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SPIRE INC - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022

 

or

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.

605 Richard Arrington Blvd N

Birmingham, AL 35203

205-326-8100

 

Alabama

 

63-0022000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (only applicable for Spire Inc.):

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock $1.00 par value

 

SR

 

New York Stock Exchange LLC

 

 

 

 

 

Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.90% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $25.00 per share

 

SR.PRA

 

New York Stock Exchange LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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

 

No

Spire Missouri Inc.

 

Yes

 

No

Spire Alabama Inc.

 

Yes

 

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

 

No

Spire Missouri Inc.

 

Yes

 

No

Spire Alabama Inc.

 

Yes

 

No

 

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 each 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

Spire Missouri Inc.

 

Yes

 

No

Spire Alabama Inc.

 

Yes

 

No

 

The number of shares outstanding of each registrant’s common stock as of May 1, 2022, was as follows:

Spire Inc.

 

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

 

52,121,977

 

Spire Missouri Inc.

 

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (all owned by Spire Inc.)

 

24,929

 

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

10

 

Spire Missouri Inc.

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income

11

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

12

 

 

Condensed Statements of Shareholder’s Equity

14

 

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

15

 

Spire Alabama Inc.

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Income

16

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

17

 

 

Condensed Statements of Shareholder’s Equity

19

 

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

20

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

21

 

 

Note 2. Revenue

24

 

 

Note 3. Earnings Per Common Share

25

 

 

Note 4. Regulatory Matters

26

 

 

Note 5. Financing

31

 

 

Note 6. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

33

 

 

Note 7. Fair Value Measurements

34

 

 

Note 8. Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

37

 

 

Note 9. Information by Operating Segment

40

 

 

Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

42

Item 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

45

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

63

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

63

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1

Legal Proceedings

64

Item 1A

Risk Factors

64

Item 2

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

64

Item 3

Defaults upon Senior Securities

64

Item 4

Mine Safety Disclosures

64

Item 5

Other Information

64

Item 6

Exhibits

65

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

66

 

1


 

 

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

 

APSC

Alabama Public Service Commission

 

PGA

Purchased Gas Adjustment

ASC

Accounting Standards Codification

 

RSE

Rate Stabilization and Equalization

Company

Spire and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise

 

SEC

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

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

Spire Inc.

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board

 

Spire Alabama

Spire Alabama Inc.

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

 

Spire EnergySouth

Spire EnergySouth Inc., the parent of Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi

GAAP

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

 

Spire Gulf

Spire Gulf Inc.

Gas Marketing

Segment including Spire Marketing, which provides natural gas marketing services

 

Spire Marketing

Spire Marketing Inc.

Gas Utility

Segment including the operations of the Utilities

 

Spire Mississippi

Spire Mississippi Inc.

GSA

Gas Supply Adjustment

 

Spire Missouri

Spire Missouri Inc.

ISRS

Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge

 

Spire STL Pipeline

Spire STL Pipeline LLC, or the 65-mile FERC-regulated pipeline it constructed and operates to deliver natural gas into eastern Missouri

MoPSC

Missouri Public Service Commission

 

Spire Storage

The physical natural gas storage operations of Spire Storage West LLC

MSPSC

Mississippi Public Service Commission

 

U.S.

United States

O&M

Operation and maintenance expense

 

Utilities

Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2


 

 

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”) and Spire Alabama Inc. (“Spire Alabama”) — without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States 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, 2021.

The Financial Information in this Part I includes separate financial statements (i.e., statements of income and comprehensive income, balance sheets, 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.

3


 

Item 1. Financial Statements

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

880.9

 

 

$

1,104.9

 

 

$

1,436.3

 

 

$

1,617.5

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

392.0

 

 

 

619.1

 

 

 

641.2

 

 

 

800.3

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

113.2

 

 

 

119.0

 

 

 

229.6

 

 

 

230.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58.9

 

 

 

51.5

 

 

 

115.8

 

 

 

102.3

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

71.6

 

 

 

57.9

 

 

 

109.2

 

 

 

94.0

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

635.7

 

 

 

847.5

 

 

 

1,095.8

 

 

 

1,227.2

 

Operating Income

 

 

245.2

 

 

 

257.4

 

 

 

340.5

 

 

 

390.3

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

 

27.5

 

 

 

25.8

 

 

 

56.1

 

 

 

51.5

 

Other (Expense) Income, Net

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

6.1

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

 

214.3

 

 

 

233.4

 

 

 

288.4

 

 

 

344.9

 

Income Tax Expense

 

 

40.7

 

 

 

46.0

 

 

 

59.1

 

 

 

68.6

 

Net Income

 

 

173.6

 

 

 

187.4

 

 

 

229.3

 

 

 

276.3

 

Provision for preferred dividends

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

7.4

 

 

 

7.4

 

Income allocated to participating securities

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

Net Income Available to Common Shareholders

 

$

169.7

 

 

$

183.4

 

 

$

221.6

 

 

$

268.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

51.8

 

 

 

51.6

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.6

 

Diluted

 

 

51.9

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.8

 

 

 

51.7

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

 

$

3.27

 

 

$

3.56

 

 

$

4.28

 

 

$

5.21

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

 

$

3.27

 

 

$

3.55

 

 

$

4.28

 

 

$

5.20

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

4


 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net Income

 

$

173.6

 

 

$

187.4

 

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

276.3

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedging derivative instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net hedging gain arising during the period

 

 

18.7

 

 

 

43.5

 

 

 

13.9

 

 

 

60.7

 

Amounts reclassified into net income

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

(0.7

)

Net gain on cash flow hedging derivative instruments

 

 

18.3

 

 

 

43.1

 

 

 

13.2

 

 

 

60.0

 

Net gain on defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

Net unrealized loss on available for sale securities

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.1

)

Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax

 

 

18.3

 

 

 

43.2

 

 

 

13.2

 

 

 

60.1

 

Income Tax Expense Related to Items of Other Comprehensive Income

 

 

4.3

 

 

 

9.8

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

 

13.6

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

 

14.0

 

 

 

33.4

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

46.5

 

Comprehensive Income

 

$

187.6

 

 

$

220.8

 

 

$

239.4

 

 

$

322.8

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

5


 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility Plant

 

$

7,443.7

 

 

$

7,225.0

 

 

$

6,974.3

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,241.9

 

 

 

2,169.3

 

 

 

2,145.1

 

Net Utility Plant

 

 

5,201.8

 

 

 

5,055.7

 

 

 

4,829.2

 

Non-utility Property (net of accumulated depreciation and

   amortization of $41.3, $32.1 and $25.4 at March 31, 2022,

   September 30, 2021, and March 31, 2021, respectively)

 

 

475.8

 

 

 

471.1

 

 

 

457.0

 

Other Investments

 

 

89.0

 

 

 

83.1

 

 

 

76.4

 

Total Other Property and Investments

 

 

564.8

 

 

 

554.2

 

 

 

533.4

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

8.3

 

 

 

4.3

 

 

 

104.0

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

 

389.2

 

 

 

338.4

 

 

 

447.7

 

Other

 

 

245.4

 

 

 

288.2

 

 

 

182.3

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(35.1

)

 

 

(30.3

)

 

 

(34.4

)

Delayed customer billings

 

 

54.7

 

 

 

9.2

 

 

 

20.7

 

Inventories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

125.0

 

 

 

267.7

 

 

 

143.0

 

Propane gas

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

8.7

 

 

 

8.7

 

Materials and supplies

 

 

34.7

 

 

 

28.6

 

 

 

28.3

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

164.0

 

 

 

306.5

 

 

 

60.4

 

Prepayments

 

 

26.6

 

 

 

29.0

 

 

 

29.4

 

Other

 

 

67.9

 

 

 

66.2

 

 

 

49.9

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

1,089.3

 

 

 

1,316.5

 

 

 

1,040.0

 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,171.6

 

 

 

1,171.6

 

 

 

1,171.6

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

1,106.8

 

 

 

993.5

 

 

 

1,133.6

 

Other

 

 

267.0

 

 

 

264.9

 

 

 

229.0

 

Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets

 

 

2,545.4

 

 

 

2,430.0

 

 

 

2,534.2

 

Total Assets

 

$

9,401.3

 

 

$

9,356.4

 

 

$

8,936.8

 

 

 

6


 

 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock ($25.00 par value per share; 10.0 million depositary shares authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022, September 30, 2021, and March 31, 2021)

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

242.0

 

Common stock (par value $1.00 per share; 70.0 million shares authorized; 52.1 million shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022, 51.7 million shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively)

 

 

52.1

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.7

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

1,541.1

 

 

 

1,517.9

 

 

 

1,512.2

 

Retained earnings

 

 

992.3

 

 

 

843.0

 

 

 

920.1

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

13.7

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

5.3

 

Total Shareholders' Equity

 

 

2,841.2

 

 

 

2,658.2

 

 

 

2,731.3

 

Temporary equity

 

 

11.8

 

 

 

9.8

 

 

 

8.2

 

Long-term debt (less current portion)

 

 

3,207.3

 

 

 

2,939.1

 

 

 

2,692.5

 

Total Capitalization

 

 

6,060.3

 

 

 

5,607.1

 

 

 

5,432.0

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

31.2

 

 

 

55.8

 

 

 

110.8

 

Notes payable

 

 

607.1

 

 

 

672.0

 

 

 

653.5

 

Accounts payable

 

 

367.5

 

 

 

409.9

 

 

 

352.1

 

Advance customer billings

 

 

6.3

 

 

 

32.1

 

 

 

11.4

 

Wages and compensation accrued

 

 

39.3

 

 

 

59.5

 

 

 

43.5

 

Customer deposits

 

 

29.4

 

 

 

28.9

 

 

 

29.9

 

Taxes accrued

 

 

67.4

 

 

 

78.8

 

 

 

60.0

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

34.6

 

 

 

56.3

 

Other

 

 

244.4

 

 

 

236.7

 

 

 

190.0

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

1,395.8

 

 

 

1,608.3

 

 

 

1,507.5

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

666.5

 

 

 

612.3

 

 

 

602.8

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

199.2

 

 

 

235.9

 

 

 

274.4

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

530.1

 

 

 

519.6

 

 

 

551.0

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

400.4

 

 

 

620.9

 

 

 

423.5

 

Other

 

 

149.0

 

 

 

152.3

 

 

 

145.6

 

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

 

 

1,945.2

 

 

 

2,141.0

 

 

 

1,997.3

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

 

$

9,401.3

 

 

$

9,356.4

 

 

$

8,936.8

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

7


 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Preferred

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

Shares

 

 

Par

 

 

Stock

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

AOCI*

 

 

Total

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

51,742,481

 

 

$

51.7

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,516.9

 

 

$

859.5

 

 

$

(0.3

)

 

$

2,669.8

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

173.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

173.6

 

Common stock issued

 

 

354,000

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.1

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

7,036

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

Stock-based compensation costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Stock issued under stock-based

   compensation plans

 

 

13,452

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees’ tax withholding for

   stock-based compensation

 

 

(302

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary equity adjustment

   to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.3

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1.3

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($0.685 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(35.8

)

 

 

 

 

 

(35.8

)

Preferred stock ($0.36875 per

   depositary share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3.7

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.0

 

 

 

14.0

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

52,116,667

 

 

$

52.1

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,541.1

 

 

$

992.3

 

 

$

13.7

 

 

$

2,841.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

 

51,684,883

 

 

$

51.7

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,517.9

 

 

$

843.0

 

 

$

3.6

 

 

$

2,658.2

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

229.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

229.3

 

Common stock issued

 

 

354,000

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.1

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

13,269

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.8

 

Stock-based compensation costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.4

 

Stock issued under stock-based

   compensation plans

 

 

91,428

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees’ tax withholding for

   stock-based compensation

 

 

(26,913

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.7

)

Temporary equity adjustment

   to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1.2

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($1.37 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(71.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(71.4

)

Preferred stock ($0.7375 per

   depositary share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(7.4

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

10.1

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

52,116,667

 

 

$

52.1

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,541.1

 

 

$

992.3

 

 

$

13.7

 

 

$

2,841.2

 

 

8


 

 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Preferred

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Par

 

 

Stock

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

AOCI*

 

 

Total

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

51,659,473

 

 

$

51.7

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,550.0

 

 

$

771.2

 

 

$

(28.1

)

 

$

2,586.8

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

187.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

187.4

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

5,847

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Stock-based compensation costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.0

 

Stock issued under stock-based

   compensation plans

 

 

9,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees’ tax withholding for

   stock-based compensation

 

 

(313

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity units issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40.1

)

Temporary equity adjustment

   to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1.2

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($0.65 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(33.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

(33.6

)

Preferred stock ($0.36875 per

   depositary share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3.7

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33.4

 

 

 

33.4

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

51,674,256

 

 

$

51.7

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,512.2

 

 

$

920.1

 

 

$

5.3

 

 

$

2,731.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 

 

51,611,789

 

 

$

51.6

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,549.2

 

 

$

720.7

 

 

$

(41.2

)

 

$

2,522.3

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

276.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

276.3

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

12,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.7

 

Stock-based compensation costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

 

Stock issued under stock-based

   compensation plans

 

 

64,410

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employees’ tax withholding for

   stock-based compensation

 

 

(14,488

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.9

)

Equity units issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40.1

)

Temporary equity adjustment

   to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2.1

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($1.30 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(67.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(67.4

)

Preferred stock ($0.7375 per

   depository share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(7.4

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46.5

 

 

 

46.5

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

51,674,256

 

 

$

51.7

 

 

$

242.0

 

 

$

1,512.2

 

 

$

920.1

 

 

$

5.3

 

 

$

2,731.3

 

 

 

* Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

9


 

SPIRE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

276.3

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

115.8

 

 

 

102.3

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

 

 

59.1

 

 

 

68.5

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

(342.3

)

Inventories

 

 

136.9

 

 

 

14.0

 

Regulatory assets and liabilities

 

 

(230.5

)

 

 

(6.7

)

Accounts payable

 

 

(21.1

)

 

 

141.3

 

Delayed/advance customer billings, net

 

 

(71.4

)

 

 

(44.6

)

Taxes accrued

 

 

(11.2

)

 

 

(11.1

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

(51.4

)

 

 

(44.3

)

Other

 

 

3.0

 

 

 

5.8

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

155.1

 

 

 

159.2

 

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(275.9

)

 

 

(303.5

)

Other

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

(0.8

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(273.2

)

 

 

(304.3

)

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

 

300.0

 

 

 

325.0

 

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

(55.8

)

 

 

(5.4

)

