Edgar Filing: SOUTHWEST GAS CORP

DEF 14A

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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

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Southwest Gas Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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		Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement

		Annual Meeting 2015 May 7, 2015 – Las Vegas, Nevada

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

5241 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, Nevada 89150

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To be Held Thursday, May 7, 2015

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. PDT, at Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, for the following purposes:

(1)

To elect 12 directors of the Company;

(2)

To approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation;

(3)

To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for fiscal year 2015; and

(4)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Board of Directors of the Company established March 10, 2015, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and to receive notice thereof.

Shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE VOTE THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR MAIL AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. IF YOU MAIL IN YOUR PROXY, PLEASE USE THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE ACCOMPANYING YOUR PROXY CARD.

The Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow the Company to furnish its proxy materials via the internet. This process reduces the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. Therefore, we are mailing to most of our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a paper copy of this Proxy Statement and our 2014 Annual Report to Shareholders. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents via the internet. The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper or e-mail copy of our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement, our Annual Report to Shareholders and a Proxy Card. All shareholders who do not receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

The Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2014, is either enclosed or available at http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials.

Karen S. Haller

Senior Vice President/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

March 27, 2015

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

5241 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, Nevada 89150

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 7, 2015

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders are available at

http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. PDT, at Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119.

At the meeting you will be asked to elect 12 directors, to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation, to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015 and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. The Company’s Board of Directors is asking for your support of the director nominees, the advisory approval of executive compensation and the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

The following materials are available at the web address provided above.

Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card, and

2014 Annual Report to Shareholders.

Directions to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person are included on the map on page M-1 of the Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
Invitation to 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Location Map for 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders		M-1
Proxy Statement		1
General Information		1
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?		1
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?		1
How many votes do I have?		2
How do I vote?		2
Can I revoke or change my vote?		2
What are the Board’s recommendations?		2
How many votes must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?		2
What vote is required to approve each Proposal?		3
Do I have an opportunity to cumulate my votes for director nominees?		3
How are my votes counted?		4
What if I do not vote for any or all of the matters listed on my Proxy Card?		4
Are proxy materials available on the internet?		4
Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a full set of the proxy materials?		4
Why didn’t I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?		5
Can I vote my shares by completing and returning the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?		5
Can the shares that I hold in a brokerage account or the EIP be voted if I do not instruct my broker or the EIP trustee?		5
Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?		5
What Rules of Conduct will govern the Annual Meeting?		5
What happens if the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned?		5
Who is soliciting my proxy?		5
Governance of the Company		6
Board of Directors		6
Board Leadership Structure		7
Risk Oversight		7
Committees of the Board		8
Selection of Directors		9
Shareholder Nominees		10
Transactions with Related Persons		10
Directors and Officers Share Ownership Guidelines		12
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation		12
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings		12
Communications with Directors		12
Election of Directors		14
Names, Qualifications and Reasons for Selection of Nominees		14
Securities Ownership by Directors, Director Nominees, Executive Officers, and Certain Beneficial Owners		20
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance		21
Executive Compensation		22
Compensation Discussion and Analysis		22
Executive Summary		22
Compensation Objectives		26
Elements of Compensation		27


	Page
Decision to Pay Each Element of Compensation		27
Determination of the Amount to be Paid for Each Element of Compensation		27
Interaction of the Compensation Elements in Relation to the Compensation Objectives		35
Say-on-Pay		36
Deductibility of Compensation		36
Compensation Committee Report		37
Summary Compensation Table		38
Grants of Plan-Based Awards (2014)		39
Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables Narrative		40
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2014		41
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2014		42
Pension Benefits		42
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation		43
Post-Termination Benefits		44
Directors Compensation		46
2014 Directors Compensation Table		46
Directors Compensation Narrative		47
Advisory Vote To Approve the Company’s Executive Compensation		48
Audit Committee Information		49
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		49
Audit Committee Report		51
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting		52
Submission of Shareholder Proposals		52

LOGO

John P. Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer

March 27, 2015

Dear Shareholders:

You are cordially invited to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”) scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, commencing at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Your Board of Directors looks forward to greeting personally those shareholders able to attend.

At the meeting you will be asked to elect 12 directors, to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation, to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015 and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Your Board of Directors asks you to support the director nominees, cast an affirmative vote to approve executive compensation and ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

It is important that your shares are represented and voted at the meeting regardless of the number of shares you own and whether or not you plan to attend. Accordingly, we request you vote the accompanying proxy by telephone, internet or mail at your earliest convenience.

Your interest and participation in the affairs of the Company are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

LOGO

M-1

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

5241 Spring Mountain Road • P.O. Box 98510

· Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8510 ·

PROXY STATEMENT

March 27, 2015

GENERAL INFORMATION

We are providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”) for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and for any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

We intend to mail a Notice of Internet Availability and make this Proxy Statement and a Proxy Card available to shareholders on our website at http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials on or about March 27, 2015. We also will be mailing the materials to certain shareholders on or about March 27, 2015, and to those shareholders who request paper or e-mail copies of the proxy materials.

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will act upon the matters outlined in the notice of meeting and described in these materials, including the election of directors, the advisory approval of executive compensation, the ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm and the transaction of other business, if properly presented at the meeting.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2015, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the meeting. If you were a shareholder of record on that date, you are entitled to vote all of the shares that you held on that date at the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are the holder of record of those shares. As the holder of record, you are receiving these proxy materials directly from us and have the right to vote by mailing your Proxy Card directly to us, submitting your voting instructions via the Internet or by telephone or voting in person at the Annual Meeting. If you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must provide proof of identification, e.g., driver’s license, state picture identification or passport.

If you hold your shares in a brokerage account or through a bank or other holder of record, you are the beneficial owner of the shares, and the shares are held in “street name.” Your broker, bank or other holder of record (collectively referred to as “broker”) is sending these proxy materials to you. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker how to vote by following the instructions that accompany these proxy materials or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must provide proof of identification, e.g., driver’s license, state picture identification or passport, and proof that you were the owner of the shares on March 10, 2015, e.g., original brokerage statement.

If you hold your shares indirectly in the Southwest Gas Corporation Employees’ Investment Plan (the “EIP”), you have the right to direct the EIP trustee how to vote your shares by following the instructions from the EIP trustee accompanying the Proxy Statement. If you do not direct the EIP trustee how to vote your shares, then the EIP trustee will vote your shares in the same proportion as the shares for which timely instructions were received from other EIP participants.

How many votes do I have?

You have one vote for each share of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) you owned as of the record date for the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote?

If you are a registered shareholder, you can vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy whether or not you attend the meeting. To vote by proxy, you must either:

Vote over the Internet at our Internet address: www.proxypush.com/swx by following the instructions on the enclosed Proxy Card;

Vote by telephone by calling toll-free 1-800-883-3382 on a touch-tone telephone and following the instructions on the enclosed Proxy Card; or

Complete the enclosed Proxy Card, sign it and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.

If your shares are held in street name, you should follow the voting instructions provided by your bank or broker.

Can I revoke or change my vote?

Yes, you can revoke or change your vote at any time prior to the voting of your shares at the Annual Meeting by (a) casting a new vote by telephone or over the internet; (b) sending a new Proxy Card with a later date; (c) sending a written notice of revocation that is received on or prior to May 6, 2015, by mail to Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, Southwest Gas Corporation, P.O. Box 64873, Saint Paul, MN 55164-9397, or by facsimile at 651-450-4026; or (d) voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting.

What are the Board’s recommendations?

The Board’s recommendations are set forth with the description of each proposal in this Proxy Statement. In summary, the Board recommends a vote:

FOR election of the nominated slate of directors (see Proposal 1);

FOR approval, on an advisory basis, of executive compensation (see Proposal 2); and

FOR ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015 (see Proposal 3).

With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr. and Michael J. Melarkey, the proxies designated by the Board and identified in the accompanying Proxy Card, will vote all proxies granted to them at their discretion.

How many votes must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

We will have a quorum, and will be able to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting, if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. As of the record date, 46,639,027 shares of Common Stock were outstanding and the

presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least 23,319,514 shares of Common Stock will be required to establish a quorum. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the votes considered being present at the meeting.

A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker lacks discretionary voting power to vote on a “non-routine” proposal and a beneficial owner fails to give the broker voting instructions on that matter. The rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) determine whether matters presented at the Annual Meeting are “routine” or “non-routine” in nature. The election of directors is not considered a “routine” matter. Similarly, the advisory vote to approve executive compensation is not considered a “routine” matter. Therefore, beneficial owners that hold in “street name” will have to give voting instructions to their brokers in order for a broker to vote on the election of directors and the advisory vote to approve executive compensation. The ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015 is considered a “routine” matter, and brokers have the discretionary voting power to vote on this matter without any instructions from the beneficial owners.

What vote is required to approve each Proposal?

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Common Stock represented and voting at a duly held Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present (which shares of Common Stock voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) is necessary to ratify PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s selection as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for fiscal year 2015 and to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation. Although the result of the vote to approve executive compensation is non-binding, the Board will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions.

Do I have an opportunity to cumulate my votes for director nominees?

Shareholders have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors if certain conditions are met. Shareholders entitled to vote may cumulate their votes for a candidate or candidates placed in nomination at the meeting if, prior to the voting at the meeting, notice has been given that a shareholder intends to cumulate his or her votes. A shareholder deciding to cumulate his or her votes may cast as many votes as there are directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock held by such shareholder on the record date. The votes may be cast for one candidate or allocated among two or more candidates in any manner the shareholders choose. If any shareholder has given notice of cumulative voting, all shareholders may cumulate their votes for candidates in nomination. Note, however, that cumulative voting will have no impact on the result of the election of directors at the Annual Meeting because there is only one nominee for each of the 12 seats on the Board.

If our proxies determine that shareholders exercise cumulative voting rights to elect one or more candidates, our proxies will:

determine the number of directors they can elect;

select such number from among the named candidates;

cumulate their votes; and

cast their votes for each candidate among the number they can elect.

How are my votes counted?

Election of Directors: You may vote “FOR all nominees (except as marked)” or “WITHHELD from all nominees.” If you mark “FOR all nominees (except as marked),” your votes will be counted for each of the other director nominees you do not list. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall have no effect on the election of directors.

Advisory Vote To Approve Executive Compensation: You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to the advisory vote to approve executive compensation. The result of the vote to approve executive compensation is non-binding, and the Board will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions. If you “ABSTAIN” or if your shares are treated as a broker non-vote, your votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum and will have no effect on the approval of the proposal.

Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP: You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to the ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015. If you “ABSTAIN” or if your shares are treated as a broker non-vote, your votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum and will have no effect on the ratification of the proposal.

We will appoint either one or three inspectors of election in advance of the meeting to tabulate votes, to ascertain whether a quorum is present and to determine the voting results on all matters presented to Company shareholders.

What if I do not vote for any or all of the matters listed on my Proxy Card?

If you return a signed Proxy Card without indicating your vote on any or all of the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting, your shares will be voted “FOR” the director nominees listed on the Proxy Card, “FOR” the advisory vote to approve executive compensation, and “FOR” the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015. If you hold your shares in “street name” and do not provide instructions to your broker, your shares will not be voted in the election of directors or in the advisory vote to approve executive compensation and will be voted at your broker’s discretion on the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2015.

Are proxy materials available on the Internet?

The Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement and the 2014 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials.

Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a full set of the proxy materials?

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules allow us to furnish our proxy materials via the internet. Accordingly, we sent to the majority of our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for this year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials via the internet or to request a paper or e-mail copy can be found in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials at http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials. In addition, shareholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or e-mail on an ongoing basis by submitting a request to us at either www.investorelections.com/swx or http://www.swgas.com/proxymaterials. A shareholder’s election to receive proxy materials by mail or e-mail will remain in effect until the shareholder terminates it.

Why didn’t I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

We are providing certain shareholders, including shareholders who have requested to receive paper copies of proxy materials, with paper copies of the proxy materials instead of, or in addition to, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

Can I vote my shares by completing and returning the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

No. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials does, however, provide instructions on how to vote your shares.

Can the shares that I hold in a brokerage account or the EIP be voted if I do not instruct my broker or the EIP trustee?

Shares held in street name: If you do not instruct your broker to vote your shares of Common Stock held in street name, your broker has the discretion to vote your shares on all routine matters scheduled to come before the Annual Meeting. If any matters to be considered at the meeting are viewed as “non-routine,” your broker does not have discretion to vote your shares and, if you do not give your broker voting instructions, your broker will vote your shares as broker non-votes. The election of directors and the advisory vote to approve executive compensation are not considered “routine” matters, and in order to vote on these matters, you will need to instruct your broker on how to vote your shares. The ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is “routine,” and your broker will have the discretion to vote your shares unless you provide voting instructions.

Shares held in the EIP: If you do not provide instructions to the EIP trustee for the shares of Common Stock that you hold in the EIP, then the EIP trustee will vote your shares in the same proportion as the shares for which timely instructions were received from other EIP participants.

Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

We do not know of any other matters that will be considered at the Annual Meeting. However, if you give your proxy and other matters are properly brought before the meeting, your shares will be voted at the discretion of the proxies, unless otherwise instructed.

What Rules of Conduct will govern the Annual Meeting?

To ensure that our Annual Meeting is conducted in an orderly fashion and the shareholders wishing to speak at the meeting have a fair opportunity to do so, we will have certain guidelines and rules for the conduct of the meeting, which we will provide to those attending the meeting.

What happens if the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned?

If the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned, your proxy will still be good and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

Your proxy is being solicited by the Board, and the Company will bear the entire cost of the proxy solicitation. Morrow & Co., LLC (“Morrow”), 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 has been employed to assist in obtaining proxies from certain shareholders at an estimated cost of $8,500, plus

certain expenses. Arrangements have also been made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy materials to you, if your shares are held in “street name.” Morrow will reimburse them for their expenses in providing the materials to you. In addition, solicitation by our directors, officers or employees in person or by telephone, e-mail or facsimile may supplement solicitation of proxies. No additional compensation will be paid for such services.

GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY

Board of Directors

Under the provisions of the California Corporations Code and the Company’s Bylaws, the Company’s business, property and affairs are managed by or under the direction of the Board. The Board is kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided by management and by participating in Board and committee meetings.

Independence

The Board has determined that directors Boughner, Cárdenas, Chestnut, Comer, Hanneman, Maffie, Mariucci, Melarkey, Thoman, Thomas and Wright have no material relationships with the Company and are independent (“Independent Directors”). The Board has also determined that all of the members of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent.

In making these determinations, the Board reviewed all transactions or relationships with the Company using a definition of “material relationships” that (i) includes the criteria listed in Section 303A of the listing requirements of the NYSE and (ii) presumes that matters not subject to disclosure pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and matters above the Item 404 threshold which are authorized by the Company’s regulatory tariffs, are not “material relationships.” The definition of “material relationships” for directors on the Audit Committee also includes the criteria listed in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act. The definition of “material relationships” for directors serving on the Compensation Committee also includes the criteria listed in Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The independence criteria used are included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on the Company’s website at: http://www.swgas.com.

The Board based its independence determination primarily on a review of the responses of the directors and officers to questions regarding employment and compensation history, affiliations and family relationships and on discussions with directors. In concluding that the directors listed above are independent, the Board reviewed transactions involving director Thomas and reviewed director Maffie’s status as a retired executive officer of the Company.

