Document:

Exhibit-10.18

                                       September 1, 2000

Mr. Ronald L. Krutzman
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Laclede Gas Company
720 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO  63101

Dear Mr. Krutzman:

UMB Bank, n.a. (the "Bank") is pleased to provide a $10,000,000 committed
line of credit maturing January 31, 2001 to Laclede Gas Company ("Laclede")
for general corporate purposes and for commercial paper backup.  The Bank
will comply with requests for advances with maturity dates of 90 days or
less under the line of credit until January 31, 2001.  Our officers will
make short-term loans to Laclede under the following terms.

All borrowings will be priced at Laclede's option at: (i) Bank's prime rate,
(ii) at Libor for a similar principal amount and maturity plus 1/4 of 1%,
(iii) the Bank's Certificate of Deposit rate for similar maturity plus 1/2
of 1%, or (iv) the Federal Funds interest rate for similar maturity plus 1/4
of 1%.  Notes issued under this line shall not exceed 90 days.  If a note is
outstanding with a maturity after January 31, 2001, the note may be renewed
in whole or in part provided no note shall mature later than May 1, 2001.

Interest shall be payable at maturity of on date of repayment.  Interest
shall be computed on the basis of actual 365/366 days for prime rate and
Federal Funds rate borrowings and on actual 360 day basis for LIBOR or CD
loans.  Notes issued may be prepaid at any time without penalty.

It is understood that any loans obtained by any subsidiary of Laclede Gas
Company, whether or not they are guaranteed by Laclede Gas Company, are
excluded from this agreement and shall not be charged against the line of
credit described above.

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This line of Credit is contingent upon payment to Bank by Laclede of a fee
in the amount of 5 basis points per annum ($5,000) and the Bank receiving a
properly executed promissory note that is satisfactory to the Bank for each
advance.

Laclede agrees to provide the Bank with quarterly financial statements in a
timely manner and other information, which may be reasonably requested by
Bank.  This letter, a/k/a the Committed Line of Credit Agreement,
constitutes the entire understanding between the Bank and Laclede regarding
the line of credit.

UMB Bank, N.A.

By:  /s/Theresa D. Bible

Name:  Theresa D. Bible

Title:  Assistant Vice President

Accepted the 6th day of September, 2000

Laclede Gas Company

By:  /s/Ronald L. Krutzman

Name:  Ronald L. Krutzman

Title:  Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

                                80  
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            NOTE

$
                                              St. Louis, Missouri

                                    Date:

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LACLEDE GAS COMPANY, a
Missouri corporation ("Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
UMB Bank, National Association ("Bank"), on or before
                                 the principal sum of

                            Dollars ($                              ),
Borrower further promises to pay to the order of Bank interest on the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the loans ("Loan") evidenced by this
Note at the rate of         % per annum payable at such time as the
principal amount of the Loan shall be due.  All such payments of principal
and interest shall be made in lawful currency of the United States in
Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of Bank located
at 2 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri, or such other place as the Bank
may from time to time designate in writing.

            This Note and the Loan are issued pursuant to a lie of credit
letter agreement ($10,000,000.00 facility) dated September 1, 2000 by and
between the Borrower and the Bank, as the same may from time to time be
amended, modified, extended, renewed or restated (the "Line Agreement").
The Line Agreement, among other things, contains provisions pursuant to
which this Note is issued.

            Upon (i) the failure of the Borrower to make any payments at the
time and in the manner provided by this Note; (ii) the failure of the
Borrower to perform or pay any obligation provided for in the Line Agreement
or under any other agreement or indebtedness to Bank, or (iii) the
commencement by or against the Borrower of any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings, Bank's obligation, if any, to make any further Loan under this
Note and the Line Agreement may be terminated by Bank and the entire
outstanding principal balance of this Note and all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon may be declared by Bank to be immediately due and payable.

            In the event that any payment due under this Note shall not be
paid when due, whether by reason of maturity, acceleration or otherwise, and
this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for collection,
or if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for
representation of Bank in connection with bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings relating to or affecting this Note, Borrower hereby promises to
pay to the order of Bank, in addition to all other amounts otherwise due on,
under or in respect of this Note, the costs and expenses of such collection
and representation, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses (whether or not litigation shall be commenced in aid
thereof).  Borrower hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, protest,
notice of protest and notice of dishonor.

                                 81
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            This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the substantive laws of the State of Missouri (without reference to conflict
of law principles).

                                             LACLEDE GAS COMPANY

                                             By:
                                             Name:

                                 82
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                                  September 1, 2000

Mr. Ronald L. Krutzman
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Laclede Gas Company
720 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO  63101

Dear Mr. Krutzman:

UMB Bank, n.a. (the "Bank") is pleased to provide a $5,000,000 line of
credit maturing January 31, 2001 to Laclede Gas Company ("Laclede") for
general corporate purposes and for commercial paper backup.  The Bank will
consider requests for advances with maturity dates of 90 days or less under
the line of credit until January 31, 2001.  Our officers may, at their
discretion make short-term loans to Laclede under the following terms.