(Repayment) issuance of short-term debt, net

 

 

(64.9

)

 

 

5.5

 

Issuance of common stock

 

 

24.0

 

 

 

0.7

 

Dividends paid on common stock

 

 

(70.1

)

 

 

(65.9

)

Dividends paid on preferred stock

 

 

(7.4

)

 

 

(7.4

)

Other

 

 

(3.8

)

 

 

(7.5

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

122.0

 

 

 

245.0

 

Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

 

 

3.9

 

 

 

99.9

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period

 

 

11.3

 

 

 

4.1

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period

 

$

15.2

 

 

$

104.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

 

$

(56.5

)

 

$

(48.5

)

Income taxes

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(1.1

)

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

10


 

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

571.2

 

 

$

790.9

 

 

$

919.1

 

 

$

1,146.4

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

287.8

 

 

 

537.4

 

 

 

444.1

 

 

 

699.0

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

64.3

 

 

 

62.8

 

 

 

130.6

 

 

 

125.7

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

35.9

 

 

 

31.0

 

 

 

70.1

 

 

 

61.4

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

53.0

 

 

 

38.9

 

 

 

78.7

 

 

 

64.0

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

441.0

 

 

 

670.1

 

 

 

723.5

 

 

 

950.1

 

Operating Income

 

 

130.2

 

 

 

120.8

 

 

 

195.6

 

 

 

196.3

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

 

14.2

 

 

 

11.7

 

 

 

28.7

 

 

 

23.4

 

Other (Expense) Income, Net

 

 

(2.4

)

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

3.5

 

 

 

3.5

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

 

113.6

 

 

 

109.9

 

 

 

170.4

 

 

 

176.4

 

Income Tax Expense

 

 

15.4

 

 

 

16.8

 

 

 

26.9

 

 

 

26.7

 

Net Income

 

 

98.2

 

 

 

93.1

 

 

 

143.5

 

 

 

149.7

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

Comprehensive Income

 

$

98.3

 

 

$

93.2

 

 

$

143.7

 

 

$

149.9

 

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

11


 

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility Plant

 

$

4,416.9

 

 

$

4,266.6

 

 

$

4,089.1

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

949.2

 

 

 

905.1

 

 

 

869.9

 

Net Utility Plant

 

 

3,467.7

 

 

 

3,361.5

 

 

 

3,219.2

 

Other Property and Investments

 

 

66.9

 

 

 

60.2

 

 

 

59.4

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

 

288.6

 

 

 

279.0

 

 

 

363.9

 

Associated companies

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

4.7

 

 

 

2.8

 

Other

 

 

35.3

 

 

 

57.5

 

 

 

22.2

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(27.0

)

 

 

(22.6

)

 

 

(26.6

)

Delayed customer billings

 

 

53.5

 

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

18.4

 

Inventories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

80.9

 

 

 

176.7

 

 

 

115.6

 

Propane gas

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

8.7

 

 

 

8.7

 

Materials and supplies

 

 

18.6

 

 

 

15.0

 

 

 

15.8

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

112.7

 

 

 

276.3

 

 

 

37.5

 

Prepayments

 

 

16.0

 

 

 

19.7

 

 

 

18.9

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

590.8

 

 

 

817.5

 

 

 

577.2

 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

210.2

 

 

 

210.2

 

 

 

210.2

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

572.7

 

 

 

483.1

 

 

 

604.3

 

Other

 

 

126.4

 

 

 

125.6

 

 

 

99.0

 

Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets

 

 

909.3

 

 

 

818.9

 

 

 

913.5

 

Total Assets

 

$

5,034.7

 

 

$

5,058.1

 

 

$

4,769.3

 

 

12


 

 

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in capital and common stock (par value $1.00 per share; 50.0 million shares authorized; 24,929, 24,577 and 24,577 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022, September 30, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively)

 

$

788.4

 

 

$

765.1

 

 

$

765.1

 

Retained earnings

 

 

960.5

 

 

 

817.0

 

 

 

822.6

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(4.0

)

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

(2.7

)

Total Shareholder's Equity

 

 

1,744.9

 

 

 

1,577.9

 

 

 

1,585.0

 

Long-term debt

 

 

1,637.1

 

 

 

1,338.4

 

 

 

1,092.4

 

Total Capitalization

 

 

3,382.0

 

 

 

2,916.3

 

 

 

2,677.4

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

250.0

 

 

 

250.0

 

Notes payable – associated companies

 

 

277.2

 

 

 

240.9

 

 

 

369.4

 

Accounts payable

 

 

96.9

 

 

 

89.7

 

 

 

87.5

 

Accounts payable – associated companies

 

 

6.9

 

 

 

10.2

 

 

 

7.7

 

Advance customer billings

 

 

 

 

 

19.7

 

 

 

2.1

 

Wages and compensation accrued

 

 

27.1

 

 

 

40.3

 

 

 

28.0

 

Customer deposits

 

 

7.7

 

 

 

8.0

 

 

 

8.2

 

Taxes accrued

 

 

37.4

 

 

 

41.2

 

 

 

29.4

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

17.1

 

 

 

37.6

 

Other

 

 

49.4

 

 

 

47.4

 

 

 

43.4

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

502.6

 

 

 

764.5

 

 

 

863.3

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

498.9

 

 

 

480.0

 

 

 

470.9

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

132.9

 

 

 

159.5

 

 

 

193.7

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

146.3

 

 

 

143.4

 

 

 

156.5

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

313.7

 

 

 

538.8

 

 

 

353.5

 

Other

 

 

58.3

 

 

 

55.6

 

 

 

54.0

 

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

 

 

1,150.1

 

 

 

1,377.3

 

 

 

1,228.6

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

 

$

5,034.7

 

 

$

5,058.1

 

 

$

4,769.3

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

13


 

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

Shares

 

 

Par

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

AOCI*

 

 

Total

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

862.3

 

 

$

(4.1

)

 

$

1,623.3

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

98.2

 

Common stock issued to Spire Inc.

 

 

352

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.3

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

24,929

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

788.3

 

 

$

960.5

 

 

$

(4.0

)

 

$

1,744.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

817.0

 

 

$

(4.2

)

 

$

1,577.9

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

143.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

143.5

 

Common stock issued to Spire Inc.

 

 

352

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.3

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

24,929

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

788.3

 

 

$

960.5

 

 

$

(4.0

)

 

$

1,744.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

729.5

 

 

$

(2.8

)

 

$

1,491.8

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

93.1

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

822.6

 

 

$

(2.7

)

 

$

1,585.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

672.9

 

 

$

(2.9

)

 

$

1,435.1

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

149.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

149.7

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

24,577

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

765.0

 

 

$

822.6

 

 

$

(2.7

)

 

$

1,585.0

 

 

* Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

14


 

SPIRE MISSOURI INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

143.5

 

 

$

149.7

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

70.1

 

 

 

61.4

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

 

 

26.9

 

 

 

26.7

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

18.2

 

 

 

(251.1

)

Inventories

 

 

92.4

 

 

 

(18.7

)

Regulatory assets and liabilities

 

 

(181.3

)

 

 

(28.7

)

Accounts payable

 

 

12.9

 

 

 

32.3

 

Delayed/advance customer billings, net

 

 

(70.8

)

 

 

(46.5

)

Taxes accrued

 

 

(3.8

)

 

 

(9.7

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

(41.7

)

 

 

(50.3

)

Other

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

0.3

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

67.1

 

 

 

(134.6

)

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(176.0

)

 

 

(184.1

)

Other

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

0.5

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(174.6

)

 

 

(183.6

)

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

 

300.0

 

 

 

 

(Repayments) issuance of short-term debt, net

 

 

(250.0

)

 

 

250.0

 

Borrowings from Spire, net

 

 

36.2

 

 

 

68.2

 

Issuance of common stock

 

 

23.3

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

(2.0

)

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

107.5

 

 

 

318.2

 

Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

 

$

(28.3

)

 

$

(22.9

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

15


 

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

204.1

 

 

$

222.6

 

 

$

330.7

 

 

$

336.2

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

52.1

 

 

 

69.8

 

 

 

97.6

 

 

 

104.9

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

32.9

 

 

 

33.7

 

 

 

67.4

 

 

 

66.5

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

16.7

 

 

 

15.2

 

 

 

33.2

 

 

 

30.2

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

14.5

 

 

 

14.7

 

 

 

23.5

 

 

 

22.9

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

116.2

 

 

 

133.4

 

 

 

221.7

 

 

 

224.5

 

Operating Income

 

 

87.9

 

 

 

89.2

 

 

 

109.0

 

 

 

111.7

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

 

4.7

 

 

 

5.3

 

 

 

9.8

 

 

 

10.0

 

Other Income, Net

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

1.4

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

 

83.3

 

 

 

84.6

 

 

 

99.7

 

 

 

103.1

 

Income Tax Expense

 

 

20.9

 

 

 

21.3

 

 

 

25.1

 

 

 

26.1

 

Net Income

 

$

62.4

 

 

$

63.3

 

 

$

74.6

 

 

$

77.0

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16


 

 

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility Plant

 

$

2,643.9

 

 

$

2,586.5

 

 

$

2,523.4

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,154.0

 

 

 

1,124.8

 

 

 

1,136.5

 

Net Utility Plant

 

 

1,489.9

 

 

 

1,461.7

 

 

 

1,386.9

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.2

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utility

 

 

86.0

 

 

 

49.8

 

 

 

66.4

 

Associated companies

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.5

 

Other

 

 

5.6

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

 

5.7

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

 

(7.1

)

 

 

(6.6

)

 

 

(6.5

)

Delayed customer billings

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

6.7

 

 

 

2.3

 

Notes receivable – associated companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.0

 

Inventories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

32.0

 

 

 

35.5

 

 

 

14.8

 

Materials and supplies

 

 

13.1

 

 

 

10.8

 

 

 

10.0

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

41.0

 

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

11.8

 

Prepayments

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

5.4

 

 

 

4.7

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

176.3

 

 

 

127.4

 

 

 

148.0

 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

 

506.7

 

 

 

483.3

 

 

 

501.2

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

9.1

 

 

 

34.2

 

 

 

33.2

 

Other

 

 

63.6

 

 

 

63.9

 

 

 

53.5

 

Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets

 

 

579.4

 

 

 

581.4

 

 

 

587.9

 

Total Assets

 

$

2,245.6

 

 

$

2,170.5

 

 

$

2,122.8

 

 

17


 

 

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

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)

 

$

322.9

 

 

$

328.9

 

 

$

328.9

 

Retained earnings

 

 

611.2

 

 

 

552.6

 

 

 

566.8

 

Total Shareholder's Equity

 

 

934.1

 

 

 

881.5

 

 

 

895.7

 

Long-term debt (less current portion)

 

 

571.4

 

 

 

571.2

 

 

 

571.1

 

Total Capitalization

 

 

1,505.5

 

 

 

1,452.7

 

 

 

1,466.8

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

50.0

 

 

 

50.0

 

Notes payable – associated companies

 

 

156.6

 

 

 

49.0

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

50.8

 

 

 

52.3

 

 

 

37.4

 

Accounts payable – associated companies

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

8.0

 

Advance customer billings

 

 

5.2

 

 

 

11.2

 

 

 

5.4

 

Wages and compensation accrued

 

 

5.6

 

 

 

9.3

 

 

 

6.4

 

Customer deposits

 

 

19.0

 

 

 

18.4

 

 

 

19.0

 

Taxes accrued

 

 

24.3

 

 

 

30.4

 

 

 

25.1

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

13.4

 

 

 

14.2

 

Other

 

 

12.3

 

 

 

17.3

 

 

 

14.8

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

280.0

 

 

 

257.3

 

 

 

180.3

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

59.1

 

 

 

66.7

 

 

 

68.2

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

370.0

 

 

 

362.8

 

 

 

381.7

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

 

24.7

 

 

 

23.4

 

 

 

18.0

 

Other

 

 

6.3

 

 

 

7.6

 

 

 

7.8

 

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

 

 

460.1

 

 

 

460.5

 

 

 

475.7

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

 

$

2,245.6

 

 

$

2,170.5

 

 

$

2,122.8

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

18


 

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

Shares

 

 

Par

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Total

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

322.9

 

 

$

556.8

 

 

$

879.7

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62.4

 

 

 

62.4

 

Dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8.0

)

 

 

(8.0

)

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

322.9

 

 

$

611.2

 

 

$

934.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

328.9

 

 

$

552.6

 

 

$

881.5

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

74.6

 

 

 

74.6

 

Return of capital to Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6.0

)

Dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16.0

)

 

 

(16.0

)

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

322.9

 

 

$

611.2

 

 

$

934.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

339.9

 

 

$

509.0

 

 

$

848.9

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63.3

 

 

 

63.3

 

Return of capital to Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

(11.0

)

Dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

(5.5

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

328.9

 

 

$

566.8

 

 

$

895.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

350.9

 

 

$

500.8

 

 

$

851.7

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77.0

 

 

 

77.0

 

Return of capital to Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

(22.0

)

Dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11.0

)

 

 

(11.0

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

 

1,972,052

 

 

$

 

 

$

328.9

 

 

$

566.8

 

 

$

895.7

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

19


 

SPIRE ALABAMA INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

74.6

 

 

$

77.0

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

33.2

 

 

 

30.2

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

 

 

25.1

 

 

 

26.1

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(34.9

)

 

 

(33.7

)

Inventories

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

6.2

 

Regulatory assets and liabilities

 

 

(50.7

)

 

 

14.6

 

Accounts payable

 

 

7.4

 

 

 

9.9

 

Delayed/advance customer billings

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(0.9

)

Taxes accrued

 

 

(6.1

)

 

 

(2.9

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

(14.2

)

 

 

(4.6

)

Other

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

0.1

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

35.0

 

 

 

122.0

 

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(71.0

)

 

 

(78.9

)

Lending to Spire, net of repayments

 

 

 

 

 

(20.0

)

Other

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.3

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(70.4

)

 

 

(98.6

)

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

150.0

 

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

(50.0

)

 

 

 

Borrowings from (repayments to) Spire, net

 

 

107.6

 

 

 

(121.3

)

Return of capital to Spire

 

 

(6.0

)

 

 

(22.0

)

Dividends paid

 

 

(16.0

)

 

 

(11.0

)

Other

 

 

 

 

 

(0.9

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

35.6

 

 

 

(5.2

)

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

18.2

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

 

$

0.2

 

 

$

18.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

 

$

(10.1

)

 

$

(8.4

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20


 

 

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. (“Spire” or the “Company”) presented on a consolidated basis, Spire Missouri Inc. (“Spire Missouri”) and Spire Alabama Inc. (“Spire Alabama”). Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire EnergySouth Inc. (“Spire EnergySouth”) are wholly owned subsidiaries of Spire. Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth (Spire Gulf Inc. and Spire Mississippi Inc.) are collectively referred to as the “Utilities.”