In 2011, the Company began purchasing communications-related products and services from Switch Communications Group, LLC (“SCG”) and its majority-owned subsidiary, Switch Business Solutions, LLC (“SBS” and, together with SCG, “Switch”). The contract with Switch, a company in which Mr. Thomas has an interest, has an annual cost estimated to be approximately $525,000 in 2015. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has determined that the Switch transaction is not material and that Mr. Thomas’ ownership interests in Switch would not result in a material relationship between Mr. Thomas and the Company. However, because of such interests, Mr. Thomas does not satisfy the criteria to serve on the Compensation Committee or to vote as a director on matters involving awarding equity-based compensation under the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or

performance-based compensation that would trigger limitations under the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. For additional information, see “Transactions with Related Persons” below.

Mr. Maffie, because he was an executive officer of the Company, does not satisfy the criteria to serve on the Compensation Committee or to vote as a director on matters involving performance-based compensation that would trigger limitations under the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Board Meetings

Regular Board meetings for 2015 are scheduled for the fourth Monday of January, the fourth Tuesday of February, the fifth Friday of July, the fifth Tuesday of September, the second Friday of November and the Wednesday before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May. Additional meetings are called on an as-needed basis and the Board sometimes acts by written consent without a meeting. An organizational meeting is also held immediately following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board held six regular meetings, one special meeting and one organizational meeting in 2014. Each incumbent director attended more than 75% of the Board and committee meetings on which he or she served during 2014. Non-management directors are expected to meet in an executive session at least four times a year, and the Independent Directors are expected to meet at least once a year. These sessions are presided over by Michael J. Melarkey, Chairman of the Board (the “Chair”), who is the current “Presiding Director.”

Board Leadership Structure

The policy of the Board is that the role of Chair should be separate from that of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Chair is elected annually, at the organizational meeting, by the full Board. Every three years or upon a Chair’s resignation, retirement, or failure to be re-elected to the Board by shareholders, the Board does an in-depth assessment of potential candidates for that position. The Board believes that this leadership structure is the appropriate structure for the Company because it allows the Board to exercise true independent oversight of management. It is the Board’s intention to reelect Mr. Melarkey as Chair, subject to his reelection as a director at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Risk Oversight

The entire Board is responsible for reviewing and overseeing the Company’s internal risk management processes and policies to help ensure that the Company’s corporate strategy is functioning as directed and that necessary steps are taken to foster a culture of risk-aware and risk-adjusted decision making throughout the Company.

Regulation by various state and federal utility regulatory commissions is one of the key risks that is accepted as a part of being a public utility. The limits imposed on the Company as a public utility permeate its business operating model (including pricing of services, authorized areas of service and obligations to serve the public). Other risks are associated with credit, liquidity and operational matters and have evolved with changes in the natural gas industry.

The nature of these risks and the continuing obligations imposed on the Company, as a public utility, resulted in the integration of risk assessment in the normal business oversight process. The Board receives regular reports from management in areas of material risk to the Company, including credit risk, liquidity risk and operational risk. Credit and liquidity risks are addressed in the review of capital budgets and ongoing capital requirements. Liquidity risks are also addressed in the review of

gas supply acquisition and related regulatory cost recovery. Operational risks are addressed in the review of operating budgets and related regulatory compliance requirements, including pipeline safety requirements. The full Board receives these reports from management to help enable it to oversee and manage the Company’s risks in these areas. This oversight responsibility rests with the full Board and is not assigned to any of the permanent committees.

Committees of the Board

The permanent Board committees are the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Pension Plan Investment Committee. Each committee has established responsibilities, and the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees have detailed charters designed to satisfy applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are composed solely of independent directors as outlined above. We refer to the committees of the Board by the name of the specific committee or, where it is clear by the context of the discussion, simply as the “committee.”

The Audit Committee, whose functions are discussed here and below under the caption “Audit Committee Information,” is a separately designated standing committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. It consists of directors Comer (Chair), Boughner, Chestnut, Hanneman, Thoman and Thomas. The committee meets periodically with management to consider, among other things, the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and financial reporting process. The committee also discusses these matters with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, internal auditors and Company financial personnel. The Board has determined that directors Comer and Thoman each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as the term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining CEO compensation and making recommendations to the Board annually on such matters as directors’ fees and benefit programs, executive compensation and benefits and compensation and benefits for all other Company employees. The committee’s responsibilities, as outlined in its charter, cannot be delegated without Board approval. The committee receives recommendations from management on the amount and form of executive and director compensation; however, the committee has the ability to directly employ consultants to assess the executive compensation program. The committee is also responsible for the “Compensation Committee Report” and related disclosures contained in this Proxy Statement. The committee consists of directors Boughner (Chair), Comer, Melarkey, Thoman and Wright.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board regarding nominees to be proposed for election as directors; evaluating the Board’s size, composition, organization, processes, practices and number of committees; and developing the criteria for the selection of directors. The committee considers written suggestions from shareholders regarding potential nominees for election as directors. The process for selecting directors is addressed in more detail below under the caption “Selection of Directors.” The committee is also charged with the responsibility of developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance principles and compliance programs for the Company. The committee consists of directors Hanneman (Chair), Cárdenas, Mariucci, Melarkey, Thomas and Wright.

The Pension Plan Investment Committee establishes, monitors and oversees, on a continual basis, asset investment policy and practices for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan. The committee consists of directors Mariucci (Chair), Cárdenas, Chestnut and Maffie.

During 2014, the Audit Committee held six meetings, the Compensation Committee held five meetings, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings and the Pension Plan Investment Committee held three meetings.

The charters for the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Company’s code of business conduct that applies to all employees, officers and directors are available on the Company’s website at: http://www.swgas.com. Print versions of these documents are available to shareholders upon request directed to the Corporate Secretary, Southwest Gas Corporation, 5241 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89150.

Selection of Directors

We believe the Board should be composed of individuals with varied, complementary backgrounds, who possess certain core competencies, some of which may include broad experience in business, finance or administration, and familiarity with national and international business matters and the energy industry. Additional factors that will be considered in the selection process include the following:

Independence from management;

Diversity, age, education and geographic location;

Knowledge and business experience;

Integrity, leadership, reputation and ability to understand the Company’s business;

Existing commitments to other businesses and boards; and

The current number and competencies of our existing directors.

We define “diversity” in a broad sense, i.e., race, color, gender, national origin, religion and disability. Neither the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee nor the Board has a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes diversity into consideration as it does the other factors listed above in selecting the director nominees for approval by the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not assign a specific weight to any one factor.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates suggested by shareholders by applying the criteria for candidates described above and considering the additional information referred to below. Shareholders who would like to suggest a candidate should write to the Company’s Corporate Secretary and include:

A statement that the writer is a shareholder and is proposing a candidate for consideration as a director nominee;

The name of and contact information for the candidate;

A statement of the candidate’s business and educational experience;

Information regarding each of the factors listed above, sufficient to enable the committee to evaluate the candidate;

A statement detailing any relationship between the candidate and the Company, Company affiliates and any competitor of the Company;

Detailed information about any relationship or understanding between the proposing shareholder and the candidate;

Information on the candidate’s share ownership in the Company; and

The candidate’s written consent to being named a nominee and serving as a director, if elected.

When seeking a candidate for director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may solicit suggestions from incumbent directors, management or others. The committee may also retain a search firm to identify potential candidates.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has an ongoing program of identifying potential director candidates throughout the Company’s service territories. As candidates are identified, their qualifications are reviewed in light of the selection criteria, as outlined above. Whether any of such candidates are selected depends upon the current director composition, the dynamics of the Board and the ongoing requirements of the Company.

Shareholders may also nominate a person for election to the Board at an annual meeting by giving written notice to the Company not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting, or within 10 days after notice is mailed or public disclosure is made regarding either a change of the annual meeting by more than 30 days or a special meeting at which directors are to be elected. In order to make such a nomination, a shareholder is required to include in the written notice the following:

As to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all the information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;

Each person’s written consent to being named a nominee and serving as a director, if elected;

The name and address of the proposing shareholder or beneficial owner; and

The class and number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock held directly or indirectly by the proposing shareholder.

Shareholder Nominees

There have been no director nominees submitted by shareholders for consideration for election at this year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and the deadline for submissions has passed.

Transactions with Related Persons

The Company has written policies and procedures for the review, approval and ratification of transactions with related persons. The policy addresses transactions in which the Company was or is a participant, the amount exceeds $120,000 and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. The definition of “related person” includes any director, officer, nominee for director or five percent beneficial owner and any of their immediate family members. These transactions will be reported to the Company’s General Counsel, reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and approved or ratified only if the committee determines that the transaction is not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company. The policy, included in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, is available on the Company’s website at: http://www.swgas.com.

Each transaction with a related person is unique and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In determining whether or not a transaction is inconsistent with the best interests of the Company, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the committee, including without limitation:

The related person’s interest in the proposed transaction;

The approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the proposed transaction;

The approximate dollar value of the amount of the related person’s interest in the proposed transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss;

Whether the transaction is proposed to be, or was, undertaken in the ordinary course of business of the Company;

Whether the transaction is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party;

The purpose of, and the potential benefits to the Company from, the transaction;

The impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a director is a partner, shareholder or executive officer; and

Any other information regarding the transaction or the related person in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction.

The Company was engaged in two transactions with related persons during 2014. One involves the purchase of communications-related products and services from Switch, a company in which Mr. Thomas has an interest. The other involves a consulting agreement with an entity owned by Dr. Joseph W. Haller, the spouse of Karen S. Haller, the Company’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

The Company purchases, in arm’s length negotiated, ordinary course commercial transactions, communications-related products and services from Switch pursuant to an agreement that became effective in 2011. Mr. Thomas owns, either directly or indirectly, an approximate 6.6% equity interest as a passive investor in SCG. Mr. Thomas’ family members own collectively, either directly or indirectly, approximately 16.25% of the equity interests of SCG. Mr. Thomas does not actively engage in the management of SCG or SBS. Mr. Thomas’ sibling, who is affiliated with SCG, is not involved in the daily business operations or decisions of SCG and does not perform any policy-making functions for SCG. Additionally, Mr. Thomas’ sibling is not and never has been an employee of SCG and none of the employees or contractors of SCG report to him. We expect to pay Switch approximately $525,000 in 2015, with incremental annual increases thereafter. The transaction with Switch is expected to represent less than 1% of Switch’s consolidated revenue in each year over the life of the agreement. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that this transaction was not material.

The agreement the Company entered into with Dr. Haller in 2008 was designed to secure computer application development/support for the Company’s transmission pipeline integrity management program and engineering data analysis services. The agreement has been extended multiple times, including in November 2013 for calendar year 2014, at an actual cost of $155,835, and

in December 2014 for the calendar year 2015, at an expected cost of $175,000. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that Ms. Haller has a direct material interest in the transaction; however, consistent with the Company’s related person transaction policy, the committee determined that entering into and continuing the agreement is not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company. Given the valuable skill set that Dr. Haller possesses, the Company anticipates that the agreement may continue to be extended periodically.

Directors and Officers Share Ownership Guidelines

In order to better align the interests of management and the Board with that of all shareholders, the Company has adopted Common Stock ownership guidelines for directors and officers.

Each outside director is required to retain at least five times the value of his or her annual cash retainer in Company Common Stock (or equivalents), and a portion of this ownership requirement equal to at least two times the annual cash retainer must be Company Common Stock purchased by the outside director. Each outside director is required to fulfill the purchase requirement within two years of beginning service on the Board. All equity compensation received by each outside director must be held until end of service on the Board. All outside directors are currently in compliance with these guidelines.

Each Company officer is required to accumulate Company Common Stock with a target value equal to a multiple of the officer’s base salary, ranging from one times base salary for vice presidents, three times base salary at the senior vice president level and above and five times base salary for the Chief Executive Officer. If an officer has not yet reached the applicable target ownership requirement, he or she is required to retain a portion of the shares of Company Common Stock acquired from any stock option exercise or the vesting of restricted stock units or performance shares. The applicable retention rate is 75% for the Chief Executive Officer and 50% for all other officers. Qualified shares include Common Stock owned directly by the officer or his or her spouse, Company Common Stock held by the officer or his or her spouse in the Company’s 401(k) or Dividend Reinvestment Plan and performance-based restricted stock units and performance shares which have been granted but are subject to time vesting requirements. All officers are currently in compliance with these guidelines.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Board members who served on the Compensation Committee during 2014 were directors Boughner, Cárdenas, Comer, Melarkey, Thoman and Wright. None of the members has ever been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no “compensation committee interlocks” existed during 2014. No member of the Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure under any paragraph of Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

We normally schedule Board meetings in conjunction with each Annual Meeting of Shareholders and each director nominee is expected to attend the Board meetings and the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Last year, all of the directors attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Communications with Directors

Any shareholder and other interested parties who would like to communicate with the Board, the Presiding Director or any individual director can write to:

Southwest Gas Corporation

Corporate Secretary

5241 Spring Mountain Road

P.O. Box 98510

Las Vegas, NV 89193-8510

Depending on the subject matter, the Corporate Secretary will either:

Forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;

Attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example, where it is a request for information about the Company or a stock-related matter; or

Not forward the communication, if it is primarily commercial in nature, or if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.

If the communication is addressed to the Presiding Director, the communication will be forwarded directly to the Presiding Director and will not be processed by the Corporate Secretary. At each regular Board meeting, management presents a summary of all communications received since the last Board meeting which were not previously forwarded and such communications are made available to all of the directors.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Proposal 1 on the Proxy Card)

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Election of the Director Nominees.

Names, Qualifications and Reasons for Selection of Nominees

Each director elected at an annual meeting will serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Each of the nominees, other than Mr. Hester, was elected to his or her present term of office at the 2014 Annual Meeting. Mr. Maffie will not be nominated for reelection at this year’s Annual Meeting, and Mr. Hester will join the Board, if elected. As a result, the number of authorized directors under the Company’s bylaws will be maintained at 12.

The director nominees, as outlined below, possess core competencies in the areas of business, finance and administration and have a familiarity with regional and national business matters and the energy industry. The nominees, as a group, have integrity, varying ages, experience in accounting and construction in both residential and commercial markets and reside or do business in a cross-section of the Company’s service territories.

The 12 nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes, a plurality, will be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting. The names of the nominees, their principal occupation and the Board’s reasons for their selection are set forth on the following pages. Except as noted, each of the nominees has held the position below his or her name for at least the past five years.

Robert L. Boughner

Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer

Boyd Gaming Corporation

Director Since: 2008

Board Committees: Audit, Compensation (Chair)

Mr. Boughner, 62, has been in his current role with Boyd Gaming Corporation (“Boyd”) since December 2009. He has also been a director of Boyd since April 1996, a company with which he has more than 25 years of senior management experience. Additionally, from January 2009 through November 2012, Mr. Boughner served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Marina District Development Company, LLC (“MDDC”), the limited liability company formed as part of a 50-50 joint venture of Boyd and MGM Resorts International. MDDC owns and operates the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and the Water Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd’s Echelon Place project, from July 2005 through the sale of the project in March 2013. Mr. Boughner had held the position of Chief Executive Officer of MDDC from January 1999 through June 2006. Prior to his initial service with MDDC, Mr. Boughner had served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of Boyd, from April 1990 and May 1998, respectively, through October 2001. He is active in civic and industry affairs and currently serves on the board of directors of Western Alliance Bank.