All borrowings will be priced at Laclede's option at:  (i) Bank's prime
rate, (ii) at Libor for a similar principal amount and maturity plus 1/4 of
1%, (iii) the Bank's Certificate of Deposit rate for similar maturity plus
1/2 of 1%, or (iv) the Federal Funds interest rate for similar maturity plus
1/4 of 1%.  Notes issued under this line shall not exceed 90 days.  If a
note is outstanding with a maturity after January 31, 2001, the note may be
renewed in whole or in part provided no note shall mature later than May 1,
2001.

Interest shall be payable at maturity or on date of repayment.  Interest
shall be computed on the basis of actual 365/366 days for prime rate and
Federal Funds rate borrowings and on actual 360 day basis for LIBOR or CD
loans.  Notes issued may be prepaid at any time without penalty.

It is understood that any loans obtained by any subsidiary of Laclede Gas
Company, whether or not they are guaranteed by Laclede Gas Company, are
excluded from this agreement and shall not be charged against the line of
credit described above.

                               83
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                                Page 2

We ask that you supply us with quarterly financial data and other
information, which may be reasonably requested by the Bank from time to
time.  The Bank may terminate this agreement at any time if Bank determines
in good faith that we are not satisfied with your conditions, operations or
performance, financial or otherwise.  This letter, a/k/a the Line of Credit
Agreement, constitutes the entire understanding between the Bank and Laclede
regarding the line of credit.

UMB Bank, N.A.

By:  /s/ Theresa D. Bible

Name:  Theresa D. Bible

Title:  Assistant Vice President

Accepted the 6th day of September, 2000

Laclede Gas Company

By:  /s/ Ronald L. Krutzman

Name:  Ronald L. Krutzman

Title:  Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

                                 84
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NOTE

$
                                              St. Louis, Missouri

                                    Date:

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LACLEDE GAS COMPANY, a
Missouri corporation ("Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
UMB Bank, National Association ("Bank"), on or before
                                 the principal sum of

                          Dollars ($                              ),
Borrower further promises to pay to the order of Bank interest on the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the loans ("Loan") evidenced by this
Note at the rate of         % per annum payable at such time as the
principal amount of the Loan shall be due.  All such payments of principal
and interest shall be made in lawful currency of the United States in
Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of Bank located
at 2 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri, or such other place as the Bank
may from time to time designate in writing.

            This Note and the Loan are issued pursuant to a lie of credit
letter agreement ($5,000,000.00 facility) dated September 1, 2000 by and
between the Borrower and the Bank, as the same may from time to time be
amended, modified, extended, renewed or restated (the "Line Agreement").
The Line Agreement, among other things, contains provisions pursuant to
which this Note is issued.

            Upon (i) the failure of the Borrower to make any payments at the
time and in the manner provided by this Note; (ii) the failure of the
Borrower to perform or pay any obligation provided for in the Line Agreement
or under any other agreement or indebtedness to Bank, or (iii) the
commencement by or against the Borrower of any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings, Bank's obligation, if any, to make any further Loan under this
Note and the Line Agreement may be terminated by Bank and the entire
outstanding principal balance of this Note and all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon may be declared by Bank to be immediately due and payable.

            In the event that any payment due under this Note shall not be
paid when due, whether by reason of maturity, acceleration or otherwise, and
this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for collection,
or if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for
representation of Bank in connection with bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings relating to or affecting this Note, Borrower hereby promises to
pay to the order of Bank, in addition to all other amounts otherwise due on,
under or in respect of this Note, the costs and expenses of such collection
and representation, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses (whether or not litigation shall be commenced in aid
thereof).  Borrower hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, protest,
notice of protest and notice of dishonor.

                                 85
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            This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the substantive laws of the State of Missouri (without reference to conflict
of law principles).

                                          LACLEDE GAS COMPANY

                                          By:
                                          Name:

                                 86Exhibit-10.19

                                            September 1, 2000

Bank of America, N.A.
100 North Tryon St., 16th Floor
NC1-007-16-13
Charlotte, NC  28255
Attention:  Michelle A. Schoenfeld

            Re:  $15,000,000 Committed Line of Credit

Gentlemen:

            In order to provide a line of credit primarily for commercial
paper backup and for other general corporate purposes, Laclede Gas Company
(the "Borrower") is asking Bank of America, N.A. (the "Bank") to make
available to the Borrower from September 1, 2000 until February 28, 2001
(the "Termination Date"), a short-term committed line of credit in the
amount of $15,000,000.  This letter outlines the terms and conditions of
this committed line of credit.

