Laclede Gas to double in size with Missouri Gas Energy

Spring 2013
Laclede
NEWS
Laclede News is published quarterly for the employees and retirees of The Laclede Group.
Transformative Acquisition Positions Laclede
for Exciting Growth Opportunities
Laclede Gas to double in size with Missouri Gas Energy purchase
Over the course of the past year, we talked a lot
about our future and how we plan to grow. While
the building blocks were in place, we needed to
make a few adjustments along the way to be in the
best position to execute a growth strategy. And
we did it. All of our collective hard work culminated
in the December announcement that The Laclede
Group had agreed to acquire Missouri Gas Energy
(MGE) and New England Gas Company (NEG)
from Southern Union Company, an affiliate
of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P., for $1.035 billion.
Once we complete the transactions, which we
expect to occur before the end of the third quarter
of calendar year 2013, we will be a much larger
company that will be able to support growth
initiatives in new markets, with new pipelines
and new customers. Our growth in Missouri is
exciting because our company will serve the state’s
two largest metropolitan areas and effectively
double our size by increasing our utility customer
base from approximately 630,000 to nearly 1.14
million. By all accounts, this is a transformative
acquisition for our company.
Then, in February, we announced the sale of NEG
to Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., subject
to approval from the Massachusetts Department
of Public Utilities. This transaction is a smart
business decision for our company and will not
impact our progress on the acquisition of MGE.
In addition to growing our customer base, we
expect the transactions to immediately add
to cash flow and add to earnings per share
beginning in the second full year following the
closing date. Given the nature of the assets we’re
acquiring, the transactions will increase the amount
of earnings we generate from our stable regulated
utility operations, and will also support the
dividend. When you put all these things together,
it is clear that we have the right recipe
for continued growth and success.
Sale of New England Gas Company
While we’d made plans for
“
welcoming New England Gas
Company into the Laclede family,
Algonquin presented an offer to
purchase New England Gas. This
transaction will provide value to
both our shareholders and NEG’s
customers, without affecting the
rest of the acquisition.
”
—Suzanne Sitherwood
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Laclede Group, Inc.
4.5
While we are getting bigger, we will not deviate
from our commitment to excellence. We will work
harder than ever before to live up to our reputation
as a trusted and reliable gas utility and to quickly
earn the trust of our new customers in Missouri.
Laclede Gas Company and MGE both have a
history of providing safe and reliable service to
customers, a shared focus on maintaining a safe
work environment, and a reputation for employing
the most highly trained employees in the industry.
By leveraging Laclede’s organizational strengths
and business processes, we are confident we can
enable future growth and higher-quality operations
to benefit all stakeholders; with our top priority
being a focus on safety and reliability for customers
and our employees.
Every day our customers rely on natural gas for a
home cooked meal, warm shower and dry clothes.
We look forward to welcoming the customers
IL
Kansas
City
St. Louis
KS
Jefferson
City
MO
OK
AR
of MGE to Laclede and providing the best in
class service that Laclede customers have come
to expect.
I want to extend my thanks to our leadership team
in connection with these exciting announcements.
Not only did our team dedicate hundreds of hours
of hard work to make these transactions a reality,
but they also helped us communicate the initial
announcement to employees. Thanks to the
leadership team’s efforts, we engaged with our
employees face-to-face by 9 a.m. on the day
of the announcement. While we did not have
all the answers that day, we continue to provide
updates as we work toward closing.
Since joining Laclede a year ago, I have had the
pleasure of meeting most of you face-to-face.
I am gratified by your passion for Laclede and
your commitment to serving our customers day
in and day out. We are one team and together
we continue to uphold our strong legacy and
chart a course for an even stronger tomorrow.
Thank you again for your continued hard work
and dedication. n
Suzanne Sitherwood
LOCAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION CUSTOMERS
(in millions)
3.2
Features
1.8
2 Laclede Gas Rate Case 3 Spire
1.14
GAS
ATO
SWX
LG
(pro
forma)
1.07
WGL
1.0
PNY
Natural Gas Fueling Solutions 4 2012:
0.7
0.6
0.5
NWN
LG
MGE
0.5
0.4
NJR
SJI
With the acquisition of MGE, Laclede Gas Company will have a combined total of 1.14 million
customers, moving us to the number four position in our peer group.
A Year in Review 6 newBLUE Updates
7 Main Replacement Initiative
8 Laclede Snapshots 10 High Marks
to Laclede Customer Service
11 DollarHelp: The Power of One
13 Tribute to Lee Liberman
Laclede Gas Seeks Approval for Rate Case
Safe and reliable natural gas remains a cost effective energy source
For the first time in three years, Laclede Gas
Company filed a general rate case with the
Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC).
“This general rate case is to recover the significant
investments Laclede has made in the maintenance
and operation costs for the 16,000 miles of natural
gas pipelines and delivery services that supply
natural gas to Laclede customers,” said Steve
Lindsey, president of Laclede Gas Company.
“This request is about more than pipelines, it’s
about the people,” Lindsey continued. “Laclede
employees work hard every day to provide safe and
reliable natural gas to customers across our service
area. Approximately $8 million of this request
is to invest in our employees through wages,
high-quality comprehensive benefits and pension
payments. Compared to previous years,
many of these costs have been capitalized
rather than expensed as a result of our main
replacement program.”
This filing will impact the 40 percent of a typical
residential bill that today covers the delivery and
service costs to operate, maintain and upgrade
natural gas pipelines across the Laclede Gas
service area. Due to historically low natural gas
prices, this past November, Laclede filed
to decrease the remaining 60 percent of a
residential bill that covers the cost of natural gas.
Due to these savings, on an inflation-adjusted
basis, customers will be paying less for natural gas
service than they paid almost a decade ago. Natural
gas remains one of the most cost effective energy
sources available today.
Customers were not impacted by this general
rate case this winter. The MoPSC will continue
to conduct a review of the filing that may take up
to 11 months. If approved in its entirety, an
average residential customer would see an
increase of $4.93 per month. The proposed
new rates would provide net additional revenues
of $48.4 million, exclusive of revenues Laclede
Gas is already collecting through the Infrastructure
System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS).
“Laclede Gas has spent
$160 million on new capital
projects since our last rate
case. These funds have been
provided by our investors.
In the current rate case,
we propose to recover $24
million annually to repay
these investments.”
—Mike Pendergast, Vice President of
External Affairs, The Laclede Group—
Q: How does ISRS impact the rate case amount?
We are currently collecting $10 million annually in ISRS
charges. In our rate case filing, the ISRS amount is
included in the new rates and the ISRS is reset to $0.
So while we are asking for a $58.4 million rate increase,
the proposed new rates would provide net additional
$24 million—Capital Investments
Capital investments include the cost (both
materials and labor) for the safety-related
system replacement projects, such as the
main replacement initiative, the costs
of governmentally mandated relocation
work, and the newBLUE project.
$9 million—Warm Winter Cost
New in this filing, Laclede proposes to use
last year’s temperatures to determine the
next year’s rates. This will help Laclede
be more accurate in customer rates due
to weather variations. If the temperatures are
colder than those experienced last year,
we will return the funds to customers
in the form of bill credits or customerrelated program offerings.
$8 million—Payroll, Benefits and Pension
Laclede Gas offers energy efficiency and
assistance programs for all customers with a
special focus on elderly, disabled and low-income
customers. This rate case filing will continue those
efforts to help neighbors in need. n
> For more information about the general
rate case, contact Mike Pendergast,
vice president of External Affairs,
The Laclede Group, at 314-342-0532
or [email protected].
Rate cases always help to recover our
investment in employees, including payroll,
benefits and pension obligations. Unlike
previous rate cases, a large portion
of this category was capitalized in the
main replacement program, which is
recoverable through ISRS.
$2 million—Credit Card Service
Customers have been asking to pay their
bill by credit card without a fee. This amount
would cover the credit card service fees.
January Game On Meeting Q&A
Q: How often can you file for a general
rate increase?
There is no limit on filing rate cases. Since 2006, we
have filed two cases in six years, a pace of once every
three years.
WHAT GOES INTO THE RATE
CASE REQUEST?
$15 million—Other
revenues of $48.4 million, exclusive of revenues
Laclede Gas is already collecting through ISRS.
Q: Will we recover the full $58.4 million in this rate
case?
It is up to the Missouri Public Service Commission
to set our new rates. Historically, we do not usually
receive the entire proposed amount.
Laclede educates consumers about energy
efficiency programs, rebates and savings
each year. This category encompasses those
costs and other miscellaneous costs
of doing business, such as general
inflationary increases.
Q: If Missouri Gas Energy is a division of Laclede
Gas Company, will they keep their own rates
and tariffs?
Yes.
Industry News Bites
1 In his State of the Union
address, President Obama
highlighted that the natural
gas boom has led to cleaner
power and greater energy
independence. To encourage
this he said the administration
will keep cutting red tape and
speeding up new oil and
gas permits.
2
2 In a bid to cut fuel costs,
New York City will retrofit
one of the vessels in its
Staten Island Ferry fleet
to run on liquefied natural
gas. The city’s transportation
department estimates that
a switch to natural gas from
diesel fuel may be able to cut
the ferry’s fuel bill in half, while
also slashing carbon dioxide
emissions by a quarter.