The Board determined that Mr. Boughner should serve as a director of the Company because of his business and leadership experience with Boyd both in Nevada and nationally, as well as his experience as a director of Boyd and the Western Alliance Bank.

José A. Cárdenas

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Arizona State University

Director Since: 2011

Board Committees: Nominating and Corporate Governance, Pension Plan Investment

Mr. Cárdenas, 62, has been Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Arizona State University (“ASU”) since January 2009. In addition to serving as chief legal officer of the University, he serves as a University representative on and to the boards of directors of ASU affiliated and related entities such as the ASU Foundation. From 1982 through 2008, Mr. Cárdenas was a partner in the Phoenix based law firm of Lewis and Roca. He was the firm’s Managing Partner (CEO) from 1999 to 2003 and then the firm’s Chairman from 2003 through 2008. Mr. Cárdenas is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1974 and a law degree from Stanford University Law School in 1977. Mr. Cárdenas has been admitted to practice law in Arizona, California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court and is a member of various bar associations, including the Hispanic National Bar Association. Mr. Cárdenas is a member of the boards of directors of Meridian Bank N.A. and Swift Transportation Company (NYSE: SWFT). His many community activities include his service as a trustee of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. He is a past chairman of the boards of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Valley of the Sun United Way, the Translational Genomics Research Institute and O’Connor House.

The Board determined that Mr. Cárdenas should serve as a director because of his business and legal experience, his leadership abilities as a trustee or chairman for a number of private foundations and institutes and his diversity.

Thomas E. Chestnut

Retired Construction Executive

Director Since: 2004

Board Committees: Audit, Pension Plan Investment

Mr. Chestnut, 64, was the owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chestnut Construction Company from 1990 until 2013. After serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, he began a career in the construction industry in 1972 with Del Webb Corporation. Leaving Del Webb in 1980 as Manager of Commercial Operations, Mr. Chestnut took a position with The Wray Company, a commercial contractor and wholly owned subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Company. He remained with Wray until 1990 when he founded Chestnut Construction Company in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Chestnut is a past president and life director of the Arizona Builders Alliance and a past president of the Arizona Building Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. He is a past chair and life trustee of the Carondelet Foundation, a member and past president of the Tucson Conquistadors and a member and past director of the Centurions of St. Mary’s Hospital. Mr. Chestnut was named the 2001 Tucson Small Business Leader of the Year by the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the 2002 Arizona Small Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration.

The Board determined that Mr. Chestnut should serve as a director of the Company because of his business experience in the residential and commercial construction businesses, his leadership experience in managing his construction business and his commitment to civic and charitable organizations in southern Arizona. In addition, the Board has based its recommendation on his knowledge of the business and operations of the Company, resulting from his service as a director since 2004.

Stephen C. Comer

Retired Managing Partner

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Director Since: 2007

Board Committees: Audit (Chair), Compensation

Mr. Comer, 65, received his degree in business administration from California State University Northridge in 1972. He began his career with Arthur Andersen LLP in Los Angeles and established Arthur Andersen’s Las Vegas office, as its managing partner, in 1985. Leaving Arthur Andersen in 2002, Mr. Comer took a position as partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP and was promoted to managing partner of its Nevada practice in 2004. He retired in 2006. He serves as a director of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants and holds professional CPA licenses in the states of California (inactive) and Nevada. He is also involved in numerous civic, educational and charitable organizations.

The Board determined that Mr. Comer should serve as a director of the Company because of his business, accounting and auditing experience with Arthur Andersen LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP and his leadership positions with both entities, as well as his experience as a director of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr.

Retired Construction Executive

Private Investor

Director Since: 2009 (also Director September 2003 to March 2008)

Board Committees: Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair)

Mr. Hanneman, 68, received his undergraduate degree in construction engineering from Arizona State University. From 2002 until his retirement in 2010, he was the Chief Executive Officer and managing member of Element Homes, L.L.C., a homebuilding and real estate development company with projects in the metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area. Mr. Hanneman is a 35-year veteran of the housing industry and former President, Chief Operating and Executive Officer of Del Webb Corporation. Mr. Hanneman left Del Webb Corporation after its merger with Pulte Homes Corporation in 2001. He has served on a number of charitable organization boards including United Way, Boy Scouts of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Board determined that Mr. Hanneman should serve as a director of the Company because of his business and leadership experience in the housing industry with Del Webb Corporation throughout the Company’s service territory.

John P. Hester

President and Chief Executive Officer

Southwest Gas Corporation

Director Nominee

Mr. Hester, 52, has been Chief Executive Officer since March 2015 and was named President in August 2014. Mr. Hester joined the Company in 1989, and has been named to various positions at the Company, such as Director/Regulatory Affairs and Systems Planning in 2002, Vice President/Regulatory Affairs and Systems Planning in 2003, Senior Vice President/Regulatory Affairs and Energy Resources in 2006, and Executive Vice President in 2013. Prior to joining Southwest Gas, he worked

at the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, as well as the Illinois Commerce Commission. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics from Northern Illinois University. Mr. Hester currently serves on the Opportunity Village Foundation Board of Directors, the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada Board of Trustees, the College of Southern Nevada Foundation Board of Trustees, the Las Vegas Metro Chamber Board of Trustees, the UNLV Department of Economics Executive Advisory Board, and the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council.

The Board determined that Mr. Hester should serve as a director because, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, he has an intimate working knowledge of all aspects of the Company’s operations.

Anne L. Mariucci

Retired Construction Executive

Private Investor

Director Since: 2006

Board Committees: Nominating and Corporate Governance, Pension Plan Investment (Chair)

Ms. Mariucci, 57, has over 30 years of experience in homebuilding and real estate. Prior to 2003, Ms. Mariucci held a number of executive senior management roles with Del Webb Corporation and was responsible for its large-scale community development and homebuilding business. She also served as President of Del Webb following its merger with Pulte Homes, Inc. Since 2003, she has been affiliated with the private equity firms Hawkeye Partners (Austin, Texas) and Glencoe Capital (Chicago, Illinois). Ms. Mariucci received her undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from the University of Arizona and completed the corporate finance program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She serves as a director of Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE:CXE), Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC), Banner Health, the Arizona State University Foundation and the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. Ms. Mariucci served on the Arizona Board of Regents from 2006-2014 and is its former chairman. She is a past director of the Arizona State Retirement System, Scottsdale Healthcare and Action Performance Companies, as well as a past Trustee of the Urban Land Institute.

The Board determined that Ms. Mariucci should serve as a director of the Company because of her experience as a director of other publicly traded companies, diversity and business and financial experience in the housing industry with Del Webb Corporation and Pulte Homes throughout the Company’s service territories, as well as her commitment to government, civic and charitable organizations throughout Arizona.

Michael J. Melarkey

Partner

Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie

Director Since: 2004

Chairman of the Board

Board Committees: Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance

Mr. Melarkey, 65, a partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie for more than 35 years, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, his law degree from the University of San Francisco and his masters in laws in taxation from New York University. He has been in private legal practice in Reno, Nevada, since 1976. Mr. Melarkey is a member of the American Bar Association, the International Association of Gaming Lawyers and the State Bar of Nevada. He is a trustee of the Bretzlaff Foundation, the Robert S. and Dorothy J. Keyser

Foundation, the Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation and the E. L. Wiegand Trust. He is Vice President of Miami Oil Producers, Inc. and has ownership interests in the Pioneer Crossing Casino in Fernley, Nevada, the Pioneer Crossing Casino in Dayton, Nevada, and the Pioneer Crossing in Yerington, Nevada. He also serves as a director of the Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, the Gabelli Global Utility and Income Trust, GDL Fund, the GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust by Gabelli, and the GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust by Gabelli, all closed-end mutual funds.

The Board determined that Mr. Melarkey should serve as a director because of his business and legal experience, his leadership abilities as a trustee for a number of private foundations and as a director of a number of closed-end mutual funds. In addition, the Board has based its recommendation on his knowledge of the business and operations of the Company, resulting from his service as a director since 2004.

Jeffrey W. Shaw

Retired Chief Executive Officer

Southwest Gas Corporation

Director Since: 2004

Board Committees: None

Mr. Shaw, 56, joined the Company in 1988 as Director of Internal Audit. He was promoted to Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in 1991, Vice President/Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in 1993, Vice President and Treasurer in 1994, Senior Vice President/Finance and Treasurer in 2000, Senior Vice President/Gas Resources and Pricing in 2002, President in 2003, Chief Executive Officer in June 2004 and President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2012. Mr. Shaw continued to serve as Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in March 2015. Mr. Shaw received his degree in accounting from the University of Utah and worked for Arthur Andersen & Co., in its Dallas and Las Vegas offices prior to joining Southwest Gas. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nevada Society of CPAs and the Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Association. Mr. Shaw serves on the boards of the American Gas Association, National Fuel Gas (NYSE: NFG), the UNLV Foundation and the Council for a Better Nevada; and is past Chairman of the Board of the Western Energy Institute and immediate past President of the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Board determined that Mr. Shaw should serve as a director of the Company because of his business and leadership experience in all aspects of the Company’s operations, his experience as a director of the Company and National Fuel Gas, as well as his commitment to civic and charitable organizations in southern Nevada.

A. Randall Thoman

Retired Partner

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Director Since: 2010

Board Committees: Audit, Compensation

Mr. Thoman, 63, received his degree in accounting from the University of Utah and has been a Certified Public Accountant for more than 30 years. He began his career with Deloitte & Touche LLP and became a Partner in June 1991. For 15 years, Mr. Thoman was the Partner with primary responsibility for the technical interpretation and application of accounting principles and audit standards and the review of all reporting issues and financial statements for Nevada-based companies registered with the SEC. Mr. Thoman retired from Deloitte & Touche LLP in October 2009. He currently serves on the Audit Committee of SLS Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. Mr. Thoman also served on the board of SHFL Entertainment, Inc. until its acquisition in 2013.

The Board determined that Mr. Thoman should serve as a director of the Company because of his business, accounting and auditing experience with Deloitte & Touche LLP and his leadership positions at the firm, his experience with SEC reporting and compliance, as well as his experience as a former director of several non-profit entities.

Thomas A. Thomas

Managing Partner

Thomas & Mack Co. LLC

Director Since: 2008

Board Committees: Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance

Mr. Thomas, 57, received his undergraduate degree in finance and his juris doctorate from the University of Utah. After obtaining his law degree, he joined Valley Bank of Nevada and held various executive positions with the bank until its merger with Bank of America in 1992. After the merger, he became managing partner of Thomas & Mack Co., an investment management and commercial real estate development company with properties and developments in Nevada, California, Arizona, and Utah. Mr. Thomas is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations including the Opportunity Village Foundation, the UNLV Foundation Advisory Board, the Las Vegas Rotary Club and the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of the Nevada Bar Association and was instrumental in establishing the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic and Moot Court Facility at the UNLV Boyd School of Law.

The Board determined that Mr. Thomas should serve as a director because of his banking and business experience, his familiarity with the commercial markets throughout the Company’s service territories and his commitment to civic and charitable organizations in southern Nevada.

Terrence “Terry” L. Wright

Owner/Chairman of the Board of Directors

Nevada Title Company

Director Since: 1997

Board Committees: Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance

Mr. Wright, 65, received his undergraduate degree in business administration and his juris doctorate from DePaul University. He joined Chicago Title Insurance Company while in law school and after graduation remained with the company and eventually moved to its Las Vegas, Nevada office. In 1978, he acquired the assets of Western Title to form what is now Nevada Title Company. Mr. Wright is the chairman of the board and majority owner of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, which is licensed to issue policies of title insurance in 43 states. He is a member of the California and Illinois bar associations and has served on the board of directors for Nevada Land Title Association and the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin. He is a past-chairman of the Nevada Development Authority, the Nevada Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization, the UNLV Foundation and the Council for a Better Nevada.

The Board determined that Mr. Wright should serve as a director because of his business and leadership experience with Nevada Title Company and Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, his familiarity with residential and commercial real estate markets throughout the Company’s service territories, as well as his commitment to civic and charitable organizations in southern Nevada. In addition, the Board has based its recommendation on his knowledge of the business and operations of the Company, resulting from his service as a director since 1997.

Securities Ownership by Directors, Director Nominees, Executive Officers, and Certain Beneficial Owners

Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers. The following table discloses all Common Stock beneficially owned by the Company’s directors, the nominees for director and the executive officers of the Company, as of March 1, 2015.


Directors, Nominees & Executive Officers	No. of Shares Beneficially Owned(1)			Percent of Outstanding Common Stock(2)
Robert L. Boughner		28,583			*
José A. Cárdenas		11,376			*
Thomas E. Chestnut		20,836			*
Stephen C. Comer		20,336	⁽³⁾		*
LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr.		17,917	⁽⁴⁾		*
John. P. Hester		51,918	⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾		*
Michael O. Maffie		21,865			*
Anne L. Mariucci		19,836			*
Michael J. Melarkey		28,601	⁽⁷⁾		*
Jeffrey W. Shaw		172,996	⁽⁸⁾		*
A. Randall Thoman		14,794	⁽⁹⁾		*
Thomas A. Thomas		19,083			*
Terrence L. Wright		29,835	⁽¹⁰⁾		*
Roy R. Centrella		38,983	^(6)(11)		*
William N. Moody		25,844			*
Edward A. Janov		34,037			*
Other Executive Officers		134,365	^(6)(12)		*

All Directors and Executive Officers		691,205	⁽¹³⁾		1.48	%

(1)

Common Stock holdings listed in this column include performance shares granted to the Company’s executive officers under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan in 2013, 2014, and 2015, restricted stock units granted to the Company’s executive officers under the Company’s Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the “RSUP”) in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and restricted stock units granted to the Company’s directors under the RSUP.

(2)

“*”No individual officer or director owned more than 1% of outstanding Common Stock.

(3)

The holdings include 3,500 shares over which Mr. Comer has shared voting and investment power with his spouse through a family trust.

(4)

The holdings include 4,190 shares over which Mr. Hanneman has shared voting and investment control with his spouse through a family trust.

(5)

The holdings include 7,759 shares over which Mr. Hester’s spouse has voting and investment control.

(6)

Number of shares does not include 28,018 shares held by the Southwest Gas Corporation Foundation, which is a charitable trust. Messrs. Hester and Centrella and Ms. Haller are trustees of the Foundation but disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by the foundation.

(7)

The holdings include 6,000 shares which Mr. Melarkey has the right to acquire through the exercise of options under the Option Plan and 341 shares over which he has shared voting and investment control through a profit-sharing plan.

(8)

The holdings include 88,558 shares over which Mr. Shaw has shared voting and investment power with his spouse through a family trust.

(9)

The holdings include 2,837 shares over which Mr. Thoman has shared voting and investment power with his spouse through a family trust.

(10)

The holdings include 6,000 shares which Mr. Wright has a right to acquire through the exercise of options under the Option Plan.

(11)

The holdings include 662 shares which Mr. Centrella has a right to acquire through the exercise of options under the Option Plan.

(12)

The holdings of other executive officers include 6,600 shares that may be acquired through the exercise of options under the Option Plan.

(13)

The holdings of the directors and executive officers combined include 19,262 shares that may be acquired through exercise of options under the Option Plan.