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S‑X. Accordingly, they do not include all the disclosures required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements include all 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, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

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: Spire Missouri, serving St. Louis, Kansas City, and other areas in Missouri; Spire Alabama, serving central and northern Alabama; and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth, serving the Mobile, Alabama area and south-central Mississippi. The Gas Marketing segment includes Spire’s largest gas-related business, Spire Marketing Inc. (“Spire Marketing”), which provides non-regulated natural gas services throughout the United States (U.S.). The activities of the Company’s other subsidiaries are reported as Other and are described in Note 9, Information by Operating Segment. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama each have a single reportable segment.

Nearly all the Company’s earnings are derived from its Gas Utility segment. Due to the seasonal nature of the Utilities’ business and the Spire Missouri rate design, 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.

21


 

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

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.

DERIVATIVES – In the course of their business, certain subsidiaries of Spire 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 FASB 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 gross. 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, with income and expenses presented on a net basis in natural gas expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES Transactions between affiliates of the Company have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements of Spire. As reflected in their separate financial statements, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama borrowed funds from the Company and incurred related interest and in 2021, Spire Alabama lent excess funds to the Company and earned related interest. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama also participated in normal intercompany shared services transactions. Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s other transactions with affiliates are presented below:

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of natural gas from Spire Marketing Inc.

 

$

17.9

 

 

$

57.6

 

 

$

36.1

 

 

$

68.3

 

Transportation services received from Spire STL Pipeline LLC

 

 

7.8

 

 

 

7.9

 

 

 

15.9

 

 

 

16.0

 

Sales of natural gas to Spire Marketing Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Transportation services received from Spire NGL Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.5

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of natural gas from Spire Marketing Inc.

 

$

 

 

$

5.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

10.6

 

Sales of natural gas to Spire Marketing Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

22


 

 

RESTRICTED CASH – In Spire’s statement of cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2022, total Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash included $6.9 and $7.0 of restricted cash reported in “Other Investments” on the Company’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively (in addition to amounts shown as “Cash and cash equivalents”). This restricted cash has been segregated and invested in debt securities in a trust account based on collateral requirements for reinsurance at Spire’s risk management company.

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

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

$

38.8

 

 

$

59.5

 

 

$

36.1

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

28.7

 

 

 

37.1

 

 

 

21.8

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

5.0

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

4.7

 

 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES – Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the amounts due from customers, including unbilled amounts. Accounts receivable are written off when they are deemed to be uncollectible. An allowance for expected credit losses is estimated and updated based on relevant data and trends such as accounts receivable aging, historical write-off experience, current write-off trends, economic conditions, and the impact of weather and availability of customer payment assistance on collection trends. For the Utilities, net write-offs as a percentage of revenue has historically been the best predictor of base net write-off experience over time. Management judgment is applied in the development of the allowance due to the complexity of variables and subjective nature of certain relevant factors. For March 31, 2021, the estimates for expected credit losses were increased as a result of considerations related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including trends from previous economic downturns, the effects of moratoriums on gas service cutoffs, and the effects of slower-than-normal disconnection activity in general, offset by the amount subject to specific recovery under Missouri’s deferral order (see Note 4, Regulatory Matters). The accounts receivable of Spire’s non-utility businesses are evaluated separately from those of the Utilities. The allowance for credit losses for those other businesses is based on a continuous evaluation of the individual counterparty risk and is not significant for the periods presented. Activity in the allowance for credit losses is shown in the following table.

 

Spire

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

Spire Alabama

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Allowance at beginning of period

$

31.4

 

 

$

28.9

 

 

$

23.8

 

 

$

21.4

 

 

$

6.7

 

 

$

6.2

 

Provision for expected credit losses

 

5.2

 

 

 

6.6

 

 

 

4.7

 

 

 

5.7

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.6

 

Write-offs, net of recoveries

 

(1.5

)

 

 

(1.1

)

 

 

(1.5

)

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(0.3

)

Allowance at end of period

$

35.1

 

 

$

34.4

 

 

$

27.0

 

 

$

26.6

 

 

$

7.1

 

 

$

6.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31,

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Allowance at beginning of period

$

30.3

 

 

$

24.9

 

 

$

22.6

 

 

$

18.1

 

 

$

6.6

 

 

$

5.5

 

Provision for expected credit losses

 

6.7

 

 

 

10.7

 

 

 

6.8

 

 

 

9.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.3

 

Write-offs, net of recoveries

 

(1.9

)

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(2.4

)

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

(0.3

)

Allowance at end of period

$

35.1

 

 

$

34.4

 

 

$

27.0

 

 

$

26.6

 

 

$

7.1

 

 

$

6.5

 

 

23


 

 

2. REVENUE

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

687.3

 

 

$

537.6

 

 

$

1,029.3

 

 

$

887.5

 

Commercial and industrial

 

 

85.6

 

 

 

369.2

 

 

 

189.4

 

 

 

472.2

 

Transportation

 

 

33.5

 

 

 

34.2

 

 

 

64.7

 

 

 

66.4

 

Off-system and other incentive

 

 

12.0

 

 

 

130.6

 

 

 

16.8

 

 

 

139.9

 

Other customer revenue

 

 

6.5

 

 

 

(11.9

)

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

(9.7

)

Total revenue from contracts with customers

 

 

824.9

 

 

 

1,059.7

 

 

 

1,310.3

 

 

 

1,556.3

 

Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs

 

 

(7.5

)

 

 

(6.6

)

 

 

10.6

 

 

 

(5.0

)

Total Gas Utility operating revenues

 

 

817.4

 

 

 

1,053.1

 

 

 

1,320.9

 

 

 

1,551.3

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

59.4

 

 

 

33.4

 

 

 

107.3

 

 

 

58.2

 

Other

 

 

18.1

 

 

 

15.6

 

 

 

34.7

 

 

 

32.3

 

Total before eliminations

 

 

894.9

 

 

 

1,102.1

 

 

 

1,462.9

 

 

 

1,641.8

 

Intersegment eliminations (see Note 9, Information by Operating Segment)

 

 

(14.0

)

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

(26.6

)

 

 

(24.3

)

Total Operating Revenues

 

$

880.9

 

 

$

1,104.9

 

 

$

1,436.3

 

 

$

1,617.5

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

529.1

 

 

$

365.4

 

 

$

776.2

 

 

$

628.4

 

Commercial and industrial

 

 

19.9

 

 

 

304.0

 

 

 

88.1

 

 

 

373.9

 

Transportation

 

 

10.1

 

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

19.3

 

 

 

18.9

 

Off-system and other incentive

 

 

11.3

 

 

 

128.5

 

 

 

15.8

 

 

 

135.9

 

Other customer revenue

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

(17.5

)

 

 

5.9

 

 

 

(14.6

)

Total revenue from contracts with customers

 

 

574.0

 

 

 

790.3

 

 

 

905.3

 

 

 

1,142.5

 

Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs

 

 

(2.8

)

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

13.8

 

 

 

3.9

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

$

571.2

 

 

$

790.9

 

 

$

919.1

 

 

$

1,146.4

 

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

129.9

 

 

$

144.8

 

 

$

210.0

 

 

$

214.0

 

Commercial and industrial

 

 

51.6

 

 

 

53.2

 

 

 

77.6

 

 

 

77.5

 

Transportation

 

 

20.7

 

 

 

21.7

 

 

 

40.1

 

 

 

42.2

 

Off-system and other incentive

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

1.9

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

3.9

 

Other customer revenue

 

 

1.9

 

 

 

3.9

 

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

2.0

 

Total revenue from contracts with customers

 

 

204.7

 

 

 

225.5

 

 

 

331.4

 

 

 

339.6

 

Changes in accrued revenue under alternative revenue programs

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(2.9

)

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

(3.4

)

Total Operating Revenues

 

$

204.1

 

 

$

222.6

 

 

$

330.7

 

 

$

336.2

 

As discussed in Note 4, Regulatory Matters, Spire Missouri (1) reduced “Commercial and industrial” revenue by approximately $150 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2022, to reflect a 2022 settlement in principle regarding February 2021 Operational Flow Order charges and (2) recorded a $25.0 revenue adjustment related to “Off-system and other incentive” sales during February 2021, resulting in negative “Other customer revenue” for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021.

24


 

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 expense amounts (shown in the table below) are reported gross in the “Taxes, other than income taxes” line in the statements of income, and corresponding revenues are reported in “Operating Revenues.

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

$

51.9

 

 

$

42.2

 

 

$

73.8

 

 

$

63.9

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

39.0

 

 

 

28.6

 

 

 

53.9

 

 

 

43.8

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

11.3

 

 

 

11.8

 

 

 

17.0

 

 

 

17.1

 

 

3. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

173.6

 

 

$

187.4

 

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

276.3

 

Less: Provision for preferred dividends

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

7.4

 

 

 

7.4

 

Income allocated to participating securities

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

Income Available to Common Shareholders

 

$

169.7

 

 

$

183.4

 

 

$

221.6

 

 

$

268.5

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (in millions)

 

 

51.8

 

 

 

51.6

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.6

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

 

$

3.27

 

 

$

3.56

 

 

$

4.28

 

 

$

5.21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

173.6

 

 

$

187.4

 

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

276.3

 

Less: Provision for preferred dividends

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

7.4

 

 

 

7.4

 

Income allocated to participating securities

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

Income Available to Common Shareholders

 

$

169.7

 

 

$

183.4

 

 

$

221.6

 

 

$

268.5

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (in millions)

 

 

51.8

 

 

 

51.6

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.6

 

Dilutive Effect of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (in millions)*

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

Weighted Average Diluted Common Shares (in millions)

 

 

51.9

 

 

 

51.7

 

 

 

51.8

 

 

 

51.7

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

 

$

3.27

 

 

$

3.55

 

 

$

4.28

 

 

$

5.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Calculation excludes certain outstanding common 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

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

25


 

 

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 were reflected in the balance sheets of the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama as of March 31, 2022, September 30, 2021, and March 31, 2021.

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

Spire

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Regulatory Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

31.1

 

 

$

30.9

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

146.6

 

 

 

243.5

 

 

 

0.1

 

Other

 

 

17.4

 

 

 

31.9

 

 

 

29.4

 

Total Current Regulatory Assets

 

 

164.0

 

 

 

306.5

 

 

 

60.4

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

314.8

 

 

 

313.8

 

 

 

418.3

 

Cost of removal

 

 

456.3

 

 

 

431.9

 

 

 

430.7

 

Future income taxes due from customers

 

 

138.0

 

 

 

132.9

 

 

 

127.4

 

Energy efficiency

 

 

53.1

 

 

 

47.6

 

 

 

43.2

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

35.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

51.5

 

Other

 

 

109.4

 

 

 

67.3

 

 

 

62.5

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets

 

 

1,106.8

 

 

 

993.5

 

 

 

1,133.6

 

Total Regulatory Assets

 

$

1,270.8

 

 

$

1,300.0

 

 

$

1,194.0

 

Regulatory Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

5.8

 

 

$

5.8

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

11.0

 

 

 

28.9

 

Other

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

17.8

 

 

 

21.6

 

Total Current Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

34.6

 

 

 

56.3

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxes due to customers

 

 

152.1

 

 

 

127.5

 

 

 

133.2

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

179.4

 

 

 

159.3

 

 

 

170.2

 

Accrued cost of removal

 

 

38.3

 

 

 

36.2

 

 

 

28.7

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

17.1

 

 

 

284.3

 

 

 

49.7

 

Other

 

 

13.5

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

41.7

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

400.4

 

 

 

620.9

 

 

 

423.5

 

Total Regulatory Liabilities

 

$

403.6

 

 

$

655.5

 

 

$

479.8

 

26


 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

Spire Missouri

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Regulatory Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

21.9

 

 

$

21.9

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

112.5

 

 

 

242.8

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

11.6

 

 

 

15.6

 

Total Current Regulatory Assets

 

 

112.7

 

 

 

276.3

 

 

 

37.5

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future income taxes due from customers

 

 

129.3

 

 

 

124.2

 

 

 

118.6

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

227.5

 

 

 

226.0

 

 

 

324.6

 

Energy efficiency

 

 

53.1

 

 

 

47.6

 

 

 

43.2

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

35.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

51.5

 

Cost of removal

 

 

34.9

 

 

 

34.9

 

 

 

21.3

 

Other

 

 

92.7

 

 

 

50.4

 

 

 

45.1

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets

 

 

572.7

 

 

 

483.1

 

 

 

604.3

 

Total Regulatory Assets

 

$

685.4

 

 

$

759.4

 

 

$

641.8

 

Regulatory Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

3.6

 

 

$

3.6

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.0

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

13.5

 

 

 

17.0

 

Total Current Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

17.1

 

 

 

37.6

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxes due to customers

 

 

134.7

 

 

 

110.2

 

 

 

115.8

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

148.3

 

 

 

131.4

 

 

 

151.9

 

Accrued cost of removal

 

 

5.7

 

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

17.1

 

 

 

284.3

 

 

 

49.7

 

Other

 

 

7.9

 

 

 

8.0

 

 

 

36.1

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

313.7

 

 

 

538.8

 

 

 

353.5

 

Total Regulatory Liabilities

 

$

313.7

 

 

$

555.9

 

 

$

391.1

 

27


 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

Spire Alabama

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Regulatory Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

8.2

 

 

$

8.0

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

31.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

10.0

 

 

 

10.6

 

 

 

3.8

 

Total Current Regulatory Assets

 

 

41.0

 

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

11.8

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future income taxes due from customers

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

2.2

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

82.0

 

 

 

82.9

 

 

 

88.5

 

Cost of removal

 

 

421.4

 

 

 

397.0

 

 

 

409.4

 

Other

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

1.1

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Assets

 

 

506.7

 

 

 

483.3

 

 

 

501.2

 

Total Regulatory Assets

 

$

547.7

 

 

$

502.1

 

 

$

513.0

 

Regulatory Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

 

 

$

2.2

 

 

$

2.2

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

 

 

10.6

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

1.4

 

Total Current Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

13.4

 

 

 

14.2

 

Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

 

21.1

 

 

 

19.8

 

 

 

14.3

 

Other

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

3.7

 

Total Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

24.7

 

 

 

23.4

 

 

 

18.0

 

Total Regulatory Liabilities

 

$

24.7

 

 

$

36.8

 

 

$

32.2

 

 

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

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

152.0

 

 

$

165.7

 

 

$

226.3

 

Future income taxes due from customers

 

 

135.7

 

 

 

130.7

 

 

 

125.1

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

147.7

 

 

 

242.8

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

120.2

 

 

 

86.0

 

 

 

122.9

 

Total Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return

 

$

555.6

 

 

$

625.2

 

 

$

474.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement benefit costs

 

$

152.0

 

 

$

165.7

 

 

$

226.3

 

Future income taxes due from customers

 

 

129.3

 

 

 

124.2

 

 

 

118.6

 

Unamortized purchased gas adjustments

 

 

147.7

 

 

 

242.8

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

120.2

 

 

 

86.0

 

 

 

122.9

 

Total Regulatory Assets Not Earning a Return

 

$

549.2

 

 

$

618.7

 

 

$

467.8

 

 

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 guidelines and average remaining service life of active participants, respectively. For the PGA assets, the recovery period is normally approximately one year, but it will be three years for a portion of these assets due to the Filing Adjustment Factor discussed below. 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.

28


 

Spire Missouri

The MoPSC approved compliance tariffs with an effective date of December 23, 2021, in Spire Missouri’s general rate case GR-2021-0108. These new tariffs were designed to increase Spire Missouri’s aggregate annual gross base rate revenues by $72.2, which includes $24.9 incremental and $47.3 already being collected through the Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS). The decision, as reflected in the amended report and order dated November 12, 2021, revised the MoPSC’s long-standing position regarding Spire Missouri’s compliance with the FERC Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) on the capitalization of prudently incurred non-operational overheads. The amended report and order required Spire Missouri to cease capitalization of these overhead costs at the time new rates went into effect until a MoPSC staff audit of their revised interpretation of compliance with the USOA framework could be completed. MoPSC staff completed this audit and filed its audit report on March 18, 2022. The report recommends changes to Spire Missouri’s overhead capitalization rates based upon its new time study and the results of the audit. On April 13, 2022, the MoPSC issued an Order Authorizing Accounting Treatment clarifying that Spire Missouri may defer all non-operational overheads from December 23, 2021 forward into a regulatory asset for future review by the MoPSC in an appropriate proceeding. Based on Spire Missouri’s assessment of recoverability, the total amount deferred under this order was $17.5 through March 31, 2022, comprising:

 

$6.6 in accordance with new capitalization rates determined by the study and audit;

 

$5.9 of prudent costs which are in excess of the capitalization rates determined by the study and audit; and

 

$5.0 of prudent costs related to the ISRS settlement discussed below.

On April 1, 2022, Spire Missouri filed tariff sheets to initiate a new general rate case proceeding which is intended to address the deferred amounts, along with other matters, and is expected to be resolved in nine to eleven months. The proposed tariff changes include revised rate schedules designed to produce an annual net increase in Spire Missouri’s gas revenues of approximately $151.9. The MoPSC has not yet set a procedural schedule for this case.

In mid-February 2021, the central U.S. experienced a period of unusually severe cold weather (“Winter Storm Uri”), and Spire Missouri implemented an Operational Flow Order (OFO) to preserve the integrity of its distribution system. During this time, Spire Missouri was required to purchase additional natural gas supply, both to ensure adequate supply for its firm utility customers, and to cover the shortfall created when third-party marketers failed to deliver natural gas supply to its city gates on behalf of their customers. In accordance with its tariffs, Spire Missouri invoiced the cost of gas and associated penalties totaling $195.8 to non-compliant marketers pursuant to the MoPSC-approved OFO tariff and recorded accounts receivable. Recoveries collected, including $3.2 collected to date, will be an offset to cost of natural gas for firm utility customers through the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) and Actual Cost Adjustment (ACA), so are net income neutral to Spire Missouri. The three largest counterparties did not remit payment when due, so Spire Missouri filed suit against them in federal court to recover the invoiced amounts. Those suits remain pending. Some marketers have filed complaints with the MoPSC requesting review of the transactions between them and Spire Missouri. Through the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company had no reason to believe the MoPSC would not follow the tariff and had determined collection was probable, so the entire amount was recognized. In late February 2022, the parties to the OFO waiver suits agreed to a settlement in principle, pursuant to which marketers will reimburse Spire Missouri for the actual cost of its incremental gas purchases to serve marketers’ customers during Winter Storm Uri, so Spire Missouri reduced revenue, accounts receivable, cost of gas and regulatory liabilities by approximately $150 in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. The settlement requires MoPSC approval and is expected to be concluded in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Once concluded, the settlement will also resolve Spire Missouri’s lawsuits against the marketers. The MoPSC has also opened a working case to investigate the effects of Winter Storm Uri on all Missouri utilities. Spire Missouri is not subject to any upstream OFO penalties on any interstate pipelines.

As a result of the significant net deferred gas costs and average inventory cost in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, primarily due to Winter Storm Uri, Spire Missouri filed for and received MoPSC approval for an adjustment to the PGA tariff to increase a Filing Adjustment Factor credit for three years. This credit will allow Spire Missouri to help mitigate rate impacts of Winter Storm Uri costs and the increased gas market from 2020 to 2021. All gas costs will eventually be recovered through the PGA or ACA mechanisms and carrying costs will be applied per the terms of the tariff.

29


 

On December 22, 2021, Spire Missouri filed an application with the MoPSC for approval of $800.0 in new financing authority over three years. On February 23, 2022, the MoPSC issued an order approving this request, subject to certain standard conditions.

On December 23, 2021, Spire Missouri filed a new ISRS case, its first under the ISRS statute amendments of 2020, seeking accelerated recovery of $11.3 in annual revenue for eligible pipe replacement from June through December 2021. On April 21, 2022, the MoPSC approved a settlement among the parties to resolve the ISRS case, resulting in $8.5 in incremental annual revenue effective in May 2022.

Spire Alabama

On October 26, 2021, Spire Alabama made its annual Rate Stabilization and Equalization (RSE) rate filing with the APSC, presenting the utility’s budget for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, including net income and a calculation of allowed return on average common equity (ROE). Following a regulatory review, adjusted rates became effective January 1, 2022.

Spire Alabama filed GSA rate increases effective December 1, 2021, and April 1, 2022, primarily attributable to higher natural gas prices.

Spire

In addition to those discussed above for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama, Spire is affected by the following regulatory matters.

In October 2021, Spire Gulf made its annual RSE rate filing with the APSC based on its budget for fiscal 2022 and an allowed ROE of 9.95%. New rates designed to provide increased annual revenues of $1.0 became effective January 3, 2022.

On August 23, 2021, Spire Mississippi filed its Rate Stabilization Adjustment Rider (RSA) for the rate year ended June 30, 2021, which reflected an increase to annual revenue totaling $1.1. The MSPSC, by its order dated January 18, 2022, approved a stipulation agreement between the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff and Spire Mississippi that provided for increased annual revenues of $0.8 through rates that became effective on February 1, 2022.

In August 2018, the FERC approved an order issuing a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Spire STL Pipeline (“August 2018 Order”). In November 2018, the FERC issued a Notice to Proceed, and in November 2019, Spire STL Pipeline received FERC authorization to place the pipeline into service. Also, in November 2019, the FERC issued an Order on Rehearing of the August 2018 Order dismissing or denying the outstanding requests for rehearing filed by several parties, dismissing the request for stay filed by one party, and noting the withdrawal of the request for rehearing by another party. In January 2020, two of the rehearing parties filed petitions for review of the FERC’s orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“DC Circuit”). On June 22, 2021, that court issued an order vacating the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and remanding the matter back to the FERC for further action. On September 14, 2021, and December 3, 2021, the FERC issued temporary certificates to allow the pipeline to continue operating indefinitely while it considers approval of a new permanent certificate. Certain parties in the temporary certificate proceeding sought rehearing of the FERC’s December 3, 2021 temporary certificate. The FERC denied rehearing by operation of law on February 3, 2022. On March 7, 2022, one group of the rehearing parties filed a petition for review of FERC’s December 3, 2021 temporary certificate order in the DC Circuit limited to whether the temporary certificates carry eminent domain authority. The DC Circuit proceeding remains pending. Meanwhile, on December 15, 2021, the FERC issued a notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) with the final EIS not anticipated until October 7, 2022. Spire STL Pipeline will continue to pursue all legal and regulatory avenues to ensure access to reliable, affordable and safe delivery of energy for eastern Missouri. While there is no impairment at this time, if the pipeline is taken out of service, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted by impairment of Spire STL Pipeline’s assets, currently carried at over $270, and other effects. If Spire Missouri is unable to obtain sufficient pipeline capacity to meet its customers’ annual and seasonal natural gas demands, Spire Missouri’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted.

30


 

On October 9, 2020, Spire Storage West LLC (“Spire Storage”) filed with the FERC an Abbreviated Application for an Amendment of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Reaffirmation of Market-Based Rate Authority, and Related Authorizations pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act. The FERC issued a final EIS for this project on March 15, 2022. The final EIS concluded that construction and operation of the project would not result in significant environmental impacts and that project greenhouse gas emissions fall even below the FERC’s presumptive significance threshold for climate change impacts. The application, which requests authorization to expand capacity and increase pipeline connectivity at certain of Spire Storage’s natural gas storage facilities in Wyoming, remains pending.

5. FINANCING

Short-term

Spire utilizes a commercial paper program (“CP Program”) pursuant to which Spire may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes. Amounts available under the CP 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 CP Program at any time not to exceed $975.0. The notes may have maturities of up to 365 days from date of issue.

In March 2021, Spire Missouri entered into a loan agreement with several banks for a $250.0, 364-day unsecured term loan with an interest rate based on LIBOR plus 65 basis points. The loan was repaid in March 2022.

Information about short-term borrowings, including Spire Missouri’s and Spire Alabama’s borrowings from Spire, is presented in the following table. As of March 31, 2022, $496.6 of Spire’s CP Program borrowings was used to support lending to the Utilities.

 

 

Spire

(Parent Only)

 

 

Spire

Missouri

 

 

Spire

Alabama

 

 

Spire

 

 

 

CP

 

 

Term

 

 

Spire

 

 

Spire

 

 

Consol-

 

 

 

Program

 

 

Loan

 

 

Note

 

 

Note

 

 

idated

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highest borrowings outstanding

 

$

746.8

 

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

412.0

 

 

$

191.6

 

 

$

996.8

 

Lowest borrowings outstanding

 

 

408.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

43.2

 

 

 

38.4

 

 

 

556.0

 

Weighted average borrowings

 

 

572.5

 

 

 

226.6

 

 

 

220.0

 

 

 

116.8

 

 

 

799.1

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

 

0.4

%

 

 

0.8

%

 

 

0.3

%

 

 

0.4

%

 

 

0.5

%

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding

 

$

607.1

 

 

$

 

 

$

277.2

 

 

$

156.6

 

 

$

607.1

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

 

0.9

%

 

n/a

 

 

 

0.9

%

 

 

0.9

%

 

 

0.9

%

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding

 

$

422.0

 

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

240.9

 

 

$

49.0

 

 

$

672.0

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

 

0.2

%

 

 

0.7

%

 

 

0.2

%

 

 

0.2

%

 

 

0.4

%

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings outstanding

 

$

403.5

 

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

369.4

 

 

$

 

 

$

653.5

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

 

0.2

%

 

 

0.8

%

 

 

0.2

%

 

n/a

 

 

 

0.4

%

31


 

 

Long-term

The long-term debt agreements of Spire, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama contain customary financial covenants and default provisions. As of March 31, 2022, there were no events of default under these financial covenants.

Interest expense shown on the statements of income is net of the capitalized interest amounts shown in the following table.

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

$

1.0

 

 

$

1.1

 

 

$

2.1

 

 

$

2.0

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

1.3

 

On December 7, 2021, pursuant to its registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC, Spire Missouri issued $300.0 of first mortgage bonds due December 2, 2024, secured equally with all its other first mortgage bonds. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears at a floating rate based on the compounded secured overnight financing rate plus 50 basis points, with a maximum rate of the lesser of 8% or the maximum rate then permitted by applicable law.

32


 

6. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable, 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.

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 March 31, 2022, September 30, 2021, and March 31, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classification of Estimated

Fair Value

 

 

 

Carrying

Amount

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

Quoted

Prices in

Active Markets

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant Observable Inputs

(Level 2)

 

Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8.3

 

 

$

8.3

 

 

$

8.3

 

 

$

 

Notes payable

 

 

607.1

 

 

 

607.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

607.1

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

3,238.5

 

 

 

3,299.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,299.1

 

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4.3

 

 

$

4.3

 

 

$

4.3

 

 

$

 

Notes payable

 

 

672.0

 

 

 

672.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

672.0

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

2,994.9

 

 

 

3,375.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,375.9

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

104.0

 

 

$

104.0

 

 

$

104.0

 

 

$

 

Notes payable

 

 

653.5

 

 

 

653.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

653.5

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

2,803.3

 

 

 

3,090.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,090.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable – associated companies

 

$

277.2

 

 

$

277.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

277.2

 

Long-term debt

 

 

1,637.1

 

 

 

1,691.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,691.9

 

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

250.0

 

Notes payable associated companies

 

 

240.9

 

 

 

240.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

240.9

 

Long-term debt

 

 

1,338.4

 

 

 

1,540.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,540.4

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

250.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

250.0

 

Notes payable associated companies

 

 

369.4

 

 

 

369.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

369.4

 

Long-term debt

 

 

1,092.4

 

 

 

1,254.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,254.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

0.2

 

 

$

0.2

 

 

$

0.2

 

 

$

 

Notes payable associated companies

 

 

156.6

 

 

 

156.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

156.6

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

571.4

 

 

 

588.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

588.0

 

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable associated companies

 

$

49.0

 

 

$

49.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

49.0

 

Long-term debt

 

 

621.2

 

 

 

707.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

707.5

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18.2

 

 

$

18.2

 

 

$

18.2

 

 

$

 

Notes receivable – associated companies

 

 

20.0

 

 

 

20.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.0

 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 

 

621.1

 

 

 

682.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

682.3

 

 

33


 

 

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.

