Natural gas giant Spire did not instruct a former employee on how to conceal and destroy documents, Missouri utility regulators concluded in a report released Tuesday, Jan. 21.
A September 2024 email to regulators from a former Spire employee alleged that the company had discussed with employees how to hide sensitive documents from the Missouri Public Service Commission, which regulates privately owned utility companies in the state, in order to protect Spire’s financial interests during its upcoming rate increase case.
The commission launched an investigation into the allegations in October 2024.
“Staff has determined that there were no discussions by Spire Missouri on concealment of matters from Staff or the Commission or on destruction of documents that would be otherwise discoverable by Staff,” the commission’s staff wrote in Tuesday’s report.
“Based on Staff’s investigation, there were no issues of illegalities found and this matter may be closed.”
Spire spokesperson Jason Merrill said the company was unsurprised by the findings.
“From the beginning, Spire remained confident that Staff would reach this conclusion,” he wrote in an email. “Spire takes pride in being transparent and honest with its regulators and we appreciate the Commission staff’s prompt investigation into this matter.”
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