Beneficial Owners. BlackRock Inc. reported on Schedule 13G, filed on January 15, 2015, ownership in excess of 5% of the Company’s Common Stock. The Vanguard Group, Inc. reported on Schedule 13G, filed on February 11, 2015, ownership in excess of 5% of the Company’s Common Stock. GAMCO Investors, Inc. et. al. and Gabelli Funds, LLC reported on two separate Forms 13F-HR, filed on February 5, 2015, ownership in excess of 5% of the Company’s Common Stock. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. reported on Schedule 13G, filed on February 11, 2015, ownership in excess of 5% of the Company’s Common Stock. The holdings of these entities on the dates noted in the filings and as a percentage of the shares outstanding on March 1, 2015, are as follows:


Beneficial Owner	No. of Shares Beneficially Owned		Percent of Outstanding Common Stock
BlackRock Inc.(1)		4,486,336		9.62	%
55 East 52^nd Street New York, New York 10022
The Vanguard Group, Inc.(2)		3,233,320		6.93	%
100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
GAMCO Investors, Inc. et. al.(3)		3,172,403		6.80	%
One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(4)		3,044,100		6.53	%
100 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202

(1)

BlackRock Inc. has sole voting power over 4,287,224 shares, no voting power over 199,112 shares and sole dispositive power over all of the shares beneficially owned.

(2)

The Vanguard Group, Inc. has sole voting power over 69,642 shares, shared dispositive power over 61,742 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,171,578 of the shares beneficially owned.

(3)

GAMCO Investors, Inc. et. al. has sole voting power over 3,025,929 shares, no voting power over 146,474 shares and sole dispositive power over all of the shares beneficially owned.

(4)

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. has sole voting power over 623,200 shares and sole dispositive power over all of the shares beneficially owned.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The Company has procedures in place to assist directors and executive officers in complying with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, which includes the preparation of forms for filing. Based upon a review of filings with the SEC and written representations that no other reports were required, we believe that all of our directors and executive officers complied during 2014 with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our 2014 executive compensation program, the compensation decisions made by the Compensation Committee (the “committee”) under our executive compensation program, and the factors considered in making such decisions. This section focuses on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal 2014, who were:

John P. Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer (President as of year-end)

Jeffrey W. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer (retired March 1, 2015)

Roy R. Centrella, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

William N. Moody, Executive Vice President

Edward A. Janov, Senior Vice President/Corporate Development

Executive Summary

Objectives

The objectives of our executive compensation program are to:

Align the interests of the NEOs with those of the Company, its customers and its shareholders;

Recruit, retain and motivate executive talent;

Recognize and reward performance that meets or exceeds the Company’s targets; and

Be fair and competitive.

The Company’s 2014 Performance

Results for the key performance measures of our natural gas operations used in the Company’s incentive-based compensation programs were as follows:

Return-on-equity (“ROE”) was 7.98%, exceeding our target of 7.81%;

Customer satisfaction was 93%, exceeding our target of 90%;

Customer-to-employee ratio was 879-to-1, better than our target of 867-to-1; and

Operating cost increases were 1.73%, beating our target of 2.60%.

Based on our achievements, the annual incentive compensation plan paid out at 122% of target and the long-term incentive program, which is based on performance over the last three years, paid out at 147.5% of target.

We believe that our compensation program is successful at motivating the creation of shareholder value. The Company performed well in 2014 and has a solid record of success over the last several years. Performance continues to be driven by management’s steadfast focus on the core fundamentals of our businesses. Recent accomplishments include the following:

Basic earnings per share increased from $2.89 in 2012 to $3.14 in 2013, and remained strong at $3.04 in 2014.

Dividends per share were $1.18 in 2012, $1.32 in 2013 and $1.46 in 2014. In February 2015, the Board increased the quarterly dividend from 36.5 cents to 40.5 cents per share ($1.62 on an annual basis), effective with the June 2015 payment.

The Company’s common stock traded above $60 per share for the first time in our history in 2014.

In October 2014, the Company’s construction services segment completed the acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies, increasing the revenue of the segment by roughly 40% on a historical basis. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to the Company’s earnings in 2015.

Program Design

Compensation for NEOs includes:

Cash in the form of base salary;

Annual at-risk variable incentive compensation in the form of cash and stock-based compensation;

Long-term at-risk variable incentive compensation in the form of restricted stock units;

Cash bonuses, under exceptional circumstances;

Perquisites in the form of car allowances, cable internet access, allowances for annual physical examinations, life insurance and financial and estate planning allowances; and

Other benefits that include the same group health and welfare benefit programs and tax-qualified retirement plans available to all employees, as well as executive nonqualified retirement plans.

The Company does not have an employment agreement with any NEO.

Base salary is designed to approximate the median (50^th percentile) of the amounts paid by peer group companies (as discussed below), and we set overall compensation to be competitive in a range between the 35^th and the 65^th percentiles of the peer group (plus or minus 15 from the median). For 2014, overall total direct compensation for the NEOs, as a group, was below the median of the peer group.

Best Practices

We believe that the Company has adopted best practices for executive compensation. We annually review all elements of NEO pay and, where appropriate for the business and shareholders, make changes to incorporate current best practices. Shareholders responded with over 98% of the votes cast on “Say on Pay” at our 2014 Annual Meeting in favor of the compensation of the NEOs. In keeping with best practices, we have:

Adopted stock ownership guidelines for all NEOs and directors, with retention thresholds set at a meaningful factor times annual base salary;

Set a significant portion of each NEO’s total direct compensation opportunity, which includes base salary and annual and long-term incentives, linked to Company performance by including components of compensation opportunity that are at risk subject to the achievement of established performance criteria;

Aligned pay practices with shareholder and customer interests, with an eye toward remaining competitive, and used risk analysis and mitigation to provide compensation practices that motivate appropriate risk-taking, by, for example, providing compensation incentives for achievement of certain identified Company objectives and goals, while disincenting unnecessary risk-taking, by, for example, including stock ownership guidelines for the principal executive officer (“PEO”);

Reviewed, analyzed and considered whether the Company’s compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company, and concluded that no such material risks were identified;

A compensation committee that is composed of only independent directors;

An independent compensation consultant retained by, and which reports to, the committee and has no other business with the Company;

Annual reviews of our compensation peer group;

Regular briefings from the committee’s compensation consultant regarding key trends;

An annual review of PEO performance;

No employment agreements between the Company and the NEOs;

Change in control agreements with the NEOs, which do not provide for tax gross-ups or severance amounts that exceed more than three times base pay and bonus, and which do include double trigger vesting provisions for equity awards;

No cash dividends paid on unvested stock-based awards. In lieu of cash dividends, recipients receive additional restricted stock-based awards that will vest/forfeit based on the same measures applicable to the underlying awards; and

No tax reimbursements or gross-ups for life insurance, bonus, trusts or stock vesting.

Summary of Key Developments in 2014 and 2015

Shareholders supported the Company’s executive compensation practices with a positive say-on-pay vote of over 98% of the votes cast at our 2014 Annual Meeting. In light of this support, the Company made limited changes to executive compensation programs in 2014 and 2015. Key developments during this period include:

The addition of a total shareholder return “modifier” to the Restricted Stock/Unit Plan (“RSUP”) awards of the NEOs;

Two new, additional sets of performance measures, including safety measures and a measure linked to the performance of the Company’s construction services segment, which will apply to Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) awards starting with plan year 2015;

Performance-based, one-time cash bonuses paid to certain NEOs in recognition of achievements related to the acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies in the construction services segment;

A change, starting with plan year 2015, to the balance of cash and equity awarded under the MIP (from 60% equity and 40% cash to 40% equity and 60% cash);

A shift from the Hay Group method for NEO salary design to an approach more rooted in peer company data and industry surveys; and

Incremental RSUP awards to senior officers in January 2014 in recognition of the Company’s performance over the preceding 10 years and to motivate future performance.

Working with its independent consultant, Pay Governance, in November 2014 the committee approved changes to the NEOs variable incentive award programs under both the RSUP and the MIP for plan years beginning 2015. In order to provide direct linkage between shareholder value and executive compensation under the RSUP (the Company’s long-term incentive program), RSUP awards of all officers, starting with the three-year performance period beginning in 2015, may be adjusted, up or down, based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder returns of

peer companies. As discussed in more detail below under “Determination of the Amount to be Paid for Each Element of Compensation; Incentive Compensation; Key Changes to RSUP for 2015,” this total shareholder return “modifier” has the potential to increase the base value of RSUP awards, which will be determined in the same manner as years past, by 50% or to reduce such value by 25%. The first RSUP awards that may be adjusted by the modifier are the awards that will be granted in 2018 for the three-year performance period beginning in 2015, assuming awards are earned in respect of such performance period.

Also starting with plan year 2015, the MIP (the Company’s annual incentive program) will include two new sets of performance measures (Safety and Construction Services) in addition to the four performance measures utilized in recent years: ROE, Customer Satisfaction, Customer-to-Employee Ratio and Operating Costs. To underscore the Company’s emphasis on safety, the Committee added the Safety measure based on the Company’s performance in two categories, damages per 1,000 tickets and incident response time. For most of the Company’s officers, starting with plan year 2015, MIP awards will be based on five, equally weighted performance measures (the four measures utilized in recent years, plus Safety), with each class of performance measure accounting for 20% of the overall MIP award.

The calculation of MIP awards for Messrs. Hester, Centrella and Janov will also include a performance measure tied directly to the performance in the Company’s construction services segment. The committee added this measure in light of the recent acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies. For these executives, the weighting of ROE will be reduced to 10%, Construction Services will be weighted 10%, and the other four measures will be weighted 20%.

In another move related to the Link-Line acquisition, the committee approved one-time cash bonuses for certain NEOs to recognize exceptional performance related to the acquisition. This acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings during 2015. Messrs. Shaw, Hester, Centrella and Janov received $350,000, $150,000, $75,000 and $125,000, respectively.

The committee also adjusted the mix of cash and equity that forms the MIP awards. The percentage of awards paid in equity was reduced from 60% to 40%, and the percentage paid in cash was increased to 60% from 40%. The committee made this adjustment to better align the form of the Company’s annual incentive payments with those of its peers. The foregoing changes to the MIP are discussed in more detail below under the heading, “Determination of the Amount to be Paid for Each Element of Compensation; Incentive Compensation; Key Changes to MIP for 2015.”

At mid-year 2014, the committee adopted a change to the methodology for determining executive base salaries. Historically, the Company employed the Hay Group method for salary design. In connection with the officers’ 2014 salary adjustment in July 2014, in consultation with Pay Governance, the committee relied on an approach based largely on peer company data and industry surveys. This change in methodology, while deemed conceptually significant, did not result in annual salary adjustments for the NEOs, as a group, that were out of character with the salary adjustments made in recently preceding years. It is anticipated that this new approach will carry forward through 2015.

In January 2014, as in January 2013, the committee approved incremental RSUP awards for each senior officer equal to 15% of base salary. These incremental awards were granted in recognition of the Company’s performance over the preceding 10 years and to motivate future performance. No such awards were granted or deemed necessary in January 2015 due, in part, to the adjustments that the committee made to the Company’s compensation programs throughout 2014 (as discussed above).

The remainder of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis offers a detailed explanation of the Company’s compensation policies and decisions with respect to the NEOs.

Compensation Objectives

The objectives of the Company’s compensation program are to recruit, retain, reward and motivate talented executives and to align their interests with our customers and shareholders. Our executive compensation program is designed to reward performance and to elicit long-term employment commitments. We strive to set salary at levels that ensure reasonableness, market competitiveness and internal equity for each position. Performance awards, retirement benefit opportunities and post-termination benefits support our goal of attracting and retaining talented executives over long-term employment commitments, while at the same time increasing shareholder value, achieving operational efficiencies and providing continued exceptional customer satisfaction.

As a public utility, the Company’s business is highly-regulated, and the compensation the Company provides is evaluated as a part of the regulatory review process. Our compensation program must be responsive to market conditions and the regulatory environment we face as a public utility. Compensation costs, like all Company operating expenses, are subject to reasonableness reviews by the regulatory bodies in the states and jurisdictions in which we operate. In addition, the regulatory review process recognizes the value of providing incentives for operational efficiencies and overall customer satisfaction.

The long-term nature of the Company’s customer service obligations shapes the overall structure of the executive compensation program. We seek to ensure that long-term corporate and customer goals of safe, continuous service at reasonable rates are achieved. We also recognize that we are in a competitive environment for executives, and the compensation program has to recognize and reward performance. Non-equity incentive compensation and restricted stock-based awards are designed to address performance and provide significant support for long-term employment commitments.

The executive compensation program is prospective. The results of previously earned performance awards and the deferral of cash compensation are not taken into consideration in establishing the appropriate level of future compensation. The Company’s past performance, however, is taken into consideration in determining the long-term performance awards and in setting new performance targets.

The executive compensation program is administered by the committee. The committee annually reviews and approves the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the PEO’s compensation, the PEO’s performance in relation to such goals and objectives and, together with the other Independent Directors of the Board of Directors, the PEO’s actual compensation. The committee also reviews, together with the PEO, and approves the salaries and incentive compensation for the other executive officers.

Management annually provides information to the committee regarding what it believes to be appropriate compensation levels and performance programs and awards. This information is gathered from external independent surveys and publicly available compensation comparisons. Consultants may also be retained by management to independently assess the compensation program. Management, including the NEOs, provides guidance to, and receives direction from, the committee regarding the executive compensation program.

In addition, the committee has the authority, independent of management, to employ and retain consultants to assist it in establishing the executive compensation program objectives and in determining whether the objectives have been satisfied. The methodology used by the Company for determining executive salaries and pay increases has been reviewed by Pay Governance, an independent consultant to the committee. Pay Governance’s review encompassed all officers and indicated general approval of the methodology used. All of the “Key Developments” referenced above were approved by the committee in consultation with Pay Governance.

Elements of Compensation

The executive compensation program consists of the following elements:

Salary;

Incentive stock-based awards;

Non-equity incentive compensation;

Cash bonuses, under exceptional circumstances;

Perquisites;

Welfare benefits;

Retirement benefits; and

Post-termination benefits, under certain circumstances (as discussed below).

Welfare benefits, including group life, health, hospitalization, and medical reimbursement programs, available to executive officers are the same in scope, terms and operation as the benefits available to all Company employees. Retirement benefits include both tax-qualified and nonqualified defined benefit and contribution retirement plans. Post-termination benefits are governed by change in control agreements.

Decision to Pay Each Element of Compensation

The primary objective of the executive compensation program is to elicit strong performance for customers and shareholders through the use of competitive performance-based compensation that attracts, retains and motivates high caliber executive talent. To accomplish this, the program is designed to respond to changing market conditions and to offer a broad spectrum of compensation opportunities. Performance is the critical component of the program, and both individual and overall Company performance can impact an officer’s level of compensation on an annual basis.

Salaries and performance-based compensation are linked to recognize each officer’s responsibilities and individual contribution to the success of the Company. As explained in greater detail below, an officer’s award opportunity is based on a percentage of salary and, as a result, will move in relation to changes in salary. How an officer satisfies his or her direct individual responsibilities can also impact the level of an individual officer’s performance-based compensation. Exemplary performance is expected and rewarded with the compensation elements of the program, while poor performance will result in the reduction or possible elimination of an award under the MIP. Exceptional individual performance or significant achievements that fall outside of an NEOs core responsibilities may warrant one-time cash bonuses on occasion.