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. There were no Level 3 balances as of March 31, 2022, September 30, 2021, and March 31, 2021. 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)

 

 

Effects of

Netting and

Cash Margin

Receivables

/Payables

 

 

Total

 

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.0

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

58.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

(58.9

)

 

 

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

 

 

 

96.1

 

 

 

(88.4

)

 

 

7.7

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

30.8

 

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

29.8

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

 

24.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24.1

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

28.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7.9

)

 

 

20.9

 

Total

 

$

134.8

 

 

$

126.9

 

 

$

(156.2

)

 

$

105.5

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

$

 

 

$

40.4

 

 

$

(40.4

)

 

$

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

106.2

 

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

105.2

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

7.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7.9

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

7.9

 

 

$

146.6

 

 

$

(49.3

)

 

$

105.2

 

34


 

 

 

 

 

Quoted

Prices in

Active

Markets

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

 

 

Effects of

Netting and

Cash Margin

Receivables

/Payables

 

 

Total

 

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.8

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

104.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

(104.0

)

 

 

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

 

 

 

114.7

 

 

 

(93.7

)

 

 

21.0

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

35.2

 

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

29.7

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

 

26.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26.2

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

12.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5.2

)

 

 

7.4

 

Total

 

$

166.6

 

 

$

149.9

 

 

$

(208.4

)

 

$

108.1

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

$

0.3

 

 

$

 

 

$

(0.3

)

 

$

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

 

 

 

62.0

 

 

 

(62.0

)

 

 

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

96.7

 

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

91.2

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

5.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5.2

)

 

 

0.5

 

Total

 

$

6.0

 

 

$

158.7

 

 

$

(73.0

)

 

$

91.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.5

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

 

Gasoline and heating oil contracts

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

 

 

 

15.1

 

 

 

(12.3

)

 

 

2.8

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

9.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.3

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

 

22.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.9

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

27.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.9

 

Total

 

$

47.1

 

 

$

52.3

 

 

$

(13.0

)

 

$

86.4

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

$

1.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

(1.8

)

 

$

 

Gas Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

 

 

 

4.7

 

 

 

(4.7

)

 

 

 

Natural gas commodity contracts

 

 

 

 

 

24.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

24.5

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

21.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

21.4

 

Total

 

$

1.8

 

 

$

50.6

 

 

$

(6.5

)

 

$

45.9

 

 

35


 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

Quoted

Prices in

Active

Markets

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

 

 

Effects of

Netting and

Cash Margin

Receivables

/Payables

 

 

Total

 

As of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.0

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

58.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

(58.9

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

81.9

 

 

$

 

 

$

(58.9

)

 

$

23.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.8

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

104.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

(104.0

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

127.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

(104.0

)

 

$

23.8

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

$

0.3

 

 

$

 

 

$

(0.3

)

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. stock/bond mutual funds

 

$

23.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

23.5

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

 

Gasoline and heating oil contracts

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

24.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

(0.7

)

 

$

23.5

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYMEX/ICE natural gas contracts

 

$

1.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

(1.8

)

 

$

 

 

36


 

 

8. PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Pension Plans

Spire and the Utilities maintain pension plans for their employees.

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have non-contributory, defined benefit, trusteed forms of pension plans covering the majority of their 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 includes components shown in the following tables. The components other than the service costs and regulatory adjustment are presented in “Other Income, Net” in the income statement, except for Spire Alabama’s losses on lump-sum settlements. Such losses are capitalized in regulatory balances and amortized over the remaining actuarial life of individuals in the plan, and that amortization is presented in “Other Income, Net.”

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

5.4

 

 

$

5.3

 

 

$

10.8

 

 

$

10.9

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

 

5.3

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

9.8

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(8.2

)

 

 

(7.1

)

 

 

(16.4

)

 

 

(15.1

)

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

(2.3

)

 

 

(1.5

)

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

3.8

 

 

 

7.3

 

 

 

7.8

 

Loss on lump-sum settlements

 

 

11.7

 

 

 

3.8

 

 

 

11.7

 

 

 

3.8

 

Subtotal

 

 

16.6

 

 

 

9.7

 

 

 

21.5

 

 

 

15.7

 

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

5.2

 

 

 

9.4

 

 

 

14.8

 

Net pension cost

 

$

15.4

 

 

$

14.9

 

 

$

30.9

 

 

$

30.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

3.8

 

 

$

3.9

 

 

$

7.7

 

 

$

7.8

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

3.5

 

 

 

7.1

 

 

 

7.0

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(5.9

)

 

 

(5.6

)

 

 

(11.9

)

 

 

(11.2

)

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

(0.3

)

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

5.6

 

 

 

5.7

 

Loss on lump-sum settlements

 

 

6.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.8

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

10.6

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

9.0

 

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

7.5

 

 

 

9.6

 

 

 

15.1

 

Net pension cost

 

$

11.7

 

 

$

12.0

 

 

$

23.9

 

 

$

24.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

1.3

 

 

$

1.4

 

 

$

2.7

 

 

$

2.9

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

2.4

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(1.4

)

 

 

(1.5

)

 

 

(2.8

)

 

 

(3.1

)

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(1.2

)

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

2.1

 

Loss on lump-sum settlements

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

3.8

 

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

3.8

 

Subtotal

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

5.3

 

 

 

7.6

 

 

 

6.9

 

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

(2.5

)

 

 

(2.5

)

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(0.7

)

Net pension cost

 

$

3.7

 

 

$

2.8

 

 

$

7.0

 

 

$

6.2

 

37


 

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Spire Missouri’s 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 three and six months ended March 31, 2022, one Spire Missouri plan and two Spire Alabama plans met the criteria for settlement recognition. The lump-sum payments recognized as settlements for the remeasurement were $21.6 for the Spire Missouri plan and $17.4 for the Spire Alabama plans. The lump-sum settlement resulted in losses of $6.8 and $4.9 for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama, respectively. For the remeasurement, the discount rate for the Spire Missouri plan was updated to 3.6% from 3.0% at September 30, 2021. and the discount rate for the Spire Alabama plans were updated to 3.6% from 3.0% for the first plan and 3.1% for the second plan at September 30, 2021. The Spire Alabama regulatory tariff requires that settlement losses be amortized over the remaining actuarial life of the individuals in the plan— in this case, 12.3 years for the one plan and 12.6 years for the second plan. Therefore, no lump sum settlement expense was recorded in the period ended March 31, 2022.

Effective December 23, 2021, the pension cost for Spire Missouri’s western territory (Missouri West) included in customer rates was reduced from $5.5 to $4.4 per year, the pension cost included in Spire Missouri’s eastern territory (Missouri East) customer rates was increased from $29.0 to $32.4 per year. The difference between these amounts and pension expense as calculated pursuant to the above and that otherwise would be included in the statements of income and statements of comprehensive income is deferred as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability.

Also effective December 23, 2021, Missouri East prepaid pension assets and other postretirement benefits that were previously being included in rates at $21.6 per year for eight years were reduced to $11.0 per year, with the amortization period being reset for another eight years. Missouri West net liability for pension and other postretirement benefits that were previously reducing rates by $3.3 per year for eight years were reduced to a $1.1 reduction in rates per year, with the amortization period being reset for another eight years.

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 2022 contributions to Spire Missouri’s pension plans through March 31, 2022 were $21.2 to the qualified trusts and none to non-qualified plans. There were $10.0 of fiscal 2022 contributions to the Spire Alabama pension plans through March 31, 2022.

Contributions to the qualified trusts of Spire Missouri’s pension plans for the remainder of fiscal 2022 are anticipated to be $16.5. Contributions to Spire Alabama’s pension plans for the remainder of fiscal 2022 are anticipated to be $4.4.

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, certain Spire Missouri 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.

38


 

The net periodic postretirement benefit cost includes components shown in the following tables. The components other than the service costs and regulatory adjustment are presented in “Other Income, Net” in the income statement, except in the event Spire Alabama incurs losses on lump-sum settlements. Any such losses are capitalized in regulatory balances and amortized over the remaining actuarial life of individuals in the plan, and that amortization is presented in “Other Income, Net.”

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Spire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

2.0

 

 

$

1.9

 

 

$

3.9

 

 

$

3.7

 

Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

3.0

 

 

 

3.0

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(4.3

)

 

 

(4.1

)

 

 

(8.5

)

 

 

(8.1

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.5

 

Amortization of actuarial gain

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(0.8

)

Subtotal

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(0.8

)

 

 

(2.3

)

 

 

(1.7

)

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

3.3

 

 

 

6.6

 

Net postretirement benefit (income) cost

 

$

(1.1

)

 

$

2.4

 

 

$

1.0

 

 

$

4.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

1.6

 

 

$

1.5

 

 

$

3.2

 

 

$

3.1

 

Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

2.2

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(2.9

)

 

 

(2.8

)

 

 

(5.7

)

 

 

(5.5

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.4

 

Amortization of actuarial gain

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

(0.7

)

Subtotal

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(0.5

)

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

4.1

 

 

 

7.5

 

Net postretirement benefit cost

 

$

 

 

$

3.4

 

 

$

3.2

 

 

$

7.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

 

$

0.3

 

 

$

0.3

 

 

$

0.6

 

 

$

0.5

 

Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

0.7

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(1.3

)

 

 

(1.3

)

 

 

(2.6

)

 

 

(2.5

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

Subtotal

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

(0.6

)

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(1.2

)

Regulatory adjustment

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(0.9

)

Net postretirement benefit income

 

$

(1.1

)

 

$

(1.1

)

 

$

(2.1

)

 

$

(2.1

)

 

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.

Effective December 23, 2021, the $8.6 allowance for recovery in rates for Spire Missouri’s postretirement benefit plans was discontinued. The difference between no recovery in rates and pension expense as calculated pursuant to the above and that otherwise would be included in the statements of income and statements of comprehensive income is deferred as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability.

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 March 31, 2022 for Spire Missouri or Spire Alabama, and none are expected to be required for the remainder of the fiscal year.

39


 

9. 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, a subsidiary of Spire providing interstate natural gas pipeline transportation services;

 

Spire Storage, a subsidiary of Spire providing interstate natural gas storage services; and

 

Spire’s subsidiaries engaged in the operation of a propane pipeline 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, Spire Alabama and Spire Storage, sales of natural gas from Spire Missouri to Spire Marketing, propane transportation services provided by Spire NGL Inc to Spire Missouri, and natural gas transportation services provided by Spire STL Pipeline to Spire Missouri.

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 impairments and 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 March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

 

$

817.4

 

 

$

59.4

 

 

$

4.1

 

 

$

 

 

$

880.9

 

Intersegment revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.0

 

 

 

(14.0

)

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

 

817.4

 

 

 

59.4

 

 

 

18.1

 

 

 

(14.0

)

 

 

880.9

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

356.0

 

 

 

45.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.8

)

 

 

392.0

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

104.2

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

10.0

 

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

113.2

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

56.5

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

58.9

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

70.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

71.6

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

587.0

 

 

 

49.8

 

 

 

12.9

 

 

 

(14.0

)

 

 

635.7

 

Operating Income

 

$

230.4

 

 

$

9.6

 

 

$

5.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

245.2

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss)

 

$

169.2

 

 

$

14.4

 

 

$

(2.6

)

 

$

 

 

$

181.0

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility

 

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

Other

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

 

$

1,053.0

 

 

$

47.4

 

 

$

4.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,104.9

 

Intersegment revenues

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

(14.0

)

 

 

11.1

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

 

1,053.1

 

 

 

33.4

 

 

 

15.6

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

1,104.9

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

619.2

 

 

 

(6.2

)

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

619.1

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

104.0

 

 

 

7.1

 

 

 

11.1

 

 

 

(3.2

)

 

 

119.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

49.5

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

51.5

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

56.4

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

57.9

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

829.1

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

13.9

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

847.5

 

Operating Income

 

$

224.0

 

 

$

31.7

 

 

$

1.7

 

 

$

 

 

$

257.4

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss)

 

$

159.7

 

 

$

39.8

 

 

$

(3.9

)

 

$

 

 

$

195.6

 

 

40


 

 

 

 

Gas Utility

 

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

Other

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

Consolidated

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

 

$

1,320.9

 

 

$

107.3

 

 

$

8.1

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,436.3

 

Intersegment revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26.6

 

 

 

(26.6

)

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

 

1,320.9

 

 

 

107.3

 

 

 

34.7

 

 

 

(26.6

)

 

 

1,436.3

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

566.2

 

 

 

93.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18.8

)

 

 

641.2

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

211.5

 

 

 

5.9

 

 

 

20.0

 

 

 

(7.8

)

 

 

229.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

111.1

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

115.8

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

107.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

109.2

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

996.1

 

 

 

100.8

 

 

 

25.5

 

 

 

(26.6

)

 

 

1,095.8

 

Operating Income

 

$

324.8

 

 

$

6.5

 

 

$

9.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

340.5

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss)

 

$

236.4

 

 

$

14.9

 

 

$

(7.7

)

 

$

 

 

$

243.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Utility

 

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

Other

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

Consolidated

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from external customers

 

$

1,550.2

 

 

$

58.1

 

 

$

9.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,617.5

 

Intersegment revenues

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

23.1

 

 

 

(24.3

)

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

 

1,551.3

 

 

 

58.2

 

 

 

32.3

 

 

 

(24.3

)

 

 

1,617.5

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

823.5

 

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

(17.8

)

 

 

800.3

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

207.0

 

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

19.7

 

 

 

(6.5

)

 

 

230.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

98.1

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

102.3

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

91.9

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

94.0

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

 

1,220.5

 

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

24.8

 

 

 

(24.3

)

 

 

1,227.2

 

Operating Income

 

$

330.8

 

 

$

52.0

 

 

$

7.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

390.3

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss)

 

$

236.1

 

 

$

43.1

 

 

$

(6.7

)

 

$

 

 

$

272.5

 

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net Income

 

$

173.6

 

 

$

187.4

 

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

276.3

 

Adjustments, pre-tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missouri regulatory adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

(9.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

(9.0

)

Fair value and timing adjustments

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

20.1

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

4.1

 

Income tax adjustments

 

 

(2.5

)

 

 

(2.9

)

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

1.1

 

Net Economic Earnings

 

$

181.0

 

 

$

195.6

 

 

$

243.6

 

 

$

272.5

 

 

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

 

 

March 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2021

 

Total Assets:

 

 

 

Gas Utility

 

$

7,684.1

 

 

$

7,615.4

 

 

$

7,265.0

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

431.1

 

 

 

466.1

 

 

 

341.0

 

Other

 

 

2,543.8

 

 

 

2,351.7

 

 

 

2,513.7

 

Eliminations

 

 

(1,257.7

)

 

 

(1,076.8

)

 

 

(1,182.9

)

Total Assets

 

$

9,401.3

 

 

$

9,356.4

 

 

$

8,936.8

 

 

 

41


 

 

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company and the Utilities have entered into contracts with various counterparties, expiring on dates through 2039, for the storage, transportation, and supply of natural gas. Minimum payments required under the contracts in place at March 31, 2022, are estimated at $1,972.1, $1,310.2, and $554.6 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, some of which are discussed under the Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama headings below. 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.

