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Employee Benefits Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans

(13) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

Defined Contribution Plans

 

We sponsor a 401(k) retirement savings plan (the 401(k) Plan). Participants in the 401(k) Plan may elect to invest a portion of their eligible compensation in the 401(k) Plan up to the maximum amounts established by the IRS. The 401(k) Plan provides employees the opportunity to invest up to 50% of their eligible compensation on a pre-tax or after-tax basis.

 

The 401(k) Plan provides a Company matching contribution for all eligible participants. Certain eligible participants who are not currently accruing a benefit in the Pension Plan also receive a Company retirement contribution based on the participant’s age and years of service. Vesting of all Company and matching contributions occurs at 20% per year with 100% vesting when the participant has 5 years of service with the Company.

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

We have one defined benefit pension plan, the Black Hills Retirement Plan (Pension Plan). The Pension Plan covers certain eligible employees of the Company. The benefits for the Pension Plan are based on years of service and calculations of average earnings during a specific time period prior to retirement. The Pension Plan is closed to new employees and frozen for certain employees who did not meet age and service-based criteria.

 

The Pension Plan assets are held in a Master Trust. Our Board of Directors has approved the Pension Plan’s investment policy. The objective of the investment policy is to manage assets in such a way that will allow the eventual settlement of our obligations to the Pension Plan’s beneficiaries. To meet this objective, our pension assets are managed by an outside adviser using a portfolio strategy that will provide liquidity to meet the Pension Plan’s benefit payment obligations. The Pension Plan’s assets consist primarily of equity, fixed income and hedged investments.

 

The expected rate of return on the Pension Plan assets is determined by reviewing the historical and expected returns of both equity and fixed income markets, taking into account asset allocation, the correlation between asset class returns and the mix of active and passive investments. The Pension Plan utilizes a dynamic asset allocation where the target range to return-seeking and liability-hedging assets is determined based on the funded status of the Plan. As of December 31, 2023, the expected rate of return on pension plan assets was based on the targeted asset allocation range of 20% to 28% return-seeking assets and 72% to 80% liability-hedging assets.

 

Our Pension Plan is funded in compliance with the federal government’s funding requirements.

 

Plan Assets

 

The percentages of total plan asset by investment category for our Pension Plan at December 31 were as follows:

 

Return-seeking Assets

2023

2022

Equity

14%

14%

Real estate

5%

7%

Hedge funds

3%

3%

Fixed income

2%

2%

Total

24%

26%

 

 

 

Liability-hedging Assets

2023

2022

Fixed income

74%

72%

Cash

2%

2%

Total

76%

74%

 

 

 

Total Assets

100%

100%

 

Supplemental Non-qualified Defined Benefit Plans

 

We have various supplemental retirement plans for key executives of the Company. The plans are non-qualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans (Supplemental Plans). The Supplemental Plans are subject to various vesting schedules and are funded on a cash basis as benefits are paid.

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

BHC sponsors a retiree healthcare plan (Healthcare Plan) for employees who meet certain age and service requirements at retirement. Healthcare Plan benefits are subject to premiums, deductibles, co-payment provisions and other limitations. A portion of the Healthcare Plan for participating business units are pre-funded via VEBA trusts. Pre-65 retirees as well as a grandfathered group of post-65 retirees receive their retiree medical benefits through the Black Hills self-insured retiree medical plans.

 

Healthcare coverage for post-65 Medicare-eligible retirees is provided through an individual market healthcare exchange. We fund the Healthcare Plan on a cash basis as benefits are paid. The Healthcare Plan provides for partial pre-funding via VEBA trusts. Assets related to this pre-funding are held in trust and are for the benefit of the union and non-union employees located in the states of Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas. We do not pre-fund the Healthcare Plan for those employees outside Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas.

 

Plan Contributions

 

Contributions to the Pension Plan are cash contributions made directly to the Master Trust. Healthcare and Supplemental Plan contributions are made in the form of benefit payments. Healthcare benefits include company and participant paid premiums.