The availability of pension benefits allows the Company to deemphasize the salary component of an executive officer’s overall compensation package while still remaining competitive. The level of deferral opportunities under the Company’s qualified and nonqualified plans, however, do not influence the committee’s decisions regarding the appropriate level of overall compensation. Welfare benefits and perquisites are also viewed by the committee on a stand-alone basis, while post-termination benefits are influenced by current salary levels.

Determination of the Amount to be Paid for Each Element of Compensation

The nature of the Company’s operations and competitive considerations have led the committee to design and employ a compensation program that is comparable to compensation programs widely used in the industry by public utilities and accepted by various utility regulatory agencies. Salaries and

performance-based compensation paid to the NEOs are determined by using a variety of sources, including compensation surveys prepared by the American Gas Association, Towers Watson and Mercer for the components of compensation and competitive market compensation levels.

Compensation is reviewed annually and is subject to mid-year adjustment. In determining compensation for July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, the committee, in consultation with Pay Governance, used a compensation comparison and analysis performed by Towers Watson (“Towers Watson Study”) and an internal annual compensation comparison and analysis performed by the Company (“2014 Company Study”). Both the Towers Watson Study and the 2014 Company Study compared the Company’s compensation packages, including base salary, total cash compensation and total direct compensation (which also includes stock-based awards under the MIP and the RSUP), to compensation data from two primary sources: 1) published compensation surveys that best represent the Company in the marketplace, and 2) peer company proxy filings, from a peer group of comparable companies primarily developed by Towers Watson. The structures of the incentive, deferred compensation and supplemental retirement programs of the Company were also reviewed in comparison to structures of peers. Methods similar to those used in the Towers Watson Study and the 2014 Company Study were employed for the annual compensation comparison and analysis performed by the Company in 2013, which the committee used in determining compensation for July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

In addition to reviewing national market surveys, the Towers Watson Study and the 2014 Company Study also included compensation comparison and analysis using proxy peer data. The peer group is composed of 16 companies in the utility industry that are deemed to be of comparable size and to have similar basic structure and operational complexity and excludes companies with less than half or more than twice the reported revenue of the Company. The peer group, which was initially selected by Towers Watson but which now reflects the removal of three companies and the addition of one at the direction of the Company, includes the following companies:


* AGL Resources, Inc.		* Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc.
* Atmos Energy Corporation		* Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
* Avista Corporation		* PNM Resources, Inc.
* Black Hills Corporation		* Portland General Electric Company
* Great Plains Energy, Inc.		* Questar Corporation
* The Laclede Group Inc.		* UNS Energy Corporation
* New Jersey Resources Corporation		* Vectren Corporation
* Northwestern Corporation		* Westar Energy, Inc.

We set base salaries for the NEOs at amounts that approximate the 50^th percentile of the amounts paid by the peer group of companies discussed above (“relevant market”). We set overall compensation to be competitive in a range between the 35^th and the 65^th percentiles of the peer group (plus or minus 15 from the median). The selection of these parameters is designed to be comparable and competitive with the relevant market to address the regulatory environment in which the Company operates and to provide a reasonable range of incentives to reward performance. The amount of one-time bonuses, when warranted, are driven by internal equity and the value of individual contributions.

Other elements of overall compensation (perquisites, welfare benefits, retirement benefits and post-termination benefits) were implemented at various times over the past several years to remain competitive with the relevant market. In determining the Company’s overall compensation, we annually compare the Company’s elements of compensation and the level of benefits with those of the relevant market to ensure the Company remains competitive. For 2014, target total direct compensation, in aggregate, for the NEOs was below the median of the peer group.

The material elements of management’s directions to Towers Watson in connection with their engagement for the Towers Watson Study included providing (i) management with basic market data on compensation practices, both from peer companies in the utility industry and among general industry, (ii) commentary on the current policies with respect to market practices and (iii) options to consider if it is determined that changes to current practices are needed. The committee engaged Pay Governance as an independent consultant to perform a competitive pay benchmarking analysis of the officers, independent of the Towers Watson Study. Pay Governance’s engagement with the committee also included a review of the Company’s internal director compensation comparison. The Company determined that the committee’s compensation consultant did not receive fees for services, in addition to executive and director compensation services, in excess of $120,000.

For 2014, the committee analyzed whether the work of any compensation advisor raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including those set forth in Rule 10C-1(b)(4)(i) through (vi) under the Exchange Act. The committee determined, based on its analysis of all relevant factors, that no conflicts of interest were present.

Current vs. At-Risk Compensation

Total direct compensation of the Company’s NEOs, other than base salary, is at risk and must be earned by achieving annual and long-term performance goals. The portion of total direct compensation designed to be paid in base salary versus variable pay depends upon the NEO’s position and the ability of that position to influence outcomes, as well as market factors. The PEO has the largest portion of pay at risk. In 2014, the percentage of targeted total direct compensation opportunity at risk or earned by achieving performance goals was approximately 68% for the PEO, and, for the other NEOs, the average percentage of such compensation at risk was approximately 60%.

Salaries

Salaries for the Company’s NEOs are established based on the scope of their responsibilities, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by the peer group and additional salary survey data for similar positions. Input from the Towers Watson Study and utility and general industry surveys are used by the committee to help ensure that salaries are reasonable, competitive and properly address position responsibility. The range of salaries available through this review provides an objective standard to determine the appropriate level of salary for a given executive position. Salaries are reviewed annually and are subject to mid-year adjustment to realign salaries with market levels after taking into consideration individual responsibilities, performance, inflation and experience. Mid-year salary increases were provided to the NEOs in 2014 based on this methodology.

Incentive Compensation

The performance component of the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to reward Company performance and consists of non-equity incentive compensation and restricted stock-based awards provided through the MIP and the RSUP (collectively, “Incentive Plans”). For plan year 2014, the committee designed the Incentive Plans to focus on specific annual and long-term Company financial, productivity and customer satisfaction performance goals.

MIP

Annually, we establish incentive opportunities under the MIP, expressed as a percentage of each individual’s salary at year-end (after taking into account any mid-year salary adjustment), corresponding with each individual’s position and responsibilities with the Company, and determine the performance goals to be measured against these opportunities. For 2014, the incentive opportunities for the NEOs were set at the following percentages of salary:


	Incentive Opportunities (% of salary)
John P. Hester		100	%
Jeffrey W. Shaw		115	%
Roy R. Centrella		75	%
William N. Moody		90	%
Edward A. Janov		75	%

The performance measures for 2014 were tied to the financial performance, productivity and customer satisfaction of the Company’s natural gas operations. This mix of performance goals is designed to address both shareholder and customer interests through the Company’s financial performance, increased productivity and customer satisfaction. In prior regulatory proceedings, the regulatory commissions have insisted that productivity measures and customer satisfaction goals be included in the MIP in order to recover any of the costs of the program through the Company’s natural gas rates.

The financial measure, ROE, is designed to reward success in reaching the average authorized return-on-equity. The productivity measures are designed to reward success in reaching a predetermined customer satisfaction percentage, a percentage improvement in the customer-to-employee ratio, and a predetermined percentage of cost containment for operating costs.

Each of the performance measures is equally weighted, and the actual performance award can range from 70% to 140% of the assigned incentive opportunity for each measure. If the threshold percentage for any measure is achieved, a percentage of annual performance awards will have been earned. Regardless of whether such awards are earned, no awards will be paid in any year unless dividends paid on our Common Stock for such year equal or exceed the prior year’s dividends.

The performance measure targets for 2014 were as follows:

ROE – The target for the ROE component of the MIP was 7.81%, which represented 83% of the Company-wide authorized weighted average ROE of 9.71%, minus 0.25% to remove the volatility associated with Company-owned life insurance. The threshold for an award for this measure is reached at an ROE of 7.03%, and a maximum award is achieved at an ROE of 8.97%.

Customer Satisfaction – The target for this component remained at 90% for 2014. The threshold for an award for this measure is reached at 83%, and a maximum award is achieved at a customer satisfaction level of 97%.

Customer-to-Employee Ratio – The target for this component of the MIP for 2014 was set at 867 customers per employee, which represents a 1% improvement over the actual ratio of 858 customers per employee at December 31, 2013. Achieving the ratio of 858 customers per employee would satisfy the award opportunity threshold and 884 customers per employee will satisfy the maximum payout for this measure.

Operating Costs – For the operating cost component of the MIP, we use a target that reflects estimated inflation and a growth factor. The inflation estimate is derived from the Blue Chip Economic Indicators publication and was 1.9%. This percentage is used along with a customer growth assumption of 0.7% to calculate the target measure. As a result, the target for 2014 was set at 2.6%. The minimum target was set at 3.6%, and the maximum award is achieved by experiencing an annual increase of 1.6% or less.

The success in achieving the performance measures for 2014 is discussed in the narrative following the Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables.

If annual performance awards are earned and payable, payment of the awards will be subject to a reduction depending upon satisfaction of the MIP participants’ individual performance goals. Any reductions would be tied to an individual’s overall award and not any one specific performance measure. The committee reviews the PEO’s individual performance to determine whether there will be any downward adjustment. For 2014/2015, individual performance goals for the PEO centered on (i) working with regulators to improve the level and stability of revenues and cash flows, (ii) striving to control operating expenses, (iii) striving to maintain/strengthen the Company’s credit ratings, (iv) pursuing actions that will, over the longer-term, improve the Company’s equity value, (v) updating the Board on the progress made on the succession plan for the CEO and key members of management and (vi) presenting strategic alternatives to the Board and pursuing agreed upon strategies.

The PEO reviews the other executive officers’ individual performances to determine whether there will be any downward adjustment in the performance awards. As a result of such review, if the PEO recommends a downward adjustment in the performance awards, the PEO will bring the matter before the committee for review and approval. There were no downward adjustments for 2014. The goals of the other NEOs are designed to reflect their individual responsibilities and to complement the goals of the PEO. Mr. Hester’s goals were directed at improving the level and stability of revenues and cash flows through timely regulatory filings in all of our rate jurisdictions, the acquisition of gas supplies for customers, gas cost recoveries through the regulatory process, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Centrella’s goals were centered on financial planning activities, timely, accurate and useful financial reporting, improving the Company’s credit profile, cost containment measures, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Moody’s goals were focused on information systems development, cyber-security and pipeline integrity. Mr. Janov’s goals were focused on maximizing efficient deployment of capital, developing profit improvement strategies and strategic growth. The individual performance goals for the PEO and other NEOs were satisfied, and there were no reductions in their MIP awards in respect of 2014.

The annual MIP awards are paid in a mix of cash and equity. Awards for 2014 were paid 40% in cash (which are disclosed as non-equity incentive plan compensation in the Summary Compensation Table), with the remaining 60% converted into performance shares (which are disclosed as stock awards in the Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables Narrative) tied to a five-day average value of the Company’s Common Stock for the first five trading days in January. The performance shares are restricted for three years, and the ultimate payout in Common Stock is subject to continued employment during this restriction period; provided, however, that MIP performance shares vest immediately when a MIP participant retires after the age of 55 (subject to restrictions under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 409A).

Key Changes to MIP for 2015

The incentive opportunities as a percentage of salary and based on job position are the same for 2015. As discussed above under the heading, “Summary of Key Developments in 2014 and 2015,”

however, the committee has determined that two new sets of performances measures (Safety and Construction Services) will be used to determine whether the incentive opportunities are earned for plan year 2015, in addition to the four performance measures used in 2014. The new Safety performance measures will apply to all officers, and the MIP awards of three officers, including the PEO and Chief Financial Officer, will also be determined based on a Construction Services performance measure:

Safety – This measure is comprised of two components, damage per 1,000 tickets and incident response time. The committee chose these two components because they are oriented towards incidents in the Company’s gas distribution systems and thereby linked to risks in areas such as regulation, operations, reputation and franchise value. The Company’s 2015 target for damage per 1,000 tickets is 2.15. The target for incident response time within 30 minutes is 65%, representing a 2% improvement over the Company’s current response times.

Construction Services – With the acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies, the committee recognized that the profile of the Company’s construction services segment has increased in stature, and oversight requirements, particularly during the integration process, have become greater. The committee identified three senior executive positions that would be actively involved in such oversight: the PEO, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President/Corporate Development. For these three executives, the calculation of MIP awards will incorporate construction services operating results based on a measurement of earnings for Canadian construction services operations.

The committee has also set performance targets for 2015 for the four previously utilized performance measures. The target for the ROE for 2015 is set at 7.55%, which represents 80% of the Company-wide authorized weighted average ROE, adjusted downward by 25 basis points to reflect the removal of Company-owned life insurance returns from consideration in the MIP. The customer satisfaction target is set at 90%, and the customer-to-employee target is set at 888 customers per employee, a 1% percent improvement over the actual ratio at the end of 2014. The operating cost target is set at 3.1%, a target that reflects estimated inflation at 1.9% and a net growth factor of 1.2%.

With the addition of the new performance measures, the weighting of the mix of performance measures will change for plan year 2015. For most of the Company’s officers, MIP awards will be based on five, equally weighted performance measures (ROE – 20%, Customer Satisfaction – 20%, Customer-to-Employee Ratio – 20%, Operating Costs – 20% and Safety – 20%). For the PEO, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President/Corporate Development, the weighting of ROE will be reduced to 10%, Construction Services will be weighted 10%, and the other four measures will be weighted 20%.

For plan year 2015, the committee has also adjusted the mix of cash and equity that forms the MIP awards. The percentage of awards paid in equity (in the form of performance shares with the same characteristics as previous years) will be reduced from 60% to 40%, and the percentage paid in cash will be increased to 60% from 40%. The committee made this adjustment to better align the form of the Company’s annual incentive payments under the MIP with the annual incentive programs of its peers.

RSUP

The RSUP is designed to provide incentives for maintaining long-term performance and strengthening shareholder value. The award opportunities, like that of the MIP, are based on a percentage of salary and job position. For plan year 2014, the incentive opportunities for the NEOs were set at the following percentages:


	Incentive Opportunities (% of salary)
John P. Hester		30	%
Jeffrey W. Shaw		45	%
Roy R. Centrella		20	%
William N. Moody		25	%
Edward A. Janov		20	%

The performance goal used to determine whether an award is earned is the average MIP payout percentage for the three years immediately preceding the award determination date. The target is set at an average MIP payout percentage of 100%; however, no award will be earned unless the average MIP payout percentage is at or above 90%. If an award is earned, it will be granted in the range of 50% to 150% of the incentive opportunity in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock units, based on the five-day average value of the Company’s Common Stock for the first five trading days in January. Restricted stock and/or restricted stock units vest in percentages (40%, 30% and 30%) over the three years following the date of the award; provided, however, that RSUP awards vest immediately when an RSUP participant retires after the age of 55 (subject to restrictions under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 409A). The success in achieving the performance measures for 2014 is discussed in the narrative following the Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-based Awards Tables.

In January 2014, the committee approved incremental RSUP awards for each senior officer of the Company equal to 15% of base salary. The restricted stock units granted will vest on the same schedule as annual RSUP awards granted in the same timeframe.

