<PAGE>

Exhibit 31

CERTIFICATION
-------------

I, Douglas H. Yaeger, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Laclede
         Group, Inc.;

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
         circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
         with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
         financial information included in this report, fairly present in
         all material respects the financial condition, results of
         operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
         periods presented in this report;

4.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible
         for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
         (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the
         registrant and have:

                  a)       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
                           or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
                           to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
                           that material information relating to the
                           registrant, including its consolidated
                           subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                           within those entities, particularly during the
                           period in which this report is being prepared;

                  b)       THIS PARAGRAPH INTENTIONALLY OMITTED AS PERMITTED
                           IN RELEASE NO. 34-47986.

                  c)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's
                           disclosure controls and procedures and presented
                           in this report our conclusions about the
                           effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
                           procedures, as of the end of the period covered
                           by this report based on such evaluation; and

                  d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting that occurred during the registrant's
                           most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
                           fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
                           report) that has materially affected, or is
                           reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting; and

5.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed,
         based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
         financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
         committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent functions):

                  a)       All significant deficiencies and material
                           weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
                           control over financial reporting which are
                           reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                           registrant's ability to record, process,
                           summarize and report financial information; and

                  b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                           management or other employees who have a
                           significant role in the registrant's internal
                           control over financial reporting.

Date: July 27, 2004                     Signature: /s/ Douglas H. Yaeger
      -------------                               -------------------------
                                                  Douglas H. Yaeger
                                                  Chairman of the Board,
                                                   President and Chief
                                                   Executive Officer



<PAGE>
<PAGE>


CERTIFICATION
-------------

I, Barry C. Cooper, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Laclede
         Group, Inc.;

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
         circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
         with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
         financial information included in this report, fairly present in
         all material respects the financial condition, results of
         operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
         periods presented in this report;

4.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible
         for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
         (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the
         registrant and have:

                  a)       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
                           or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
                           to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
                           that material information relating to the
                           registrant, including its consolidated
                           subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                           within those entities, particularly during the
                           period in which this report is being prepared;

                  b)       THIS PARAGRAPH INTENTIONALLY OMITTED AS PERMITTED
                           IN RELEASE NO. 34-47986.

                  c)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's
                           disclosure controls and procedures and presented
                           in this report our conclusions about the
                           effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
                           procedures, as of the end of the period covered
                           by this report based on such evaluation; and

                  d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting that occurred during the registrant's
                           most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
                           fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
                           report) that has materially affected, or is
                           reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting; and

5.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed,
         based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
         financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
         committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent functions):

                  a)       All significant deficiencies and material
                           weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
                           control over financial reporting which are
                           reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                           registrant's ability to record, process,
                           summarize and report financial information; and

                  b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                           management or other employees who have a
                           significant role in the registrant's internal
                           control over financial reporting.

Date: July 27, 2004                     Signature: /s/ Barry C. Cooper
      -------------                               -------------------------
                                                  Barry C. Cooper
                                                  Chief Financial Officer



<PAGE>
<PAGE>


CERTIFICATION
-------------

I, Douglas H. Yaeger, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Laclede Gas
         Company;

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
         circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
         with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
         financial information included in this report, fairly present in
         all material respects the financial condition, results of
         operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
         periods presented in this report;

4.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible
         for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
         (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the
         registrant and have:

                  a)       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
                           or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
                           to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
                           that material information relating to the
                           registrant, including its consolidated
                           subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                           within those entities, particularly during the
                           period in which this report is being prepared;

                  b)       THIS PARAGRAPH INTENTIONALLY OMITTED AS PERMITTED
                           IN RELEASE NO. 34-47986.

                  c)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's
                           disclosure controls and procedures and presented
                           in this report our conclusions about the
                           effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
                           procedures, as of the end of the period covered
                           by this report based on such evaluation; and

                  d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting that occurred during the registrant's
                           most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
                           fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
                           report) that has materially affected, or is
                           reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting; and

5.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed,
         based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
         financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
         committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent functions):

                  a)       All significant deficiencies and material
                           weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
                           control over financial reporting which are
                           reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                           registrant's ability to record, process,
                           summarize and report financial information; and

                  b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                           management or other employees who have a
                           significant role in the registrant's internal
                           control over financial reporting.

Date: July 27, 2004                     Signature: /s/ Douglas H. Yaeger
      -------------                               -------------------------
                                                  Douglas H. Yaeger
                                                  Chairman of the Board,
                                                   President and Chief
                                                   Executive Officer



<PAGE>
<PAGE>


CERTIFICATION
-------------

I, Barry C. Cooper, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Laclede Gas
         Company;

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
         circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
         with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
         financial information included in this report, fairly present in
         all material respects the financial condition, results of
         operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
         periods presented in this report;

4.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible
         for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
         (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the
         registrant and have:

                  a)       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
                           or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
                           to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
                           that material information relating to the
                           registrant, including its consolidated
                           subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
                           within those entities, particularly during the
                           period in which this report is being prepared;

                  b)       THIS PARAGRAPH INTENTIONALLY OMITTED AS PERMITTED
                           IN RELEASE NO. 34-47986.

                  c)       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's
                           disclosure controls and procedures and presented
                           in this report our conclusions about the
                           effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
                           procedures, as of the end of the period covered
                           by this report based on such evaluation; and

                  d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting that occurred during the registrant's
                           most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's
                           fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
                           report) that has materially affected, or is
                           reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                           registrant's internal control over financial
                           reporting; and

5.       The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed,
         based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
         financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
         committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent functions):

                  a)       All significant deficiencies and material
                           weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
                           control over financial reporting which are
                           reasonably likely to adversely affect the
                           registrant's ability to record, process,
                           summarize and report financial information; and

                  b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
                           management or other employees who have a
                           significant role in the registrant's internal
                           control over financial reporting.

Date: July 27, 2004                     Signature: /s/ Barry C. Cooper
      -------------                               -------------------------
                                                  Barry C. Cooper
                                                  Chief Financial Officer