3 Connecticut Governor
Dannel Malloy is
encouraging residents
to make the switch from
home heating oil to natural
gas with his energy
proposal. Currently only
one-third of Connecticut homes
are heated with natural gas.
Malloy proposes to make
gas available to as many as
300,000 Connecticut homes
and businesses by asking state
regulators to allow utilities
to collect customer payments—
extended over longer periods
of time—to finance conversions
to natural gas.
uses compressed natural gas
to fuel their busses and has
their own fueling station.
4 A group representing
petroleum retailers and
wholesalers is suing a school
district in western Wyoming
and the state transportation
department over the district’s
recent foray into selling
compressed natural gas
as vehicle fuel, claiming
it’s competing with private
business. The school district
5 The National
Transportation and Safety
Board recently released
their “Most Wanted List”
of 10 areas of importance.
Enhancing pipeline safety
made the list to encourage
improved oversight, timely shut
off responses and adequate
emergency response in the
event of a leak.
Laclede Joins with Siemens to Introduce Spire
Natural Gas Fueling Solutions
First fueling station to open in St. Louis later this year
One of the cleanest energy sources, natural
gas is gaining traction as the country’s fuel
of choice. New technologies are constantly being
developed to take advantage of this abundant
domestic supply of natural gas. To harness the
power of these emerging technologies, Laclede
has teamed with the Building Technologies Division
of Siemens Industry, Inc. to launch Spire natural
gas fueling solutions.
Cost savings are driving the switch from gasoline
and diesel. Natural gas as a transportation fuel
is significantly less expensive on average than
equivalent gallons of gasoline or diesel. A typical
transit agency can see a 30 percent reduction
in fuel costs with compressed natural gas
compared to diesel. That equals $12,000
savings per year per bus.
“Spire will show companies and communities new
ways to save money, protect our environment and
create American jobs,” said Mike Spotanski, senior
vice president and chief integration and innovation
officer of The Laclede Group.
As fleet managers shift from gasoline and diesel
to natural gas vehicles, Laclede and Siemens
are leading the way with Spire which meets
the full-spectrum needs of fleet managers
including: station design, build and operation
as well as financing, ongoing maintenance,
facility improvements, safety, billing, technical
consultation, and strategic planning.
“Natural gas will play a big role in our transportation
future. Laclede is an expert in natural gas with 150
years in the industry, including more than 30 years
of experience working specifically with natural gas
vehicles,” said Spotanski. “Add to that Siemens’
experience with industrial technology solutions
and together we can make a big difference
to companies and communities.”
Having obtained final approval from LambertSt. Louis International Airport and the city of St. Louis,
Spire is set to launch in St. Louis later this year with
a commercial/public compressed natural gas fueling
station just west of the airport. The station will be built
on approximately one acre of the Super Park Lot C
facility at I-70 and Cypress Road. Open 24 hours a day,
the station will initially fuel 160 fleet vehicles already
on the road with capacity to accommodate a growing
local and regional need. Initially, this station will fuel
fleets like Park Express.
This St. Louis station will be the first for Spire. The
Spire team, with Siemens, stands ready to offer natural
gas fueling solutions in locations across the country.
Check out the Spire launch video shown at this year’s
annual meeting by searching “Spire Natural Gas
Fueling Solutions—YouTube.” n
With an abundant, low-cost natural gas supply, we are
now positioned to transform one of the world’s most
important industries. Transportation. Only a fraction
of vehicles and fueling stations in America use natural
gas. But that’s changing…driven by simple economics.
Natural gas is far more affordable than diesel or
gasoline. All while reducing the impact on our planet
and our health from greenhouse gas emissions. The only
thing holding back the forces of change? Infrastructure.
That’s why The Laclede Group is excited to announce
the launch of Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions,
in collaboration with Siemens.
> For more information on Spire natural gas fueling
solutions, contact Tom Schultz, manager of NGV
Business Development, at 314-342-0684
or [email protected]
A freightliner fuels
up at the Shrewsbury
compressed natural gas
fueling station.
+
Way to Go!
SAID’s Jim Mincher responded to a possible leak
after receiving a call from a concerned customer.
After getting more information from the customer,
he performed an outside investigation and detected
no gas or odor in the air. As Jim walked around the
neighborhood, he noticed a contractor had recently
completed some excavation work about four houses
up the hill. Jim, who is coming up on his 25th
anniversary with Laclede, could smell Mercaptan
but couldn’t immediately determine if the contractor had hit a pipeline or not.
“We’re trained to go beyond the immediate area when investigating an odor call
and to use our resources,” said Jim. “I located the property and it was pretty clear
that a gas line was located where the contractor had been digging. I was pretty
sure they had cut it and filled in the hole to cover their tracks.”
Jim questioned the contractor that was onsite and all wrongdoing was denied.
As Jim was sitting in his van troubleshooting the situation, another member
of the contractor’s crew arrived onsite and acknowledged they had cut the
service, squeezed it off, taped the loose ends and covered it with dirt. The
contractor had not called for any locates before digging. Jim notified the
Laclede response teams who came onsite to make the repairs.
“The perseverance and professionalism shown by Jim on this job may have
prevented a tragedy,” said Foreman Mike Sisak. “And for that, we all owe
Jim a big thanks.” n
Please send “Way to Go!” submissions
to [email protected].
Laclede NEWS
3
2012:
A Year in
Review
The Laclede Group’s performance in fiscal year 2012 was solid, both financially and operationally.
We ended fiscal 2012 with a strong balance sheet and we delivered an attractive total return to our
shareholders of 16 percent. The dividend was also increased based on 2012 performance, which
marked the 10th consecutive annual increase in our dividend.
We saw growth in our key business segments—regulated gas distribution and non-regulated
gas marketing. We made progress reinvesting in our businesses to upgrade our infrastructure,
including replacements of mains in our distribution pipeline network and an upgrade
to our technology systems.
On page 3, you read about the exciting natural gas fueling solutions initiative the Integration
and Innovation Group, led by Mike Spotanski, recently announced. Now let’s dive a little deeper
and take a closer look at key accomplishments in 2012 and what we can expect in 2013 for the
Distribution Operations Group and Laclede Gas Company, the Chief Financial Officer Group, and
the Chief Administrative Officer Group.
Chief Operating Officer of Distribution Operations Group
Steve Lindsey, executive vice president and chief operating officer of distribution
operations, The Laclede Group, and president, Laclede Gas Company
The Distribution Operations
Group and Laclede Gas
Company had a strong year
in 2012. We continued to focus
on the safety of our system
and employees. The safety of our employees,
customers and the general public is our top
value and is non-negotiable. In 2012, we made
improvements in employee and system safety
metrics and we continued our status as an
industry leader in pipeline damage prevention.
We continued to accelerate our strategic main
replacement program and replaced over 40 miles
in fiscal year 2012, more than a 125 percent
increase over fiscal year 2011. We plan
to significantly accelerate replacements in fiscal
year 2013. This will continue to improve safety
and system reliability, as well as lower future
maintenance costs on our system. This program
has resulted in over 100 new jobs since 2011 and
we anticipate adding over 50 new jobs in 2013.
There were strong financial results in spite
of having one of the warmest winters on record,
which resulted in lower than expected revenues.
We compensated by managing expenses well
and shifting resources to accelerate the strategic
main replacement initiative. There was also
improved productivity from field operations,
customer care as well as the support areas. With
the implementation of Customer Care and Billing
(CC&B) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)
in 2013, we will continue to leverage technology
to allow our employees to be much more efficient
and effective.
One of our top areas of focus is to provide worldclass customer service. In 2012, we built on our
great history and improved customer satisfaction
survey scores. The Customer Care team had
improvements in the average time to answer
customer calls, the number of bills to be estimated,
and we continued to expand our outreach into the
community to help those struggling to pay their
bills. With the rollout of CC&B in 2013, we expect
to give our Customer Care team much more robust
tools to better serve our customers’ needs.
The Sales and Marketing department continued
to find new ways to help our customers use natural
gas in an efficient and cost-effective way, including
the new Home Energy Advisor online tool. We
continued to be on the forefront in supporting new
ways to use natural gas, including working with
Veteran’s Memorial Hospital on a new combined
heating and power system and accelerated the
conversion of our own fleet to using compressed
natural gas.
The most important asset we can invest in is our
employees. In 2012, we agreed on a two-year
contract with Locals 6 and 194 that included a
new incentive plan for all employees. We also hired
164 new employees to build a solid foundation
for our future. We are now in the process
of reorganizing the Distribution Operations Group
to prepare us for growth. We’ve focused on
building a functionally-aligned, scalable organization
that can accommodate and support acquisitions.
A shared services model will be implemented
to ensure efficiency and promote standardization
across the company.
We also focused on employee development which
includes quality training, career path development
and succession planning. As we’ve seen throughout
our industry, many employees are nearing their
opportunity for a well-earned retirement. It’s
our responsibility to facilitate the transfer of the
institutional knowledge from our upcoming retirees
to our next generation of employees.
In conclusion, 2012 was a great year and has
set the stage for an exciting 2013. We will
continue to focus on the safe and reliable operation
of our system, improve our customer service
and enhance the development of our employees.