Key Changes to RSUP for 2015

Starting with three-year performance period beginning in 2015, a total shareholder return “modifier” will apply to the RSUP awards of all officers, including the NEOs. Total shareholder return of the Company, comprising stock price appreciation or depreciation over three years, plus dividends, will be compared to total shareholder returns of peer companies based on the Bloomberg Transmission Distribution List. The adjustment range of the modifier will be negative 25% to positive 50% of each officer’s RSUP award (as determined according to the same methodology used to determine awards for 2014). Relative performance that places the Company in the top 25^th percentile of the peer group would result in maximum upward adjustment by 50%, performance in the range between the 25^th and 75^th percentiles would result in no adjustment, and performance below the 75^th percentile of the peer group would result in maximum downward adjustment by 25%. The committee determined that the modifier should not be symmetrical because RSUP awards are 100% at risk as currently designed (e.g., if MIP payout percentages average less than 90% over the applicable three-year period, no RSUP will be earned). The modifier will be applied as of the end of the applicable three-year performance period to link the average MIP performance for each of the three years then ended with the market’s reaction to that performance. The first RSUP awards that may be adjusted by the modifier are the awards that will be granted in 2018 for the three-year performance period beginning in 2015, assuming awards are earned in respect of such performance period. Such awards will be subject to time vesting over a three-year period from the date of grant in the same manner as the 2014 awards.

Perquisites

The Company provides a limited number of perquisites to its executive officers. The executive officers receive car allowances, cable internet access, annual $2,500 allowances for physical examinations, life insurance and a $5,000 allowance once every three years to assist in financial and estate planning. Senior officers are also provided social club memberships.

Retirement Benefits

Four retirement benefit plans are available to the executive officers. Two of the plans, the Retirement Plan for Employees of Southwest Gas Corporation (“Retirement Plan”) and the Employees’ Investment Plan (“EIP”), both tax-qualified plans, are available to all of our employees. Two additional plans are offered to the executive officers, the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) and the Executive Deferral Plan (“EDP”). These additional plans were established to attract and retain qualified executive officers and to address the dollar limitations imposed on the two tax-qualified plans.

Benefits under the Retirement Plan are based on (i) the executive’s years of service with the Company, up to a maximum of 30 years, and (ii) the average of the executive’s highest five consecutive years’ salaries, within the final 10 years of service, not to exceed a maximum compensation level established by the Internal Revenue Service. The SERP is designed to supplement the benefits under the Retirement Plan to a level of 50 – 60% of salary. To qualify for benefits under the SERP, which is based on a 12-month average of the highest consecutive 36-months of salary, an executive is required to have reached (i) age 55, with 20 years of service with the Company, or (ii) age 65, with 10 years of service.

Executives may participate in the EIP and defer salary up to the maximum annual dollars permitted for 401(k) plans under the Code. Investments of these deferrals are controlled by the individual executives from a selection of investment options offered through the EIP. The Company does not match contributions for executive deferrals into the EIP. The EDP supplements the deferral opportunities by permitting executives to defer up to 100% of their annual salary and non-equity incentive compensation. As part of the EDP, the Company provides matching contributions that parallel the contributions made under the EIP to non-executives, up to 3.5% of their annual salary. Amounts deferred and Company matching contributions bear interest at 150% of the Moody’s Seasoned Corporate Bond Rate. At retirement or termination, with five years of service with the Company, the executive officers will receive EDP balances paid out at the election of the participant over a period of 10, 15, or 20 years and will be credited during the applicable payment period with interest at 150% of the average of the Moody’s Seasoned Corporate Bond Rate on each January 1^st for the five years prior to the start of retirement.

Bonuses

On rare occasions, the committee may award one-time bonuses to recognize exceptional performance or significant achievements that fall outside of an NEOs core responsibilities. In light of the recent acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies in the Company’s construction services segment, the committee approved one-time cash bonuses for certain NEOs in January 2015 for performances in 2014. Messrs. Shaw, Hester, Centrella and Janov received $350,000, $150,000, $75,000 and $125,000, respectively. The amounts awarded correspond to the NEOs individual contributions and personal accountability.

Post-Termination Benefits

The Company offers change in control agreements to its officers to align their interests with shareholders and to retain and motivate high caliber executive talent. Providing change in control benefits is designed to reduce the reluctance of management to pursue potential change in control

transactions that may be in the best interests of shareholders and helps ensure stability and continued performance during the protracted process of merging with or acquiring a regulated utility. We engaged independent consultants and outside counsel to ensure that the provisions of the change in control agreements are appropriately consistent with current market practice.

Each change in control agreement provides for a term that commences upon execution of the agreement and terminates twelve (12) months following written notice from the Company to the officer of the termination of the agreement. Any notice of termination of the agreement will be deemed null and void if, prior to the proposed termination date, an event that was expected to result in a change in control of the Company occurs. The protection period for officers is 24 months after a change in control. A change in control event under the agreements is generally defined to include approval by the Company’s shareholders of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, consummation of a merger or a similar transaction which results in more than a 50% change in ownership, acquisition by one person (or group of persons) of at least 30% of the ownership of the Company, consummation of the sale of substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets, or the replacement of the majority of the members of the incumbent Board of Directors (excluding replacement directors nominated by the incumbent Board).

Upon a change in control event and the termination of employment without cause or as a result of a significant reduction in his duties, responsibilities, location or compensation, the officer will receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to the sum of (a) for the PEO, 36 months, for Messrs. Centrella, Moody, Janov and other senior officers, 30 months, and for the other officers, 24 months, of annual base salary and (b) in the form of cash, an amount equal to any annual incentive compensation calculated at 100% of the target amount payable for the same periods. Restricted stock awards, stock options and other similar awards, as well as benefits under nonqualified plans may vest and/or become exercisable upon a change in control event. In addition, at the minimum age of 50 and for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits, vesting and calculation of benefits under the SERP, Messrs. Hester, Centrella, Moody, Janov and other senior officers will be permitted to add six points, while all other officers will be permitted to add five points to the applicable formulas under the SERP. Finally, each officer shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable outplacement services not to exceed $30,000. The change in control agreements include a “double trigger” provision, which requires both a change in control and the officer’s termination of employment for good reason or the Company’s termination of the officer’s employment for reasons other than death, disability or cause, for payment of a severance benefit.

These change in control agreements have no tax gross-up provisions and instead employ a “best net” approach whereby benefits would be reduced if a reduced benefit would result in a greater after-tax benefit to the officer. If any payment under these agreements would constitute a “parachute payment” subject to any excise tax under the Code, the Company will not pay the tax on behalf of the officers.

Interaction of the Compensation Elements in Relation to the Compensation Objectives

The Company’s executive compensation program is intended to reward performance and to promote long-term employment commitments. Being rewarded for actual performance recognizes the Company’s commitments to increasing shareholder value, implementing operational efficiencies and maintaining customer satisfaction. Salary, retirement benefits and the opportunity to be rewarded for performance provide the incentive to secure long-term commitments to the Company. Taken as a whole, the program supports the Company’s commitment to its shareholders and its long-term commitment to its customers.

Say-on-Pay

The committee attempts to balance the interests of the Company, its shareholders and customers. The Company provides an annual say-on-pay advisory vote regarding executive compensation. The Company received majority approval in 2014, with more than 98% of the votes cast in favor of the compensation of the NEOs as described in the proxy statement for the 2014 annual meeting. The Board and the committee reviewed the final vote results and made only limited changes to the compensation policies as a result of these votes. We describe additional actions taken by the committee in 2014 and 2015 in the Executive Summary. We determined that our stockholders should vote on a say-on-pay proposal each year. Accordingly, the Board recommends that you vote FOR Proposal 2 at the Annual Meeting. For more information, see “ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in this Proxy Statement.

Deductibility of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1 million paid to the chief executive officer or any of the other four most highly compensated executive officers. Generally, awards under the MIP, which permits the grant of performance-based compensation, may not be subject to the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. We have also structured certain other performance-based portions of the executive compensation program in a manner that is designed to comply with the exceptions to the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m). While we intend for the performance-based compensation arrangements to meet the requirements of Section 162(m), we can provide no assurances that such compensation arrangements would ultimately satisfy such requirements.

The committee believes, however, that in certain circumstances, factors other than tax deductibility take precedence when determining the forms and levels of executive compensation most appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Given our industry and business, as well as the competitive market for outstanding executives, the committee believes that it is important to retain the flexibility to design compensation programs consistent with the overall executive compensation program even if some executive compensation is not fully deductible. The committee has from time to time approved elements of compensation for certain officers that may not be fully deductible and reserves the right to do so in the future when appropriate. For example, the incremental RSUP awards granted in January 2014 were not designed to qualify and be fully deductible.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

As a part of the committee’s duties, it is charged with the responsibility of producing a report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Proxy Statement. This report is based on the committee’s review of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the discussion of its content with management.

The committee, based on its review of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and its discussions with management, recommended to the Board (and the Board has approved and directed) that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and this Proxy Statement.


		Compensation Committee
		Robert L. Boughner (Chair)		Stephen C. Comer
		Michael J. Melarkey		A. Randall Thoman
		Terrence L. Wright

Summary Compensation Table

The following table includes information concerning compensation during 2014, 2013 and 2012 for the named executive officers, whom we refer to as the “NEOs.”


Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary ($)(1)		Bonus ($)(2)		Stock Awards ($)(3)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(1)(4)		Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(5)		All Other Compensation ($)(6)(7)(8)		Total ($)
John P. Hester		2014		382,027		150,000		378,369		224,480		833,865		27,432		1,996,173
President and		2013		325,685		—		325,600		139,536		61,976		24,868		877,665
Chief Executive Officer		2012		304,046		—		248,098		114,345		473,588		22,277		1,162,354

Jeffrey W. Shaw		2014		861,507		350,000		1,318,816		499,468		1,889,173		61,123		4,980,087
Retired		2013		817,096		—		1,380,197		440,496		188,840		52,231		2,878,860
Chief Executive Officer		2012		771,175		—		1,125,144		445,280		1,206,219		50,858		3,598,676

Roy R. Centrella		2014		336,507		75,000		296,050		133,590		666,653		31,732		1,539,532
Senior Vice President/		2013		300,685				299,758		107,730		243,471		31,698		983,342
Chief Financial Officer		2012		278,470				226,306		105,270		537,084		27,760		1,174,890

William N. Moody		2014		338,363		—		333,855		166,018		705,912		34,896		1,579,044
Executive Vice President		2013		264,945		—		263,581		123,120		75,107		31,251		758,004
		2012		237,128		—		187,750		92,565		497,974		27,310		1,042,727

Edward A. Janov		2014		266,452		125,000		244,359		100,650		429,985		31,516		1,197,962
Senior Vice President/		2013		254,274		—		258,413		88,920		71,296		30,842		703,745
Corporate Development		2012		244,811		—		202,699		90,750		234,518		31,438		804,216

(1)

Amounts shown in this column include any amounts deferred by the NEOs into the EIP and EDP.

(2)

Amounts shown in this column represent one-time cash bonuses for performance related to the acquisition of Link-Line Group of Companies.

(3)

Amounts shown in this column represent the grant date fair value of awards of performance shares and restricted stock units granted in 2012, 2013 and 2014 based on performance criteria established in 2011, 2012, and 2013 under the MIP and the RSUP. In each case, the amounts were determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. The assumptions used to calculate these amounts are included in “Note 10 – Stock-Based Compensation” of Exhibit 13.01 to our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, as required, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures. The stock awards granted in 2015 based on performance in 2014 are discussed below under the caption “Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables Narrative.”

Performance shares vest three years after grant. Restricted stock units vest 40% at the end of the first year and 30% at the end of each of the second and third years. The valuation of the performance shares and restricted stock units are based on the Common Stock share price on the date of grant. Since the last option awards were made in 2006, there is no need to maintain the “Options” column.

(4)

Amounts shown in this column represent the cash awards paid through the MIP in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for services performed in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. The cash awards paid in 2015 for performance in 2014 are also discussed below under the caption “Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table Narrative.”

(5)

The aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the NEOs accumulated benefit under the Retirement Plan and the SERP for 2014 and the above-market interest (in excess of 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate with compounding) earned on EDP balances for 2014 are as follows:


	Increase in Pension Values		Above-Market Interest
Mr. Hester	$	787,842	$	46,023
Mr. Shaw		1,806,581		82,592
Mr. Centrella		623,929		42,724
Mr. Moody		674,704		31,208
Mr. Janov		377,520		52,465

No amounts are payable from the pension plans before a participant attains age 55 and experiences a separation in service from the Company.

(6)

Company matching contributions equal to one-half of the amount deferred by the NEOs under the EDP, up to 3.5% of the NEO’s respective annual salary in 2014, are as follows:


	Matching Contributions
Mr. Hester	$	11,900
Mr. Shaw		30,073
Mr. Centrella		11,698
Mr. Moody		10,500
Mr. Janov		9,302

(7)

The aggregate incremental costs of the perquisites and personal benefits to the NEOs are based on the taxable value of the personal use of company cars and internet access, while club dues, life insurance, financial planning and physicals are based on the cost to the Company. The life insurance costs include deemed earnings for the value of excess group life insurance coverage premiums and the cost of purchasing supplemental life insurance equal to two times salary. The perquisites and personal benefits, by type and amount, for 2014 are as follows:


	Car Allowance		Club Dues		Cable Internet		Physicals		Life Insurance		Financial Planning
Mr. Hester	$	7,583	$	2,000	$	480	$	2,500	$	2,694	$	0
Mr. Shaw		10,612		5,577		0		2,500		12,361		0
Mr. Centrella		8,266		6,640		480		0		4,648		0
Mr. Moody		11,287		6,661		0		2,500		3,948		0
Mr. Janov		11,863		3,000		480		2,500		4,371		0

(8)

The amount includes $275 of other compensation paid to Mr. Hester as a “Silver Jubilee” award.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards (2014)

The following table sets forth information regarding each grant of an award made under our Incentive Plans to our NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.


Name	Award Type(1)(2)	Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards						Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
Name	Award Type(1)(2)	Threshold ($)		Target ($)		Maximum ($)		Threshold (#)		Target (#)		Maximum (#)
John P. Hester	MIP		128,800		184,000		257,600		3,178		4,540		6,357
	RSUP		—		—		—		1,135		2,270		3,405

Jeffrey W. Shaw	MIP		286,580		409,400		573,160		7,072		10,102		14,143
	RSUP		—		—		—		3,294		6,588		9,883

Roy R. Centrella	MIP		76,650		109,500		153,300		1,891		2,702		3,783
	RSUP		—		—		—		600		1,201		1,801

William N. Moody	MIP		95,256		136,080		190,512		2,351		3,358		4,701
	RSUP		—		—		—		777		1,555		2,332

Edward A. Janov	MIP		57,750		82,500		115,500		1,425		2,036		2,850
	RSUP		—		—		—		452		905		1,357

(1)

Represents the annual award opportunities established under the MIP for the 2014 fiscal year, 40% of which is paid in cash and 60% of which is awarded in performance shares. The number of performance shares granted in 2015 for performance in 2014 was determined by dividing the applicable “Threshold,” “Target” and “Maximum” amounts by a share price that is determined by the five-day average closing price of Common Stock ending on January 8, 2015, which was $60.79.