To date, costs incurred for all Spire MGP sites for investigation, remediation, and monitoring 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 and Spire Alabama may incur could be materially higher or lower depending upon several factors, including whether remediation 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 2020, Spire retained an outside consultant to conduct probabilistic cost modeling of its former MGP sites in Missouri and Alabama. The purpose of this analysis was to develop an estimated range of probabilistic future liability for each of their MGP sites. That analysis, completed in March 2021, provided a range of demonstrated possible future expenditures to investigate, monitor and remediate the former MGP sites. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have recorded their best estimates of the probable expenditures that relate to these matters. The amount remains immaterial, and Spire Missouri, 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.

42


 

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 (MoDNR) Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP). The third site is the result of an assertion by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In conjunction with redevelopment of the Carondelet Coke site, 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 (NFA) letter from the MoDNR. 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 property was divided into seven parcels, and MoDNR NFA letters have been received for six of the parcels. Remediation is ongoing on the last parcel.

In a letter dated June 29, 2011, the Attorney General for the State of Missouri informed Spire Missouri that the MoDNR had completed an investigation of the second site, Station A. 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. Accordingly, Spire Missouri entered into a cost sharing agreement for remedial investigation with other PRPs. MoDNR never approved the agreement, so no remedial investigation took place.

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, Station B. Spire Missouri and the site owner 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, in March 2017 Spire Missouri requested more information from the EPA. Spire Missouri never 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 these 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, 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 six 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, and Independence MGP #2. Source removal has been conducted at all the owned sites since 2003 with the exception of Joplin. On September 15, 2016, a request was made with the MoDNR for a restrictive covenant use limitation with respect to Joplin. Remediation efforts at the six sites are at various stages of completion, ranging from groundwater monitoring and sampling following source removal activities to the aforementioned request for the Joplin site. As part of its participation in the BVCP, Spire Missouri communicates regularly with the MoDNR with respect to its remediation efforts and monitoring activities at these sites. On May 11, 2015, MoDNR approved the next phase of investigation at the Kansas City Station A Railroad area.

43


 

Spire Alabama

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.

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.

Spire Marketing, along with many natural gas industry participants, faced the unprecedented effects of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Numerous natural gas producers and midstream operators were unable to deliver natural gas to market as they experienced wellhead freeze-offs, power outages and equipment failure due to the extreme weather. These events resulted in supply curtailments, and related notices of force majeure to excuse performance, from and to certain counterparties. Further, these events have made Spire Marketing subject to various commercial disputes (including regarding force majeure) and a regulatory dispute regarding tariff obligations as a shipper on an interstate pipeline. As such, Spire Marketing has recorded an estimate of potential liabilities for damages based on communications with counterparties to date and the facts and circumstances surrounding each transaction. It is expected that the estimate will change as new facts emerge or settlements are reached, and it is possible that final settlement amounts may materially differ from the current estimate.

44


 

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

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

This section analyzes the financial condition and results of operations of Spire Inc. (the “Company”), Spire Missouri Inc., and Spire Alabama Inc. Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire EnergySouth are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth (Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi) are collectively referred to as the “Utilities.” 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,” “target,” 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 or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement are:

 

Weather conditions and catastrophic events, particularly severe weather in U.S. natural gas producing areas;

 

Impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties as to their continuing duration and severity;

 

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 as a result of decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut in producing natural gas wells and expiration or termination of existing supply and transportation arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing (including as a result of a failure of the Spire STL Pipeline to secure permanent authorization from the FERC), 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;

 

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

 

allowed rates of return and recovery of prudent costs,

 

incentive regulation,

 

industry structure,

 

purchased gas adjustment provisions,

 

rate design structure and implementation,

 

capital structures established for rate-setting purposes,

 

regulatory assets,

 

non-regulated and affiliate transactions,

 

franchise renewals,

 

authorization to operate facilities,

 

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

 

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;

45


 

 

 

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;

 

Energy commodity market conditions;

 

Discovery of material weakness in internal controls;

 

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

 

Employee workforce issues, including but not limited to labor disputes, the inability to attract and retain key talent, and future wage and employee benefit costs, including costs resulting from 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. Due to the seasonal nature of the Utilities’ business and the Spire Missouri rate design, earnings of Spire and each of the Utilities 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 MoPSC. Spire Missouri serves St. Louis, Kansas City, and other areas throughout the state. Spire Missouri purchases natural gas in the wholesale market from producers and marketers and ships the gas through interstate pipelines into its own 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.

Gas Utility - Spire Alabama

Spire Alabama is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the state of Alabama and is regulated by the APSC. 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 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 transports gas through its distribution system for certain large commercial and industrial customers for a transportation fee. Effective December 1, 2020, for most of these transportation service customers, Spire Alabama also purchases gas on the wholesale market for sale to the customer upon delivery to the Spire Alabama distribution system. All Spire Alabama services are provided to customers at rates and in accordance with tariffs authorized by the APSC.

Gas Utility - Spire EnergySouth

Spire Gulf and Spire Mississippi are utilities engaged in the purchase, retail distribution and sale of natural gas to approximately 100,000 customers in southern Alabama and south-central Mississippi. Spire Gulf is regulated by the APSC, and Spire Mississippi is regulated by the MSPSC.

46


 

Gas Marketing

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 throughout the 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 (“Spire STL Pipeline”) and Spire Storage West LLC (“Spire Storage”), described below; and

 

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

Spire STL Pipeline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spire which owns and operates a 65-mile pipeline connecting the Rockies Express Pipeline in Scott County, Illinois, to delivery points in St. Louis County, Missouri, including Spire Missouri’s storage facility. The pipeline is under the jurisdiction of the FERC and is currently permitted to deliver natural gas supply into eastern Missouri under a temporary certificate authorization. Spire STL Pipeline’s operating revenue is derived primarily from Spire Missouri as its foundation shipper.

Spire Storage is engaged in the storage of natural gas in the western region of the United States. The facility consists of two storage fields operating under one FERC market-based rate tariff.

COVID-19

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has adversely impacted economic activity and conditions worldwide. We are continuing to assess the developments involving our workforce, customers and suppliers, as well as the response of federal and state authorities, our regulators and other business and community leaders. The Company has implemented what we believe to be appropriate procedures and protocols to ensure the safety of our customers, suppliers and employees. Impacts on our results of operations from COVID-19 have been minimal, partly as a result of regulatory recovery mechanisms and approvals.

The Company is participating in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provisions allowing for a payroll tax deferral which did not have an impact on our results of operations but deferred the payment of the Company’s portion of certain payroll taxes until late in fiscal 2021 and 2022. Although the Company does not currently expect to seek relief under any other CARES Act provisions, we will continue to monitor all pending and future federal, state and local efforts related to the COVID-19 health crisis and assess our need and, as applicable, eligibility for any such relief.

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.

47


 

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 impairments and other non-recurring or unusual items such as certain regulatory, legislative or GAAP standard-setting actions. In addition, net economic earnings per share would exclude the impact, in the fiscal year of issuance, of any 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:

 

1)

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

 

2)

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 net realizable value 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 all of its 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 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 PGA clauses or 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.

48


 

EARNINGS – THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022

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 Common Share**

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) [GAAP]

 

$

169.2

 

 

$

7.0

 

 

$

(2.6

)

 

$

173.6

 

 

$

3.27

 

Adjustments, pre-tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value and timing adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.9

 

 

 

0.20

 

Income tax adjustments*

 

 

 

 

 

(2.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2.5

)

 

 

(0.05

)

Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]

 

$

169.2

 

 

$

14.4

 

 

$

(2.6

)

 

$

181.0

 

 

$

3.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) [GAAP]

 

$

166.4

 

 

$

24.9

 

 

$

(3.9

)

 

$

187.4

 

 

$

3.55

 

Adjustments, pre-tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missouri regulatory adjustment

 

 

(9.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.0

)

 

 

(0.17

)

Fair value and timing adjustments

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

19.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.1

 

 

 

0.39

 

Income tax adjustments*

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

(5.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2.9

)

 

 

(0.06

)

Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]

 

$

159.7

 

 

$

39.8

 

 

$

(3.9

)

 

$

195.6

 

 

$

3.71

 

*

Income tax adjustments include amounts calculated by applying federal, state, and local income tax rates applicable to ordinary income to the amounts of the pre-tax reconciling items.

**

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, which includes reductions for cumulative preferred dividends and participating shares.

Note: In the following discussion, all references to earnings (loss) per share and net economic earnings per share refer to earnings (loss) per diluted common share and net economic earnings (loss) per diluted common share.

Consolidated

Spire had net income of $173.6 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared with net income of $187.4 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Income per diluted share was $3.27 for the current quarter compared to income of $3.55 per diluted share for the prior-year quarter. The net income decline of $13.8 was primarily driven by a $17.9 reduction in the Gas Marketing segment, partly offset by $2.8 improved performance in the Gas Utility segment and a $1.3 increase in Other.

Spire’s net economic earnings for the second quarter were $181.0 ($3.42 per diluted share), compared to $195.6 ($3.71 per diluted share) in the prior year, reflecting lower earnings at Gas Marketing, partly offset by stronger performance in Gas Utility and Other. These impacts are described in further detail below.

Gas Utility

Net economic earnings for the Gas Utility segment increased $9.5 from the second quarter of the prior fiscal year, driven by $11.8 growth at Spire Missouri, while Spire Alabama and the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth (together, the “Southeast Utilities”) decreased $0.9 and $1.4, respectively, versus the prior-year quarter. Spire Missouri’s growth was primarily driven by rate increases that became effective in late December 2021, the result of the 2021 rate case. The decline on the Southeast Utilities was primarily the result of unseasonably warm weather in the region and higher depreciation and amortization costs. These impacts are discussed in further detail below.

49


 

Gas Marketing

Fiscal 2022 second quarter net economic earnings for the Gas Marketing segment were $14.4, compared to $39.8 last year, reflecting less favorable market conditions that are described in further detail below.

Other

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net economic loss decreased $1.3 compared with last year, primarily reflecting improved results at Spire Storage.

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 March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

230.4

 

 

$

9.6

 

 

$

5.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

245.2

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

104.2

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

10.0

 

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

113.2

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

56.5

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

58.9

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

70.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

71.6

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(51.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(51.9

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

409.5

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

18.1

 

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

437.0

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

356.0

 

 

 

45.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.8

)

 

 

392.0

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

51.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51.9

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

817.4

 

 

$

59.4

 

 

$

18.1

 

 

$

(14.0

)

 

$

880.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

224.0

 

 

$

31.7

 

 

$

1.7

 

 

$

 

 

$

257.4

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

104.0

 

 

 

7.1

 

 

 

11.1

 

 

 

(3.2

)

 

 

119.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

49.5

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

51.5

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

56.4

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

57.9

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(42.1

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(42.2

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

391.8

 

 

 

39.5

 

 

 

15.5

 

 

 

(3.2

)

 

 

443.6

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

619.2

 

 

 

(6.2

)

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

619.1

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

42.1

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42.2

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

1,053.1

 

 

$

33.4

 

 

$

15.6

 

 

$

2.8

 

 

$

1,104.9

 

Consolidated

Spire reported operating revenues of $880.9 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a $224.0 decrease versus the prior-year quarter. The Gas Utility segment experienced a quarter-over-quarter decrease of $235.7 in operating revenues. This reduction was only partly offset by the $26.0 increase reported by the Gas Marketing segment. Spire’s contribution margin decreased $6.6 compared with last year, as a decrease of $25.9 in the Gas Marketing segment was only partly offset by the increase experienced by the Gas Utility segment and Other. Depreciation and amortization expenses were up $7.4 due to continuing Gas Utility capital investments. Gas Utility operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of $104.2 for the quarter were $0.2 higher than last year. Gas Utility O&M was $4.7 lower after adjusting for the $9.0 benefit recorded last year of previously disallowed pension expenses relating to the 2018 rate case due to a Missouri Supreme Court ruling, the $3.1 transfer of quarter-over-quarter nonservice postretirement benefit costs to other expense below the operating income line (the “Nonservice Cost Transfer”) and the reversal of $1.0 of Spire Missouri non-operational overheads charged to O&M during the first quarter of 2022 that are now deferred. These impacts are described in further detail below.

50


 

Gas Utility

Operating Revenues Gas Utility operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were $817.4, or $235.7 lower than the same period in the prior year. The decrease in Gas Utility operating revenues was attributable to the following factors:

 

Spire Missouri – OFO charges

 

$

(195.8

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Off-system sales and capacity release

 

 

(93.5

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage (net of weather mitigation)

 

 

(17.2

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Higher PGA/GSA costs (gas cost recovery)

 

 

34.3

 

Spire Missouri – 2021 rate case outcomes

 

 

24.7

 

Spire Missouri – Higher gross receipts taxes

 

 

10.4

 

Spire Alabama – RSE adjustments, net

 

 

2.5

 

All other factors

 

 

(1.1

)

Total Variation

 

$

(235.7

)

 

The prior year Gas Utility results included benefits that resulted from the February 2021 cold weather event (“Winter Storm Uri”). As a result, current year second quarter revenues were $235.7 below the prior-year quarter. Key drivers included $195.8 in cover charges and Operational Flow Order (OFO) penalties to certain wholesale customers at Spire Missouri in the prior year. Off-system sales in the current-year quarter were $93.5 lower than the prior year, with the prior year benefiting from historically high off-system sales relating primarily to Winter Storm Uri. Weather patterns in the prior year drove higher volumetric usage, contributing to a $17.2 quarter-over-quarter revenue decline. These negative impacts were only partly offset by $34.3 in higher gas cost recoveries in the current year, a $24.7 increase resulting from Spire Missouri’s 2021 rate order that went into effect late in the first quarter of this year, $10.4 of higher gross-receipt taxes at Spire Missouri, and $2.5 in net rate adjustments under the RSE mechanism at Spire Alabama.

Contribution Margin – Gas Utility contribution margin was $409.5 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a $17.7 increase over the same period in the prior year. The increase was attributable to the following factors:

 

Spire Missouri – 2021 rate case outcomes

 

$

24.7

 

Spire Alabama – Rate adjustment under RSE mechanism, net

 

 

2.3

 

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage (net of weather mitigation)

 

 

(4.3

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Off-system sales and capacity release

 

 

(2.2

)

All other factors

 

 

(2.8

)

Total Variation

 

$

17.7

 

Quarter-over-quarter contribution growth was driven by the $24.7 increase from the previously mentioned rate increases at Spire Missouri and $2.3 net favorable rate adjustments under the RSE mechanism at Spire Alabama. These positive impacts were only partly offset by decreases resulting from volumetric usage and lower off-system sales of $4.3 and $2.2, respectively.