 

Contributions for the years ended December 31 were as follows (in millions):

 

2023

 

2022

 

Defined Contribution Plan

 

 

 

 

Company retirement contributions

$

12.7

 

$

11.9

 

Company matching contributions

$

17.1

 

$

16.2

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

$

—

 

$

—

 

Non-Pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

$

5.4

 

$

6.1

 

Supplemental Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans

$

3.5

 

$

3.1

 

 

We do not have any required contributions to our Pension Plan in 2024; however, we expect to make $2.3 million in contributions.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The following tables set forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis (in millions):

 

 

December 31, 2023

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total Investments Measured at Fair Value

 

NAV (a)

 

Total Investments

 

Pension Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Collective Trust - Cash and Cash Equivalents

$

—

 

$

6.7

 

$

—

 

$

6.7

 

$

—

 

$

6.7

 

Common Collective Trust - Equity

 

—

 

 

42.7

 

 

—

 

 

42.7

 

 

—

 

 

42.7

 

Common Collective Trust - Fixed Income

 

—

 

 

234.5

 

 

—

 

 

234.5

 

 

—

 

 

234.5

 

Common Collective Trust - Real Estate

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

16.4

 

 

16.4

 

Hedge Funds

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

8.1

 

 

8.1

 

Total investments measured at fair value

$

—

 

$

283.9

 

$

—

 

$

283.9

 

$

24.5

 

$

308.4

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

8.0

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

8.0

 

 

 

 

8.0

 

Total investments measured at fair value

$

8.0

 

$

—

 

$

—

 

$

8.0

 

 

 

$

8.0

 

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total Investments Measured at Fair Value

 

NAV (a)

 

Total Investments

 

Pension Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Collective Trust - Cash and Cash Equivalents

$

—

 

$

6.4

 

$

—

 

$

6.4

 

$

—

 

$

6.4

 

Common Collective Trust - Equity

 

—

 

 

45.1

 

 

—

 

 

45.1

 

 

—

 

 

45.1

 

Common Collective Trust - Fixed Income

 

—

 

 

242.0

 

 

—

 

 

242.0

 

 

—

 

 

242.0

 

Common Collective Trust - Real Estate

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

21.5

 

 

21.5

 

Hedge Funds

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

8.1

 

 

8.1

 

Total investments measured at fair value

$

—

 

$

293.5

 

$

—

 

$

293.5

 

$

29.6

 

$

323.1

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

7.8

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

7.8

 

 

 

 

7.8

 

Total investments measured at fair value

$

7.8

 

$

—

 

$

—

 

$

7.8

 

 

 

$

7.8

 

 

(a)
Certain investments that are measured at fair value using NAV per share (or its equivalent) for practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in these tables for these investments are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the reconciliation of changes in the plan’s benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets above.

 

Additional information about assets of the benefit plans, including methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of these assets, is as follows:

 

Pension Plan

 

Common Collective Trust Funds: These funds are valued based upon the redemption price of units held by the Pension Plan, which is based on the current fair value of the common collective trust funds’ underlying assets. Unit values are determined by the financial institution sponsoring such funds by dividing the fund’s net assets at fair value by its units outstanding at the valuation dates. The Pension Plan’s investments in common collective trust funds, with the exception of shares of the common collective trust-real estate are categorized as Level 2.

 

The following investments are measured at NAV and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy, in accordance with accounting guidance:

 

Common Collective Trust-Real Estate Funds: These funds are valued based on various factors of the underlying real estate properties, including market rent, market rent growth, occupancy levels, etc. As part of the trustee’s valuation process, properties are externally appraised generally on an annual basis. The appraisals are conducted by reputable independent appraisal firms and signed by appraisers that are members of the Appraisal Institute, with professional designation of Member, Appraisal Institute. All external appraisals are performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices. We receive monthly statements from the trustee, along with the annual schedule of investments and rely on these reports for pricing the units of the fund.