The award amount under the MIP is based upon the Company achieving a percentage of the target levels under the MIP, as described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Performance-Based Compensation.” “Threshold” represents achieving at least 70% of all four of the established target levels under the MIP, and equals 70% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the MIP; “Target” represents achieving 100% of all four of the established target levels under the MIP, and equals 100% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the MIP; and “Maximum” represents achieving 140% or more of all four of the established target levels under the MIP, and equals 140% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the MIP. If less than all four of the target levels are achieved, then the “Threshold,” “Target” and “Maximum” amounts will be proportionally reduced by an amount equal to the percentage of targets that were achieved.

The MIP equity awards generally vest three years after the date the actual awards are granted. However, because Messrs. Centrella, Moody and Janov are over age 55 and are eligible to retire, the awards will vest at their termination of employment, pursuant to the terms of the MIP. Mr. Shaw retired in March 2015, and his awards vested upon termination and will be issued following the waiting period imposed by Internal Revenue Service Code Section 409A.

The grant date fair value of the actual number of performance shares granted on January 26, 2015 pursuant to the applicable MIP annual award for the 2014 plan year, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, was $349,471 for Mr. Hester, $777,574 for Mr. Shaw, $207,973 for Mr. Centrella, $258,456 for Mr. Moody and $156,692 for Mr. Janov. The non-equity incentive plan awards for the 2014 plan year are shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)

Represents the annual award opportunities established under the RSUP for the 2014 plan year, but granted in 2015. The actual number of restricted stock units granted in 2015 for performance in 2014 was determined by dividing the applicable “Threshold,” “Target” and “Maximum” amounts by the five-day average closing price of Common Stock ending on January 8, 2015, which was $60.79.

The award amount under the RSUP is based upon the average MIP payout percentage for the three years immediately preceding the RSUP award determination date, as described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Performance-Based Compensation.” “Threshold” represents a MIP average payout percentage of at least 90%, and equals 50% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the RSUP; “Target” represents a MIP average payout percentage of at least 100%, and equals 100% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the RSUP; and “Maximum” represents a MIP average payout percentage of at least 120%, and equals 150% of the NEO’s incentive opportunity under the RSUP. No award will be earned under the RSUP unless the MIP average payout percentage is at least 90%.

A percentage of the RSUP awards vests each year over the three years following the date of determination of the actual award amount. Because Messrs. Centrella, Moody and Janov are over age 55 and are eligible to retire, the awards will fully vest at their termination of employment pursuant to the terms of the RSUP. Mr. Shaw retired in March 2015, and his awards vested upon termination and will be issued following the waiting period imposed by Internal Revenue Service Code Section 409A. The grant date fair value of the actual number of restricted stock units granted on January 26, 2015, pursuant to the applicable RSUP annual award for the 2014 plan year, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, was $211,258 for Mr. Hester, $613,108 for Mr. Shaw, $111,753 for Mr. Centrella, $144,666 for Mr. Moody and $84,197 for Mr. Janov.

Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables Narrative

Salaries for the NEOs were increased in July 2014. The increases in salaries reflect additional time and experience in these positions and changes to the midpoints to reflect market trends. Bonuses paid for performance in 2014 related to the acquisition of the Link-Line Group of Companies and correspond to individual contributions and accountability.

During fiscal year 2014, the Company achieved 122% of the established target levels under the MIP, and the NEOs earned 122% of their respective incentive opportunities. This compares to the 2013 and 2012 performance results in which the Company achieved 114% and 121%, respectively, of the overall performance targets. The Company exceeded the targets for the financial performance measure (i.e., weighted average return on equity), customer service satisfaction, customer to employee ratio and operating cost containment. Productivity performance equaled 106% of the weighted-average return on equity, 128% of the customer to employee target level, 117% of the customer service satisfaction target level and 135% of the operating cost containment target level. No downward adjustments were made to the awards to the NEOs.

40% of the MIP awards were paid in cash in January 2015 and the remaining 60% of the MIP awards were converted into performance shares in January 2015 based on the five-day average price of Common Stock for January 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2015, which equaled $60.79 per share. The MIP cash awards paid in 2015 for services performed in 2014 (and included in the Summary Compensation Table) were $224,480 for Mr. Hester, $499,468 for Mr. Shaw, $133,590 for Mr. Centrella, $166,018 for Mr. Moody and $100,650 for Mr. Janov.

The dollar value of the 2014 MIP performance share awards, the number of performance shares granted (rounded to whole shares) as a result thereof, and the grant date fair values of the performance shares granted on January 26, 2015 are as follows:


	Dollar Values		Performance Shares		Grant Date Fair Value(1)
Mr. Hester	$	336,720		5,539	$	349,471
Mr. Shaw		749,202		12,325		777,574
Mr. Centrella		200,385		3,296		207,973
Mr. Moody		249,026		4,097		258,456
Mr. Janov		150,975		2,484		156,692

(1)

The grant date fair value was $63.09 on January 26, 2015.

The Company’s 2014 performance also resulted in an award under the RSUP. The three-year average of MIP payout percentage equaled 119%, resulting in an award of 147.5% of the target and the grant of the following dollar values and numbers of restricted stock units (rounded to whole shares) to the NEOs. The dollar value of the 2014 RSUP awards, the number of restricted stock units granted (rounded to whole shares) as a result thereof, and the grant date fair values of the performance shares granted on January 26, 2015 are as follows:


	Dollar Values		Restricted Stock Units		Grant Date Fair Value(1)
Mr. Hester	$	203,550		3,349	$	211,258
Mr. Shaw		590,737		9,718		613,108
Mr. Centrella		107,675		1,771		111,753
Mr. Moody		139,387		2,293		144,666
Mr. Janov		81,125		1,335		84,197

(1)

The grant date fair value was $63.09 on January 26, 2015.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2014

The following table sets forth information regarding unexercised options under our Option Plan, unvested performance share awards under the MIP and unit awards under the RSUP for each of the NEOs, in each case, outstanding as of December 31, 2014.


	Option Awards								Stock Awards
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(1)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(2)
John P. Hester		0		0		N/A		N/A		18,372		1,135,573
Jeffrey W. Shaw		0		0		N/A		N/A		71,397		4,413,049
Roy R. Centrella		662		0		33.07		7/31/16		15,875		981,234
William N. Moody		0		0		N/A		N/A		15,142		935,927
Edward A. Janov		0		0		N/A		N/A		13,612		841,358

(1)

The MIP performance share awards vest as follows:


	Grants in 2012 January 2015		Grants in 2013 January 2016		Grants in 2014 January 2017
Mr. Hester		4,173		4,192		3,924
Mr. Shaw		16,214		16,325		12,386
Mr. Centrella		3,807		3,860		3,029
Mr. Moody		3,158		3,394		3,462
Mr. Janov		3,398		3,327		2,500

The RSUP unit awards granted in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (plan years 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively), including dividends reinvested, vest as follows:


	Plan Year		January 2015		January 2016		January 2017
Mr. Hester		2013		1,323		992		991
		2012		1,040		1,039		—
		2011		698		—		—

Mr. Shaw		2013		5,126		3,844		3,844
		2012		4,840		4,839		—
		2011		3,979		—		—

Mr. Centrella		2013		1,052		788		788
		2012		957		957		—
		2011		637		—		—

Mr. Moody		2013		1,167		875		875
		2012		842		841		—
		2011		528		—		—

Mr. Janov		2013		868		651		650
		2012		825		825		—
		2011		568		—		—

Because Messrs. Centrella, Moody and Janov are over age 55 and are eligible for retirement, the MIP performance shares and the RSUP units will vest when their employment with the Company ends. Because Mr. Shaw was past age 55 when he retired in March 2015, all of his MIP performance shares and RSUP units vested at that time.

(2)

The market value of Common Stock was $61.81 per share, the closing price on December 31, 2014.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2014

The following table sets forth the number of options to purchase Common Stock that were exercised and the aggregate dollar value realized upon exercise (the difference between the market price of the underlying securities at exercise and the exercise price of the options). The number of MIP performance shares and RSUP units that vested during 2014 and the value realized on vesting (the market price at vesting) are also shown in the table.


	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized on Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)		Value Realized on Vesting ($)
John P. Hester		0		0		7,278		404,106
Jeffrey W. Shaw		0		0		31,609		1,752,802
Roy R. Centrella		0		0		6,276		348,390
William N. Moody		0		0		4,256		235,909
Edward A. Janov		0		0		6,057		336,404

Pension Benefits

We offer two defined benefit retirement plans to the NEOs and the other Company officers. They include the Retirement Plan, which is available to all employees of the Company, and the SERP.

Benefits under the Retirement Plan are based on the NEO’s (i) years of service with the Company, up to a maximum of 30 years, and (ii) average of the highest five consecutive years’ salary, within the final 10 years of service, not to exceed a maximum compensation level established by the Internal Revenue Service. Vesting in the Retirement Plan occurs after five years of service with the Company.

The SERP is designed to supplement the benefits under the Retirement Plan to a level of 50 – 60% of salary, as shown in the “Salary” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.” Salary is currently based on the 12-month average of the highest 36 months of salary at the time of retirement. Vesting in the SERP occurs at age 55, with 20 years of service with the Company.

Upon retirement, the plans will provide a lifetime annuity to the NEOs, with a 50% survivor benefit to their spouses. No lump sum payments are permitted under the Plans.

Messrs. Centrella, Moody and Janov are vested in both plans and could retire at this time and start receiving full benefits. Mr. Shaw was vested in both plans at the time of his retirement in March 2015 and will start receiving benefits with an 11.25% reduction under both the Retirement Plan and SERP. Mr. Hester is vested only in the Retirement Plan and, if he left the Company as of the date of this Proxy Statement, his accrued benefit under the Retirement Plan would be reduced by 58.6% and benefits would not commence until he reached age 55.

Pension Benefits as of December 31, 2014

The following table sets forth the number of years of credited service and present value of accumulated benefits as of December 31, 2014, and payments received during the last fiscal year, under both the Retirement Plan and the SERP for each NEO.


Name	Plan Name	Number of Years Credited Service(#)		Present Value of Accumulated Benefit($)(1)		Payments During Last Fiscal Year($)
John P. Hester	Retirement Plan		25		1,562,911		0
	SERP		25		1,331,552		0
Jeffrey W. Shaw	Retirement Plan		26		1,738,558		0
	SERP		26		5,988,440		0
Roy R. Centrella	Retirement Plan		30		2,001,064		0
	SERP		30		1,075,053		0
William N. Moody	Retirement Plan		30		1,928,864		0
	SERP		30		774,257		0
Edward A. Janov	Retirement Plan		28		1,518,948		0
	SERP		28		881,645		0

(1)

The valuation method and all material assumptions applied in quantifying the present value of the accrued benefits are described in “Note 9 – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” of Exhibit 13.01 to our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

In addition to participating in the EIP, which is available to all employees, the NEOs and the other Company officers can participate in the EDP. The EDP supplements the deferral opportunities by permitting executives to defer up to 100% of their annual salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation. As part of the EDP, the Company provides matching contributions up to 3.5% of participants’ annual base salary. Matching contributions are not available to the NEOs and the other Company officers for deferrals into the EIP.

Amounts deferred under the EDP and the matching contributions made during a plan year bear interest at 150% of the Moody’s Seasoned Corporate Bond Rate (the “Bond Rate”) from the start of the plan year. The interest rate is set for the plan year using the Bond Rate published by Moody’s Investors Services as of January 1 prior to the start of a new plan year. The interest rate formula was defined in the EDP at the time it was adopted in 1986. For plan year 2013, the interest rate was 6.08%, and for plan year 2014, the interest rate was 7.38%.

At retirement or termination of employment with five years of service, the EDP balances will be paid out at the election of the participant over a period of 10, 15 or 20 years and will be credited during the applicable payment period with interest at 150% of the average of the Bond Rate on each January 1 for the five years prior to distribution.

Deferrals and the matching contributions to the EDP are unfunded obligations of the Company, and the rights of our named executive officers and other Company officers participating in such plan benefits are no greater than those of an unsecured creditor.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in 2014

The following table presents nonqualified deferred compensation during 2014 for each NEO.


Name	Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year($)(1)		Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year($)(2)		Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year($)(2)		Aggregate Withdrawals / Distributions ($)		Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year- End($)(3)
John P. Hester		136,256		11,900		96,044		0		1,369,478
Jeffrey W. Shaw		100,350		30,073		187,243		0		2,888,462
Roy R. Centrella		141,359		11,698		90,124		0		1,329,095
William N. Moody		108,802		10,500		63,637		0		890,576
Edward A. Janov		110,902		9,302		115,713		0		1,749,956

(1)

Amounts shown in this column are included in the “Salary” and “Non-Equity Incentive Compensation” columns of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

(2)

EDP earnings, which were above-market, and matching contributions are also reported in the “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” and the “All Other Compensation” columns, respectively, of the “Summary Compensation Table.” Those amounts for the NEOs are as follows:


	Above-Market Interest		Matching Contributions		Total
Mr. Hester	$	46,023	$	11,900	$	57,923
Mr. Shaw		82,592		30,073		112,665
Mr. Centrella		42,724		11,698		54,422
Mr. Moody		31,208		10,500		41,708
Mr. Janov		52,465		9,302		61,767

(3)

The amounts reported in this column that were previously reported as compensation to the NEOs in the Summary Compensation Table for previous years are as follows:


	2012		2013		2014
Mr. Hester	$	156,418	$	165,084	$	194,179
Mr. Shaw		204,676		211,872		213,015
Mr. Centrella		129,209		148,102		195,781
Mr. Moody		106,928		118,190		150,510
Mr. Janov		136,525		164,967		172,669

Post-Termination Benefits

The Company has no employment agreements or severance arrangements. Each officer of the Company has a change in control agreement, which provides benefits upon certain termination events following a change in control of the Company. If the termination of employment without cause or as a result of a significant reduction in duties, responsibilities, location or compensation occurs within two years after a change in control (which includes an acquisition by one person or a group of persons of at

least 30% of the ownership of the Company, replacement of a majority of incumbent Board members, or a merger or similar transaction resulting in more than a 50% change of ownership of the Company) (collectively referred to as a “Double Trigger Event”), the affected NEOs would receive the following:

Salary for three years for the PEO and two and one-half years for all other NEOs;

Incentive compensation under the MIP and the RSUP for three years for the PEO and two and one-half years for all other NEOs;

Welfare benefits including the cost of medical, dental and life insurance coverage under the current Company plans (for three years for the PEO and two and one-half years for all other NEOs);

Vesting of all unvested stock-based awards and stock options, with the options being exercisable for 90 days;

Additional credit that may affect eligibility, vesting, and the calculation of benefits under the SERP (see discussion in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section above); and

Outplacement services of up to $30,000.

Under the assumption that a Double Trigger Event occurred on December 31, 2014, based on the terms of the change in control agreements for the NEOs, it is estimated that the NEOs would have received the compensation presented in the following table.


Name	Salary		Incentive Compen- sation		Welfare Benefits		Stock Acceler- ation(1)		Outplacement Services		Additional SERP Benefits(2)		Tax Gross-Up		Total
John P. Hester	$	1,150,000	$	1,495,000	$	39,183	$	1,135,573	$	30,000	$	1,557,668		n/a	$	5,407,424
Jeffrey W. Shaw		n/a		n/a		n/a		n/a		n/a		n/a		n/a		n/a
Roy R. Centrella		912,500		866,875		47,823		0		30,000		0		n/a		1,857,198
William N. Moody		945,000		1,086,750		38,810		0		30,000		0		n/a		2,100,560
Edward A. Janov		687,500		653,125		20,560		0		30,000		0		n/a		1,391,185

(1)

Because Messrs. Centrella, Moody and Janov are over age 55 and able to retire under the Incentive Plans with full vesting, termination of employment does not affect their rights to vested and unvested stock-based awards or options. The number and value of the stock-based awards and the number of options for these individuals are shown in the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2014” table.