All of these are critical as we continue
to grow our company both organically
and through acquisitions. n
Cast iron replacement project in the city of St. Louis.
4
First-ever,
all-employee
event at Busch
Stadium.
Chief Administrative Officer Group
Mary Kullman, senior vice president and chief administrative
officer and corporate secretary, The Laclede Group
The Chief Administrative
Officer Group, which includes
Governance and Standards,
Corporate Communications,
Internal Audit, Facilities,
Enterprise Risk Management and Charitable
Foundation, worked hard in 2012.
One of the first steps in creating an organizational
structure that enables us to be agile to support future
growth was restructuring the senior leadership team
and creating a Leadership Council, comprised
of Suzanne and her direct reports, to review and
provide guidance on transformational, strategic
initiatives across the company. Monthly business
review meetings to update executive officers
and other key leaders on company initiatives
were also established.
We have also made significant progress
on standardizing Laclede Group policies and
procedures that we can apply to future business
units, including a new e-mail retention policy and
employee handbook. Part of this standardization also
included developing a process for approving future
policies and procedures as we identify gaps.
The Corporate Communications group was
reorganized to support future growth while
strengthening internal and external communications.
We successfully launched Game On all-employee
meetings to create a culture of face-to-face
communication that inspires an open, collaborative
and positive dialogue with employees. Employee
communication vehicles were consolidated to five
key channels: Game On meetings, CEO and senior
leadership communications, The Portal, Laclede TV
and Laclede Takepoints. In addition to reinstating
Laclede News, the quarterly employee newsletter,
we also hosted our first-ever, all-employee event
at Busch Stadium with over 750 employees
in attendance—exceeding expectations
for the first such event.
Partnering with the newBLUE team, the Internal
Audit group was integral in developing controls
to ensure segregation of duties for financial
reporting, which is critically important to us as
a public reporting company. Thanks to all who
have been involved in this process.
A big project underway in 2012 was taking
inventory of current work spaces and starting
to identify future work space needs to support our
growth and new organization structure. Facilities
worked with partners to establish new standards
for work spaces, which include fewer offices
and more work stations and collaborative areas
that promote interaction and teamwork among
employees. Look for more to come on the longterm facilities strategy in 2013.
Finally, we reassessed our corporate giving
strategy to focus on core areas of giving: United
Way, Community Enrichment, Sustainability and
Key Partnerships. We also expanded the company
matching gift program to include other institutions.
New work space on the 15th floor at 720 Olive.
Fiscal year 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting
year as we will soon kick off a corporate rebranding
effort, which we refer to as “Rebranding for
Growth,” as well as execute the new brand
identity for our re-entry into the compressed natural
gas vehicle fueling market. We will continue
to evaluate our policies and procedures, including
record retention policies with a heightened focus
on electronic storage as we move toward smaller
work stations and use our newBLUE technology.
Finally, look for a change to the Game On meetings
as we transition to business unit meetings that
include both high-level company topics as
well as information specific to the functional
areas and teams. n
Chief Financial Officer Group
Mark Waltermire, executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Laclede Group
It was a very busy and productive
year for the Chief Financial
Officer (CFO) Group, which
includes Corporate Development
and Strategic Planning, Finance
and Accounting, Information
Technology Services, Laclede
Energy Resources and Supply Chain. One of the bigger
projects we had underway was the leadership of
newBLUE. On October 1, we deployed the finance
and supply chain work streams, which included
iProcurement, iExpense and Oracle Time and Labor
(OTL). Additionally, we launched new general ledger
and financial reporting modules. Most recently, the
third work stream, Enterprise Asset Management
(EAM) Phase 3.1, went live. Kudos to everyone who
worked on these projects. I commend your leadership
and commitment. newBLUE is foundational in
supporting our growth objectives and I look forward to
the remaining work streams going live later this year.
Another big accomplishment in 2012 was the
reorganization of the CFO Group. The entire group
underwent this process in order to better support the
achievement of the company’s strategic objectives.
This was also necessary to fully take advantage
of the newBLUE technology that rolled out on
October 1. For the employees and teams that went
through this process, I truly appreciate the level
of engagement and professionalism you exhibited
during this uncertain time.
In the midst of newBLUE, we centralized the Supply
Chain function at 720 Olive and consolidated three
storerooms down to one at our Shrewsbury location.
Our supply chain team accomplished a lot in a short
period of time. We look forward to seeing the benefits
of both these initiatives as we continue
to expand our newBLUE technology.
This past year, we hired our first-ever director
of investor relations, Scott Dudley Jr. We are very
excited to have him on board as we begin to reach
out to the investment community and engage them
by telling our story. These efforts were kicked off
with our first earnings conference call and webcast
on November 19 to release our year-end results.
The Laclede Energy Resources team did an
excellent job managing the non-regulated gas
marketing segment, performing better than
anticipated. They renegotiated many of their key
agreements for supply and transport and found
ways to manage the buying and selling of gas
that will lower the cost of goods sold.
to support the company’s growth initiatives that
was accomplished in 2012. Finance and Supply
Chain will continue to improve business processes
of current systems while working toward the
deployment of Customer Care and Billing (CC&B)
in July. Supply Chain will also continue to look
for ways to lower the cost of acquisition
of materials and supplies to ensure we are meeting
our customers’ needs. Laclede Energy Resources
is executing a new business strategy and will be
expanding business within the producer services
and gas-fired electric generation marketplace. n
Corporate Development and Strategic Planning
worked closely with the Integration and Innovation
Group to develop business models for growth
initiatives such as Spire. They were also at the
forefront in leading the identification, valuation
and negotiation process for potential acquisition
opportunities which led to the purchase
of Missouri Gas Energy and New England
Gas Company.
Finally, the Finance team was able to lock in lower
rates to give us a lower capital cost of operations
as we go forward by selling Laclede Group debt
securities that settled in December 2012 and
Laclede Gas debt securities that will settle
in March 2013.
newBLUE Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) team.
Looking forward, 2013 is off to an exciting start as
we start to fully utilize the benefits of newBLUE
and realize the benefits of the foundational work
Laclede NEWS
5
the report will be cancelled if these codes are
Updates
not entered. If that happens, the expense report
needs to be re-entered. Supervisors should also be
looking for this information before approving any
expense report.
Supply Chain Updates
Recent Implementation
and Future Launches
Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) phase 3.1
(C&M-related activities) launched in February 2013
with the IBM Maximo asset database. EAM phase
3.2 (C&M Leak and SAID G4) is scheduled
to launch in July 2013. That same month,
the highly anticipated Customer Care & Billing
(CC&B) goes live.
iExpense Updates
Project and Task codes are required for an expense
report to be considered complete. The iExpense
application allows you to create an expense
report without Project and Task codes; however,
Staples orders are delivered to the “Deliver To”
address selected in iProcurement. All individuals
at 720 Olive and Forest Park should search
addresses and select by their floor number. For
example, a search of 11% will result in the location
“11th Floor 720 Olive.” 720 Olive and Forest Park
are the only two locations with new floor locator
addresses. Existing addresses should be used
for the remaining locations.
Out of Office Scheduler
Out of Office Scheduler should be utilized
by Non-Union employees as a tool for planning
time away from the office for dates in the future.
Oracle Time & Labor (OTL) serves as the system
of record for actual time away from the office.
Employees must still record actual time away
in OTL even if it was approved through Out
of Office Scheduler. n
To return an item to Staples: process the return
on the “Receiving” tab in iProcurement. Contact
Staples customer service at 877-294-5499 or
[email protected]. Staples will need
the order number, the item being returned, the
quantity and the reason for the return (defective,
received wrong product, ordered wrong item, etc.).
Attach a copy of the packing slip to the package
and the Staples driver will be at your location
in 3-5 days to pick it up.
Buzz
Laclede
Laclede
employees
were asked...
How does newBLUE impact your job?
In my role as Office Supervisor,
I had been responsible for
keeping track and reporting hours
worked, vacation time, sick time,
etc. for numerous employees.
This has been a fairly time
consuming, manual process.
With our new Oracle Time and
Labor system, this process is
much more streamlined and
it gives individual employees
the role of keeping track and
reporting their own time. I feel
this gives the employees
in my group more of a sense
of responsibility and control,
which is a move in the right
direction for all of us.
During my 20 years at Laclede,
I have ordered parts and supplies
on paper. This seemed simple
enough, but there was no way
to really keep track of orders and
there could be potential issues if
you misplaced an order. I know
many of us are struggling with the
new iProcurement system, but I
believe that once we all get more
familiar with it and we resolve our
issues with connectivity, it will
really have a positive impact
on how we do our jobs.
Quentin Ray, service technician,
SAID–North
Denise Cherry, office supervisor,
Missouri Natural division
Even though the newBLUE systems seem
difficult now, I feel confident that the change
will be positive once we are through this
transition. newBLUE will allow employees
to have more control and be more
empowered.
Scott Chapman, foreman, Service and
Installation Truck (SIT), C&M
I have been at Laclede a little over
eight years and during that time we
have struggled with a disconnect
between Customer Relations and
C&M. We don’t currently have a
working system to track what work
has been done and what has not.
This causes numerous problems,
duplication of efforts and customer
frustration. We do the best we
can with the system we have,
but I am so excited for the new
Customer Care & Billing (CC&B)
system. From everything I’ve seen
and learned, this new system will
really change the way we do our
jobs every day and will enable us
to know when C&M or another
department has been to a specific
address. This new system will also
allow us to have much stronger
communication between our
customer service representatives
and employees out in the field.
Deonna Sellers, supervisor,
Customer Relations
I am new to Laclede, having
just started working here in late
September. The system we are
currently using works; it just
requires more time and effort
than it should. I am really looking
forward to a more fast-paced work
environment with the new CC&B
system. I know it is really going
to help me do my job better and
make for happier customers.
Jade Graddy, customer service
representative, Customer Relations
I was hired as a customer service
representative last July. I had
worked in a customer service role
in the financial industry. Learning
Laclede’s much older system was
challenging. I am truly looking
forward to the new CC&B system.
It seems so much more simplistic.
When we were introduced to OTL
in October, I know many were
nervous, but it really has been a
smooth transition. The process is
simple. It allows the employee
to have a solid record of their time
worked and we have to rely
on others less.
Kara Bennett, customer service
representative, Customer Relations
6
Strategic Main Replacement Initiative: A Win-Win for Everyone
Pace of replacements has tripled in two years
Laclede Gas Company has provided safe, reliable
natural gas service to customers for more than 150
years. Over time, our infrastructure needs to be
repaired or replaced just as you would replace the
roof on your house or the tires on your car.
The goal of the strategic main replacement initiative
is to continue improvement of the safety, integrity
and reliability of Laclede’s natural gas distribution
system by replacing the remaining 785 of the
1,200 miles of aging bare steel and cast iron mains
throughout our service area. That’s slightly more
than nine percent of our delivery system.
Cast iron and bare steel pipes were widely installed
throughout the country for distribution of natural
gas until the 1950s. Current standards call for pipe
made of polyethylene, a high-density plastic, or
coated steel, which resists corrosion.
While Laclede has been replacing bare steel
and cast iron mains for years, the initiative was
accelerated two years ago when new construction
activity slowed. Laclede construction crews shifted
to a heightened focus on replacing the aging
infrastructure. Historically, we have replaced six
to eight miles of cast iron and bare steel mains
annually. When we accelerated those efforts
in fiscal 2011, 18 miles were replaced—nearly a
30% increase in one year. The pace hasn’t
slowed as crews replaced 41 miles in fiscal
2012 and we are projecting to replace as much
or more in fiscal 2013, meaning that the pace of
replacements has tripled in two years.
The strategic main replacement
initiative has been accelerated by
more than 125%
over the past year.
FY2009
12 miles
FY2010
14 miles
FY2011
18 miles
FY2012
41 miles
“Replacing the aging infrastructure will ensure
the continued and long-term safety and reliability
of our natural gas delivery system that customers
expect from Laclede,” said Steve Lindsey,
president of Laclede Gas Company. “We are
on an accelerated path to modernize our system,
which offers benefits to both our customers and
the company.”
Central crew members Chris Niemann (running the mini excavator) and Vince Dilg (locating utilities in the hole)
work in the city of St. Louis on a cast iron replacement project.
These benefits include:
• Safer system with higher operating
efficiencies
• Greater reliability by moving the system
from operating on low pressure
to intermediate pressure
• Fewer repairs due to a more modern system
• Less vulnerability to outages and/or leaks
• Reduced long-term operating and
maintenance (O&M) costs, which could
result in lower customer rates in the future
• Better and more customer-friendly
accessibility for inspections, emergency
shut-off situations and maintenance as a
result of moving meter sets from inside the
home to outside the home
The cost to upgrade our system is partially
recovered through the
Infrastructure System
Replacement Surcharge
(ISRS), which is an
additional charge
on customer’s monthly
natural gas bill. The
current ISRS amount
is $1.23 per month for
residential customers.
The financial impact on
customers is relatively
small because Laclede
is only recovering a
fraction of the overall
cost each year for the next several decades. The
remainder of the expense (millions of dollars) is
financed by investors, which is why it’s critically
important we continue to provide value for
our shareholders.
C&M crews from all districts are working on the
main replacement initiative; however, a majority
of the work has been in the St. Louis City limits
and adjacent neighborhoods.
Hundreds of employees from across the company
have been working together to accelerate this
initiative and reach the milestones we’ve seen the last
two years. “This initiative is truly a collaborative effort.
It requires a considerable amount of coordination
between several functional areas, including C&M,
SAID, Meter Shop,
Engineering, Right
of Way, Training Group
and Customer Relations,”
said Reitz.
The acceleration
of the main replacement
initiative has resulted
in more than 100 new jobs
since October 2011.
The acceleration of the main replacement initiative
has resulted in more than 100 new jobs between
the Construction and Maintenance (C&M) and
Engineering departments since October 2011,
including 15 promotions to foreman. An additional
50 to 60 employees are expected to be hired
in fiscal 2013 to continue this initiative and
to replace those from the workforce who are
planning for well-deserved retirements.
C&M crews have replaced more than 400 miles of cast
iron and bare steel mains to date. Pictured above: a
cast iron pipe (gray) is being replaced with a plastic
pipe (yellow).
priority for us,” Reitz added. “As more and more
of our workforce retires, this initiative provides us
the opportunity to get new people in the door to gain
experience and expertise and, at the same time,
allows us to make tremendous improvements
to the overall quality of our distribution system.”
“This project provides a great opportunity
to transfer knowledge from our veterans with
25 to 30 years of experience to our newer
employees,” said Tom Reitz, vice president
of Field Operations for Laclede Gas. “This is a top
“Cast iron is some
of the most complex pipe
to replace with no job
being the same, and our
employees have come
through with flying colors,”
Reitz continued. “I can’t
say enough good things
about the employees.
The amount of cooperation and the level of effort
from everyone involved has been exemplary.”
Part of the main replacement initiative involves
relocating meter sets that are currently located
inside the home to outside of the home for better
accessibility. In fiscal 2012, nearly 6,500 meter sets
were moved outside—that’s 125 meters per week!
Since the start, Laclede crews have replaced more
than 400 miles of cast iron and bare steel mains with
785 miles to go. “We are taking a balanced approach
to completing the main replacement initiative and will
continue to dedicate resources to this project until
100 percent has been replaced,” said Lindsey. n
> For more information about the strategic main
replacement initiative, please contact Tom Reitz,
vice president of Field Operations for Laclede Gas,
at 314-658-5477 or [email protected].
Laclede NEWS
7
Laclede
snapshots
1 The 18th annual National Gas Rodeo was
held in Fairview Heights this past September. Laclede
entered three teams in the competition: Gashouse
Gang, Laclede Rodeo Clowns and Potential Hazards.
Laclede families enjoyed free BBQ, face painting,
balloon animals and entertainment from Radio
Disney for a fun-filled day at the rodeo.
2 Congratulations to the Gashouse Gang for taking
home second place in the National Gas Rodeo!
(Pictured from Left to Right) Aaron Hickman, Aaron
Witt, Evertt Cox, Jon Loughary and Rob Hayes.
1
2
3 Laclede Rodeo Clowns. (Pictured from Left
to Right) Chris Freiberger, Matt Emmendorfer,
Jeff Childers, Jason Love, Ken Mertz and Mike Parks.
4 Potential Hazards. (Pictured from Left to Right)
James Grofe, Scott Cosma and Carl Monda.
5 Amber Oliver in Human Resources accepted the
Missouri Association for Career Services (MACS)
2012 Employer of the Year award on behalf
of Laclede Gas Company for our partnership with
North Technical High School. (Pictured from Left
to Right) Shelly Stewart from MACS, Amber Oliver,
and Jeff Chandler from North Technical High School,
who nominated Laclede for the award.
3
6 Laclede Gas hosted the ninth annual United We
Grill BBQ on September 14, raising $3,646 for the
United Way of Greater St. Louis. (Pictured from Left
to Right) Suzanne Herberts; Rick Skau; Gary
Dollar, president and CEO of the United Way; and
Mary Kullman prepare to serve up great food and fun
in Kiener Plaza for over 565 Laclede employees and
downtown neighbors.
7 Congratulations to the Laclede washer team
for taking home the championship title for the third
straight year! (Pictured from Left to Right) Amy
DeWitte, Matt Voelker, Jim Beishir and Justin Powers.
5
4
8 The Laclede Gas Annual Golf Tournament
was held on September 8 at Crystal Springs Quarry
Golf Course in Creve Coeur. Congratulations to the
A Flight winners. (Pictured from Left to Right) Mitch
Voelker, Matt Voelker, Nick Klapp, Gene Voelker
and Ron Chac (not pictured).
9 Congratulations to the B Flight winners.
(Pictured from Left to Right) Kevin Tolliver, Bill
Robinson, Pat Mayfield and Kevin Morrison
(not pictured).
6
7
8
8
9
10 Community and Agency Services held its
27th annual Agency Appreciation Luncheon
in September to thank all the partner agencies for their
hard work. Nearly 400 guests were in attendance.
(Pictured from Left to Right) Jennelle James
(Urban League), Ron Anderson (keynote speaker)
and Julie Trachsel (Laclede Gas Company).
