notes to Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are also included and presented herein on a combined basis for Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama.

Item 1. Financial Statements

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions, except per share amounts)	2018		2017
Operating Revenues:
Gas Utility	$	573.8	$	541.9
Gas Marketing and other		28.2		19.9
Total Operating Revenues		602.0		561.8
Operating Expenses:
Gas Utility
Natural and propane gas		251.7		240.8
Operation and maintenance		102.5		99.0
Depreciation and amortization		43.7		40.3
Taxes, other than income taxes		39.2		36.7
Total Gas Utility Operating Expenses		437.1		416.8
Gas Marketing and other		59.8		41.0
Total Operating Expenses		496.9		457.8
Operating Income		105.1		104.0
Other Income, Net		2.8		3.3
Interest Charges:
Interest on long-term debt		20.4		20.7
Other interest charges		5.5		3.7
Total Interest Charges		25.9		24.4
Income Before Income Taxes		82.0		82.9
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		14.7		(33.1	)
Net Income	$	67.3	$	116.0

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic		50.6		48.2
Diluted		50.8		48.4
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	1.33	$	2.40
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	1.32	$	2.39

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018			2017
Net Income	$	67.3		$	116.0
Other Comprehensive Loss, Before Tax:
Cash flow hedging derivative instruments:
Net hedging (loss) gain arising during the period		(10.4	)		0.1
Reclassification adjustment for income included in net income		(0.3	)		(0.4	)
Net unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivative instruments		(10.7	)		(0.3	)
Net gain on defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans		—			0.1
Net unrealized loss on available for sale securities		—			(0.1	)
Other Comprehensive Loss, Before Tax		(10.7	)		(0.3	)
Income Tax Benefit Related to Items of Other Comprehensive Loss		(2.5	)		(0.1	)
Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax		(8.2	)		(0.2	)
Comprehensive Income	$	59.1		$	115.8

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)	2018			2018			2017
ASSETS
Utility Plant	$	5,754.8		$	5,653.3		$	5,351.7
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		1,709.5			1,682.8			1,641.0
Net Utility Plant		4,045.3			3,970.5			3,710.7
Non-utility Property (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $11.1, $10.4 and $8.6 at December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively)		254.5			174.5			105.3
Goodwill		1,171.6			1,171.6			1,171.6
Other Investments		69.5			68.7			66.3
Total Other Property and Investments		1,495.6			1,414.8			1,343.2
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		8.4			4.4			6.7
Accounts receivable:
Utility		339.2			151.9			333.6
Other		242.1			167.3			135.3
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(24.6	)		(22.4	)		(21.3	)
Delayed customer billings		10.9			6.9			7.5
Inventories:
Natural gas		176.2			175.2			171.6
Propane gas		12.0			12.0			12.0
Materials and supplies		24.5			23.1			21.3
Natural gas receivable		2.2			1.8			3.5
Derivative instrument assets		19.7			13.3			4.7
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		3.0			8.2			77.9
Other regulatory assets		60.4			64.6			71.4
Prepayments		25.7			31.0			24.6
Other		5.6			22.3			3.7
Total Current Assets		905.3			659.6			852.5
Deferred Charges and Other Assets:
Regulatory assets		655.1			669.8			716.6
Other		130.9			128.9			78.1
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets		786.0			798.7			794.7
Total Assets	$	7,232.2		$	6,843.6		$	6,701.1

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,			September 30,		December 31,
	2018			2018		2017
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
Common stock (par value $1.00 per share; 70.0 million shares authorized; 50.7 million, 50.7 million and 48.3 million shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)	$	50.7		$	50.7	$	48.3
Paid-in capital		1,482.8			1,482.7		1,324.9
Retained earnings		752.9			715.6		703.0
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(1.8	)		6.4		3.0
Total Shareholders' Equity		2,284.6			2,255.4		2,079.2
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		—			7.9		6.5
Long-term debt (less current portion)		1,992.0			1,900.1		2,030.0
Total Capitalization		4,276.6			4,163.4		4,115.7
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt		175.0			175.5		105.5
Notes payable		626.1			553.6		583.6
Accounts payable		430.9			290.1		245.6
Advance customer billings		19.8			22.7		27.3
Wages and compensation accrued		32.8			39.7		29.6
Dividends payable		31.3			30.0		28.1
Customer deposits		36.1			35.5		35.9
Interest accrued		27.2			15.2		26.3
Taxes accrued		44.6			65.4		36.0
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		6.1			2.9		1.0
Other regulatory liabilities		30.9			32.8		20.5
Other		102.6			58.3		71.9
Total Current Liabilities		1,563.4			1,321.7		1,211.3
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		453.2			435.8		441.0
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		182.1			180.2		233.6
Asset retirement obligations		324.5			321.1		299.7
Regulatory liabilities		363.4			354.6		335.1
Other		69.0			66.8		64.7
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities		1,392.2			1,358.5		1,374.1
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$	7,232.2		$	6,843.6	$	6,701.1

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

	Common Stock Outstanding						Paid-in			Retained
(Dollars in millions)	Shares			Par			Capital			Earnings			AOCI*			Total
Balance at September 30, 2017		48,263,243		$	48.3		$	1,325.6		$	614.2		$	3.2		$	1,991.3
Net income		—			—			—			116.0			—			116.0
Dividend reinvestment plan		4,618			—			0.3			—			—			0.3
Stock-based compensation costs		—			—			1.9			—			—			1.9
Stock issued under stock-based compensation plans		105,434			0.1			(0.1	)		—			—			—
Employees’ tax withholding for stock-based compensation		(33,581	)		(0.1	)		(2.8	)		—			—			(2.9	)
Dividends declared ($0.5625 per share)		—			—			—			(27.2	)		—			(27.2	)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		—			—			—			—			(0.2	)		(0.2	)
Balance at December 31, 2017		48,339,714		$	48.3		$	1,324.9		$	703.0		$	3.0		$	2,079.2

Balance at September 30, 2018		50,671,903		$	50.7		$	1,482.7		$	715.6		$	6.4		$	2,255.4
Net income		—			—			—			67.3			—			67.3
Dividend reinvestment plan		5,063			—			0.4			—			—			0.4
Stock-based compensation costs		—			—			2.0			—			—			2.0
Stock issued under stock-based compensation plans		74,835			0.1			(0.1	)		—			—			—
Employees’ tax withholding for stock-based compensation		(27,633	)		(0.1	)		(2.2	)		—			—			(2.3	)
Dividends declared ($0.5925 per share)		—			—			—			(30.0	)		—			(30.0	)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		—			—			—			—			(8.2	)		(8.2	)
Balance at December 31, 2018		50,724,168		$	50.7		$	1,482.8		$	752.9		$	(1.8	)	$	2,284.6

* Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018			2017
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$	67.3		$	116.0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		44.2			40.4
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits		12.7			(33.6	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(260.5	)		(176.7	)
Inventories		(2.5	)		20.9
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		20.5			34.6
Accounts payable		158.0			(2.1	)
Delayed/advance customer billings, net		(6.9	)		(8.7	)
Taxes accrued		(19.1	)		(25.0	)
Other assets and liabilities		57.1			50.3
Other		(0.4	)		1.8
Net cash provided by operating activities		70.4			17.9
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		(206.8	)		(110.8	)
Business acquisitions		(7.9	)		(16.0	)
Other		(1.5	)		0.1
Net cash used in investing activities		(216.2	)		(126.7	)
Financing Activities:
Issuance of long-term debt		100.0			30.0
Repayment of long-term debt		(9.1	)		—
Issuance of short-term debt, net		72.5			106.3
Issuance of common stock		0.4			0.3
Dividends paid		(28.8	)		(25.8	)
Other		(2.2	)		(2.7	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		132.8			108.1
Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash		(13.0	)		(0.7	)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period		21.4			7.4
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	8.4		$	6.7

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	$	(13.9	)	$	(13.3	)
Income taxes		—			—

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018			2017
Operating Revenues:
Utility	$	413.2		$	392.3
Total Operating Revenues		413.2			392.3
Operating Expenses:
Utility
Natural and propane gas		223.4			206.2
Operation and maintenance		63.1			60.1
Depreciation and amortization		27.2			24.8
Taxes, other than income taxes		28.1			26.2
Total Operating Expenses		341.8			317.3
Operating Income		71.4			75.0
Other (Expense) Income, Net		(0.7	)		1.0
Interest Charges:
Interest on long-term debt		9.4			9.9
Other interest charges		2.7			1.7
Total Interest Charges		12.1			11.6
Income Before Income Taxes		58.6			64.4
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		7.4			(25.0	)
Net Income and Comprehensive Income	$	51.2		$	89.4

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)	2018			2018			2017
ASSETS
Utility Plant	$	3,395.8		$	3,331.0		$	3,141.2
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		720.4			705.8			696.1
Net Utility Plant		2,675.4			2,625.2			2,445.1
Goodwill		210.2			210.2			210.2
Other Property and Investments		53.6			55.0			60.1
Total Other Property and Investments		263.8			265.2			270.3
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		4.9			2.0			4.1
Accounts receivable:
Utility		227.4			103.9			238.3
Associated companies		4.7			2.7			7.3
Other		17.7			16.6			20.0
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(18.1	)		(16.0	)		(16.8	)
Delayed customer billings		10.9			6.9			7.5
Inventories:
Natural gas		129.3			127.9			127.1
Propane gas		12.0			12.0			12.0
Materials and supplies		14.3			13.2			12.5
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		—			1.0			38.5
Other regulatory assets		29.7			29.7			38.2
Prepayments		14.7			19.1			15.6
Total Current Assets		447.5			319.0			504.3
Deferred Charges and Other Assets:
Regulatory assets		427.6			441.1			484.1
Other		51.9			50.8			5.6
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets		479.5			491.9			489.7
Total Assets	$	3,866.2		$	3,701.3		$	3,709.4

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
	2018			2018			2017
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
Paid-in capital and common stock (par value $1.00 per share; 50.0 million shares authorized; 24,577 shares issued and outstanding)	$	761.6		$	760.4		$	757.3
Retained earnings		542.5			501.1			492.4
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1.6	)		(1.6	)		(1.7	)
Total Shareholder's Equity		1,302.5			1,259.9			1,248.0
Long-term debt		924.5			824.4			874.1
Total Capitalization		2,227.0			2,084.3			2,122.1
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt		50.0			50.0			100.0
Notes payable – associated companies		308.0			345.3			275.6
Accounts payable		101.5			81.7			73.5
Accounts payable – associated companies		17.4			5.8			8.9
Advance customer billings		9.1			9.5			10.5
Wages and compensation accrued		25.3			31.3			22.9
Dividends payable		—			9.0			13.5
Customer deposits		13.3			13.1			13.4
Interest accrued		11.2			7.8			11.6
Taxes accrued		14.6			32.0			12.3
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		5.8			1.9			—
Regulatory liabilities		14.8			14.8			2.7
Other		54.5			20.1			48.4
Total Current Liabilities		625.5			622.3			593.3
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		373.7			361.0			382.2
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		137.7			136.9			167.8
Asset retirement obligations		175.9			174.1			160.3
Regulatory liabilities		279.7			274.9			241.2
Other		46.7			47.8			42.5
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities		1,013.7			994.7			994.0
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$	3,866.2		$	3,701.3		$	3,709.4

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

	Common Stock Outstanding				Paid-in		Retained
(Dollars in millions)	Shares		Par		Capital		Earnings			AOCI*			Total
Balance at September 30, 2017		24,577	$	0.1	$	756.1	$	416.5		$	(1.7	)	$	1,171.0
Net income		—		—		—		89.4			—			89.4
Stock-based compensation costs		—		—		1.1		—			—			1.1
Dividends declared		—		—		—		(13.5	)		—			(13.5	)
Balance at December 31, 2017		24,577	$	0.1	$	757.2	$	492.4		$	(1.7	)	$	1,248.0

Balance at September 30, 2018		24,577	$	0.1	$	760.3	$	501.1		$	(1.6	)	$	1,259.9
Net income		—		—		—		51.2			—			51.2
Stock-based compensation costs		—		—		1.2		—			—			1.2
Dividends declared		—		—		—		(9.8	)		—			(9.8	)
Balance at December 31, 2018		24,577	$	0.1	$	761.5	$	542.5		$	(1.6	)	$	1,302.5

* Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018			2017
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$	51.2		$	89.4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		27.2			24.8
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits		7.4			(25.0	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(124.6	)		(143.0	)
Inventories		(2.5	)		9.9
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		16.9			28.8
Accounts payable		50.9			1.6
Delayed/advance customer billings, net		(4.4	)		(6.9	)
Taxes accrued		(17.4	)		(21.7	)
Other assets and liabilities		44.5			40.7
Other		1.2			1.1
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		50.4			(0.3	)
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		(92.0	)		(70.5	)
Other		0.6			(0.2	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(91.4	)		(70.7	)
Financing Activities:
Issuance of long-term debt		100.0			—
(Repayments to) borrowings from Spire, net		(37.3	)		72.6
Dividends paid		(18.8	)		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		43.9			72.6
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		2.9			1.6
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		2.0			2.5
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	4.9		$	4.1

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	$	(8.3	)	$	(7.6	)
Income taxes		—			—

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018		2017
Operating Revenues:
Utility	$	133.5	$	120.8
Total Operating Revenues		133.5		120.8
Operating Expenses:
Utility
Natural gas		59.5		49.0
Operation and maintenance		34.4		32.8
Depreciation and amortization		13.6		12.8
Taxes, other than income taxes		8.9		8.2
Total Operating Expenses		116.4		102.8
Operating Income		17.1		18.0
Other Income, Net		1.8		1.4
Interest Charges:
Interest on long-term debt		3.6		2.9
Other interest charges		1.5		1.1
Total Interest Charges		5.1		4.0
Income Before Income Taxes		13.8		15.4
Income Tax Expense		3.5		65.0
Net Income (Loss)	$	10.3	$	(49.6	)

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)	2018			2018			2017
ASSETS
Utility Plant	$	1,994.5		$	1,964.3		$	1,858.5
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		841.4			830.2			791.7
Net Utility Plant		1,153.1			1,134.1			1,066.8
Current Assets:
Accounts receivable:
Utility		93.9			39.6			74.7
Associated companies		—			0.5			0.7
Other		6.3			8.5			6.6
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(4.2	)		(3.9	)		(2.6	)
Inventories:
Natural gas		30.1			33.9			25.1
Materials and supplies		8.2			7.8			7.6
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		1.6			6.4			39.4
Other regulatory assets		17.2			19.8			18.6
Prepayments		4.6			6.0			5.7
Other		2.6			2.4			2.0
Total Current Assets		160.3			121.0			177.8
Deferred Charges and Other Assets:
Regulatory assets		200.2			201.5			197.4
Deferred income taxes		98.3			101.8			119.0
Other		58.4			57.8			57.4
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets		356.9			361.1			373.8
Total Assets	$	1,670.3		$	1,616.2		$	1,618.4

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2018		2018		2017
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
Paid-in capital and common stock (par value $0.01 per share; 3.0 million shares authorized; 2.0 million shares issued and outstanding)	$	390.9	$	390.9	$	420.9
Retained earnings		419.6		417.8		389.4
Total Shareholder's Equity		810.5		808.7		810.3
Long-term debt		322.6		322.6		277.8
Total Capitalization		1,133.1		1,131.3		1,088.1
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable – associated companies		164.2		142.5		163.1
Accounts payable		78.4		48.4		55.0
Accounts payable – associated companies		2.5		2.1		3.8
Advance customer billings		9.9		13.1		16.8
Wages and compensation accrued		5.8		6.7		5.4
Customer deposits		19.5		18.6		18.7
Interest accrued		4.8		3.9		3.5
Taxes accrued		26.6		28.3		22.0
Regulatory liabilities		10.2		7.6		11.3
Other		3.0		3.2		2.4
Total Current Liabilities		324.9		274.4		302.0
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		36.2		35.0		51.5
Asset retirement obligations		137.1		135.7		129.7
Regulatory liabilities		30.6		31.3		39.0
Other		8.4		8.5		8.1
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities		212.3		210.5		228.3
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$	1,670.3	$	1,616.2	$	1,618.4

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

	Common Stock Outstanding				Paid-in		Retained
(Dollars in millions)	Shares		Par		Capital		Earnings			Total
Balance at September 30, 2017		1,972,052	$	—	$	420.9	$	446.5		$	867.4
Net loss		—		—		—		(49.6	)		(49.6	)
Dividends declared		—		—		—		(7.5	)		(7.5	)
Balance at December 31, 2017		1,972,052	$	—	$	420.9	$	389.4		$	810.3

Balance at September 30, 2018		1,972,052	$	—	$	390.9	$	417.8		$	808.7
Net income		—		—		—		10.3			10.3
Dividends declared		—		—		—		(8.5	)		(8.5	)
Balance at December 31, 2018		1,972,052	$	—	$	390.9	$	419.6		$	810.5

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2018			2017
Operating Activities:
Net Income (Loss)	$	10.3		$	(49.6	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		13.6			12.8
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits		3.5			65.0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(52.0	)		(44.3	)
Inventories		3.2			7.7
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		4.8			5.8
Accounts payable		29.7			14.9
Advance customer billings		(3.2	)		(1.8	)
Taxes accrued		(1.7	)		(1.4	)
Other assets and liabilities		9.5			—
Other		(0.4	)		—
Net cash provided by operating activities		17.3			9.1
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		(30.1	)		(24.9	)
Other		(0.4	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(30.5	)		(24.9	)
Financing Activities:
Issuance of long-term debt		—			30.0
Borrowings from (repayments to) Spire, net		21.7			(6.8	)
Dividends paid		(8.5	)		(7.5	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		13.2			15.7
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents		—			(0.1	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		—			0.1
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	—		$	—

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	$	(3.6	)	$	(3.4	)
Income taxes		—			—

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

SPIRE INC., SPIRE MISSOURI INC. AND SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION – These notes are an integral part of the accompanying unaudited 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 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 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 adjustments) 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, Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

The consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Spire include the accounts of the Company and all its subsidiaries. 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.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS – Spire has two reportable segments: Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. The Gas Utility segment consists of the regulated natural gas distribution operations of the Company and is the core business segment of Spire in terms of revenue and earnings. The Gas Utility segment is comprised of the operations of: the Missouri Utilities, serving St. Louis and eastern Missouri (“Spire Missouri East”) and Kansas City and western Missouri (“Spire Missouri West”); Spire Alabama, serving central and northern Alabama; and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth, serving southern Alabama and south-central Mississippi. The Gas Marketing segment includes Spire’s primary gas-related business, Spire Marketing Inc. (“Spire Marketing”), which provides non-regulated natural gas services. The activities of other subsidiaries are reported as Other and are described in Note 10, Information by Operating Segment. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama each have a single reportable segment.

Nearly all of the Company’s earnings are derived from its Gas Utility segment. Due to the seasonal nature of the Utilities’ business, earnings are typically concentrated during the heating season of November through April each fiscal year. As a result, the interim statements of income for Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are not necessarily indicative of annual results or representative of succeeding quarters of the fiscal year.

DERIVATIVES – 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 their 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 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 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. This net presentation has no effect on operating income or net income.

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.

As authorized by the Missouri Public Service Commission (“MoPSC”), the Mississippi Public Service Commission (“MSPSC”) and the Alabama Public Service Commission (“APSC”), the Purchased Gas Adjustment (“PGA”) clauses and Gas Supply Adjustment (“GSA”) riders allow the Utilities to pass through to customers the cost of purchased gas supplies. Regulatory assets and liabilities related to the PGA clauses and the GSA riders are both labeled Unamortized Purchased Gas Adjustments herein. See additional information about regulatory assets and liabilities in Note 4, Regulatory Matters.

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES – Transactions between affiliates of the Company have been eliminated from the consolidated 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. In addition, Spire Missouri’s other transactions with affiliates included:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017
Purchases of natural gas from Spire Marketing	$	39.8	$	22.3
Sales of natural gas to Spire Marketing		1.4		0.1
Transportation services received from Spire NGL Inc.		0.3		0.3

ACCRUED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES – Accrued capital expenditures, shown in the following table, are excluded from capital expenditures in the statements of cash flows until paid.

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2018		2018		2017
Spire	$	46.2	$	62.1	$	31.8
Spire Missouri		18.1		36.7		15.2
Spire Alabama		9.7		8.9		7.0

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS – Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and related amendments (collectively, “ASC 606”), in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 using the modified retrospective

method applied to all contracts at October 1, 2018. The core principle of ASC 606 is that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Under the new standard, an entity must identify the performance obligations in a contract, determine the transaction price and allocate the price to specific performance obligations to recognize revenue when the obligation is completed. In addition, ASC 606 requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in significant changes to how the Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama recognize revenue, and therefore, no cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was required, and there was no significant impact to financial results after adoption. The adoption did result in changes to the disclosures about revenue, which are included in Note 2, Revenue. Some revenue arrangements, such as alternative revenue programs and certain derivative contracts, are excluded from the scope of ASC 606 and, therefore, are presented separately in disclosures.

Also effective October 1, 2018, Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama adopted ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, with no material impact on interim or annual financial statements. The amended guidance requires that the service cost component of net periodic 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 (e.g., as part of utility plant). The amended guidance is applied retrospectively for income statement presentation and prospectively for capitalization. The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama elected the 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. Accordingly, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama reclassified net benefit (income) costs of $(1.1), $0.2 and $(1.0), respectively, from “operation and maintenance” to “other income, net” or “other (expense) income, net.” The corresponding annual amounts to be reclassified for the years ended September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are $14.4, $19.2 and $9.6 for the Company, respectively, $17.2, $17.2 and $11.2 for Spire Missouri, respectively, and $(2.0), $2.2 and $(1.6) for Spire Alabama, respectively. For Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama, and the Company’s other rate-regulated entities, all components of net benefit cost have historically been recovered from customers as a component of utility plant and will continue to be recovered in the same manner over the depreciable lives of the related plant assets; therefore, for those entities, the components that are no longer eligible to be capitalized as a component of plant under GAAP will be reported as regulatory assets.

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, 2018-11, and 2018-20, issued in January, July and December 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, which was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-19 in November 2018. 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 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.

2. REVENUE

The following tables show revenue disaggregated by source and customer type.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018
Spire
Gas Utility:
Residential	$	393.6
Commercial & industrial		130.3
Transportation		29.5
Off-system & other incentive		14.9
Other customer revenue		12.7
Total revenue from contracts with customers		581.0
Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs		(5.8	)
Total Gas Utility operating revenues		575.2
Gas Marketing:
Revenue from contracts with retail customers		25.8
Revenue from wholesale derivative contracts		—
Total Gas Marketing operating revenues		25.8
Other		5.4
Total before eliminations		606.4
Intersegment eliminations (see Note 10)		(4.4	)
Total Operating Revenues	$	602.0

Spire Missouri
Residential	$	302.1
Commercial & industrial		89.1
Transportation		9.0
Off-system & other incentive		14.9
Other customer revenue		2.6
Total revenue from contracts with customers		417.7
Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs		(4.5	)
Total Operating Revenues	$	413.2

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018
Spire Alabama
Residential	$	75.4
Commercial & industrial		31.4
Transportation		18.2
Other customer revenue		9.6
Total revenue from contracts with customers		134.6
Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs		(1.1	)
Total Operating Revenues	$	133.5

The Utilities sell natural gas to residential and other customers. The sale of natural gas is governed by the various state utility commissions, which set rates, charges, and terms and conditions of service, collectively included in a “tariff.” The performance obligation, which related to the promise to provide natural gas, is satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the natural gas, and revenue is recognized accordingly.

The Utilities’ transportation revenue relates to the promise to transport the specified quantities of natural gas at tariff rates. This performance obligation is satisfied over time as the gas is transported, and revenue is recognized as invoiced monthly.

