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Retirement Plans
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Retirement Plans [Abstract]  
Retirement Plans 5. Retirement Plans

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Pension Plans – We provide defined benefit retirement income to eligible non-union employees through qualified and non-qualified (supplemental) pension plans. Qualified and non-qualified pension benefits are based on years of service and the highest compensation during the latest years of employment, with specific reductions made for early retirements. Non-union employees hired on or after January 1, 2018 are no longer eligible for pension benefits, but are eligible for an enhanced 401(k) plan.

Other Postretirement Benefits (OPEB) – We provide medical and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees hired before January 1, 2004. These benefits are funded as medical claims and life insurance premiums are paid.

Expense

Both pension and OPEB expense are determined based upon the annual service cost of benefits (the actuarial cost of benefits earned during a period) and the interest cost on those liabilities, less the expected return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets that recognizes changes in fair value over a 5 year period. This practice is intended to reduce year-to-year volatility in pension expense, but it can have the effect of delaying the recognition of differences between actual returns on assets and expected returns based on long-term rate of return assumptions. Differences in actual experience in relation to assumptions are not recognized in net income immediately, but are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income and, if necessary, amortized as pension or OPEB expense.


The components of our net periodic pension cost were as follows:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

Millions

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

Service cost

$

26 

$

22 

$

53 

$

44 

Interest cost

35 

40 

69 

80 

Expected return on plan assets

(70)

(68)

(140)

(136)

Amortization of actuarial loss

24 

16 

52 

32 

Net periodic pension cost

$

15 

$

10 

$

34 

$

20 

The components of our net periodic OPEB costs were as follows:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

Millions

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

Service cost

$

1 

$

1 

$

1 

$

1 

Interest cost

2 

2 

3 

5 

Amortization of:

Prior service cost

(4)

-

(7)

-

Actuarial loss

2 

2 

4 

3 

Net periodic OPEB cost

$

1 

$

5 

$

1 

$

9 

On June 30, 2019, the OPEB plan was remeasured to reflect an announced plan amendment effective January 1, 2020 that reduced and eliminated certain medical benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees. This plan amendment resulted in a reduction in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation of approximately $92 million with a corresponding adjustment of $69 million in other comprehensive income, net of $23 million in deferred taxes. This amount is being amortized as a reduction of future net periodic OPEB cost over approximately 8 years, which represents the future remaining service period of eligible employees.

Cash Contributions

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, cash contributions totaled $0 to the qualified pension plan. Any contributions made during 2020 will be based on cash generated from operations and financial market considerations. Our policy with respect to funding the qualified plans is to fund at least the minimum required by law and not more than the maximum amount deductible for tax purposes. At June 30, 2020, we do not have minimum cash funding requirements for 2020.