10
11 Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is one
of several partner agencies Laclede works with each
year to provide heating assistance grants to customers
in need. (Pictured from Left to Right) Brenda Wrench
(Urban League), Jim Buford (Urban League), Rick Skau
and Suzanne Sitherwood.
11
12 Suzanne Sitherwood, The Laclede Group
Board of Directors and Officers rang The Closing Bell®
at the New York Stock Exchange on August 30,
2012 to celebrate Suzanne’s one-year anniversary
at Laclede.
13 Congratulations to The Heaters, Laclede’s employee
band, for coming in second place at the United Way
Battle of the Corporate Bands held October 12
at the Old Rock House in St. Louis. The band raised
$2,849 for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. (Jason
Fagan not pictured).
14 Jason Fagan, C&M-South, “Bust a Move”
at the Battle of the Corporate Bands to raise money
for the United Way.
15 Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer
on The Heaters. The employee band performed
in front of a packed house, which included more
than 100 colleagues and friends. (Pictured From
Left to Right) Debbie Nelson, Tammy DeClue, Tammy
Jones and Kim Steinberg.
16 Congratulations to Laclede’s 2012 YWCA Leader
Lunch Honorees. The YWCA Leader Lunch is the
region’s premier event honoring women who contribute
in business 365 days a year, create a more equitable
society, and exhibit future leader potential.
Nominations are submitted by fellow employees
based upon job performance, leadership, productivity,
reliability and volunteerism to name a few. (Pictured
from Left to Right) Lisa Chaffee, Missy Lynch, Pam
Evans, Mary Thomas, Lynn Rawlings (Laclede host),
Susie Kopp, Pat Krieger, Mary Kullman (Laclede host),
Michele Danis and Tracey Coleman.
12
17 Twelve Laclede bowling teams competed
for the championship title at Tropicana Lanes
in Richmond Heights this year. The teams participated
in weekly competition from September through
December with an awards ceremony on December 18.
(Pictured From Left to Right) Team X-Men: Ron Chac,
Kurt Biever (Team: Spare Us), Paul Presson, Cyndi
Wade, Jon Jenkins and Shea Murray.
13
15
14
16
17
Laclede NEWS
9
Customers Give High Marks to Laclede Gas Customer Service
In the home and over the phone, Laclede has a winning strategy
Laclede Gas customers say they are highly
satisfied with their customer service experience
over the last 12 months, according to the latest
results from the Laclede Gas Company Customer
Study conducted by the RDA Group.
Whether calling the Customer Care team or
receiving a home visit, Laclede is making a positive
impact. Customer satisfaction is at an all-time high
with 81 percent of customers highly satisfied with
their over-the-phone customer service experience
and 86 percent of customers highly satisfied after
a service visit to their home or business.
“Providing exceptional customer service is
our passion,” says Paul Wildeisen, director
of Customer Contact. “These [survey] results
are a reflection of the hard work and dedication
of many teams at Laclede Gas.”
Paul and the Customer Care team built
performance goals to improve first-call resolution
and customer hold time. Customer service
representatives (CSRs) are held responsible
4% increase
over 12
for their performance during monthly meetings.
months
Top-performing customer service representatives
are recognized each month and their
• 82% of customers are highly
performance statistics are displayed
7% increase
satisfied with their customer
for their co-workers to see.
over 12
service representative
months
A survey of customer service representatives
• 89% are highly satisfied
revealed a desire for continual learning
with their service technician
opportunities and in-depth training on specific
topics, including high bill inquiries, unique payment
arrangements and Customer Connection. Paul
and his team have created additional classes
receives a call from their technician when they are
to meet these needs.
on the way.
“We brought together teams from across
“It comes down to an everyday awareness
the company, including field and office
of customer service,” said Chris Silies, regional
staff, to provide a comprehensive
director of Field Operations. “We talk customer
view of the customer experience. Our
monthly meetings provide an opportunity service every day and it is making a difference.”
to notice trends and address them
The Laclede Gas Company Customer Study
early,” says Wildeisen.
conducted by the RDA Group surveys customers
twice a year about billing and payment process,
The Service and Installation Department
customer service experience, onsite service
(SAID) helps each team member keep
experience, community citizenship and
customer service top of mind when
perceptions of Laclede Gas Company. n
visiting a customer’s home or business.
Over a year ago, SAID implemented
> To learn more about the RDA Survey
the “100 percent call ahead” rule.
results, contact Terri Fritsche, manager
Customers want to know when Laclede
of Customer Relations, at 314-342-0868
Gas will be arriving so each customer
or [email protected].
STATS
AT A GLANCE
Members of the Customer Care team. From Left to Right:
Brandy Taylor, Dawn Redmon, Brian Erickson, Kara Bennett,
Jan Hennicke, Anita Bond, Julia Hines, Pam Robinson,
Earlest Johnson and Tom Nestor.
Customer Connection Earns Praise from Customers
J.D. Power and Associates Study Announces 2012 Findings
Customers have ranked Laclede Gas’ Customer
Connection tool as one of the best online payment
sites, according to a recently released J.D. Power
and Associates 2012 Residential Gas Utility
Customer Satisfaction Study.
Natural gas customers ranked Laclede sixth in the
nation for best online payment site. In all, 63,500
residential natural gas customers nationwide
participated in the study.
“We had customers in mind when we created
the Customer Connection tool,” said Carol Yauch,
director of Business Support Services. “They
can compare current and past usage, schedule
payments, learn how to increase their efficiency
and keep costs down.”
More than 150,000 customers have signed
up to use the Customer Connection tool.
Features include:
• 24/7 account access
• Online bill payment options
• Account management • Bill history and comparison tool • Payment and usage history • Energy efficiency tips • Budget billing sign up
10
In November, Customer Connection launched
its newest feature called Home Energy Advisor.
With this feature, customers receive information
about home energy use, individualized energyefficiency tips and they can create a customized
energy savings plan based on how much time
and money they want to invest. This is just
another way Laclede Gas offers a top online
payment tool for customers.
“Customer interactions drive the design
of this tool. If we hear customers are looking
for something, we strategize to come up with
a solution,” said Yauch. “The Home Energy
Advisor is a great example of many Laclede
teams coming together to help
our customers.” n
> To learn more about Customer Connection,
contact Carol Yauch, director of Business
Support Services, at 314-342-0792 or
[email protected].
DollarHelp: The Power of One
New campaign is threefold: simplify. thank. focus.
Have you seen Oliver? Oliver is the face of the
new DollarHelp campaign. But he’s not just another
sweet face. He represents much more.
Families all across our community are struggling
to stay warm this winter because they can’t afford
to heat their homes. Families with small children
like Oliver.
DollarHelp is a not-for-profit
corporation founded by Laclede
Gas in 1982 that provides
heating grants to families
in St. Louis City and nine
counties in Eastern Missouri,
including St. Louis, St. Charles,
Franklin, Jefferson, Iron, Butler,
Madison, Ste. Genevieve and
St. Francois. Over the past
three decades, DollarHelp has
raised more than $20 million
thanks to generous donations
from neighbors across
St. Louis. Last year alone, DollarHelp members
joined together to raise over $1 million to keep
the heat on for nearly 3,000 families. Laclede Gas,
in partnership with United Way of Greater St. Louis,
provides the administrative services to DollarHelp
so every dollar donated helps those in need.
In order to take the program to the next level
and increase monthly donations, the “Power
of One” campaign was developed. This concept
focuses on the idea that a single dollar donation,
combined with the donations of your neighbors,
makes a real difference to St. Louis families
in need.
The campaign strategy
is threefold: simplify the
message by making it easy
to donate, thank the donor
and focus on attracting more
recurring monthly donors.
This approach moves us from
individual donation to collective
action. Through collective
action, there’s power in one—
one dollar, one team, one
simple red box to check.
Through a targeted, integrated
campaign that includes a new
logo, campaign video, redesigned customer bill,
bill inserts, refreshed website design, leave-behind
materials for C&M and SAID, as well as radio and
digital advertising, our goal is to engage customers
and activate first-time donations. In the months
of November through January, we welcomed
2,215 new DollarHelp members.
Currently, only 10 percent of Laclede Gas
customers donate to the DollarHelp program.
Oliver
The power to help is great. The need to help is
even greater. With federal cuts and a troubled
economy, many more families are struggling
to stay warm this winter. DollarHelp is more
than just making a donation. It’s about people
helping people.
So keep a lookout for Oliver. He’s popping up all
over St. Louis, reminding Laclede Gas customers
to check the red box.
Every dollar helps. Together we’ll keep families
like Oliver’s warm this winter. Visit dollarhelp.org
to view the campaign video. n
> To learn more about DollarHelp, contact
Julie Trachsel, manager of Community
& Agency Services, at 314-342-0669 or
[email protected].
Employee Spotlight
My Goal
Michael Bartlett
GIS Coordinator II,
GIS & System Planning
I hiked 30 miles in one day to raise funds for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer.
Along with 11 other St. Louisans, I completed the Ultimate Hike on the Tecumseh Trail
in Yellowwood State Forest in Indiana. Each of us pledged to raise $2,500 for a total
of $30,000 to help find a cure. CureSearch is a non-profit organization that raises funds
for fighting children’s cancer. Locally, they provide funds to three hospitals.
My Aspirations
“I try to be a good person,
help others where I can,
and appreciate the good
things I have.”
—Michael Bartlett
I planned on hiking part of the Ozark trail last summer, but I never got around to it.
I saw the flyer for the Ultimate Hike and figured it was for a good cause and would force
me to start hiking. Afterward, I learned more about the good work CureSearch does and
met many children who have cancer, who have survived cancer, and some parents of children who did not
survive. Their plight really touched me. I could not imagine how hard it would be hearing the words, “your
child has cancer.”
My Challenges
It was quite a challenge. I started hiking three miles at a time, and week by week I increased the distance
to just over 16 miles at a time. Each time, I was sure I had reached my limit, but it always got easier.
On the day of the hike, I started at 4 a.m. and finished at 6:30 p.m. I walked 70,700 steps and the
equivalent of 363 floors.
My Support
Honestly, I don’t feel the need to push my body to the extremes like that again. However, I was
overwhelmed at the generosity and the support of my family, friends and co-workers. I met a wonderful
group of people that I hope will be lifelong friends. I am now a strong supporter of the cause. Next year,
I will probably skip the hike, but help others.
My Personal Philosophy
Please send “Employee
Spotlight” submissions
to [email protected].
I try to be a good person, help others where I can, and appreciate the good things I have.
Laclede NEWS
11
Takepoint (n.) any point along a transmission
pipeline where natural gas is regulated, metered
and delivered into a distribution system.
Delivering the most important information to you.
Floating Holiday
The floating holiday is now
based on a calendar-year period
(January 1-December 31) for all
Laclede and Non-Union Missouri
Natural employees. Previously,
Laclede Union employees
observed an August 1-July 31
floating holiday schedule. New
employees earn a floating holiday
once they have been employed
for six months.
New IRS Mileage Rate
The new IRS reimbursement
rate of 56.5 cents per mile (up
from the previous rate of 55.5
cents per mile) is in effect for all
employees as of January 1, 2013.
The amount continues to be a
fully non-taxable reimbursement.
401(k) Updates
Several 401(k) plan items
became effective January
1, 2013, including new IRS
contribution limits, auto
enrollment for new hires
and reduction in general
purpose loans.
Vacation Allowances
As of January 1, 2013, the
vacation allowance for all
Laclede employees and
Missouri Natural Non-Union
employees changed. An
employee qualifies for the
increase in the number
of vacation days on the first
of the year in which the
employee will celebrate his/her
first (10 days), fifth (15 days),
10th (20 days) and 20th (25
days) service anniversaries.
Visit The Portal for details.
Leave of Absence
Provisions
• All Laclede and Missouri
Natural Non-Union
employees no longer
receive a full day’s pay if an
employee leaves work early
due to sickness involving a
family member.
• One paid day off for major
surgery of a family member
has been eliminated.
• Employees are now allowed
one paid day off to attend
a spouse’s or domestic
partner’s childbirth.
• Employees are eligible
to receive a one day funeral
leave of absence for a
spouse’s grandparent or a
brother/sister-in-law, niece
or nephew. There have been
no changes to the eligible
immediate family member
deaths that qualify for a
three day funeral leave
of absence.
PBGC 3-Month Look Back
Beginning with retirements
on January 1, 2013, the
discount rate used by the
Employees’ Retirement Plan
is now the rate announced
by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (PBGC) three
months prior. Please note that
this change applies only to the
Laclede division pension plan.
Until further notice, Missouri
Natural Gas employees
continue to use the PBGC rate
announced for October 1, 2012
for retirements.
Performance Appraisal
Changes
The performance appraisal
process for all Non-Union
employees moved to a
focal-date (one point in time)
beginning with fiscal year 2013
(October 1, 2012). Objectives
for all employees should now
be planned for and evaluated
based on the company’s
fiscal year cycle (October 1–
September 30). A mid-year
review is also now part of the
process, which is set up so any
merit pay increase will be
on the first paycheck
in December.
Laclede Supported Charity
Walks and Runs
Thanks to all employees who
voted during the December
Game On meetings on the
charity walks/runs the company
will support through fiscal
year 2015. As a direct result
of your input, and in
conjunction with our new
charitable giving strategy,
we will support the American
Heart Association Heart Walk
in fiscal 2013; the Komen St.
Louis Race for the Cure in fiscal
2014; and the JDRF Walk for
Diabetes in fiscal 2015. Details
regarding the AHA Heart Walk
will be available in the near
future.
Laclede Gas Company Wins National
Green Building Award
First Time for Utility Partner of the Year Award
Preserving our environment is vital to our way of life today and in the future. Laclede Gas
Company has several programs dedicated to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
So the employees of Laclede Gas are especially honored to receive the first ever utility partner
award given by the National Association of Home Builders. The award was presented during the
recent 2013 International Builders Show in Las Vegas.
Laclede Gas was honored for their dedication to high-performance building, the National Green
Building Standard and environmental education at the local and regional level. The National Green
Building Standard was developed as a national building code for environmentally efficient homes.
“Laclede Gas is honored to receive this award and is proud to help promote building
practices that conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and improve air quality
while providing energy cost savings to consumers,” said Jim Hearing, director of Sales and
Customer Accounts.
“Knowing this is the inaugural award in this category shows what a true
leader Laclede Gas is in energy efficiency and sustainability,” said
Matt Belcher, chair of the National Association of Home Builders
Green Building Council. “We are thrilled to recognize Laclede Gas
in a national spotlight.”
Laclede Gas works with the Home Builders Association
of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri to help builders and owners
who want homes that are energy efficient. The design,
construction and operation of a home must focus on energy
and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and
materials, indoor environmental quality, and take the home’s
overall impact on the environment into account. n
> For more information on green homebuilding, contact
Sid Koltun, business development representative for
Laclede Gas, at 314-342-0685 or [email protected].
12
Online Safety Tips
It is important to remember that the Internet is public
domain and you should be cautious in what you post
online, regardless of whether or not the information
or content is business or personal. Every employee
is privy to information about the company, some
of which can be sensitive or confidential, so it’s
especially important to be mindful of your posts
when it comes to business intelligence.
Follow these tips for online safety:
• Be careful about what you advertise about
yourself and Laclede online
• Don’t view the Internet, social media sites
or blogs as a work diary
• Realize that once you have posted content
online, it becomes a permanent record
• Before you publish content online, determine the
value of the information and the implications
of having the information available to the public
• If you are not comfortable sharing the information
with strangers, don’t post it online
> For questions related to online security,
contact the Service Desk at 314-342-0644.
A Tribute to Lee M. Liberman
Leadership that defined our culture for a generation
Lee M. Liberman, retired chairman of the board,
president and chief executive officer of Laclede Gas
Company, passed away on August 31, 2012. His
leadership has been widely recognized as having
defined Laclede’s management culture
for a generation.
Throughout his career, Lee focused on the
importance of continuous access to adequate,
dependable supplies of reasonably priced natural
gas. Assurance of a competitively priced supply
enabled Laclede to meet customer needs during
the coldest winters, to support expansion into new
service areas, and to actively promote new uses
for natural gas. Lee was a strong advocate
of a national energy policy that would ensure the
most efficient uses of the nation’s fossil fuels.
When Congress enacted the Natural Gas Policy
Act of 1978, Lee was one of the few executives
of a gas distribution company to oppose
its passage.
“I first met Lee early in my career in the
gas industry when I was at Mississippi River
Transmission (MRT). That was when the pipeline
was the sole supplier of natural gas to Laclede
during the period of a national natural gas supply
shortage and massive curtailments,” said retired
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of The Laclede Group, Inc. Douglas H. Yaeger.
“Of course, Lee was extremely vocal regarding
national policy addressing the situation. He became
a strong advocate for using natural gas only for
residential and commercial markets and never
for an ‘inferior’ market such as the electrical power
generation. Lee gained an industry-wide reputation
in that regard. Needless to say, that whole
paradigm has changed over the years, but I’m
not sure Lee’s passion for the direct use
of natural gas as an energy source ever did.”
Lee started as a cadet engineer and worked as a
chemist at the coke plant on Rutger Street in 1947.
He worked in various positions throughout the
company before being named president and chief
operating officer in 1970. In 1974, the board gave
him the additional title of chief executive officer.
In April 1976, Laclede’s board of directors elected
Lee chairman of the board. He retired as chairman
of the board in 1994.
“Lee Liberman realized that in order for a
corporation to thrive it must bring together a voice
for all its constituents,” said The Laclede Group
Board Member Mary Ann Van Lokeren. “Not
only was Lee concerned about diversity in the
workplace, but he also believed it was past time
for women to have a seat at the board table.”
Born in 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lee lived
in the Mormon Commonwealth until 1931 when
the family moved to St. Louis. Lee attended the
Field School in St. Louis through the eighth grade
and then moved on to Soldan High School. He
graduated from Yale University in 1942 with a
degree in engineering. After serving in the Army Air
Corps during World War II, Lee was discharged
in October 1945. Although he had been accepted
to Stanford University School of Law, Lee accepted
a referral by the U.S. Employment Service and
joined Laclede Gas. He was a lifelong learner
who attended Washington University full time
during retirement earning a doctorate in American
literature and history at age 83. n
Memories of Lee...
“Lee was just a brilliant guy. A big man who was a
big supporter of Laclede and St. Louis as a whole.
His input and leadership was welcomed in the
business community and by the various institutions
he patronized. Lee was generous with his time and
became a formidable presence in St. Louis.”
—William E. Nasser, chairman of the board,
The Laclede Group, Inc.
“Lee Liberman was a remarkable man in many ways:
volatile, opinionated, a fierce competitor, extremely bright,
sharp sense of humor, fair-minded and, from a legacy
standpoint, I don’t know of anyone who did as much
for the St. Louis region on multiple levels to make this
a better place to live and work. Lee truly left his mark
beyond his career at Laclede. He was a great supporter
and mentor to me and he will be missed by many.”
“I will always be grateful to Lee for his support
and trust. Not only was he a great friend and mentor
but also a committed community leader. He will be
sorely missed.”
—Mary Ann Van Lokeren, board of directors,
The Laclede Group, Inc.
“I always found Lee to be gracious and fair. He was
very well known in the gas industry and, at that
time, it set him apart from other gas executives.
He was well-respected and his leadership continues
to have a lasting impact on Laclede and the
St. Louis community.”
—Douglas H. Yaeger, retired chairman of the board
and chief executive officer, The Laclede Group, Inc.
“I worked for Lee for 31 years and learned his style
on my very first day of reporting to him. When I was
put on special assignment for what I thought would be
a two-month project, I was in over my head and went
to Lee to ask for help in getting started. With some
tough direction, he set me on a path of research and
self-teaching, two qualities that guided him in his own
approach to work and life. He was a respected and
revered leader who understood that all things were
possible through research, self-teaching, long hours
and hard work.”
—Robert Jaudes, retired chairman, president and
chief executive officer, Laclede Gas Company
—Anthony V. Leness, board of directors,
The Laclede Group, Inc.,
Laclede NEWS
13
Celebrations
The following Celebrations are for the
months of July–December 2012:
Service Anniversaries
45 Years
Albert C. Johns—December 2012
40 Years
Mark S. Cook—September 2012
35 Years
Alvin L. Slater—August 2012
Kenneth J. Brown—September 2012
Thomas L. Coughlin—September 2012
Larry L. Westerfield—September 2012
Walter A. Reitz—October 2012
Sherry K. Anderson—November 2012
Stephen Zeller—November 2012
30 Years
Karen S. Werle—August 2012
Rick L. Abel—September 2012
Johnny E. Brannum—September 2012
David A Picarella—October 2012
Marvin A. Hensel—November 2012
Kent R. Merriman—November 2012
Curtis D. Newton—November 2012
Mary E. Thomas—November 2012
Rita J. McIntosh—December 2012
25 Years
Phillip J. Bonastia—July 2012
William J. Maragni—July 2012
Keith A Markowski—July 2012
R. Scott Cidlik—August 2012
Michael J. Habsieger—August 2012
Michael P. McCann—August 2012
Mark A. Short—August 2012
Andy J. Wheeler—August 2012
Tony C. White—August 2012
Michael P. Yancy—August 2012
Patrick T. Higgins—September 2012
Lance J. Polette—September 2012
Susan M. Anderson—October 2012
Linda M. Swan-Van Vickle—
October 2012
Steven D. Wahlig—October 2012
Martha A. Diekemper—
November 2012
David J. Hubbard—November 2012
Gregory A. Lynn—November 2012
Phillip G. Markus—November 2012
Bryan K. Hodges—December 2012
Allen W. Wisniewski—
December 2012
20 Years
Dale R. Calicotte—July 2012
Darryl A. Carter—July 2012
Mark A. Hovorka—July 2012
Rebecca J. Martin—July 2012
Daniel E. Frigerio—August 2012
Kurt J. Maness—August 2012
Todd M. Rhodes—August 2012
James E. Hickman—September 2012
Barry J. Brinkman—October 2012
Christopher E. Hart—October 2012
Timothy S. Perkins—October 2012
Erik A. Turner—October 2012
Jerry K. Arvanitakis—November 2012
Michael E. Baerman—
November 2012
Leonard L. Gray—November 2012
David C. Gummersheimer—
November 2012
Richard J. Igo—November 2012
Bernadette M. Triola—
November 2012
Jeffrey S. Childers—December 2012
14
There are many reasons to celebrate at Laclede as team members reach
service milestones or retire after years of dedicated service to our customers.
Congratulations and thank you for your service!
Raymond W. Steiger—
December 2012
Robert T. Vaughn—December 2012
15 Years
Steven E. Coleman—July 2012
Audrey F. Kinder—July 2012
Mark J. Szpatoski—July 2012
Susan K. Tucker—July 2012
Michael J. Behan—August 2012
Julia Hines—August 2012
Richard Phillips II—August 2012
Michael A. Sander—August 2012
Jeffrey R. Benack—September 2012
David A. Riley—September 2012
Veronica Steele—September 2012
Joesph F. Voellinger—
September 2012
Darmaine O. Clavelle—October 2012
Richard M. Eggleston—October 2012
Jeff M. Hayden—October 2012
Maliaka R. Jackson—October 2012
Jeniffer A. Tepe—October 2012
Clifton M. Cornish—November 2012
Shelton Morrow—November 2012
Kristina M. Sheridan—
November 2012
Robyn K. Williams—November 2012
Michael K. Atkinson—
December 2012
Scott A. Eichholz—December 2012
Stacey L. Lawrence—December 2012
10 Years
Aaron C. Fish—July 2012
John P. Locascio—July 2012
Christopher R. Niemann—July 2012
Brain D. Patterson—July 2012
Susan G. Ruder—July 2012
Gail A. Schleicher—July 2012
Karen L. Brown—October 2012
Theresa R. Gallagher—October 2012
Daniel J. McCluskey—October 2012
Michael A. Bennett—November 2012
Susan D. Griffey—November 2012
James T. Grofe—November 2012
Kelly A. Hardie—November 2012
Derrick S. Holder—November 2012
David L. Mays—November 2012
Mark N. Bray—December 2012
Michael S. Catanzaro—
December 2012
David P. Elliott—December 2012
Nickolas P. Figliolo—December 2012
Nicolae Gherle—December 2012
Brian J. O’Leary—December 2012
Derrick A. Whipple—December 2012
Ezra L. Yount—December 2012
5 Years
Kent L. Jones—July 2012
Kimberly E. Miller—July 2012
Timothy J. Washausen—July 2012
Carrie A. Anderson—August 2012
Jonathan Cann—August 2012
Toraino A. Hellems—August 2012
Clifford Q. Jones—August 2012
Tyler J. Lavin—August 2012
Stephen J. Demsko—September 2012
Deionita L. Gibbs—September 2012
Nicholas J. Schlemer—
September 2012
Chanel A. Bell—October 2012
Blanche D. Butler—October 2012
Nicole K. Krietemeyer—October 2012
Joel S. Simons—October 2012
Ricky T. Berry—November 2012
Karen S. Gieseking—November 2012
Kellie L. Wayne—November 2012
Amanda M. Reitz—December 2012
Retirements
July 2012
Dennis R. Banden
Underground Storage
29 years of service
Shaaban Ben-Poorat
Environmental–South
18 years of service
Linda A. Bolton
Customer Accounting–Downtown
24 years of service
Lawrence E. Eastman
Human Resources–Downtown
45 years of service
Ronald A. Ferber
Maintenance Engineering–Central
22 years of service
Dennis R. Henke
C&M–North
33 years of service
Sheryl A. Hill
Customer Relations–Downtown
25 years of service
Michael P. King
C&M–North
24 years of service
Anthony F. Kunz
SAID–South
20 years of service
Carl E. Luss
C&M–Central
34 years of service
Dennis C. Ochs
Plants and Stations–South
23 years of service
Bruce S. Trigg
C&M–Central
34 years of service
Kenneth S. Turner
C&M–North
24 years of service
Barbara L. Zytniak
Meter Department–Meter Shop
36 years of service
August 2012
Kenneth J. Brown
C&M–Central
34 years of service
Jesse E. Bryant
C&M–Central
25 years of service
Don L. Carter
Transportation–North
34 years of service
Michael L. D’Harlingue
C&M–South
34 years of service
David M. Doering
Meter Reading Services–Downtown
31 years of service
William C. Ford
Meter Department–Central
32 years of service
Peter A. Gianino
Measurement–South
23 years of service
Askia F. Hameed
C&M–North
32 years of service
David L. McCulloch
Meter Department–Meter Shop
34 years of service
Michael D. Meinhardt
C&M–Central
23 years of service
Bruce A. Schrama
Plants and Stations–South
34 years of service
Mark L. Smith
Underground Storage
22 years of service
William L. Stout
System Control–Central
7 years of service
James B. Sunderman
Transportation–South
14 years of service
Shirley A. Wright
Administrative Services–North
26 years of service
September 2012
Stanley J. Crain
C&M–North
32 years of service
Gene A. Goodwin
SAID–Central
35 years of service
Robert G. Corzine
SAID–Central
22 years of service
Steven M. Webber
SAID–South
21 years of service
Terry J. Harris
C&M–Central
28 years of service
Gail A. Piersol
Customer Service–Downtown
34 years of service
October 2012
Gerard J. Boschert
Meter Department–South
35 years of service
James H. Boyd
C&M–Central
36 years of service
Please send future
“Celebrations” to
[email protected].
Gregory M. Enghauser
C&M–South
32 years of service
Douglas K. Lawrence
C&M–South
32 years of service
In Memory
Our hearts go out to the friends and family
of those who have recently passed away. Their
dedication to this company and our customers
helped build a solid foundation for years to come.
James M. McMurtry, retiree, passed away
on August 23, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on January 15, 1952
and retired August 1, 1982 as a special adjuster
in the Meter Shop.
Lester C. Baier, retiree, passed away on July 24,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas
Company on November 28, 1949 and retired
January 1, 1989 as a corrosion protection
inspector in C&M–South.
Bob E. McVicar, retiree, passed away on June 21,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas
Company on March 20, 1944 and retired April 1, 1980
as head stockman in Materials and Supplies.
November 2012
Charles H. Birchler, retiree, passed away
on October 4, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on June 5, 1951
and retired July 1, 1991 as a superintendent
of instrumentation and control in Engineering.
James E. Menner, retiree, passed away
on September 29, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on September 19, 1967
and retired February 1, 2008 as a general fitting man
in SAID–Central.
Robert R. Sammelmann
C&M–Central
29 years of service
Griffin C. Blansit Jr., retiree, passed away
on December 3, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on April 1, 1969 and
retired July 1, 2000 as the manager of Methods
and Procedures–Downtown.
Athol J. “A.J.” Michener, retiree, passed away
on November 2, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on April 9, 1970 and
retired March 1, 1985 as a project engineer
in Sales–Downtown.
Eugene K. Brawley, retiree, passed away on June 15,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on March 13, 1950 and retired June 1, 1984 as a
general foreman in C&M–Leak–Central.
James E. Price, retiree, passed away on July 18,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas
Company on June 5, 1986 and retired May 1, 2011
as an accounting clerk in Customer Accounting–
Downtown.
Stephen M. Steffan
Underground Storage
28 years of service
Patricia A. Wynn
Residential Sales–Downtown
27 years of service
Barbara A. Pitman
Customer Relations–Downtown
24 years of service
Daniel R. Seiler
Underground Storage
22 years of service
Robert E. Stricker
Information Technology Services
33 years of service
Derrick Triplett
C&M–Central
30 years of service
December 2012
Kevin C. Dietzman
C&M–North
28 years of service
Alvin L. Slater
C&M–Central
35 years of service
Births
Congratulations to the proud
parents and grandparents!
Maliyah Yvette Deeds was born
to Cherie Kurtz and Michael Deeds
on July 30, 2012. Maliyah weighed
6 pounds, 3 ounces and was
19 inches long. Maliyah is the
granddaughter of Lawrence
White Sr., C&M–North.
Zain Power was born to Gary and
Nisar Power on October 29, 2012.
Zain weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.
Gary is a field support technician
at Forest Park.
We Want to Hear
From You!
@
To submit an idea,
provide feedback,
ask a question or
just say “hi,” email us at
[email protected].
When submitting story ideas,
please contact us at least two
months prior to the issue date.
Laclede News is a quarterly
publication. For the next issue,
please submit story ideas by April 1
for July 2013 distribution.
Ernest L. Cole, retiree, passed away on October 14,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on September 11, 1951 and retired September 1, 1982
as a meter reader in Meter Reading.
Aloysius “Al” R. Dobelman, retiree, passed away
on September 26, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on September 3, 1947
and retired May 1, 1993 as the director of Customer
Relations–Downtown.
Ann R. Gallagher, retiree, passed away on June 13,
2012. She became employed at Laclede Gas
Company on December 6, 1965 and retired
February 1, 1987 as a service representative–
clerical in Customer Relations–Downtown.
Gene W. Goad, retiree, passed away on June 2,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on June 22, 1949 and retired June 1, 1996 as a special
adjuster ICI in SAID–Central.
William V. Grigaitis, retiree, passed away
on November 20, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on July 10, 1957 and
retired November 1, 1989 as a residential builder
sales representative in Sales–Downtown.
Theodore J. Koviak, retiree, passed away
on October 7, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on August 24, 1949
and retired April 1, 1983 as a main extension
representative in SAID–North.
Lee M. Liberman, retired chairman of the board,
president and chief executive officer of Laclede Gas
Company, passed away on August 31, 2012. He
became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on December 1, 1945 and retired July 1, 1993.
John D. Lyons, retiree, passed away on November
11, 2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas
Company on March 6, 1967 and retired October 1,
1992 as the superintendent of Underground Storage.
Frances V. Makarewicz, retiree, passed away
on July 21, 2012. She became employed at Laclede
Gas Company on March 30, 1949 and retired July 1,
1986 as a head data processing equipment operator
in Data Processing.
William Radovich, retiree, passed away on June 29,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on March 10, 1950 and retired January 1, 1983 as a
leak truck man in C&M–Leak–Central.
Robert J. Ruggeri, retiree, passed away
on September 11, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on September 13, 1967
and retired September 1, 2005 as a service
representative–telephone in Customer
Relations–Downtown.
Frank J. Ruxlow Jr., retiree, passed away
on October 3, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on June 8, 1949 and
retired August 1, 1988 as a fitter in the Meter Shop.
Harvey W. Schrum, retiree, passed away
on July 8, 2012. He became employed at Laclede
Gas Company on October 5, 1953 and retired
September 1, 1975 as a gas man in C&M–
Leak–Central.
William R. Smithey, retiree, passed away
on October 4, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on October 11, 1949 and
retired January 1, 1991 as a supervisor of gas
supply and control in Plants and Stations–South.
Dorothy J. Spring, retiree, passed away
on September 8, 2012. She became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on August 4, 1942 and
retired September 1, 1981 as a service representative–telephone in Customer Relations–Downtown.
Alvina M. Wessling, retiree, passed away
on July 29, 2012. She became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on February 1, 1960 and
retired January 1, 1981 as a custodian in Facilities.
Frank Wolff, retiree, passed away on August 15,
2012. He became employed at Laclede Gas Company
on November 3, 1944 and retired January 1, 1991 as
a meter change and remove man in the Meter Shop.
Harry J. Zacher Jr., retiree, passed away
on December 24, 2012. He became employed
at Laclede Gas Company on March 15, 1950
and retired January 1, 1983 as an off hour
domestic adjuster in SAID.
Laclede NEWS
15
Laclede NEWS
Drawer 9
St. Louis, MO 63166
Prsrt. Std.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 735
St. Louis, MO
Visit dollarhelp.org for more information.
Every dollar helps. DollarHelp is an easy way
to lend a hand to families struggling to stay warm
this winter. Just check the red box at the bottom
of your gas bill.
Laclede Gas will match every monthly
dollar donation, up to $55,000.
Turn one dollar
into two.
Stay tuned for more details!
Thursday, June 20
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
2013 All-Employee Event
at Busch Stadium
SAVE THE DATE
Safety: The Cornerstone of Everything We Do
We have to be safe in every aspect of our daily service.
“Our employees are very well-trained in terms
of safety procedures and what to do in the event
of an emergency,” said Director of Corporate
Safety and Disaster Preparedness Marshall Balk.
“And our safety efforts extend past technician
training to include public awareness campaigns
and other educational programs that help prepare
and inform our customer base. We have one of
the best overall safety programs in the industry.”
Our focus on safety should also carry through
to our personal lives. Just as this issue’s topic
in Bits & Bytes is related to online safety, there
are steps each of us can take to remain safe and
secure while traveling to and from work as well
as within our communities.
Stay alert
Always know where you are and remain tuned
in to your surroundings. Avoid texting, talking
on your cell phone or listening to music or
podcasts while walking in public. If your attention
is on your device and not on your surroundings,
you could become a target for theft or assault.
Stick to well-traveled paths and don’t
take shortcuts.
Plan ahead
Know the route to your destination, whether it is
to your work location, home, retail outlet, or vehicle
or transit stop. Carry as little as possible when
walking to and from work. If your arms are full you
are a target. Also, find co-workers who travel
in similar circles and walk together to your
parking garage or transit stop.
Trust your instincts
If something or someone makes you feel uneasy,
cross the street or leave the area altogether.
If someone attempts to stop you to ask a question
or request something and they make you feel
uneasy, do not stop. Keep walking. If you think
someone is following you, switch direction or
cross the street. Walk to an open store, restaurant,
business or lighted house. If you’re scared,
yell for help.
Protect yourself
front pants pocket
(not a back pocket).
Try to use automated
teller machines in the
daytime. Have your
card in hand and don’t
approach the machine
if you’re uneasy about
people nearby. Have
your car or house key
in hand before you reach
your vehicle or front door. Working late? Make sure there
are others in the building and, if need be, ask a colleague
or security guard to walk you to your car or transit stop.
Downtown Guides
If working downtown, complimentary escorts
to your vehicle or transit stop are available Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 314-280-4817
to request an escort. n
Don’t flash large amounts of cash or other tempting
targets like expensive jewelry or clothing. A purse
should be carried close to your body, not dangling
by the straps. Store a wallet in an inside coat or