            The Borrower shall pay to the Bank a nonrefundable commitment
fee equal to 8.0 basis points (0.08%) per annum calculated on the unused
amount of this committed line of credit, from time to time.  The commitment
fee shall be (i) calculated on a daily basis, and (ii) due and payable
quarterly in arrears on September 30 and December 31, 2000 and on the
Termination Date.  The commitment fee shall be calculated on the basis of a
365-day year and actual days elapsed.

            If the Borrower wishes to request advances under this line of
credit ("Advances"), it shall first satisfy all conditions precedent under
this commitment letter, including but not limited to the execution and
delivery to the Bank of a promissory note or notes ("Notes") in form and
substance satisfactory to the Bank, which will include other standard
material terms including events of default.  Notes issued under this
commitment letter shall mature not more than three (3) months from the date
of execution, and no Advance evidenced thereby shall have a maturity of more
than three (3) months.

            Each Advance shall bear interest at the applicable rate
requested by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing to be given to the Bank
substantially in the form, and in accordance with the dates and times,
required by Section 2.02 and other relevant provisions of the $120,000,000
Loan Agreement dated as of October 22, 1999, between the Borrower,
Mercantile Bank National Association as Agent for the banks thereunder, and
the banks party thereto (including Bank of America, N.A. as a bank and
syndication agent), as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time
(the "Syndicated Loan Agreement").  The Borrower may request Advances under
this committed line of credit to bear interest at the

                                 87
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"Floating Rate" or the "LIBOR Rate" as defined and provided in the
Syndicated Loan Agreement, and all such applicable provisions of the
Syndicated Loan Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference for purposes
of this commitment letter, including and subject to the following
provisions:

            (i)      If the Bank ceases to be a party to the Syndicated Loan
Agreement, or the Syndicated Loan Agreement is terminated, cancelled or
accelerated, or the "Revolving Credit Commitment" or other facility provided
thereunder is terminated or suspended, then the interest rate options
described above shall no longer be effective or available hereunder, and the
Advances hereunder shall thereafter commence to accrue interest at a rate of
interest per annum quoted to the Borrower by the Bank and accepted by the
Borrower from such date forward, subject to other acceleration or
termination of this line of credit.

            (ii)      Subject to the maximum maturity of three (3) months
for any Advances, the Borrower may select the interest period and maturity
of Advances hereunder in accordance with Sections 2.02, 2.04 and 2.05 of the
Syndicated Loan Agreement, and all interest on Advances shall be computed in
accordance with Section 2.06 thereof.

            (iii)      In addition, the following Sections of the Syndicated
Loan Agreement are also incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis,
for all purposes of this committed line of credit:  Sections 2.10, 2.11,
2.12, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16.

            (iv)      All references to "the Agent" or "the Agent and each
Bank" in the sections incorporated herein from the Syndicated Loan Agreement
shall be deemed changed to read "the Bank" for purposes hereof.  All
applicable defined terms and definitions contained in the Syndicated Loan
Agreement are also incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, as
necessary to carry out the Sections otherwise incorporated herein.

            The Borrower may, upon at least one business day's notice to the
Bank, prepay any Advance in whole at any time, or from time to time in part;
provided, that the Borrower shall at the time of prepayment compensate the
Bank for any actual loss, cost or expense that the Bank incurs as a result
of such prepayment.

            Further conditions precedent.  The making of each Advance
hereunder is also subject to:  (i) the Borrower's execution and delivery to
the Bank of the Notes as provided above, and such evidence of the Borrower's
corporate power and authority for the Notes and Advances as the Bank may
request; (ii) all representations and warranties made by the Borrower and
set forth in Section 4 of the Syndicated Loan Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Advance as if
made on and as of the date of such Advance; and (iii) the absence of any
material adverse change since September 30, 1999 in the properties, assets,
liabilities, business, operations, prospects, income or condition (financial
or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                                 88
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            The Bank may terminate this agreement at anytime if the Bank
determines in good faith, that it is not satisfied with the Borrower's
condition, business, operations or performance, financial or otherwise.

            It is understood that any loans obtained by any subsidiary of
the Borrower, whether or not they are guaranteed by the Borrower, are
excluded from the scope of this agreement and shall not be charged against
the line of credit described above.

            Nothing in this commitment letter is intended to alter the
arrangements set forth in the Syndicated Loan Agreement, between the
Borrower, the agent or the banks party thereto, or the availability of
certain "Loans" thereunder from the Bank on the terms set forth in such
agreement.

            If the foregoing is acceptable to the Bank, will you kindly sign
in the space indicated below to evidence this agreement between us.

                                    Yours very truly,

                                    LACLEDE GAS COMPANY

                                    By:  /s/ Ronald L. Krutzman
                                         Treasurer & Assistant Secretary

Accepted and Agreed to:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:  /s/ Michelle A. Schoenfeld
Title:  Vice President

                                 89

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