The Utilities have alternative revenue programs (“ARPs”), which represent an agreement between the utility and its regulator, currently consisting of decoupling mechanisms (also known as weather normalization adjustments) and incentive programs (primarily Alabama’s Cost Control Measure). When the criteria to recognize additional (or reduced) revenue from ARPs have been met, the Utilities establish a regulatory asset (or liability). When amounts previously recognized for ARPs are billed, the Utilities reduce the regulatory asset (or liability) and increase (or decrease) accounts receivable. Billed amounts, which are part of the overall tariff paid by customers, are included in revenue from contracts with customers, while the change in the related regulatory asset or liability is presented as revenue from ARPs. Depending on whether the beginning accrued ARP balance was a regulatory asset or liability and depending on the size and direction of the current period accrual, the amount presented as revenue from ARPs could be negative.

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. 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. Spire’s other subsidiaries, including Spire Marketing, record revenues when earned, as the product is delivered or as services are performed.

Gas Marketing’s contracts are derivatives. The wholesale contracts (with producers, municipalities, and utility companies) are subject to derivative accounting. The retail contracts (with large commercial and industrial customers) are designated as “normal purchase, normal sale” arrangements and are therefore accounted for as revenue from contracts with customers. The performance obligation is satisfied over time by the transfer of control of natural gas to the customer, and revenue is recognized as invoiced monthly.

Payments are generally required within 30 days of billing, and contracts generally do not have a significant financing component. Spire’s revenues are not subject to significant returns, refunds, or warranty obligations.

Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama have elected to apply a “right to invoice” practical expedient, recognizing revenue for volumes delivered for which they have a right to invoice, as long as that amount corresponds with the value to the customer. Disclosures about remaining performance obligations are not required because either contracts have an original expected duration of one year or less, or revenue is recognized under the right to invoice practical expedient, or both.

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.

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:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017
Spire	$	25.9	$	23.1
Spire Missouri		18.5		16.2
Spire Alabama		6.3		5.6

3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017
Basic Earnings Per Share:
Net Income	$	67.3	$	116.0
Less: Income allocated to participating securities		0.1		0.2
Income Available to Common Shareholders	$	67.2	$	115.8
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (in millions)		50.6		48.2
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	1.33	$	2.40

Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net Income	$	67.3	$	116.0
Less: Income allocated to participating securities		0.1		0.2
Income Available to Common Shareholders	$	67.2	$	115.8
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (in millions)		50.6		48.2
Dilutive Effect of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (in millions)*		0.2		0.2
Weighted Average Diluted Shares (in millions)		50.8		48.4
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	1.32	$	2.39

* Calculation excludes certain outstanding shares (shown in millions by period at the right) attributable to stock units subject to performance or market conditions and restricted stock, which could have a dilutive effect in the future		0.4		0.3

4. REGULATORY MATTERS

As explained in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Utilities account for regulated operations in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 980, Regulated Operations. The following regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities, including purchased gas adjustments, were reflected in the balance sheets of the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama as of December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017.

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
Spire	2018		2018		2017
Regulatory Assets:
Current:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	30.2	$	30.2	$	43.0
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		3.0		8.2		77.9
Other		30.2		34.4		28.4
Total Current Regulatory Assets		63.4		72.8		149.3
Noncurrent:
Future income taxes due from customers		99.1		96.3		113.1
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		350.0		364.9		394.8
Cost of removal		134.0		133.4		123.9
Energy efficiency		33.6		32.8		30.0
Other		38.4		42.4		54.8
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets		655.1		669.8		716.6
Total Regulatory Assets	$	718.5	$	742.6	$	865.9
Regulatory Liabilities:
Current:
Rate Stabilization and Equalization ("RSE") adjustment	$	2.5	$	—	$	1.0
Refundable negative salvage		4.6		5.2		7.9
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		6.1		2.9		1.0
Other		23.8		27.6		11.6
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities		37.0		35.7		21.5
Noncurrent:
Deferred taxes due to customers		169.8		178.3		177.4
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		27.1		27.8		31.5
Refundable negative salvage		—		—		3.8
Accrued cost of removal		59.4		63.6		81.7
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		16.7		4.7		6.5
Other		90.4		80.2		34.2
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities		363.4		354.6		335.1
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	400.4	$	390.3	$	356.6

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
Spire Missouri	2018		2018		2017
Regulatory Assets:
Current:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	21.9	$	21.9	$	34.9
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		—		1.0		38.5
Other		7.8		7.8		3.3
Total Current Regulatory Assets		29.7		30.7		76.7
Noncurrent:
Future income taxes due from customers		96.7		94.4		113.1
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		279.8		292.5		315.8
Energy efficiency		33.6		32.8		30.0
Other		17.5		21.4		25.2
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets		427.6		441.1		484.1
Total Regulatory Assets	$	457.3	$	471.8	$	560.8
Regulatory Liabilities:
Current:
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments	$	5.8	$	1.9	$	—
Other		14.8		14.8		2.7
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities		20.6		16.7		2.7
Noncurrent:
Deferred taxes due to customers		152.4		161.1		159.2
Accrued cost of removal		35.2		39.8		52.0
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		16.7		4.7		6.5
Other		75.4		69.3		23.5
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities		279.7		274.9		241.2
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	300.3	$	291.6	$	243.9

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
Spire Alabama	2018		2018		2017
Regulatory Assets:
Current:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	7.3	$	7.3	$	7.2
Unamortized purchased gas adjustments		1.6		6.4		39.4
Other		9.9		12.5		11.4
Total Current Regulatory Assets		18.8		26.2		58.0
Noncurrent:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		63.0		64.8		70.8
Cost of removal		134.0		133.4		123.9
Other		3.2		3.3		2.7
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets		200.2		201.5		197.4
Total Regulatory Assets	$	219.0	$	227.7	$	255.4
Regulatory Liabilities:
Current:
RSE adjustment	$	2.5	$	—	$	1.0
Refundable negative salvage		4.6		5.2		7.9
Other		3.1		2.4		2.4
Total Current Regulatory Liabilities		10.2		7.6		11.3
Noncurrent:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs		27.1		27.8		31.5
Refundable negative salvage		—		—		3.9
Other		3.5		3.5		3.6
Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities		30.6		31.3		39.0
Total Regulatory Liabilities	$	40.8	$	38.9	$	50.3

A portion of the Company’s and Spire Missouri’s regulatory assets are not earning a return, as shown in the table below:

	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2018		2018		2017
Spire
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	141.2	$	148.4	$	193.8
Future income taxes due from customers		99.1		96.3		113.1
Other		14.3		15.1		11.2
Total Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return	$	254.6	$	259.8	$	318.1

Spire Missouri
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	141.2	$	148.4	$	193.8
Future income taxes due from customers		96.7		94.4		113.1
Other		14.3		15.1		11.2
Total Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return	$	252.2	$	257.9	$	318.1

Like all the Company’s regulatory assets, these regulatory assets are expected to be recovered from customers in future rates. The recovery period for the future income taxes due from customers and pension and other postretirement benefit costs could be 20 years or longer, based on current Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) guidelines and average remaining service life of active participants, respectively. The other items not earning a return are expected to be recovered over a period not to exceed 15 years, consistent with precedent set by the MoPSC. Spire Alabama does not have any regulatory assets that are not earning a return.

On March 7, 2018, the MoPSC issued its order in two general rate cases, approving new tariffs that became effective on April 19, 2018. On April 25, 2018, Spire Missouri filed an appeal of the MoPSC’s order related to the disallowance of certain pension costs incurred prior to 1997 ($28.8), real estate sold in 2014 ($1.8), and rate case expenses ($0.9) to Missouri’s Southern District Court of Appeals. The appeals process is ongoing.

The rate case order also allowed for a Weather Normalization Adjustment Rider for residential customers which provides volumetric revenue protection and improved weather mitigation compared to previous rate designs. There are currently two open cases on this rider requesting a calculation clarification.

In September 2016 and February 2017, Spire Missouri filed Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (“ISRS”) cases for both Spire Missouri East and Spire Missouri West (the “2016/2017 ISRS Cases”). The Missouri Office of the Public Counsel (“OPC”) appealed the MoPSC’s decisions approving these cases to Missouri’s Western District Court of Appeals, arguing that they contained ISRS-ineligible costs. In November 2017, the appellate court reversed the MoPSC’s decision in the 2016/2017 ISRS Cases and remanded the case back to the MoPSC. In June 2018, Spire Missouri filed to establish new ISRS rates in both its East and West divisions (the “2018 ISRS Cases”). In September 2018, the MoPSC issued orders finding that Spire Missouri’s ISRS petitions in the 2016/2017 ISRS Cases and the 2018 ISRS Cases included ISRS-ineligible costs related to the replacement of plastic pipe components and approved rates in the 2018 ISRS Cases providing annual revenues of $2.6 for Spire Missouri East and $5.4 for Spire Missouri West. Spire is appealing the removal of costs related to plastic in all cases in the Western District Court. On January 14, 2019, Spire Missouri refiled requests with additional information for approximately $3.2 of the ISRS revenues that were removed by the MoPSC in previous cases and filed new ISRS applications for both its East and West service territories. The new applications include requests for the approval of ISRS revenues of $7.4 for Spire Missouri East and $8.4 for Spire Missouri West related to investments made or forecasted from July 1, 2018, through January 31, 2019.

Spire Missouri is seeking an Accounting Authority Order to record a regulatory asset (or liability) representing the increases (or decreases) in the annual MoPSC assessment from the amount currently reflected in rates, beginning July 1, 2018, and continuing until its next rate case. For the first twelve months, the impact is a $1.7 (51%) increase. The latest action on the matter was a reply brief filed by Spire Missouri on January 11, 2019.

As part of the annual update for RSE, on November 30, 2018, Spire Alabama filed an increase for rate year 2019 of $8.7, which became effective December 1, 2018. At December 31, 2018, an estimated RSE reduction for the January 31, 2019 quarterly point of test of $4.1 was recorded to bring the expected rate of return on average common equity at the end of the year to within the allowed rate of return.

On January 25, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) approved the Company’s application to combine its two adjacent natural gas storage facilities in Wyoming into one FERC certificate with a market-based tariff.

5. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have a syndicated revolving credit facility pursuant to a loan agreement with 11 banks, expiring October 31, 2023. The loan agreement has an aggregate credit commitment of $975.0, including sublimits of $300.0 for Spire, $475.0 for Spire Missouri, and $200.0 for Spire Alabama. These sublimits may be reallocated from time to time among the three borrowers within the $975.0 aggregate commitment, with commitments fees applied for each borrower relative to its credit rating. Spire may use its line to provide for the funding needs of various subsidiaries. The agreement also contains financial covenants limiting each borrower’s consolidated total debt, including short-term debt, to no more than 70% of its total capitalization. As defined in the line of credit, on December 31, 2018, total debt was 55% of total capitalization for the consolidated Company, 50% for Spire Missouri, and 38% for Spire Alabama. There were no borrowings against this credit facility as of December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, or December 31, 2017.

Spire has a commercial paper program (“Program”) pursuant to which Spire may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes (“Notes”). Amounts available under the Program may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time, with the aggregate face or principal amount of the Notes outstanding under the Program at any time not to exceed $975.0. The Notes may have maturities of up to 365 days from date of issue.

Information about Spire’s consolidated short-term borrowings and about Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s borrowings from Spire is presented in the following table. As of December 31, 2018, $509.9 of Spire’s short-term borrowings were used to support lending to the Utilities.

	Spire Commercial Paper Borrowings	Spire Missouri Borrowings from Spire	Spire Alabama Borrowings from Spire
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Weighted average borrowings outstanding	$622.9	$343.9	$152.3
Weighted average interest rate	2.7%	2.7%	2.7%
Range of borrowings outstanding	$562.3 - $689.3	$273.6 - $404.9	$140.8 - $169.2
As of December 31, 2018
Borrowings outstanding	$626.1	$308.0	$164.2
Weighted average interest rate	3.1%	3.1%	3.1%
As of September 30, 2018
Borrowings outstanding	$553.6	$345.3	$142.5
Weighted average interest rate	2.4%	2.3%	2.3%
As of December 31, 2017
Borrowings outstanding	$583.6	$275.6	$163.1
Weighted average interest rate	2.0%	2.0%	2.0%

The long-term debt agreements of Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama contain customary covenants and default provisions. As of December 31, 2018, there were no events of default under these covenants.

Interest expense shown on Spire’s consolidated statements of income and Spire Missouri’s statements of comprehensive income is net of the capitalized interest amounts shown in the following table.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017
Spire	$	1.2	$	0.4
Spire Missouri		0.5		0.2

In October 2018, the Company settled a $10.0 non-interest-bearing note. In December 2018, Spire Missouri entered into a new loan agreement (“Loan Agreement”) providing for a term loan of $100.0, which was fully funded on December 3, 2018, and which matures on December 1, 2021, subject to optional prepayment by Spire. Borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus a margin based on the Borrower’s senior debt rating as determined by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.

On January 15, 2019, Spire Alabama entered into the Second Supplement to Master Note Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors. Pursuant to the terms of that supplement, Spire Alabama closed a $90.0 private placement of 4.64% Series 2019A Senior Notes due January 15, 2049, to those institutional investors. The notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually on the 15th day of July and January of each year, commencing on July 15, 2019. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of Spire Alabama, rank equal in right to payment with all its other senior unsecured indebtedness, and have make-whole and par call options. Spire Alabama used the proceeds to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes.

6. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis are shown in the following tables, classified according to the fair value hierarchy. There were no such instruments classified as Level 3 (significant unobservable inputs) as of December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, or December 31, 2017.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and short-term debt approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The fair values of long-term debt are estimated based on market prices for similar issues. Refer to Note 7, Fair Value Measurements, for information on financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

					Classification of Estimated Fair Value
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Spire
As of December 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8.4	$	8.4	$	8.4	$	—
Short-term debt		626.1		626.1		—		626.1
Long-term debt, including current portion		2,167.0		2,133.9		—		2,133.9
As of September 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4.4	$	4.4	$	4.4	$	—
Short-term debt		553.6		553.6		—		553.6
Long-term debt, including current portion		2,075.6		2,074.0		—		2,074.0
As of December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6.7	$	6.7	$	6.7	$	—
Short-term debt		583.6		583.6		—		583.6
Long-term debt, including current portion		2,135.5		2,280.1		—		2,280.1

Spire Missouri
As of December 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4.9	$	4.9	$	4.9	$	—
Short-term debt		308.0		308.0		—		308.0
Long-term debt, including current portion		974.5		997.3		—		997.3
As of September 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2.0	$	2.0	$	2.0	$	—
Short-term debt		345.3		345.3		—		345.3
Long-term debt, including current portion		874.4		906.6		—		906.6
As of December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4.1	$	4.1	$	4.1	$	—
Short-term debt		275.6		275.6		—		275.6
Long-term debt, including current portion		974.1		1,068.6		—		1,068.6

Spire Alabama
As of December 31, 2018
Short-term debt	$	164.2	$	164.2	$	—	$	164.2
Long-term debt		322.6		311.3		—		311.3
As of September 30, 2018
Short-term debt	$	142.5	$	142.5	$	—	$	142.5
Long-term debt		322.6		321.7		—		321.7
As of December 31, 2017
Short-term debt	$	163.1	$	163.1	$	—	$	163.1
Long-term debt		277.8		303.5		—		303.5

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The information presented below categorizes the assets and liabilities in the balance sheets that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition.

The mutual funds included in Level 1 are valued based on exchange-quoted market prices of individual securities. The mutual funds included in Level 2 are valued based on the closing net asset value per unit.

Derivative instruments included in Level 1 are valued using quoted market prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) or the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”). Derivative instruments classified in Level 2 include physical commodity derivatives that are valued using broker or dealer quotation services whose prices are derived principally from, or are corroborated by, observable market inputs. Also included in Level 2 are certain derivative instruments that have values that are similar to, and correlate with, quoted prices for exchange-traded instruments in active markets. Derivative instruments included in Level 3 are valued using generally unobservable inputs that are based upon the best information available and reflect management’s assumptions about how market participants would price the asset or liability. The Level 3 balances as of December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, consisted of gas commodity contracts. The Company’s and the Utilities’ policy is to recognize transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy, if any, as of the beginning of the interim reporting period in which circumstances change or events occur to cause the transfer.

The mutual funds are included in “Other Investments” on the Company’s balance sheets and in “Other Property and Investments” on Spire Missouri’s balance sheets. Derivative assets and liabilities, including receivables and payables associated with cash margin requirements, are presented net in the balance sheets when a legally enforceable netting agreement exists between the Company, Spire Missouri, or Spire Alabama and the counterparty to a derivative contract.

Spire

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Effects of Netting and Cash Margin Receivables /Payables			Total
As of December 31, 2018
ASSETS
Gas Utility:
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	18.3	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	18.3
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		1.2		—		—		(1.2	)		—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.2		11.9		—		(9.3	)		2.8
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		30.8		—		(8.3	)		22.5
Other:
U.S. stock/bond mutual funds		12.5		—		—		—			12.5
Total	$	32.2	$	42.7	$	—	$	(18.8	)	$	56.1
LIABILITIES
Gas Utility:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	0.9	$	—	$	—	$	(0.9	)	$	—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.6		8.8		—		(9.4	)		—
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		25.1		0.3		(8.3	)		17.1
Other:
Interest rate swaps		—		7.5		—		—			7.5
Total	$	1.5	$	41.4	$	0.3	$	(18.6	)	$	24.6

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Effects of Netting and Cash Margin Receivables /Payables			Total
As of September 30, 2018
ASSETS
Gas Utility:
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	20.3	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	20.3
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		2.7		—		—		(2.7	)		—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.2		4.0		—		(4.2	)		—
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		17.5		—		(1.5	)		16.0
Other:
U.S. stock/bond mutual funds		8.9		—		—		—			8.9
Interest rate swaps		—		3.0		—		—			3.0
Total	$	32.1	$	24.5	$	—	$	(8.4	)	$	48.2
LIABILITIES
Gas Utility:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	1.9	$	—	$	—	$	(1.9	)	$	—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.9		10.5		—		(11.4	)		—
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		7.5		0.2		(1.5	)		6.2
Total	$	2.8	$	18.0	$	0.2	$	(14.8	)	$	6.2

As of December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Gas Utility:
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	19.5	$	4.0	$	—	$	—		$	23.5
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.5		—		—		(0.5	)		—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		2.4		4.0		—		(6.1	)		0.3
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		7.7		—		(4.3	)		3.4
Total	$	22.4	$	15.7	$	—	$	(10.9	)	$	27.2
LIABILITIES
Gas Utility:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	2.7	$	—	$	—	$	(2.7	)	$	—
Gas Marketing:
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		1.1		5.9		—		(7.0	)		—
Natural gas commodity contracts		—		8.9		0.4		(4.3	)		5.0
Other:
Interest rate swaps		—		0.8		—		—			0.8
Total	$	3.8	$	15.6	$	0.4	$	(14.0	)	$	5.8

Spire Missouri

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Effects of Netting and Cash Margin Receivables /Payables			Total
As of December 31, 2018
ASSETS
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	18.3	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	18.3
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		1.2		—		—		(1.2	)		—
Total	$	19.5	$	—	$	—	$	(1.2	)	$	18.3
LIABILITIES
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	0.9	$	—	$	—	$	(0.9	)	$	—

As of September 30, 2018
ASSETS
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	20.3	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	20.3
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		2.7		—		—		(2.7	)		—
Total	$	23.0	$	—	$	—	$	(2.7	)	$	20.3
LIABILITIES
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	1.9	$	—	$	—	$	(1.9	)	$	—

As of December 31, 2017
ASSETS
US stock/bond mutual funds	$	19.5	$	4.0	$	—	$	—		$	23.5
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts		0.5		—		—		(0.5	)		—
Total	$	20.0	$	4.0	$	—	$	(0.5	)	$	23.5
LIABILITIES
NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts	$	2.7	$	—	$	—	$	(2.7	)	$	—

Spire Alabama

Spire Alabama occasionally utilizes a gasoline derivative program to stabilize the cost of fuel used in operations. As of December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, Spire Alabama had no outstanding derivative contracts.

8. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

Other than in Spire Marketing, Spire has no significant concentrations of credit risk.

A significant portion of Spire Marketing’s transactions are with (or are associated with) energy producers, utility companies, and pipelines. The concentration of transactions with these counterparties has the potential to affect the Company’s overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that each of these three groups may be affected similarly by changes in economic, industry, or other conditions. To manage this risk, as well as credit risk from significant counterparties in these and other industries, Spire Marketing has established procedures to determine the creditworthiness of its counterparties. These procedures include obtaining credit ratings and credit reports, analyzing counterparty financial statements to assess financial condition, and considering the industry environment in which the counterparty operates. This information is monitored on an ongoing basis. In some instances, Spire Marketing may require credit assurances such as prepayments, letters of credit, or parental guarantees. In addition, Spire Marketing may enter into netting arrangements to mitigate credit risk with counterparties in the energy industry with whom it conducts both sales and purchases of natural gas. Sales are typically made on an unsecured credit basis with payment due the month following delivery. Accounts receivable amounts are closely monitored and provisions for uncollectible amounts are accrued when losses are probable. Spire Marketing records accounts receivable, accounts payable, and prepayments for physical sales and purchases of natural gas on a gross basis. The amount included in its accounts receivable attributable to energy producers and their marketing affiliates totaled $26.0 at December 31, 2018 ($13.2 reflecting netting arrangements). Spire Marketing’s accounts receivable attributable to utility companies and their marketing affiliates totaled $121.9 at December 31, 2018 ($102.5 reflecting netting arrangements).

Spire Marketing also has concentrations of credit risk with pipeline companies associated with its natural gas receivable and with certain individually significant counterparties. At December 31, 2018, the amounts included in accounts receivable from its five largest counterparties (in terms of net accounts receivable exposure) totaled $41.8 ($35.0 reflecting netting arrangements). Four of these five counterparties are investment-grade rated companies. The fifth is not rated but is a subsidiary of an investment-grade rated company.

9. PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Pension Plans

Spire and the Utilities maintain pension plans for their employees.

The Missouri Utilities have non-contributory, defined benefit, trusteed forms of pension plans covering the majority of their employees. Plan assets consist primarily of corporate and United States (“U.S.”) government obligations and a growth segment consisting of exposure to equity markets, commodities, real estate and inflation-indexed securities, achieved through derivative instruments.

Spire Alabama has non-contributory, defined benefit, trusteed forms of pension plans covering the majority of its employees. Qualified plan assets are comprised of mutual and commingled funds consisting of U.S. equities with varying strategies, global equities, alternative investments, and fixed income investments.

The net periodic pension cost included the following components:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Spire
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	4.8		$	5.2
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation*		7.1			6.9
Expected return on plan assets*		(9.1	)		(9.7	)
Amortization of prior service credit*		(0.3	)		(0.3	)
Amortization of actuarial loss*		2.3			3.1
Subtotal		4.8			5.2
Regulatory adjustment		9.9			4.3
Net pension cost	$	14.7		$	9.5

Spire Missouri
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	3.1		$	3.3
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation*		5.0			4.9
Expected return on plan assets*		(6.4	)		(7.2	)
Amortization of prior service cost*		0.2			0.2
Amortization of actuarial loss*		2.1			2.6
Subtotal		4.0			3.8
Regulatory adjustment		8.0			2.4
Net pension cost	$	12.0		$	6.2

Spire Alabama
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	1.5		$	1.6
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation*		1.5			1.4
Expected return on plan assets*		(1.8	)		(1.7	)
Amortization of prior service credit*		(0.4	)		(0.5	)
Amortization of actuarial loss*		0.2			0.5
Subtotal		1.0			1.3
Regulatory adjustment		1.7			1.7
Net pension cost	$	2.7		$	3.0

* Denotes pension expense line items that are recorded below the operating income line in the income statements, in the line items “Other Income, Net” or “Other (Expense) Income, Net.”

Pursuant to the provisions of the Missouri Utilities’ and Spire Alabama’s pension plans, pension obligations may be satisfied by monthly annuities, lump-sum cash payments, or special termination benefits. Lump-sum payments are recognized as settlements (which can result in gains or losses) only if the total of such payments exceeds the sum of service and interest costs in a specific year. Special termination benefits, when offered, are also recognized as settlements which can result in gains or losses. For the first quarter of both fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, no pension plans met the criteria for settlement recognition.

The funding policy of the Utilities is to contribute an amount not less than the minimum required by government funding standards, nor more than the maximum deductible amount for federal income tax purposes. Fiscal 2019 contributions to Spire Missouri’s pension plans through December 31, 2018, were $1.4 to the qualified trusts and none to non-qualified plans. There were no fiscal 2019 contributions to the Spire Alabama pension plans through December 31, 2018.

Contributions to the qualified trusts of the Missouri Utilities’ pension plans for the remainder of fiscal 2019 are anticipated to be $25.3. No contributions to Spire Alabama’s pension plans are expected to be required for the remainder of fiscal 2019.

Other Postretirement Benefits

Spire and the Utilities provide certain life insurance benefits at retirement. Spire Missouri plans provide for medical insurance after early retirement until age 65. For retirements prior to January 1, 2015, the Spire Missouri West plans provided medical insurance after retirement until death. The Spire Alabama plans provide medical insurance upon retirement until death for certain retirees depending on the type of employee and the date the employee was originally hired.

Net periodic postretirement benefit costs consisted of the following components:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Spire
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	1.9		$	2.3
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation*		2.3			2.2
Expected return on plan assets*		(4.1	)		(3.5	)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss*		(0.1	)		0.2
Subtotal		—			1.2
Regulatory adjustment		2.4			0.1
Net postretirement benefit cost	$	2.4		$	1.3

Spire Missouri
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	1.7		$	2.2
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation*		1.7			1.8
Expected return on plan assets*		(2.8	)		(2.4	)
Amortization of prior service cost*		0.1			0.1
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss*		(0.1	)		0.2
Subtotal		0.6			1.9
Regulatory adjustment		2.9			0.5
Net postretirement benefit cost	$	3.5		$	2.4

Spire Alabama
Service cost – benefits earned during the period	$	0.1		$	—
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation*		0.5			0.4
Expected return on plan assets*		(1.2	)		(1.0	)
Amortization of prior service credit*		(0.1	)		(0.1	)
Subtotal		(0.7	)		(0.7	)
Regulatory adjustment		(0.5	)		(0.4	)
Net postretirement benefit income	$	(1.2	)	$	(1.1	)

* Denotes other postretirement expense line items that are recorded below the operating income line in the income statements, in the line items “Other Income, Net” or “Other (Expense) Income, Net.”

Missouri and Alabama state laws provide for the recovery in rates of costs accrued pursuant to GAAP provided that such costs are funded through an independent, external funding mechanism. The Utilities have established Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (“VEBA”) and Rabbi Trusts as external funding mechanisms. The assets of the VEBA and Rabbi Trusts consist primarily of money market securities and mutual funds invested in stocks and bonds.

The Utilities’ funding policy is to contribute amounts to the trusts equal to the periodic benefit cost calculated pursuant to GAAP as recovered in rates. There have been no contributions to the postretirement plans through December 31, 2018 for neither the Missouri Utilities nor Spire Alabama, and none are expected to be required for the remainder of the fiscal year.

10. INFORMATION BY OPERATING SEGMENT

The Company has two reportable segments: Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. The Gas Utility segment is the aggregation of the operations of the Utilities. The Gas Marketing segment includes the results of Spire Marketing, a subsidiary engaged in the non-regulated marketing of natural gas and related activities, including utilizing natural gas storage contracts for providing natural gas sales. Other components of the Company’s consolidated information include:

•

unallocated corporate items, including certain debt and associated interest costs;

•

Spire STL Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Spire constructing and planning the operation of a 65-mile FERC-regulated pipeline to deliver natural gas into eastern Missouri;

•

Spire Storage, providing physical natural gas storage services; and

•

Spire’s subsidiaries engaged in the operation of a propane pipeline, compression of natural gas, and risk management, among other activities.

Accounting policies are described in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Intersegment transactions include sales of natural gas from Spire Marketing to Spire Missouri, sales of natural gas from Spire Missouri to Spire Marketing, propane transportation services provided by Spire NGL Inc. to Spire Missouri, and propane storage services provided by Spire Missouri to Spire NGL Inc.

Management evaluates the performance of the operating segments based on the computation of net economic earnings. Net economic earnings exclude from reported net income the after-tax impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities, and the largely non-cash impacts of other non-recurring or unusual items such as certain regulatory, legislative, or GAAP standard-setting actions.

	Gas Utility		Gas Marketing		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Operating Revenues:
Revenues from external customers	$	573.8	$	25.8	$	2.4		$	—		$	602.0
Intersegment revenues		1.4		—		3.0			(4.4	)		—
Total Operating Revenues		575.2		25.8		5.4			(4.4	)		602.0
Operating Expenses:
Gas Utility
Natural and propane gas		291.8		—		—			(40.1	)		251.7
Operation and maintenance		104.9		—		—			(2.4	)		102.5
Depreciation and amortization		43.7		—		—			—			43.7
Taxes, other than income taxes		39.2		—		—			—			39.2
Total Gas Utility Operating Expenses		479.6		—		—			(42.5	)		437.1
Gas Marketing and Other		—		13.3		8.4			38.1			59.8
Total Operating Expenses		479.6		13.3		8.4			(4.4	)		496.9
Operating Income (Loss)	$	95.6	$	12.5	$	(3.0	)	$	—		$	105.1
Net Economic Earnings (Loss)	$	66.4	$	8.3	$	(8.8	)	$	—		$	65.9

	Gas Utility		Gas Marketing		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
Operating Revenues:
Revenues from external customers	$	541.9	$	19.6	$	0.3		$	—		$	561.8
Intersegment revenues		0.1		—		2.5			(2.6	)		—
Total Operating Revenues		542.0		19.6		2.8			(2.6	)		561.8
Operating Expenses:
Gas Utility
Natural and propane gas		263.4		—		—			(22.6	)		240.8
Operation and maintenance		100.9		—		—			(1.9	)		99.0
Depreciation and amortization		40.3		—		—			—			40.3
Taxes, other than income taxes		36.7		—		—			—			36.7
Total Gas Utility Operating Expenses		441.3		—		—			(24.5	)		416.8
Gas Marketing and Other		—		14.6		4.5			21.9			41.0
Total Operating Expenses		441.3		14.6		4.5			(2.6	)		457.8
Operating Income (Loss)	$	100.7	$	5.0	$	(1.7	)	$	—		$	104.0
Net Economic Earnings (Loss)	$	59.5	$	3.6	$	(5.2	)	$	—		$	57.9

The Company’s total assets by segment were as follows:

	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
	2018			2018			2017
Total Assets:
Gas Utility	$	5,843.7		$	5,606.7		$	5,611.7
Gas Marketing		416.7			295.3			233.5
Other		2,535.6			2,508.0			2,427.7
Eliminations		(1,563.8	)		(1,566.4	)		(1,571.8	)
Total Assets	$	7,232.2		$	6,843.6		$	6,701.1

The following table reconciles the Company’s net economic earnings to net income.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Net Income	$	67.3		$	116.0
Adjustments, pre-tax:
Unrealized (gain) loss on energy-related derivatives		(2.2	)		0.8
Realized gain on economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity		—			(0.1	)
Acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities		0.4			1.7
Income tax effect of adjustments		0.4			(0.6	)
Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		—			(59.9	)
Net Economic Earnings	$	65.9		$	57.9

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company and the Utilities have entered into contracts with various counterparties, expiring on dates through 2032, for the storage, transportation, and supply of natural gas. Minimum payments required under the contracts in place at December 31, 2018, are estimated at $1,691.8, $731.8, and $248.3 for the Company, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama, respectively. Additional contracts are generally entered into prior to or during the heating season of November through April. The Utilities recover their costs from customers in accordance with their PGA clauses or GSA riders.

Contingencies

The Company and the Utilities account for contingencies, including environmental liabilities, in accordance with accounting standards under the loss contingency guidance of ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

In addition to matters noted below, the Company and the Utilities are involved in other litigation, claims, and investigations arising in the normal course of business. Management, after discussion with counsel, believes the final outcome will not have a material effect on the statements of income, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows of the Company, Spire Missouri, or Spire Alabama. However, there is uncertainty in the valuation of pending claims and prediction of litigation results.

The Company and the Utilities own and operate 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 Utilities’ financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and their interpretations change, the Company or the Utilities may incur additional environmental liabilities that may result in additional costs, which may be material.

In the natural gas industry, many gas distribution companies have incurred environmental liabilities associated with sites they or their predecessor companies formerly owned or operated where manufactured gas operations took place. The Utilities each have former manufactured gas plant (“MGP”) operations in their respective service territories. To the extent costs are incurred associated with environmental remediation activities, the Utilities would request authority from their respective regulators to defer such costs (less any amounts received from insurance proceeds or as contributions from other potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”)) and collect them through future rates.

Spire Missouri

Spire Missouri has identified three former MGP sites in the city of St. Louis, Missouri (the “City”) where costs have been incurred and claims have been asserted. Spire Missouri has enrolled two of the sites in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“MDNR”) Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (“BVCP”). The third site is the result of a relatively new claim assertion by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and such claim is currently being investigated.

In conjunction with redevelopment of one of the sites, Spire Missouri and another former owner of the site entered into an agreement (the “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 MDNR. The Remediation Agreement also provides for a release of Spire Missouri 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 Spire Missouri 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 Spire Missouri did not materially impact the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company.

Spire Missouri has not owned the second site for many years. In a letter dated June 29, 2011, the Attorney General for the State of Missouri informed Spire Missouri that the MDNR had completed an investigation of the site. The Attorney General requested that Spire Missouri participate in the follow up investigations of the site. In a letter dated January 10, 2012, Spire Missouri stated that it would participate in future environmental response activities at the site in conjunction with other PRPs that are willing to contribute to such efforts in a meaningful and equitable fashion. Accordingly, Spire Missouri entered into a cost sharing agreement for remedial investigation with other PRPs. To date, MDNR has not approved the agreement, so remedial investigation has not yet occurred.

Additionally, in correspondence dated November 30, 2016, Region 7 of the EPA has asserted that Spire Missouri is liable under Section 107(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) for alleged coal gas waste contamination at a third site in the northern portion of the City on which Spire Missouri operated a MGP. Spire Missouri has not owned or operated the site for over 70 years. Spire Missouri and the site owner have met with the EPA and reviewed its assertions. Both Spire Missouri and the site owner have notified the EPA that information and data provided by the EPA to date does not rise to the level of documenting a threat to the public health or environment. As such, Spire Missouri requested more information from the EPA, some of which would also be utilized to identify other former owners and operators of the site that could be added as PRPs. To date, Spire Missouri has not received a response from the EPA.

Spire Missouri 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, Spire Missouri retains the right to seek potential reimbursements from them.

On March 10, 2015, Spire Missouri received a Section 104(e) information request under CERCLA from EPA Region 7 regarding the former Thompson Chemical/Superior Solvents site in the City. In turn, Spire Missouri issued a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) request to the EPA on April 3, 2015, in an effort to identify the basis of the inquiry. The FOIA response from the EPA was received on July 15, 2015 and a response was provided to the EPA on August 15, 2015. Spire Missouri has received no further inquiry from the EPA regarding this matter.

In its western service area, Spire Missouri has 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 area, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A North, Kansas City Coal Gas Station A South, and Independence MGP #2. Source removal has been conducted at all of the owned sites since 2003 with the exception of Joplin. On September 15, 2016, a request was made with the MDNR for a restrictive covenant use limitation with respect to Joplin. Remediation efforts at the seven sites are at various stages of completion, ranging from groundwater monitoring and sampling following source removal activities to the aforementioned request in respect to Joplin. As part of its participation in the BVCP, Spire Missouri communicates regularly with the MDNR with respect to its remediation efforts and monitoring activities at these sites. On May 11, 2015, MDNR approved the next phase of investigation at the Kansas City Station A North and Railroad areas.

To date, costs incurred for all Missouri Utilities’ 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 Spire Missouri 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 PRPs to pay, and any insurance recoveries.

In 2013, Spire Missouri retained an outside consultant to conduct probabilistic cost modeling of 19 former MGP sites owned or operated by Spire Missouri. 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. Spire Missouri has recorded its best estimate of the probable expenditures that relate to these matters. The amount is not material.

Spire Missouri and the Company do not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact on their future financial condition or results of operations.

Spire Alabama

On December 17, 2013, an incident occurred at a Housing Authority apartment complex in Birmingham, Alabama that resulted in one fatality, personal injuries and property damage. Spire Alabama cooperated with the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) which investigated the incident. The NTSB report of findings was issued on March 30, 2016 and no safety recommendations, fines, or penalties were contained therein. Spire Alabama has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits arising from the incident, some of which remain pending. Spire Alabama does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from these lawsuits to have a material impact on its future financial condition or results of operations.

Spire Alabama 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. Spire Alabama does not foresee a probable or reasonably estimable loss associated with these sites. Spire Alabama and the Company do not expect potential liabilities that may arise from remediating these sites to have a material impact on their future financial condition or results of operations.

In 2012, Spire Alabama responded to an EPA Request for Information Pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA relating to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site located in North Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Spire Alabama was identified as a PRP under CERCLA for the cleanup of the site or costs the EPA incurs in cleaning up the site. At this point, Spire Alabama has not been provided information that would allow it to determine the extent, if any, of its potential liability with respect to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site and vigorously denies its inclusion as a PRP.

Spire

In addition to those discussed above for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama, Spire is aware of the following contingent matters.

Since April 2012, a total of 14 lawsuits encompassing more than 1,600 plaintiffs have been filed against Spire Gulf in Mobile County Circuit Court alleging that in the first half of 2008, Spire Gulf spilled tert-butyl mercaptan, an odorant added to natural gas for safety reasons, in Eight Mile, Alabama. All of the lawsuits have been substantially settled, with the exception of 13 individuals who rejected their settlement offers and whose claims remain pending. Those remaining claims allege nuisance, fraud and negligence causes of actions and seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A claim has been made against the insurance carriers requesting reimbursement for costs accrued in respect to this spill, and a related receivable has been recorded. The Company does not expect potential liabilities that may arise from these lawsuits to have a material impact on its future financial condition or results of operations.

In February 2018, the Company was made aware of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) by the South Alabama Center for Fair Housing and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The complaint alleges that the Company discriminated against unspecified residents of Eight Mile, Alabama, on the basis of race in violation of the Fair Housing Act by failing to adequately address the odorant release that occurred in 2008. The Company believes there is no basis for the complaint, HUD has no jurisdiction in the matter, and there will be no material impact on its future financial condition or results of operations.

12. INCOME TAXES

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2018, for substantially all of the provisions. The specific provisions related to regulated public utilities in the TCJA generally allow for the continued deductibility of interest expense, the elimination of full expensing for tax purposes of certain property acquired after September 27, 2017, and the continuation of certain rate normalization requirements for accelerated depreciation benefits. The Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) has issued proposed regulations associated with the deductibility of interest expense, but further clarification of certain provisions is expected. Treasury has also issued proposed regulations on bonus depreciation which allow full expensing for certain property acquired in tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018.

As indicated in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Company’s regulated operations accounting for income taxes is impacted by ASC 980, Regulated Operations. Reductions in deferred income tax balances due to the reduction in the corporate income tax rate will result in amounts previously collected from utility customers for these deferred taxes to be refundable to such customers, generally through reductions in future rates. The TCJA includes provisions that stipulate how these excess deferred taxes are to be passed back to customers for certain accelerated tax depreciation benefits. In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the MoPSC Amended Report and Order took effect and the estimated excess accumulated deferred income tax began to be returned to customers in rates. The amount being returned is estimated with a tracker established to defer the difference from the estimated amounts to the actual amounts once the actual amounts have been calculated. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, excess accumulated deferred taxes of $2.1 were returned. The determination of treatment for accumulated deferred income tax balances for Spire Alabama, Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi have yet to be determined by state regulators.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in millions, except per unit and per share amounts)

This section analyzes the financial condition and results of operations of Spire Inc. (“Spire” or the “Company”), Spire Missouri Inc. (“Spire Missouri” or the “Missouri Utilities”), and Spire Alabama Inc. (“Spire Alabama”). Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama, and Spire EnergySouth Inc. (“Spire EnergySouth”) are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth, are collectively referred to as the “Utilities.” The subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth are Spire Gulf Inc. (“Spire Gulf”) and Spire Mississippi Inc. (“Spire Mississippi”). This section includes management’s view of factors that affect the respective businesses of the Company, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama, explanations of financial results including changes in earnings and costs from the prior periods, and the effects of such factors on the Company’s, Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s overall financial condition and liquidity.

Certain matters discussed in this report, excluding historical information, include forward-looking statements. Certain words, such as “may,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” and similar words and expressions identify forward-looking statements that involve uncertainties and risks. Future developments may not be in accordance with our current expectations or beliefs and the effect of future developments may not be those anticipated. Among the factors that may cause results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement are:

•

Weather conditions and catastrophic events, particularly severe weather in the natural gas producing areas of the country;

•

Volatility in gas prices, particularly sudden and sustained changes in natural gas prices, including the related impact on margin deposits associated with the use of natural gas derivative instruments, and the impact on our competitive position in relation to suppliers of alternative heating sources, such as electricity;

•

Changes in gas supply and pipeline availability, including decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut in producing natural gas wells, expiration of existing supply and transportation arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing, as well as other changes that impact supply for and access to the markets in which our subsidiaries transact business;

•

Acquisitions may not achieve their intended results;

•

The Spire STL Pipeline project may be hindered or halted by regulatory, legal, operational or other obstacles;

•

Legislative, regulatory and judicial mandates and decisions, some of which may be retroactive, including those affecting:

▪

allowed rates of return,

▪

incentive regulation,

▪

industry structure,

▪

purchased gas adjustment provisions,

▪

rate design structure and implementation,

▪

regulatory assets,

▪

non-regulated and affiliate transactions,

▪

franchise renewals,

▪

environmental or safety matters, including the potential impact of legislative and regulatory actions related to climate change and pipeline safety,

▪

taxes,

▪

pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and funding obligations, or

▪

accounting standards;

•

The results of litigation;

•

The availability of and access to, in general, funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) operating cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital markets;

•

Retention of, ability to attract, ability to collect from, and conservation efforts of, customers;

•

Our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities any violations of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our obligation;

•

Capital and energy commodity market conditions, including the ability to obtain funds with reasonable terms for necessary capital expenditures and general operations and the terms and conditions imposed for obtaining sufficient gas supply;

•

Discovery of material weakness in internal controls;

•

The disruption, failure or malfunction of our information technology systems including due to cyberattacks; and

•

Employee workforce issues, including but not limited to labor disputes and future wage and employee benefit costs, including changes in discount rates and returns on benefit plan assets.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s Condensed Financial Statements, and the notes thereto.

OVERVIEW

The Company has two reportable segments: Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. Nearly all of Spire’s earnings are derived from its Gas Utility segment, which reflects the regulated activities of the Utilities. The Gas Utility segment consists of the regulated businesses of Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth. Due to the seasonal nature of the Utilities’ business, earnings of Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are typically concentrated during the heating season of November through April each fiscal year.

Gas Utility - Spire Missouri

Spire Missouri is Missouri’s largest natural gas distribution utility and is regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission (“MoPSC”). Spire Missouri serves St. Louis and eastern Missouri through Spire Missouri East and serves Kansas City and western Missouri through Spire Missouri West. Spire Missouri purchases natural gas in the wholesale market from producers and marketers and ships the gas through interstate pipelines into our distribution facilities for sale to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Spire Missouri also transports gas through its distribution system for certain larger customers who buy their own gas on the wholesale market. Spire Missouri delivers natural gas to customers at rates and in accordance with tariffs authorized by the MoPSC. The earnings of Spire Missouri are primarily generated by the sale of heating energy. The rate design for each service territory serves to lessen the impact of weather volatility on its customers during cold winters and stabilize Spire Missouri’s earnings.

Gas Utility - Spire Alabama

Spire Alabama is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the state of Alabama. Spire Alabama’s service territory is located in central and northern Alabama. Among the cities served by Spire Alabama are Birmingham, the center of the largest metropolitan area in the state, and Montgomery, the state capital. Spire Alabama is regulated by the Alabama Public Service Commission (“APSC”). Spire Alabama purchases natural gas through interstate and intrastate suppliers and distributes the purchased gas through its distribution facilities for sale to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and other end-users of natural gas. Spire Alabama also provides transportation services to large industrial and commercial customers located on its distribution system. These transportation customers, using Spire Alabama as their agent or acting on their own, purchase gas directly from marketers or suppliers and arrange for delivery of the gas into the Spire Alabama distribution system. Spire Alabama charges a fee to transport such customer-owned gas through its distribution system to the customers’ facilities.

Gas Utility - Spire EnergySouth

Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi are utilities engaged in the purchase, retail distribution and sale of natural gas to 0.1 million customers in southern Alabama and south-central Mississippi. Spire Gulf is regulated by the APSC and Spire Mississippi is regulated by the Mississippi Public Service Commission (“MSPSC”).

Gas Marketing

Spire Marketing Inc. (“Spire Marketing”) is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and related activities on a non-regulated basis and is reported in the Gas Marketing segment. Spire Marketing markets natural gas across the central and southern United States (“U.S.”). It holds firm transportation and storage contracts in order to effectively manage its transactions with counterparties, which primarily include producers, municipalities, electric and gas utility companies, and large commercial and industrial customers.

Other

Other components of the Company’s consolidated information include:

•

unallocated corporate items, including certain debt and associated interest costs;

•

Spire STL Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Spire constructing and planning the operation of a 65-mile Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”)-regulated pipeline to deliver natural gas into eastern Missouri;

•

Spire Storage, providing physical natural gas storage services; and

•

Spire’s subsidiaries engaged in the operation of a propane pipeline, compression of natural gas, and risk management, among other activities.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

Net income, earnings per share and operating income reported by Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama are determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama also provide the non-GAAP financial measures of net economic earnings, net economic earnings per share and contribution margin. Management and the Board of Directors use non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting, to determine incentive compensation and to evaluate financial performance. These non-GAAP operating metrics should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, the related GAAP measures. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided on the following pages.

Net Economic Earnings and Net Economic Earnings Per Share

Net economic earnings and net economic earnings per share are non-GAAP measures that exclude from net income the impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities, and the largely non-cash impacts of other non-recurring or unusual items such as certain regulatory, legislative or GAAP standard-setting actions. In fiscal 2018, these items included the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities due to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the write-off of certain long-standing assets as a result of disallowances in our Missouri rate proceedings. In addition, net economic earnings per share excludes the impact, in the fiscal year of issuance, of shares issued to finance acquisitions that have yet to be included in net economic earnings.

The fair value and timing adjustments are made in instances where the accounting treatment differs from what management considers the economic substance of the underlying transaction, including the following:

•

Net unrealized gains and losses on energy-related derivatives that are required by GAAP fair value accounting associated with current changes in the fair value of financial and physical transactions prior to their completion and settlement. These unrealized gains and losses result primarily from two sources:

changes in the fair values of physical and/or financial derivatives prior to the period of settlement; and,

ineffective portions of accounting hedges, required to be recorded in earnings prior to settlement, due to differences in commodity price changes between the locations of the forecasted physical purchase or sale transactions and the locations of the underlying hedge instruments;

•

Lower of cost or market adjustments to the carrying value of commodity inventories resulting when the market price of the commodity falls below its original cost, to the extent that those commodities are economically hedged; and

•

Realized gains and losses resulting from the settlement of economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity.

These adjustments eliminate the impact of timing differences and the impact of current changes in the fair value of financial and physical transactions prior to their completion and settlement. Unrealized gains or losses are recorded in each period until being replaced with the actual gains or losses realized when the associated physical transactions occur. Management believes that excluding the earnings volatility caused by recognizing changes in fair value prior to settlement and other timing differences associated with related purchase and sale transactions provides a useful representation of the economic effects of only the actual settled transactions and their effects on results of operations. While management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate both Spire’s Utilities and its other gas-related businesses, the net effect of these fair value and timing adjustments on the Utilities’ earnings is minimal because gains or losses on their natural gas derivative instruments are deferred pursuant to state regulation.

Contribution Margin

In addition to operating revenues and operating expenses, management also uses the non-GAAP measure of contribution margin when evaluating results of operations. Contribution margin is defined as operating revenues less natural and propane gas costs and gross receipts tax expense. The Utilities pass to their customers (subject to prudence review by, as applicable, the MoPSC, APSC, or MSPSC) increases and decreases in the wholesale cost of natural gas in accordance with their Purchased Gas Adjustment (“PGA”) clauses or Gas Supply Adjustment (“GSA”) riders. The volatility of the wholesale natural gas market results in fluctuations from period to period in the recorded levels of, among other items, revenues and natural gas cost expense. Nevertheless, increases and decreases in the cost of gas associated with system gas sales volumes and gross receipts tax expense (which are calculated as a percentage of revenues), with the same amount (excluding immaterial timing differences) included in revenues, have no direct effect on operating income. Therefore, management believes that contribution margin is a useful supplemental measure, along with the remaining operating expenses, for assessing the Company’s and the Utilities’ performance.

EARNINGS – THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018

Spire

Net Income and Net Economic Earnings

The following tables reconcile the Company’s net economic earnings to the most comparable GAAP number, net income.

	Gas Utility		Gas Marketing			Other			Total			Per Diluted Share**
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Net Income (Loss) [GAAP]	$	66.4	$	10.0		$	(9.1	)	$	67.3		$	1.32
Adjustments, pre-tax:
Unrealized gain on energy-related derivatives		—		(2.2	)		—			(2.2	)		(0.04	)
Acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities		—		—			0.4			0.4			0.01
Income tax effect of adjustments*		—		0.5			(0.1	)		0.4			0.01
Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]**	$	66.4	$	8.3		$	(8.8	)	$	65.9		$	1.30

Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
Net Income [GAAP]	$	45.2	$	3.5		$	67.3		$	116.0		$	2.39
Adjustments, pre-tax:
Unrealized loss on energy-related derivatives		—		0.8			—			0.8			0.02
Realized gain on economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity		—		(0.1	)		—			(0.1	)		—
Acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities		—		—			1.7			1.7			0.04
Income tax effect of adjustments*		—		(0.2	)		(0.4	)		(0.6	)		(0.02	)
Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		14.3		(0.4	)		(73.8	)		(59.9	)		(1.24	)
Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]**	$	59.5	$	3.6		$	(5.2	)	$	57.9		$	1.19

*	Income tax effect is calculated by applying federal, state, and local income tax rates applicable to ordinary income to the amounts of the pre-tax reconciling items and then adding any estimated effects of enacted state or local income tax laws for periods before the related effective date.

**	Net economic earnings per share is calculated by replacing consolidated net income with consolidated net economic earnings in the GAAP diluted earnings per share calculation.

Consolidated

Spire’s net income was $67.3 for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared with $116.0 for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2018, were $1.33 and $1.32, respectively, compared with basic and diluted earnings per share of $2.40 and $2.39, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Net income decreased $48.7, due primarily to a $59.9 tax benefit recorded in the prior year quarter, a result of the enactment of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Excluding this impact, net income reflects favorable weather experienced in the current year that benefited both the Gas Utility and Gas Marketing segments, partly offset by rate case impacts and higher operating expenses. Spire’s net economic earnings were $65.9 ($1.30 per diluted share) for the three months ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $8.0 from the $57.9 ($1.19 per diluted share) reported for the same period last year. For the current quarter both net income per share and net economic earnings per share were impacted by 2.3 million shares that were issued in May 2018. The principal drivers of the increase in net economic earnings were consistent with the drivers of net income noted above. These impacts are described in further detail below.

Gas Utility

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net economic earnings for the Gas Utility segment increased $6.9 from the first quarter last year, with growth at both Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. The increase was driven by higher contribution margin due to more favorable weather patterns in the current year quarter, lower effective tax rates due to the implementation of the TCJA, partly offset by the 2018 rate case resets at both Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. The Utilities also experienced $4.0 higher operation and maintenance (“O&M”) expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, combined with higher depreciation expenses resulting from the continued infrastructure investment at all the Utilities. These impacts are discussed in further detail below.

Gas Marketing

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net economic earnings for the Gas Marketing segment increased $4.7 compared with the first quarter last year. For the quarter, the segment benefited from geographic expansion of the business and improved market conditions resulting from favorable weather patterns that led to high daily market volatility and widened basis differentials. This environment contributed to increased trading value, higher transportation activity and higher storage demand versus the prior-year quarter.

Other

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net economic loss for Other increased $3.6 compared with the first quarter last year. Of this increase, $2.6 is attributable to the operating loss associated with Spire Storage, the Company’s other gas-related business acquired in fiscal 2018 (Spire Storage’s operating loss was excluded from NEE in the prior year). The remaining increase in expense is principally due to higher interest rates on short-term debt. These impacts were partly offset by higher Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (“AFUDC”) earnings for Spire STL Pipeline compared to the prior year.

Operating Revenues and Expenses and Contribution Margin

Reconciliations of the Company’s contribution margin to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are shown below.

	Gas Utility			Gas Marketing		Other			Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
Operating Income (Loss) [GAAP]	$	95.6		$	12.5	$	(3.0	)	$	—		$	105.1
Operation and maintenance expenses		104.9			2.6		7.4			(2.7	)		112.2
Depreciation and amortization		43.7			—		0.5			—			44.2
Taxes, other than income taxes		39.2			0.2		0.4			—			39.8
Less: Gross receipts tax expense		(25.9	)		—		—			—			(25.9	)
Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]		257.5			15.3		5.3			(2.7	)		275.4
Natural and propane gas costs		291.8			10.5		0.1			(1.7	)		300.7
Gross receipts tax expense		25.9			—		—			—			25.9
Operating Revenues	$	575.2		$	25.8	$	5.4		$	(4.4	)	$	602.0

Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
Operating Income (Loss) [GAAP]	$	100.7		$	5.0	$	(1.7	)	$	—		$	104.0
Operation and maintenance expenses		100.9			1.6		4.3			(2.3	)		104.5
Depreciation and amortization		40.3			—		0.1			—			40.4
Taxes, other than income taxes		36.7			—		—			—			36.7
Less: Gross receipts tax expense		(23.1	)		—		—			—			(23.1	)
Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]		255.5			6.6		2.7			(2.3	)		262.5
Natural and propane gas costs		263.4			13.0		0.1			(0.3	)		276.2
Gross receipts tax expense		23.1			—		—			—			23.1
Operating Revenues	$	542.0		$	19.6	$	2.8		$	(2.6	)	$	561.8

Consolidated

As shown in the table above, Spire reported an operating revenue increase 0f $40.2 for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared with the same period last year, with the Gas Utility segment being the primary driver. Spire’s contribution margin increased $12.9 compared with last year, due to increases in the Gas Marketing segment of $8.7, and a $2.6 and $2.0 increase in Other and the Gas Utility segment, respectively, before intersegment eliminations. Depreciation and amortization expenses were up in the Gas Utility segment, reflecting the higher overall capital investments across all utilities. Gas Utility O&M expenses in the quarter were $4.0 higher than the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. These fluctuations are described in more detail below.

Gas Utility

Operating Revenues – Gas Utility operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018, were $575.2, or $33.2 higher than the same period last year. The increase in Gas Utility operating revenues was attributable to the following factors:

Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage	$	27.3
Missouri Utilities – 2018 rate case resets		7.9
Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Higher PGA/GSA gas cost recoveries		5.3
Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Higher gross receipts taxes		3.0
Missouri Utilities – Off-system sales and capacity release		2.5
Missouri Utilities – Customer growth		1.5
Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Rate case TCJA customer giveback		(14.0	)
All other factors		(0.3	)
Total Variation	$	33.2

As noted, $27.3 of the increase was attributable to higher volumetric usage, which was a function of colder weather patterns experienced across most of the Utilities’ service areas in the current quarter. Across our Utilities’ territories, temperatures were 10% colder than normal this quarter versus essentially normal temperatures in the comparable prior-year period, reflecting unseasonably cold temperatures in the months of October and November in the current year. Also contributing to the operating revenue increase was $7.9 attributable to rate increases and rate design changes at Missouri Utilities, the result of the 2018 rate case resets. Further, $5.3 of the operating revenue increase was the result of the higher gas cost recoveries at both Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. Increases in Spire Missouri off-system sales, gross receipts taxes, and customer growth also contributed to the revenue increase. These positive impacts were partly offset by a combined $14.0 revenue reduction for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama due to lower customer rates resulting from the implementation of the TCJA. This TCJA reduction in revenues (and margin) is offset by lower income tax expense, resulting in minimal impact on net income.

Contribution Margin – Gas Utility contribution margin was $257.5 for the three months ended December 31, 2018, a $2.0 increase over the same period last year. The increase was attributable to the following factors:

Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage	$	6.1
Missouri Utilities – 2018 rate case resets		7.9
Missouri Utilities – Customer growth		1.5
Missouri Utilities – Off-system sales and capacity release		1.1
Missouri Utilities and Spire Alabama – Rate case TCJA customer giveback		(14.0	)
All other factors		(0.6	)
Total Variation	$	2.0

The increase in contribution margin was primarily attributable to favorable weather patterns in the current year, which increased contribution margin from volumetric usage by $6.1. The Missouri Utilities experienced colder weather this quarter with temperatures 10% colder than normal versus 3% warmer than normal in the prior- year quarter. In the Spire Alabama territory, temperatures were 38% colder than normal this year versus being 3% colder than normal in the prior year. The 2018 Missouri rate cases resulted in rate increases and rate design changes that contributed $7.9 to contribution growth. Spire Missouri customer growth and off-systems sales increases contributed $1.5 and $1.1, respectively, to the current year contribution increase. Offsetting these positive impacts was the tax reform rate adjustment totaling $14.0 between Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. As noted above, the TCJA reduction in contribution margin is offset by lower income tax expense, resulting in minimal impact to net income.

Operating Expenses – O&M expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018, were $4.0 higher than the same period in the prior year, $3.0 at the Missouri Utilities, $1.6 at Spire Alabama, offset slightly by a modest decrease at the utilities of Spire EnergySouth. The increases were primarily the result of an increase in benefit expenses resulting from Spire Missouri’s latest rate case and higher employee-related expenses, partly offset by lower professional services. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased $3.4 from last year, the result of higher levels of capital expenditures across all Utilities.

Gas Marketing

Operating Revenues – Operating revenues increased $6.2 versus the prior-year period resulting from higher volumetric gas sales, higher transport activity and higher general pricing. Average pricing for the three months ended December 31, 2018, was approximately $3.495/MMBtu versus approximately $2.742/MMBtu for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Contribution Margin – Gas Marketing contribution margin during the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased $8.7 from the same period last year, largely reflecting a $3.0 increase of mark-to-market unrealized gains on gas contracts, geographic expansion of the business, and improved market conditions that contributed to increased value from regional basis differentials, transportation activity, and storage optimization versus the prior-year quarter.

Interest Charges

Consolidated interest charges during the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased by $1.5 from the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by Spire Alabama’s issuance of $75.0 of long-term debt, delivered in two tranches, one on December 1, 2017 and one on January 12, 2018. In addition, Spire Missouri entered into a $100.0 floating-rate term loan on December 3, 2018. Higher rates and higher levels of short-term borrowings also contributed to the increase in expense. For the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, average short-term borrowings were $622.9 and $545.8, respectively, and the average interest rates on these borrowings were 2.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Partly offsetting these increases was an increase in the non-cash AFUDC earnings for Spire STL Pipeline compared to the prior year.

Income Taxes

Consolidated income tax expense during the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased $47.8, primarily due to the TCJA enacted in December 2017, which resulted in a $59.9 tax benefit being recorded in the prior year.

Spire Missouri

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Operating Income [GAAP]	$	71.4		$	75.0
Operation and maintenance expenses		63.1			60.1
Depreciation and amortization		27.2			24.8
Taxes, other than income taxes		28.1			26.2
Less: Gross receipts tax expense		(18.5	)		(16.2	)
Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]		171.3			169.9
Natural and propane gas costs		223.4			206.2
Gross receipts tax expense		18.5			16.2
Operating Revenues	$	413.2		$	392.3
Net Income	$	51.2		$	89.4

Operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased $20.9 from the same period last year primarily due to $15.8 in volumetric usage impacts resulting from favorable weather patterns, a $7.9 increase attributable to rate increases and rate design changes resulting from the 2018 rate case resets, $3.3 higher gas cost recoveries, a $2.5 increase in off-system sales, a $2.3 increase in gross receipts taxes, and a $1.5 increase attributable to customer growth. These positive impacts were only partly offset by a $12.5 decrease resulting from the TCJA tax reform customer giveback included in the 2018 rate case reset. Contribution margin for the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased $1.4 from the same period last year, largely due to $7.9 from the rate increases and rate design changes mentioned above, favorable volumetric usage impacts of $3.1, a $1.5 increase attributable to customer growth, and higher off-system sales of $1.1. These positive impacts were only partly offset by the $12.5 decrease resulting from the TCJA giveback included in 2018 rate case resets. As previously noted, the TCJA margin impact is offset by lower income tax expense due to the lower TCJA tax rates, resulting in minimal impact on net income.

O&M expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased $3.0, driven primarily by an increase in benefit expense resulting from the 2018 rate case. Depreciation and amortization increased $2.4 in the current quarter versus the prior-year quarter due to higher capital investments.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, net income decreased $38.2 versus the prior year quarter, which was primarily the result of a $43.9 tax benefit being recorded in the prior-year quarter because of the TCJA.

Degree days in Spire Missouri’s service areas during the three months ended December 31, 2018, were 10% colder than normal and 14% colder than the same period last year, resulting in higher usage on a year-over-year comparative basis. The Missouri Utilities’ total system therms sold and transported were 589.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared with 526.4 million for the same period last year. Total off-system therms sold and transported were 23.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared with 30.6 million for the same period last year, as a 12% increase in current-year system demand reduced therm availability for off-system sales.

Spire Alabama

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Operating Income [GAAP]	$	17.1		$	18.0
Operation and maintenance expenses		34.4			32.8
Depreciation and amortization		13.6			12.8
Taxes, other than income taxes		8.9			8.2
Less: Gross receipts tax expense		(6.3	)		(5.6	)
Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]		67.7			66.2
Natural and propane gas costs		59.5			49.0
Gross receipts tax expense		6.3			5.6
Operating Revenues	$	133.5		$	120.8
Net Income (Loss)	$	10.3		$	(49.6	)

Operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018, increased $12.7 from the same period last year. The change in operating revenue was driven principally by higher current year volumetric usage impacts of $11.5, a $2.0 increase in gas cost recoveries versus the prior year, combined with slightly higher gross receipt taxes. These positive impacts were only partly offset by the TCJA tax reform giveback of $1.5. Contribution margin increased $1.5, primarily due to the volumetric usage impacts of $3.0, partly offset by the TCJA tax reform giveback impact of $1.5. As stated previously, the negative margin impact of the tax reform giveback is offset by lower income tax expense, resulting in minimal impact on net income.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018, were $0.8 higher than the same period last year, the result of continued infrastructure investment. O&M expenses were $1.6 higher, primarily due to higher employee-related costs and bad debt expense, both related to the colder weather experienced in the current year quarter.

Net income in the current year quarter increased $59.9 versus the same period in the prior year, primarily the result of recording a $59.2 tax expense in the prior year to reflect the effect of implementing the TCJA.

As measured in degree days, temperatures in Spire Alabama’s service area during the three months ended December 31, 2018 were 38% colder than normal and 39% colder than a year ago. Spire Alabama’s total system therms sold and transported were 288.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared with 237.5 million for the same period last year.

REGULATORY MATTERS

For discussions of regulatory matters for Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama, see Note 4, Regulatory Matters, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and capital resources are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements are described in Item 7 of the Company’s, Spire Missouri’s, and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, and include regulatory accounting, employee benefits and postretirement obligations, and income taxes. There were no significant changes to critical accounting estimates during the three months ended December 31, 2018.

For discussion of other significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q as well as Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements included in the Company’s, Spire Missouri’s, and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have evaluated or are in the process of evaluating the impact that recently issued accounting standards will have on the companies’ financial position or results of operations upon adoption. For disclosures related to the adoption of new accounting standards, see the New Accounting Pronouncements section in Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

CASH FLOWS

The Company’s short-term borrowing requirements typically peak during colder months when the Utilities borrow money to cover the lag between when they purchase natural gas and when their customers pay for that gas. Changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas (including cash payments for margin deposits associated with Spire Missouri’s use of natural gas derivative instruments), variations in the timing of collections of gas cost under the Utilities’ PGA clauses and GSA riders, the seasonality of accounts receivable balances, and the utilization of storage gas inventories cause short-term cash requirements to vary during the year and from year to year, and may cause significant variations in the Company’s cash provided by or used in operating activities.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
Cash Flow Summary	2018			2017
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	70.4		$	17.9
Net cash used in investing activities		(216.2	)		(126.7	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		132.8			108.1

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net cash provided by operating activities increased $52.5 from the corresponding period of fiscal 2017. The change was due principally to the timing of accounts payable and fluctuations in working capital items, as discussed above.

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net cash used in investing activities was $89.5 more than for the same period in the prior year, driven by a $96.0 increase in capital expenditures, partly offset by lower acquisition activity. The higher capital spending in the current year quarter is consistent with the Company’s capital expenditure expectations and reflects infrastructure upgrades at the Utilities, support of customer growth, new business development initiatives, as well as development of Spire STL Pipeline and Spire Storage. Total capital expenditures for the full fiscal year 2019 are expected to be approximately $650.

Lastly, for the three months ended December 31, 2018, net cash provided by financing activities was $24.7 higher than for the three months ended December 31, 2017. This change primarily reflects issuance of long-term debt of $100.0 this year versus $30.0 in the prior year, partly offset by $33.8 lower short-term borrowings in the current year quarter, along with an increase in dividends paid.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s, Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s access to capital markets, including the commercial paper market, and their respective financing costs, may depend on the credit rating of the entity that is accessing the capital markets. Our debt is rated by two rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”). As of December 31, 2018, the debt ratings of the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama, shown in the following table, remain at investment grade with a stable outlook.

	S&P	Moody’s
Spire Inc. senior unsecured long-term debt	BBB+	Baa2
Spire Inc. short-term debt	A-2	P-2
Spire Missouri senior secured long-term debt	A	A1
Spire Alabama senior unsecured long-term debt	A-	A2

It is management’s view that the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have adequate access to capital markets and will have sufficient capital resources, both internal and external, to meet anticipated capital requirements, which primarily include capital expenditures, interest payments on long-term debt, scheduled maturities of long-term debt, short-term seasonal needs and dividends.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Bank deposits were used to support working capital needs of the business. Spire had no temporary cash investments as of or during the three months ended December 31, 2018.

Short-term Debt

The Utilities’ short-term borrowing requirements typically peak during the colder months, while most of the Company’s other needs are less seasonal. These short-term cash requirements can be met through the sale of commercial paper or through the use of a revolving credit facility. For information about these resources, see Note 5, Financing Arrangements and Long-term Debt, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

Long-term Debt and Equity

At December 31, 2018, including the current portion but excluding unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs, Spire had long-term debt totaling $2,182.0, of which $980.0 was issued by Spire Missouri, $325.0 was issued by Spire Alabama, and $62.0 was issued by other subsidiaries. For more information about long-term debt, see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

Spire Missouri is authorized by the MoPSC to issue registered securities (first mortgage bonds, unsecured debt and preferred stock), issue common stock, and issue private placement debt in an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 for financings placed any time before September 30, 2021.

Spire has a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the issuance and sale of up to 250,000 shares of common stock under its Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan. There were 216,045 and 211,810 shares at December 31, 2018 and February 4, 2019, respectively, remaining available for issuance under this Form S-3. Spire and Spire Missouri also have a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the SEC for the issuance of various equity and debt securities, which expires on September 23, 2019.

Including the current portion of long-term debt, and treating the redeemable noncontrolling interest as equity, the Company’s long-term consolidated capitalization at December 31, 2018 consisted of 51.3% equity, compared to 52.2% equity at September 30, 2018.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

During the three months ended December 31, 2018, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to the estimated contractual obligations from the disclosure provided in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

MARKET RISK

There were no material changes in the Company’s commodity price risk or counterparty credit risk as of December 31, 2018, relative to the corresponding information provided in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of September 30, 2018. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, Spire entered into a ten-year interest rate swap with a fixed interest rate of 2.658% and a notional amount of $60.0 to protect itself against adverse movements in interest rates on future interest rate payments. The Company recorded a $0.4 mark-to-market gain on this swap for the three months ended December 31, 2018. In August 2018, Spire entered into a three-year interest rate swap with a fixed interest rate of 2.7675% and a notional amount of $100.0 to protect itself against adverse movements in interest rates on future variable interest rate payments. The Company recorded a $1.0 mark-to-market loss on this swap as part of other comprehensive income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company entered into a three-year interest rate swap with a fixed interest rate of 3.250% and a notional amount of $100.0 to protect itself against adverse movements in interest rates on future interest rate payments. The Company recorded a $6.9 mark-to-market loss on this swap for the three months ended December 31, 2018.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

The Utilities and other Spire subsidiaries own and operate natural gas distribution, transmission and storage facilities, the operations of which are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, along with their interpretations. While environmental issues resulting from such operations arise in the ordinary course of business, such issues have not materially affected the Company’s, Spire Missouri’s, or Spire Alabama’s financial position and results of operations. As environmental laws, regulations, and interpretations change, however, the Company and the Utilities may be required to incur additional costs. For information relative to environmental matters, see Contingencies in Note 11 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

At December 31, 2018, the Company had no off-balance-sheet financing arrangements other than operating leases, surety bonds, and letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not expect to engage in any significant off-balance-sheet financing arrangements in the near future.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For this discussion, see Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Market Risk.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Spire

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Spire Missouri

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Spire Alabama

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For a description of legal proceedings, environmental matters and regulatory matters, see Note 11, Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 4, Regulatory Matters, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I.

The registrants are involved in litigation, claims and investigations arising in the normal course of business. Management, after discussion with counsel, believes that the final outcomes of these matters will not have a material effect on any registrant’s financial position or results of operations reflected in the financial statements presented herein.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The only repurchases of Spire’s common stock in the quarter were pursuant to elections by employees to have shares of stock withheld to cover employee tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of performance-based and time-vested restricted stock and stock units. The following table provides information on those repurchases.

Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased		(b) Average Price Paid Per Share	(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		(d) Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1, 2018 - October 31, 2018		200	$73.63		—		—
November 1, 2018 - November 30, 2018		—	$—		—		—
December 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018	27,433		$79.14		—		—
Total	27,633		$79.10		—		—

Spire Missouri’s outstanding first mortgage bonds contain restrictions on its ability to pay cash dividends on its common stock. As of December 31, 2018, all of Spire Missouri’s retained earnings were free from such restrictions.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
31.1		CEO and CFO Certifications under Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) of Spire Inc.
31.2		CEO and CFO Certifications under Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) of Spire Missouri Inc.
31.3		CEO and CFO Certifications under Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) of Spire Alabama Inc.
32.1		CEO and CFO Section 1350 Certifications of Spire Inc.
32.2		CEO and CFO Section 1350 Certifications of Spire Missouri Inc.
32.3		CEO and CFO Section 1350 Certifications of Spire Alabama Inc.
101.INS^(x)		XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH^(x)		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL^(x)		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.
101.DEF^(x)		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.
101.LAB^(x)		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.
101.PRE^(x)		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

^(x)

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report are the following documents for each registrant formatted in extensible business reporting language (XBRL): (i) Document and Entity Information; (ii) unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Statements of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017; (iii) unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017; (iv) unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and Condensed Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017; (v) unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Condensed Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017; (vi) unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and (vii) combined unaudited Notes to Financial Statements. We also make available on our website the Interactive Data Files submitted as Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		Spire Inc.

Date:	February 6, 2019	By:	/s/ Steven P. Rasche
			Steven P. Rasche
			Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
			(Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial Officer)

		Spire Missouri Inc.

Date:	February 6, 2019	By:	/s/ Steven P. Rasche
			Steven P. Rasche
			Chief Financial Officer
			(Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial Officer)

		Spire Alabama Inc.

Date:	February 6, 2019	By:	/s/ Steven P. Rasche
			Steven P. Rasche
			Chief Financial Officer
			(Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial Officer)