Operating Expenses – O&M expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were $0.2 higher than the prior year. After removing the $3.1 impact of the Nonservice Cost Transfer, $1.0 of non-operational overheads mentioned earlier, and last year’s $9.0 rate case refund ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court, expenses decreased $4.7. The decrease was largely due to lower employee-related expenses, and lower bad debt expense. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the fiscal 2022 second quarter were $7.0 higher than the same period in the prior year primarily driven by continued infrastructure capital expenditures across all the Utilities.

Gas Marketing

Operating Revenues – Operating revenues increased $26.0 versus the prior-year period as higher commodity prices and a lower proportion of total current year sales attributable to trading activities (trading revenues are netted against trading costs) all contributed to the growth over prior-year quarter.

51


 

Contribution MarginGas Marketing contribution margin during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, decreased $25.9 from the same period in the prior year, due principally to the benefit from the prior-year quarter that resulted from Winter Storm Uri totaling $23.8 (net of 2021 commercial claims that were resolved in the second quarter of fiscal 2022). Current year margin was negatively impacted by lower storage and wholesale/retail margins, driven by tighter spreads, higher demand charges and tighter geographic location spreads. These impacts were only partly offset by $10.0 favorable mark-to-market adjustments on open derivative positions.

Interest Charges

Consolidated interest charges increased by $1.7, principally due to higher Gas Utilities long-term debt and higher average short-term borrowings and interest rates in the current-year quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, average short-term borrowings were $789.4 and $626.7, respectively, and the average interest rate on these borrowings was 0.56% and 0.28%, respectively.

Income Taxes

Consolidated income tax for the three months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $5.3 versus the same period in the prior year. The variance is due principally to the lower pre-tax book income and a slightly favorable effective tax rate resulting from income mix.

Spire Missouri

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

130.2

 

 

$

120.8

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

64.3

 

 

 

62.8

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

35.9

 

 

 

31.0

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

53.0

 

 

 

38.9

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(39.0

)

 

 

(28.6

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

244.4

 

 

 

224.9

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

287.8

 

 

 

537.4

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

39.0

 

 

 

28.6

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

571.2

 

 

$

790.9

 

Net Income

 

$

98.2

 

 

$

93.1

 

 

Prior year operating revenues results included benefits derived from Winter Storm Uri. As a result, revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $219.7 below the prior-year quarter. Key drivers were a reduction in gas recovery costs totaling $165.1, primarily the result of $195.8 in cover charges and OFO penalties to certain wholesale customers in the prior year. Off-system sales in the current-year quarter were $92.2 lower than the prior year, with the second quarter of 2021 benefiting from historically high off-system sales relating primarily to Winter Storm Uri. These negative impacts were only partly offset by the $24.7 increase resulting from the rate increases that went into effect late in the first quarter of this year, $10.4 of higher gross-receipt taxes, and a $5.6 increase due to volume (driven by a combination of higher costs and volume).

Contribution margin for the three months ended March 31, 2022, increased $19.5 from the same period in the prior year, largely the result of the $24.7 increase attributable to the previously mentioned rate changes more than offsetting $2.0 lower off-system sales and a $1.9 decrease due volumetric impacts (including weather mitigation).

Reported O&M expenses for the second quarter increased $1.5 versus the prior year. After removing the $2.5 impact of the Nonservice Cost Transfer, $1.0 of non-operational overheads mentioned earlier, and last year’s $9.0 rate case refund ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court, expenses decreased $4.0. The decrease was largely due to lower employee-related expenses and lower bad debt expenses. Depreciation and amortization increased $4.9 versus the prior-year quarter due to ongoing capital investments.

52


 

Other expense was higher by $3.2, with $2.5 due to the Nonservice Cost Transfer and most of the remaining variance due to unfavorable fair market value adjustments to unqualified pension trusts.

Resulting net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, increased $5.1 versus the prior-year quarter.

Degree days in Spire Missouri’s service areas during the three months ended March 31, 2022, were 0.9% colder than normal, and 1.9% colder than the same period last year. Spire Missouri’s total system therms sold and transported were 781.3 million for the quarter, compared with 772.9 million for the same period in the prior year. Total off-system therms sold and transported were 14.7 million for the current quarter, compared with 12.8 million a year ago.

Spire Alabama

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

87.9

 

 

$

89.2

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

32.9

 

 

 

33.7

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

16.7

 

 

 

15.2

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

14.5

 

 

 

14.7

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(11.3

)

 

 

(11.8

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

140.7

 

 

 

141.0

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

52.1

 

 

 

69.8

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

11.3

 

 

 

11.8

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

204.1

 

 

$

222.6

 

Net Income

 

$

62.4

 

 

$

63.3

 

Operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $18.5 from the same period in the prior year. The change in operating revenue was principally due to $22.8 attributable to unfavorable weather usage impacts, a decrease in off-system sales totaling $1.3, partly offset by higher gas cost recoveries of $3.6 and net favorable rate adjustments under the RSE mechanism of $2.5.

Contribution margin was $0.3 lower versus the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by $2.4 unfavorable weather/usage and $0.2 lower off-system sales, mostly offset by favorable net rate adjustments under the RSE mechanism of $2.3.

O&M expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $0.8 versus the prior-year quarter, or $0.5 after removing the impact of the Nonservice Cost Transfer. Lower bad debt expense more than offset modest increases in administrative expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses were up $1.5, the result of continued investment in infrastructure upgrades.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, resulting net income decreased $0.9 versus the prior-year quarter.

As measured in degree days, temperatures in Spire Alabama’s service area during the three months ended March 31, 2022, were 16.2% warmer than normal and 15.3% warmer than a year ago. Spire Alabama’s total system therms sold and transported were 326.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared with 340.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Total off-system therms sold and transported were 0.1 million for the quarter, compared with 16.1 million a year ago.

53


 

EARNINGS – SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022

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 Common Share**

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) [GAAP]

 

$

232.3

 

 

$

4.7

 

 

$

(7.7

)

 

$

229.3

 

 

$

4.28

 

Adjustments, pre-tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value and timing adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

 

0.27

 

Income tax effect of adjustments*

 

 

4.1

 

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]

 

$

236.4

 

 

$

14.9

 

 

$

(7.7

)

 

$

243.6

 

 

$

4.56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) [GAAP]

 

$

242.9

 

 

$

40.1

 

 

$

(6.7

)

 

$

276.3

 

 

$

5.20

 

Adjustments, pre-tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missouri regulatory adjustment

 

 

(9.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.0

)

 

 

(0.18

)

Fair value and timing adjustments

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

 

 

0.08

 

Income tax effect of adjustments*

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

 

0.02

 

Net Economic Earnings (Loss) [Non-GAAP]

 

$

236.1

 

 

$

43.1

 

 

$

(6.7

)

 

$

272.5

 

 

$

5.12

 

*

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, and for fiscal 2022, include a Spire Missouri regulatory adjustment.

**

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, which includes reductions for cumulative preferred dividends and participating shares.

Note: In the following discussion, all references to earnings (loss) per share and net economic earnings per share refer to earnings (loss) per diluted common share and net economic earnings per diluted common share.

Consolidated

Spire’s net income was $229.3 for the six months ended March 31, 2022, compared with $276.3 for the six months ended March 31, 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2022, were both $4.28, compared with basic and diluted earnings per share of $5.21 and $5.20, respectively, for the six months ended March 31, 2021.

The decrease in net income of $47.0 primarily reflects a $35.4 decrease in net income from the Gas Marketing segment and a $10.6 decrease in net income from the Gas Utility segment.

The Gas Marketing segment was negatively impacted by the more favorable market conditions experienced in the prior year, particularly in the month of February that drove volume, higher local/regional basis differentials and higher realized value from storage withdrawals. Results in the current year reflected more normalized market conditions. Gas Marketing net income in the current year was also negatively impacted by unfavorable unrealized fair value mark-to-market adjustments. The Gas Utility segment was lower due to a $6.2 decrease at Spire Missouri, a $2.4 decrease at Spire Alabama, and a $2.0 decrease attributable to the utilities of Spire EnergySouth.

54


 

Net economic earnings were $243.6 ($4.56 per diluted share) for the six months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $272.5 ($5.12 per diluted share) for the same period last year, primarily reflecting lower earnings in the Gas Marketing segment that was only partly offset by small increases in the Gas Utility segment. These variances are discussed in greater detail below.

Gas Utility

Gas Utility net income decreased by $10.6 from the first half of the prior year. This decrease was driven primarily by the $6.2 reduction at Spire Missouri. Spire Missouri’s results for the current year were negatively impacted by timing of ISRS filings, $8.7 higher depreciation expense, $5.3 higher interest expense resulting from higher levels of long-term debt and higher short-term interest rates, the fact that the prior year included a $9.0 ($6.8 after-tax) benefit from the Missouri Supreme Court ruling that partially reversed 2018 rate case pension cost disallowances, combined with the current year being burdened with a $4.1 income tax expense resulting from the 2021 rate order. These negative impacts more than offset the $24.8 increase in contribution margin resulting from the new rates implemented late in the first quarter of 2022. Spire Alabama’s net income declined by $2.4, as $5.5 in net favorable RSE adjustments were offset by a $3.6 reduction in contribution relating to volume/usage and lower off-system sales, $3.0 in higher depreciation expense, higher property taxes and lower miscellaneous income.

Net economic earnings in the first six months of fiscal 2022 were $236.4, an increase of $0.3 over the corresponding period in the prior year. The $4.7 increase at Spire Missouri was mostly offset by the $4.4 decline experienced by the Southeast Utilities. These impacts are described in further detail below.

Gas Marketing

The Gas Marketing segment reported net income of $4.7 for the six months ended March 31, 2022, versus $40.1 during the same period last year, principally reflecting strong second quarter operating results in the prior year due to Winter Storm Uri. Fiscal 2022 results also reflect less favorable market conditions and basis differentials despite price volatility, offset by favorable resolution of certain customer claims. Gas Marketing also experienced $7.2 in after-tax unfavorable year-over-year derivative fair value mark-to-market valuations. Net economic earnings for the current-year period were $14.9, a decrease of $28.2 from the same period last year, as net income variance is reduced by adding back the unrealized derivative fair value impact.

Other

For the six months ended March 31, 2022, net economic loss for Other was $7.7, versus $6.7 in the prior-year period. Included in those results were slightly higher corporate costs in the current year.

55


 

Operating Revenues and Expenses and Contribution Margin

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

 

 

Gas Utility

 

 

Gas Marketing

 

 

Other

 

 

Eliminations

 

 

Consolidated

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

324.8

 

 

$

6.5

 

 

$

9.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

340.5

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

211.5

 

 

 

5.9

 

 

 

20.0

 

 

 

(7.8

)

 

 

229.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

111.1

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

115.8

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

107.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

109.2

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(73.6

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(73.8

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

681.1

 

 

 

13.3

 

 

 

34.7

 

 

 

(7.8

)

 

 

721.3

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

566.2

 

 

 

93.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18.8

)

 

 

641.2

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

73.6

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73.8

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

1,320.9

 

 

$

107.3

 

 

$

34.7

 

 

$

(26.6

)

 

$

1,436.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

330.8

 

 

$

52.0

 

 

$

7.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

390.3

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

207.0

 

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

19.7

 

 

 

(6.5

)

 

 

230.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

98.1

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

102.3

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

91.9

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

94.0

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(63.8

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(63.9

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

664.0

 

 

 

63.6

 

 

 

32.2

 

 

 

(6.5

)

 

 

753.3

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

823.5

 

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

(17.8

)

 

 

800.3

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

63.8

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63.9

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

1,551.3

 

 

$

58.2

 

 

$

32.3

 

 

$

(24.3

)

 

$

1,617.5

 

Consolidated

Spire’s operating revenues decreased by $230.4 at the Gas Utility segment, which more than offset the $49.1 increase in the Gas Marketing segment and the $2.4 increase in Other. The Gas Utility variance was largely due to the prior year results including the benefits that resulted from Winter Storm Uri. The Gas Marketing increase was due to lower trading activity (trading activities are recorded as revenues net of costs) and higher volumes and pricing, while Other primarily reflects higher revenues at Spire Storage.

Spire’s contribution margin decreased $32.0 compared with the same six-month period last year, as the $17.1 increase in the Gas Utility segment was more than offset by the $50.3 reduction at Gas Marketing. The Gas Utility contribution margin increase was primarily driven by the $17.5 increase from Spire Missouri and the $1.9 increase at Spire Alabama, offset slightly by a decline at the utilities of Spire EnergySouth. The decrease in Gas Marketing reflects very favorable market conditions in the prior year second quarter, combined with unfavorable fair value mark-to-market adjustments in the current year. Higher contribution margins in Other are primarily due to Spire Storage improvement resulting from higher utilization of its storage capacity.

Depreciation and amortization expenses were higher in the Gas Utility segment, due to higher capital investments in both Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama. Gas Utility O&M expenses were $4.5 higher in the current year. Removing the prior year impact of the Missouri Supreme Court ruling that partially reversed 2018 rate case pension cost disallowances totaling $9.0, and the year-to-date postretirement Nonservice Cost Transfer of $1.4, run-rate O&M expenses in the current year are lower by $3.1. These fluctuations are described in more detail below.

56


 

Gas Utility

Operating Revenues – Gas Utility operating revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2022, were $1,320.9, or $230.4 lower than the same period last year. The decrease in Gas Utility operating revenues was attributable to the following factors:

Spire Missouri – OFO charges

 

$

(195.8

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Off-system sales and capacity release

 

 

(97.9

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage (net of weather mitigation)

 

 

(22.7

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Higher PGA/GSA costs (gas cost recovery)

 

 

46.4

 

Spire Missouri – 2021 rate case outcomes

 

 

24.8

 

Spire Alabama – RSE adjustments, net

 

 

6.0

 

All other factors

 

 

8.8

 

Total Variation

 

$

(230.4

)

The decrease in revenues was driven primarily by the prior year inclusion of $195.8 of cover charges and OFO penalties to certain wholesale customers at Spire Missouri, a $97.9 decrease in off-system sales, and weather/volumetric impacts of $22.7. These negative impacts more than offset the benefits of higher current year gas cost recoveries of $46.4, Spire Missouri’s new rates that resulted from the 2021 rate order, and Spire Alabama’s favorable RSE adjustments.

Contribution Margin – Gas Utility contribution margin was $681.1 for the six months ended March 31, 2022, a $17.1 increase over the same period last year. The increase was attributable to the following factors:

Spire Missouri – 2021 rate case outcomes

 

$

24.8

 

Spire Alabama – Rate adjustment under RSE mechanism, net

 

 

5.5

 

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Volumetric usage (net of weather mitigation)

 

 

(6.1

)

Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama – Off-system sales and capacity release

 

 

(3.0

)

All other factors

 

 

(4.1

)

Total Variation

 

$

17.1

 

The contribution margin increase resulted primarily from the changes resulting from the 2021 rate order and Spire Alabama RSE adjustment impacts more than offsetting negative volumetric usage and lower off-system sales.

Operating Expenses – Gas Utility O&M expenses were $4.5 higher in the current year. Removing the Missouri Supreme Court ruling that partially reversed 2018 rate case pension cost disallowances totaling $9.0, and the year-to-date postretirement Nonservice Cost Transfer of $1.4, run-rate O&M expenses in the current year are lower by $3.1. This decrease is primarily due to lower operations and employee-related costs and lower bad debt expense. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2021, increased $13.0 from the same period last year, the result of continued levels of capital investment.

Gas Marketing

Operating Revenues – Gas Marketing operating revenues increased $49.1 from the same period last year, primarily due to trading activity making up a lower proportion of total sales (trading activities are recorded as revenues net of costs) and higher volumes and pricing.

Contribution Margin – Gas Marketing contribution margin during the six months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $50.3 from the same period last year, driven principally by strong second quarter results in the prior year. During that quarter, particularly the month of February, very favorable weather patterns drove significantly higher regional basis differentials and volume. The current year reflects more normalized market conditions.

57


 

Interest Charges

Consolidated interest charges during the six months ended March 31, 2022, were $4.6 higher than the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher average short-term interest rates in the current year period, combined with the impact of net long-term debt issuances and higher levels of short-term borrowings. For the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, average short-term borrowings were $799.1 and $681.4, respectively, and the average interest rates on these borrowings were 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Income Taxes

Consolidated income tax expense during the six months ended March 31, 2022 decreased $9.5 versus the prior year. The variance is the result of the lower pre-tax book income in the current year, offset by a $4.1 charge resulting from Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reconciliations from the recently completed Spire Missouri rate case.

Spire Missouri

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

195.6

 

 

$

196.3

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

130.6

 

 

 

125.7

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

70.1

 

 

 

61.4

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

78.7

 

 

 

64.0

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(53.9

)

 

 

(43.8

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

421.1

 

 

 

403.6

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

444.1

 

 

 

699.0

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

53.9

 

 

 

43.8

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

919.1

 

 

$

1,146.4

 

Net Income

 

$

143.5

 

 

$

149.7

 

 

Prior year operating revenues results included benefits derived from Winter Storm Uri. As a result, current year revenues were $227.3 below the prior-year quarter. Key drivers were a reduction in gas recovery costs totaling $154.5, primarily the result of $195.8 in cover charges and OFO penalties to certain wholesale customers in the prior year only being partly offset by higher commodity costs in the current year. Off-system sales and capacity release in the current-year quarter were $95.0 lower than the prior year, with the second quarter of 2021 benefiting from historically high off-system sales relating primarily to Winter Storm Uri. Revenues were also negatively impacted by a $9.1 reduction due to lower volume and usage. These negative impacts were only partly offset by the $24.8 increase resulting from the rate increases as a result of the 2021 rate order, and $10.1 of higher gross-receipt taxes.

Contribution margin for the three months ended March 31, 2022, increased $17.5 from the same period in the prior year, largely the result of the $24.8 increase attributable to the rate case changes outlined above more than offsetting a $2.9 decrease due volumetric impacts (including weather mitigation) and $2.6 lower off-system sales.

Reported O&M expenses increased $4.9 versus the prior year. After removing the $0.8 impact of the year-to-date Nonservice Cost Transfer and last year’s $9.0 rate case refund ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court, expenses decreased $3.3. The decrease was largely due to lower employee-related expenses and lower bad debt expenses. Depreciation and amortization increased $8.7 versus the prior-year quarter due to ongoing capital investments.

Interest expense for the six months ended March 31, 2022 increased $5.3 versus the same period in the prior year, the result of net long term debt issuances and significantly higher short-term interest rates.

Resulting net income for the six months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $6.2 versus the comparable prior-year period.

58


 

Temperatures in Spire Missouri’s service areas during the six months ended March 31, 2021, were 6.7% warmer than the same period last year and 10.3% warmer than normal. The Spire Missouri total system therms sold and transported were 1,220.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022, compared with 1,295.7 million for the same period last year. Total off-system therms sold and transported were 16.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022, compared with 21.3 million for the same period last year.

Spire Alabama

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Income [GAAP]

 

$

109.0

 

 

$

111.7

 

Operation and maintenance expenses

 

 

67.4

 

 

 

66.5

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

33.2

 

 

 

30.2

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

23.5

 

 

 

22.9

 

Less: Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

(17.0

)

 

 

(17.1

)

Contribution Margin [Non-GAAP]

 

 

216.1

 

 

 

214.2

 

Natural gas costs

 

 

97.6

 

 

 

104.9

 

Gross receipts tax expense

 

 

17.0

 

 

 

17.1

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

330.7

 

 

$

336.2

 

Net Income

 

$

74.6

 

 

$

77.0

 

Operating revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2022, decreased $5.5 from the same period last year. The change was principally driven by a $13.6 decrease in weather and usage impacts (net of weather mitigation) and lower Off-system sales of $2.9. These negative impacts were only partly offset by $6.0 net favorable RSE adjustments and by higher gas cost recoveries of $5.1.

Contribution margin increased $1.9, principally as a result of the RSE adjustments of $5.5 (mentioned above), mostly offset by $3.4 lower volume usage impacts and $0.4 related to lower off-system sales. O&M expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2022, increased $0.9 from the same period last year. Excluding the impact of the year-to-date postretirement Nonservice Cost Transfer of $0.4, the increase of $1.3 was primarily driven by slightly higher operations and employee-related costs.

Temperatures in Spire Alabama’s service area during the six months ended March 31, 2022, were 10.8% warmer than the same period last year and 14.9% warmer than normal. Spire Alabama’s total system therms sold and transported were 583.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022, compared with 584.7 million for the same period last year. Off-system sales, and related therms sold totaled 0.1 million, versus 27.1 million in the prior year, which benefited from Winter Storm Uri.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Recent Cash Flows

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 

Cash Flow Summary

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

155.1

 

 

$

159.2

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(273.2

)

 

 

(304.3

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

122.0

 

 

 

245.0

 

 

For the six months ended March 31, 2022, net cash from operating activities decreased $4.1 from the corresponding period of fiscal 2021. Offsetting a decline in net income of $47.0 (discussed above) were changes due principally to high recovery of deferred gas costs this year and fluctuations in working capital items, as discussed below in the Future Cash Requirements section. Those typical variance drivers have been impacted by Spire Missouri’s Operational Flow Order and Filing Adjustment Factor put into place last year, as discussed in Note 4, Regulatory Matters, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

59


 

For the six months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $31.1 less than for the same period in the prior year, primarily driven by a $27.6 decrease in capital expenditures. The primary drivers of the lower capital expenditures were a $14.9 spending decline at Gas Utility, and a $11.8 decline related principally to Spire Storage, as well as a slight decline at Spire STL Pipeline.

Lastly, for the six months ended March 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was down $123.0 versus net cash provided for the six months ended March 31, 2021. Current year long-term debt issuances were $300.0, or $25.0 lower than a year ago, net short-term debt repayments were higher by $70.4 in the current period, and repayments of long-term debt rose $50.4 over the prior year period. Partially offsetting these fluctuations was a $23.3 increase in issuances of common stock during the first six months of fiscal 2022 versus the same prior year period.

Future Cash Requirements

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.

Spire’s material cash requirements as of March 31, 2022, are related to capital expenditures, principal and interest payments on long-term debt, natural gas purchase obligations, and dividends. Except for Spire Missouri’s December 2021 issuance of $300.0 of floating rate bonds due in December 2024, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business from the future cash requirements discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Total Company capital expenditures are planned to be $540 for fiscal 2022.

Source of Funds

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 requirements. Their debt is rated by two rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”). As of March 31, 2022, the debt ratings of the Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama (shown in the following table) remain at investment grade with a stable outlook (other than Moody’s negative outlook for Spire Missouri debt).

 

 

 

S&P

 

Moody’s

Spire Inc. senior unsecured long-term debt

 

BBB+

 

Baa2

Spire Inc. preferred stock

 

BBB

 

Ba1

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

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Bank deposits were used to support working capital needs of the business. Spire had no temporary cash investments as of March 31, 2022.

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Short-term Debt

The Company’s short-term cash requirements can be met through the sale of up to $975.0 of commercial paper or through the use of Spire’s $975.0 revolving credit facility. For information about short-term borrowings, see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

Long-term Debt and Equity

At March 31, 2022, including the current portion but excluding unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs, Spire had long-term debt totaling $3,258.9, of which $1,648.0 was issued by Spire Missouri, $575.0 was issued by Spire Alabama, and $205.9 was issued by other subsidiaries. For information about long-term debt issued this fiscal year, see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

Effective March 5, 2022, Spire Missouri was authorized by the MoPSC to issue conventional term loans, first mortgage bonds, unsecured debt, preferred stock and common stock in an aggregate amount of up to $800.0 for financings placed any time before December 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2022, the entire amount remained available under this authorization. Spire Alabama has no standing authority to issue long-term debt and must petition the APSC for each planned issuance.

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 169,420 and 164,624 shares at March 31, 2022 and May 1, 2022, respectively, remaining available for issuance under this Form S-3. Spire and Spire Missouri also have a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the SEC for the issuance of various equity and debt securities, which expires on May 14, 2022. A new universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 will be filed before the expiration of the current one.

On February 6, 2019, Spire entered into an “at-the-market” (ATM) equity distribution agreement, supplemented as of May 14, 2019, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock pursuant to Spire’s universal shelf registration statement referenced above and a prospectus supplement dated May 14, 2019. Under this program, a total of 626,249 shares with an aggregate offering price of $47.8 were issued in fiscal 2019 and 2020, and 354,000 shares with an aggregate offering price of $23.5 have been issued to date in fiscal 2022. On April 28, 2022, Spire’s board approved a new authorization for the sale of additional shares with an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 before the May 2025 expiration of the new universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to be filed in May 2022.

Including the current portion of long-term debt, the Company’s long-term consolidated capitalization consisted of 47% equity at both March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021.

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, 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, 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 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1.

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.

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ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Company, Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama have evaluated or are in the process of evaluating the effects that recently issued accounting standards will have on the companies’ financial position or results of operations upon adoption, but none are currently expected to have a significant impact.

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, which 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 Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and include regulatory accounting, employee benefits and postretirement obligations, impairment of long-lived assets, and income taxes. There were no significant changes to critical accounting estimates during the six months ended March 31, 2022.

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 Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama’s combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

MARKET RISK

There were no material changes in the Company’s commodity price risk or counterparty credit risk as of March 31, 2022, relative to the corresponding information provided in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. In the second fiscal quarter of 2020, the Company entered into multiple ten-year interest rate swaps with fixed interest rates ranging from 0.934% to 1.2975% for a total notional amount of $75.0 to protect itself against adverse movements in interest rates on future interest rate payments. The Company recorded a $2.4 mark-to-market gain in accumulated other comprehensive income on these swaps for six months ended March 31, 2022. In the third quarter of 2021 the Company entered into multiple ten-year interest rate swaps with fixed interest rates ranging from 2.008% to 2.1075% for a total notional amount of $150.0 to protect itself against adverse movements in interest rates on future interest rate payments. The Company recorded a $4.6 mark-to-market gain in accumulated other comprehensive income on these swaps for the six months ended March 31, 2022.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company entered into two swap contracts. Both contracts are ten-year interest rate swaps; the first swap has a notional amount of $50.0 with a fixed interest rate of 1.597%, while the second swap has a notional amount of $50.0 with a fixed interest rate of 1.821%. The Company recorded a $0.6 mark-to-market gain to accumulated other comprehensive income on these swaps for the six months ended March 31, 2022.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company entered into a ten-year interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $50.0 with a fixed interest rate of 1.4918%. The Company recorded a $2.3 mark-to-market gain to accumulated other comprehensive income on this swap for the six months ended March 31, 2022.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company entered into multiple ten-year interest rate swap contracts with a cumulative total notional amount of $150.0 with fixed interest rates ranging from 1.64750% to 1.7460%. The Company recorded a $3.9 mark-to-market gain to accumulated other comprehensive income on these swaps for the six months ended March 31, 2022.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company has recorded through accumulated other comprehensive income a cumulative mark-to-market net asset of $20.8 on open swaps for the current fiscal year.

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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 March 31, 2022, 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

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our 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

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

For a description of legal proceedings, environmental matters and regulatory matters, see Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 4, Regulatory Matters, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There were no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

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

 

January 1, 2022 –

January 31, 2022

 

 

116

 

 

$

65.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 1, 2022 –

February 28, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 1, 2022 –

March 31, 2022

 

 

186

 

 

 

66.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

302

 

 

 

65.71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spire Missouri’s outstanding first mortgage bonds contain restrictions on its ability to pay cash dividends on its common stock. As of March 31, 2022, all of Spire Missouri’s retained earnings were free from such restrictions.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

4.1*

 

Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999, between Laclede Gas and State Street Bank and Trust Company of Missouri, N.A., as trustee; filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Laclede Gas’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 4, 1999.

4.2

 

Thirty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2022, between Spire Missouri and UMB Bank & Trust, N.A., as trustee.

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

 

Interactive Data Files including the following information from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022, formatted in inline extensible business reporting language (“Inline XBRL”): (i) Cover Page Interactive Data and (ii) the Financial Statements included in Item 1.

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and included in the Interactive Data Files submitted under Exhibit 101).

 

* Incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Spire Missouri Inc. File No. 1-1822. Laclede Gas Company changed its name to Spire Missouri Inc. effective August 30, 2017.

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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:

May 6, 2022

 

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:

May 6, 2022

 

By:

/s/ Timothy W. Krick

 

 

 

 

Timothy W. Krick

 

 

 

 

Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

 

(Authorized Signatory and

Chief Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

Spire Alabama Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 6, 2022

 

By:

/s/ Timothy W. Krick

 

 

 

 

Timothy W. Krick

 

 

 

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

 

(Authorized Signatory and

Chief Accounting Officer)

 

66