 

Hedge Funds: These funds represent investments in other investment funds that seek a return utilizing a number of diverse investment strategies. The strategies, when combined, aim to reduce volatility and risk while attempting to deliver positive returns under all market conditions. Amounts are reported on a one-month lag. The fair value of hedge funds is determined using net asset value per share based on the fair value of the hedge fund’s underlying investments. 10% of the shares may be redeemed at the end of each month with a 15-day notice and full redemptions are available at the end of each quarter with 60-day notice and is limited to a percentage of the total net assets value of the fund. The net asset values are based on the fair value of each fund’s underlying investments. There are no unfunded commitments related to these hedge funds.

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents: This represents an investment in Northern Institutional Government Assets Portfolio, which is a government money market fund. As shares held reflect quoted prices in an active market, they are categorized as Level 1.

 

Components of Net Periodic Expense

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of components of the net periodic expense (in millions):

 

Defined Benefit
Pension Plan

 

Supplemental
Non-qualified Defined Benefit Plans

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

For the years ended December 31,

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

Service cost

$

2.5

 

$

3.9

 

$

5.0

 

$

3.1

 

$

(0.8

)

$

3.1

 

$

1.5

 

$

1.9

 

$

2.2

 

Interest cost

 

17.5

 

 

10.8

 

 

9.3

 

 

1.5

 

 

0.8

 

 

0.7

 

 

2.4

 

 

1.3

 

 

1.0

 

Expected return on assets

 

(18.7

)

 

(18.5

)

 

(20.8

)

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

(0.2

)

 

(0.1

)

 

(0.1

)

Net amortization of prior service cost

 

(0.1

)

 

(0.1

)

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

(0.3

)

 

(0.4

)

Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)

 

2.0

 

 

6.1

 

 

7.3

 

 

—

 

 

0.3

 

 

1.8

 

 

—

 

 

0.1

 

 

0.5

 

Net periodic expense

$

3.2

 

$

2.2

 

$

0.8

 

$

4.6

 

$

0.3

 

$

5.6

 

$

3.7

 

$

2.9

 

$

3.2

 

 

Service costs are recorded in Operations and maintenance expense while non-service costs are recorded in Other expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Actuarial gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants or over the average remaining lifetime of the remaining plan participants if the plan is viewed as “all or almost all” inactive participants.

Other Plan Information

 

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the employee benefit plan obligations and fair value of employee benefit plan assets, amounts recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, accumulated benefit obligation and elements of AOCI (in millions):

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Supplemental Non-qualified Defined
Benefit Plans

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Supplemental Non-qualified Defined
Benefit Plans

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

 

2023

 

2022

 

Accumulated benefit obligation at December 31

$

341.8

 

$

46.7

 

$

51.1

 

$

350.2

 

$

45.2

 

$

49.7

 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

$

358.4

 

$

45.2

 

$

49.7

 

$

478.3

 

$

55.3

 

$

63.5

 

Service cost

 

2.5

 

 

3.1

 

 

1.5

 

 

3.9

 

 

(0.8

)

 

1.9

 

Interest cost

 

17.5

 

 

1.5

 

 

2.4

 

 

10.8

 

 

0.8

 

 

1.3

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

11.6

 

 

0.3

 

 

1.7

 

 

(97.9

)

 

(7.0

)

 

(12.3

)

Benefits paid

 

(41.9

)

 

(3.4

)

 

(5.3

)

 

(36.7

)

 

(3.1

)

 

(6.1

)

Plan participants’ contributions

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.1

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.4

 

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

 

348.1

 

 

46.7

 

 

51.1

 

 

358.4

 

 

45.2

 

 

49.7

 

Change in fair value of plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

323.1

 

 

—

 

 

7.8

 

 

458.4

 

 

—

 

 

8.0

 

Investment income (loss)

 

27.4

 

 

—

 

 

0.2

 

 

(98.6

)

 

—

 

 

—

 

Employer contributions

 

—

 

 

3.5

 

 

4.3

 

 

—

 

 

3.1

 

 

4.5

 

Retiree contributions

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.1

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.4

 

Benefits paid

 

(41.9

)

 

(3.5

)

 

(5.4

)

 

(36.7

)

 

(3.1

)

 

(6.1

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

308.6

 

 

—

 

 

8.0

 

 

323.1

 

 

—

 

 

7.8

 

Funded status - deficiency

$

39.5

 

$

46.7

 

$

43.1

 

$

35.3

 

$

45.2

 

$

41.9

 

Amounts recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

$

79.9

 

$

—

 

$

4.8

 

$

78.7

 

$

—

 

$

3.8

 

Current liabilities

 

—

 

 

2.4

 

 

4.2

 

 

—

 

 

2.2

 

 

4.4

 

Non-current assets

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.3

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

1.0

 

Non-current liabilities

 

39.4

 

 

44.3

 

 

40.2

 

 

35.2

 

 

43.0

 

 

38.5

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

2.9

 

 

—

 

 

5.5

 

 

2.8

 

 

—

 

 

6.2

 

Amounts recognized in AOCI, net of tax as of December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (gain) loss

$

5.0

 

$

1.8

 

$

(0.7

)

$

5.2

 

$

1.6

 

$

(0.7

)

Prior service cost (gain)

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

0.1

 

 

(0.1

)

 

—

 

 

0.1

 

Total amounts included in AOCI, net of tax not yet recognized as components of net periodic expense

$

5.0

 

$

1.8

 

$

(0.6

)

$

5.1

 

$

1.6

 

$

(0.6

)

 

In 2012, we froze our Pension Plan and closed it to new participants. Since then, we have implemented various de-risking strategies including lump sum buyouts, the purchase of annuities and the reduction of return-seeking assets over time to a more liability-hedged portfolio. As a result, capital markets volatility had a limited impact to our unfunded status.

 

Assumptions

 

Defined Benefit
Pension Plan

 

Supplemental
Non-qualified Defined Benefit Plans

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

4.99

%

 

5.17

%

 

2.88

%

 

4.93

%

 

5.13

%

 

2.77

%

 

4.97

%

 

5.14

%

 

2.79

%

Rate of increase in compensation levels

 

3.04

%

 

3.06

%

 

3.08

%

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

5.00

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for plan year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate (a)

 

5.17

%

 

2.88

%

 

2.56

%

 

5.13

%

 

2.77

%

 

2.41

%

 

5.14

%

 

2.79

%

 

2.41

%

Expected long-term rate of return on assets (b)

 

6.00

%

 

4.25

%

 

4.50

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

3.10

%

 

1.70

%

 

1.80

%

Rate of increase in compensation levels

 

3.06

%

 

3.08

%

 

3.34

%

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

5.00

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

(a)
The estimated discount rate for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan is 5.0% for the calculation of the 2024 net periodic pension costs.
(b)
The expected rate of return on plan assets for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan is 6.0% for the calculation of the 2024 net periodic pension cost.

 

The healthcare benefit obligation at December 31 was determined as follows:

 

2023

 

2022

 

Trend Rate - Medical

 

 

 

 

Pre-65 for next year - All Plans

 

6.69

%

 

7.00

%

Pre-65 Ultimate trend rate - Black Hills Corp

 

4.50

%

 

4.50

%

Trend Year

2034

 

2031

 

 

 

 

 

Post-65 for next year - All Plans

 

5.81

%

 

6.00

%

Post-65 Ultimate trend rate - Black Hills Corp

 

4.50

%

 

4.50

%

Trend Year

2034

 

2031

 

 

The following benefit payments to employees, which reflect future service, are expected to be paid (in millions):

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

Supplemental Non-qualified Defined Benefit Plans

 

Non-pension Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plan

 

 2024

$

24.5

 

$

2.4

 

$

5.2

 

 2025

 

25.4

 

 

2.8

 

 

5.0

 

 2026

 

26.0

 

 

2.8

 

 

4.9

 

 2027

 

25.9

 

 

2.7

 

 

4.8

 

 2028

 

26.2

 

 

2.6

 

 

4.6

 

 2029 - 2033

$

129.7

 

$

11.7

 

$

21.4