(2)

Additional SERP benefits are shown on a present value basis, using the valuation method and all material assumptions described in “Note 9 – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” of Exhibit 13.01 to our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(3)

Because Mr. Shaw retired in March 2015, no potential payments have been reflected for him.

DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

2014 Directors Compensation Table


Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash($)		Stock Awards ($)(1)(2)(3)		Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(4)		All Other Compensation ($)(5)		Total($)
Robert L. Boughner		87,150		122,236		20,099		160		229,645
José A. Cárdenas		64,750		122,236		0		160		187,146
Thomas E. Chestnut		68,050		122,236		35,955		160		226,401
Stephen C. Comer		86,350		122,236		26,295		160		235,041
LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr.		75,550		122,236		0		160		197,946
Michael O. Maffie		54,850		122,236		0		0		177,086
Anne L. Mariucci		70,600		122,236		21,197		160		214,193
Michael J. Melarkey		119,700		122,236		35,288		160		277,384
A. Randall Thoman		74,650		122,236		10,773		160		207,819
Thomas A. Thomas		64,750		122,236		13,680		160		200,826
Terrence L. Wright		69,700		122,236		128,093		160		320,189

(1)

The amounts in this column represent the grant date fair value of restricted stock units earned in 2013 but not granted until 2014, based on the Company’s performance over the past three fiscal years, as determined by the MIP. On January 26, 2015, each director serving at that time received 2,275 restricted stock units. The restricted stock units are valued at the closing price of Common Stock on the date of grant. Because the last option awards were made in 2006, there is no need to maintain the “Options” column.

(2)

The grant date fair value of the 2,275 restricted stock units granted in 2014 was based on the closing price of Common Stock of $53.73 on January 31, 2014. The amounts were determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used to calculate these amounts are included in “Note 10 – Stock-Based Compensation” to our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in our Annual Report to Shareholders, a portion of which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2015 as Exhibit 13.01 to our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, as required, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions.

(3)

Stock and option awards outstanding at December 31, 2014, for each of the listed directors are as follows:


	Stock Awards		Options
Mr. Boughner		13,308		0
Mr. Cárdenas		7,251		0
Mr. Chestnut		14,561		0
Mr. Comer		14,561		0
Mr. Hanneman		11,452		0
Mr. Maffie		14,561		0
Ms. Mariucci		14,561		0
Mr. Melarkey		14,561		6,000
Mr. Thoman		9,644		0
Mr. Thomas		13,308		0
Mr. Wright		14,561		6,000

(4)

The pension value of Mr. Wright’s retirement benefits increased by $59,460. The amounts in this column also reflect above-market interest on nonqualified deferred compensation balances for 2014.

(5)

The All Other Compensation column represents the cost of life insurance for directors other than Mr. Maffie. Because Mr. Maffie retired from the Company, he does not receive life insurance benefits for serving as a director.

Directors Compensation Narrative

The outside directors receive an annual retainer of $40,000 and $1,650 for each Board and committee meeting attended and for any additional day of service performed for the Company. The chairperson of the Audit Committee receives an additional $15,000 annually, the chairperson of the Compensation Committee receives an additional $12,500 annually and the chairpersons of the other permanent committees each receive an additional $7,500 annually. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $50,000 annually for serving in that capacity. Directors who are full-time employees of the Company or its subsidiaries receive no additional compensation for serving on the Board.

Outside directors are granted 800 restricted stock units annually, and they have an opportunity to earn additional restricted stock units tied to maintaining long-term performance and based on how the Company performed over the last three years under the MIP performance measures. The incentive award was set at a target of 1,000 restricted stock units. No award will be paid unless the average payout percentage under the MIP for the last three years is at or above 90%. If an award is earned, it can range from 50% to 150% of the incentive opportunity. An incentive award was earned for 2014, and each director on the grant date received an additional grant of 1,475 restricted stock units on January 26, 2015. The restricted stock units are valued at the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock units awarded prior to January 2012 vested in increments over three years commencing with the first anniversary of the grant. Restricted stock units granted in subsequent years vested immediately upon grant. Even though the units are vested, they are not converted into shares of Common Stock until the outside directors leave the Board.

Cash compensation received by the outside directors may be deferred until retirement or termination of their status as directors pursuant to the Directors Deferral Plan. Amounts deferred bear interest at 150% of the Moody’s Seasoned Corporate Bond Rate. At retirement or termination, such deferrals will be paid out over 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, and will be credited during the applicable payment period with interest at 150% of the average of the Moody’s Seasoned Corporate Bond Rate on January 1 for the five years prior to retirement or termination.

The Company also provides a retirement plan for the one outside director (Mr. Wright) elected to the Board prior to the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Under the provisions of the plan, he will receive an annual benefit equal to the annual retainer at the time of his retirement.

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(Proposal 2 on the Proxy Card)

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR approval of executive compensation.

In light of the advisory vote at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on the frequency of “say-on-pay” advisory votes, the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously determined that the Company will hold an advisory vote on executive compensation on an annual basis, including a vote at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act, shareholders will have the opportunity to approve or not approve the compensation of the named executive officers through a non-binding vote (commonly known as “say-on-pay” vote) on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.

The Company’s compensation program is designed and administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, which is composed entirely of independent directors and carefully considers many different factors, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, in order to provide appropriate compensation for the Company’s executives. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation package for the Company’s named executive officers (who are the officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Compensation section) is designed to support the Company’s objectives of attracting, motivating and retaining the executive talent required to achieve our corporate objectives and increase shareholder value.

The compensation program is based on the Board-approved executive compensation philosophy of (i) paying base salary at the median (50^th percentile) of the amounts paid by our peer group of companies (the “relative market”), (ii) providing short- and long-term incentive awards that are designed to motivate the named executive officers to focus on specific annual and long-term Company financial, productivity and customer satisfaction performance goals and achieve superior Company performance while placing a significant amount of total compensation at risk and (iii) paying total direct compensation (base salary and short- and long-term incentive awards) to be competitive with the relative market.

Consistent with the SEC rule implementing the requirement that the Company periodically include a say-on-pay proposal in its proxy statement, the vote on this proposal is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Board. The Compensation Committee and the Board value the opinions that shareholders express in their votes and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation, will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions and evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address shareholder concerns expressed by such vote. It is expected that the next advisory vote on executive compensation will occur at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

We encourage you to review the complete description of the Company’s executive compensation programs provided in this Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the accompanying compensation tables.

AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION

SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

(Proposal 3 on The Proxy Card)

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Ratification.

The Audit Committee has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2015, subject to ratification of the selection by the shareholders. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been the Company’s independent public accounting firm since 2002. To the committee’s knowledge, at no time has PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP had any direct or indirect financial interest in or connection with the Company or any of our subsidiaries other than for services rendered to the Company as described below.

The committee is composed of independent directors and meets periodically with the Company’s internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm to review the scope and results of the audit function and the policies relating to auditing procedures. In making its annual recommendation, the committee reviews both the audit scope and proposed fees for the coming year.

An affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) is necessary to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company. If the shareholders do not ratify our selection, other certified public accounting firms will be considered and one will be selected by the committee to be the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2015.

During fiscal years 2013 and 2014, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided the following audit, audit-related and other professional services for the Company. The cost and description of these services are as follows:


	2013		2014
*Audit Fees:*	$	1,387,000	$	2,136,000

Annual audit/§404 internal control attestation		1,022,000		1,100,000
Quarterly reviews		117,000		120,000
Subsidiary audit		185,000		850,000
Comfort letters and consents		63,000		66,000

The services include the audit of the annual financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the reviews of unaudited quarterly financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, subsidiary audits, consultation, and comfort letters and consents for various financings and SEC filings, and the assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


*Audit-Related Fees:*	$	134,500	$	226,500

Benefit plan audits		83,500		88,000
Affiliate rules audit		16,000		16,500
Other (including Form 2-A filings)		35,000		122,000

The services include benefit plan audits, regulatory audits, and regulatory compliance. The 2014 amounts include services relating to the construction services acquisition.


Tax Fees:	$	54,000	$	248,500

Tax return review		31,200		36,200
Tax planning and advice		22,800		212,300

The services include corporate tax return reviews and corporate tax planning and advice. The 2014 amounts include services relating to the construction services acquisition. The independent registered public accounting firm’s independence is assessed with respect to tax planning and advice services to be provided, and in light of the prohibition of representing the Company on tax matters before any regulatory or judicial proceeding or providing tax services to Company executives or directors.


All Other Fees:	$	315,000	$	172,000

Software development advice		315,000		172,000

These services include permitted advisory services with regard to technological systems and software development planning, neither of which were the subject of audit or audit-related services performed.

Under the committee’s charter, the committee must pre-approve all Company engagements of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, unless an exception exists under the provisions of the Exchange Act or applicable SEC rules. At the beginning of each audit cycle, the committee evaluates the anticipated engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm, including the scope of work proposed to be performed and the proposed fees, and approves or rejects each service, consistent with its preapproval policy, taking into account whether the services are permissible under applicable laws and the possible impact of each nonaudit service on PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s independence from management. The committee also considers whether the independent registered public accounting firm is best positioned to provide effective and efficient service, and whether the service may enhance the Company’s ability to manage and control risk or improve audit quality. Throughout the year, the committee reviews updates of the services actually provided and fees charged by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Requests for the independent registered public accounting firm to provide additional services are presented to the committee by the Company’s chief financial or accounting officer, on an as-needed basis. The committee has delegated to the chairperson of the committee the authority to evaluate and approve engagements on the committee’s behalf in the event that a need arises for preapproval between committee meetings. Approvals of additional services will be made consistent with the preapproval policy and will be reported to the committee at its next scheduled meeting.

Since the effective date of the preapproval process, the committee has approved, in advance, each new engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and none of those engagements made use of the de minimis exception to the preapproval requirement contained in the SEC rules.

Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. They will have the opportunity to make statements, if they are so inclined, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The committee, which consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of the NYSE and the SEC, is furnishing the following report:

The committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility by reviewing the financial information provided to shareholders and others, the system of internal control which management and the Board have established, and the audit process. Management is responsible for the Company’s consolidated financial statements, for maintaining internal control over the Company’s financial reporting, and for assessing the effectiveness of that control. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an integrated audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, attesting to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the audit, and issuing a report thereon. The committee’s role and responsibilities are to monitor and oversee these processes as set forth in a written committee charter adopted by the Board. The committee charter is available on the Company’s website at http://www.swgas.com. The committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of the Charter at least annually and recommends any changes to the Board for approval.

In fulfilling our responsibilities for 2014, the committee:

Reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2014, with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP;

Discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, as amended, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”); and

Received the written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding their communications with the committee concerning independence, and the committee has discussed their independence with them.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC.


		Audit Committee
		Stephen C. Comer (Chair)		Robert L. Boughner
		Thomas E. Chestnut		LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr.
		A. Randall Thoman		Thomas A. Thomas

OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

If any business not described in this Proxy Statement should come before the Annual Meeting for your consideration, it is intended that the shares represented by our proxies will be voted at their discretion. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we knew of no other matter which might be presented for shareholder action at the meeting.

SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

You are advised that any shareholder proposal intended for consideration at the 2016 Annual Meeting and inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for that meeting must be received in writing by the Company on or before November 28, 2015. If you intend to offer any proposal at that meeting without using the Company’s proxy materials, written notice of your intended action has to be received by the Company on or before November 28, 2015, in order for your proposal to be considered timely and be presented to shareholders for consideration.

All proposals to be submitted to shareholders must comply with applicable SEC rules. You must submit your proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials and notices to the Company to the Corporate Secretary, and it is recommended that you send it by certified mail, return receipt requested to ensure timely delivery.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Karen S. Haller

Senior Vice President/General Counsel

and Corporate Secretary

SWX1PS2015

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Thursday, May 7, 2015

at 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time

CILI RESTAURANT AT BALI HAI GOLF CLUB

5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, Nevada

LOGO

5241 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, NV 89150-0002

PROXY

Please refer to the back of this Proxy Card for Voting Instructions

“Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at

www.investorelections.com/swx”

This proxy will be voted in the manner directed by the shareholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the listed Nominees (Proposal 1), FOR Approval, on an advisory basis, of Executive Compensation (Proposal 2) and FOR Auditor Selection Ratification (Proposal 3). Further, if cumulative voting rights for the election of directors (Proposal 1) are exercised at the meeting, the Proxies, unless otherwise instructed, will cumulatively vote their shares as explained in the Proxy Statement.

The undersigned hereby revokes all previously granted proxies and appoints LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr. and Michael J. Melarkey as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote as designated by telephone, by internet or by mail, all the shares of Common Stock of the undersigned at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Southwest Gas Corporation, and at any adjournments thereof; and at their discretion, with authorization to vote such shares on any other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail

24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares

in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.


:	(	*	I
INTERNET	PHONE	MAIL	VOTE
www.proxypush.com/swx	1-800-883-3382		IN PERSON

Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m. Central Time on May 6, 2015.	Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 11:59 p.m. Central Time on May 6, 2015.	Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.	Directions to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person are included on the map on page M-1 of the Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement. If you own your shares in street name through a broker or other nominee, you must provide proof of identification and proof that you were the owner of the shares on March 10, 2015.

If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone, you do NOT need to return your Proxy Card by mail.



	Shareowner Services^SM
	P.O. Box 64945
	St. Paul, MN 55164-0945

Address Change? Mark box, sign, and indicate changes below: ¨
		TO VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, SEE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS PROXY CARD.

TO VOTE BY MAIL AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ON ALL ITEMS BELOW, SIMPLY SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD.

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Proposals 1 through 3.

Election of

Directors:

01 Robert L. Boughner

02 José A. Cárdenas

03 Thomas E. Chestnut

07 Anne L. Mariucci

08 Michael J. Melarkey

09 Jeffrey W. Shaw

Vote FOR

all nominees

(except as marked)

Vote WITHHELD

from all nominees

04 Stephen C. Comer

10 A. Randall Thoman

05 LeRoy C. Hanneman, Jr.

11 Thomas A. Thomas

06 John P. Hester

12 Terrence L. Wright

ò Please fold here – Do not separate ò


To withhold authority to vote for a particular nominee, mark the Vote FOR all nominees (except as marked) box and enter the number next to the name(s) of the exceptions in the space provided. Unless authority to vote for all the foregoing nominees is withheld, this proxy will be deemed to confer authority to vote for every nominee whose name is not listed.



2.	To APPROVE, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.	¨ For	¨ Against	¨ Abstain

3.	To RATIFY the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for fiscal year 2015.	¨ For	¨ Against	¨ Abstain
	THE PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED AS THE BOARD RECOMMENDS.
	THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES (PROPOSAL 1), APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (PROPOSAL 2) AND AUDITOR SELECTION RATIFICATION (PROPOSAL 3).


		Date
						Signature(s) in Box
						Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy.