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Retirement Benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The primary objective of the Ameren pension and postretirement benefit plans is to provide eligible employees with pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits. Ameren offers defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans covering substantially all of its employees. Ameren uses a measurement date of December 31 for its pension and postretirement benefit plans. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois each participate in Ameren’s single-employer pension and other postretirement plans. Ameren’s qualified pension plan is the Ameren Retirement Plan. Ameren also has an unfunded nonqualified pension plan, the Ameren Supplemental Retirement Plan, which is available for certain management employees and retirees to provide a supplemental benefit when their qualified pension plan benefits are capped to comply with Internal Revenue Code limitations. Ameren’s other postretirement plans are the Ameren Retiree Medical Plan and the Ameren Group Life Insurance Plan. Nonaffiliated Ameren companies do not participate in the Ameren Retirement Plan, the Ameren Supplemental Retirement Plan, the Ameren Retiree Medical Plan, or the Ameren Group Life Insurance Plan.
On December 2, 2013, Ameren completed the divestiture of New AER to IPH. In accordance with the transaction agreement, Ameren retained the pension obligations as of December 2, 2013, associated with the current and former employees of New AER and its subsidiaries who were included in the Ameren Retirement Plan and the Ameren Supplemental Retirement Plan. Ameren also retained the postretirement benefit obligations associated with the employees of New AER and its subsidiaries who were eligible to retire at December 2, 2013, from the Ameren Retiree Medical Plan and the Ameren Group Life Insurance Plan. IPH assumed the existing pension and other postretirement benefit obligations associated with EEI's current and former employees that are included in EEI’s single-employer pension and other postretirement plans. Coincident with Ameren’s divestiture of New AER, a significant number of employees left Ameren which required a measurement of Ameren’s pension and postretirement benefit plan assets and obligations as of December 2, 2013, based upon current market conditions. The reduction in obligations for the postretirement benefit plans and the accelerated recognition of gains previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income that had not previously been recognized through net periodic benefit cost for the pension and postretirement benefit plans resulted in a $19 million pretax curtailment gain, which was included in discontinued operations.
Ameren completed another measurement as of December 31, 2013, as is its historical accounting practice, based upon the market conditions at the end of the year. Excluding the EEI plans, which were assumed by IPH during 2013, Ameren’s unfunded obligation under its pension and other postretirement benefit plans was $461 million and $1,143 million as of December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. These net liabilities are recorded in "Other current liabilities," "Pension and other postretirement benefits," and "Other assets" on Ameren's consolidated balance sheet. The primary factors contributing to this unfunded obligation reduction during 2013 were a 75 basis point increase in the pension and other postretirement benefit plan discount rates used to determine the present value of the obligations, and asset returns being better than expected. The offset to the unfunded obligation reduction was primarily a reduction to "Regulatory assets" on Ameren's consolidated balance sheet.
The following table presents the net benefit liability recorded on the balance sheets of each of the Ameren Companies as of December 31, 2013, and 2012:
 
2013

2012

Ameren(a)
$
461

$
1,143

Ameren Missouri
191

464

Ameren Illinois
198

408

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
Ameren recognizes the under-funded status of its pension and postretirement plans as a liability on its consolidated balance sheet, with offsetting entries to accumulated OCI and regulatory assets, in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance. The following table presents the funded status of our pension and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2013, and 2012. It also provides the amounts included in regulatory assets and accumulated OCI at December 31, 2013, and 2012, that have not been recognized in net periodic benefit costs.
  
2013
 
2012
  
Pension Benefits(a)
 
Postretirement
Benefits(a)
 
Pension Benefits(a)
 
Postretirement
Benefits(a)
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year
$
3,698

$
(b)

 
$
3,829

$
(b)

Change in benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
4,051

$
1,157

 
$
3,764

$
1,145

Service cost
91

 
22

 
81

 
22

Interest cost
163

 
46

 
166

 
47

Participant contributions

 
16

 

 
16

Actuarial (gain) loss
(207
)
 
(76
)
 
240

 
(10
)
Curtailment gain(c)

 
(3
)
 

 

Settlement(d)

 
(5
)
 

 

Benefits paid
(198
)
 
(64
)
 
(200
)
 
(69
)
Early retiree reinsurance program receipt
(b)

 

 
(b)

 
2

Federal subsidy on benefits paid
(b)

 
3

 
(b)

 
4

Net benefit obligation at end of year
3,900

 
1,096

 
4,051

 
1,157

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
3,127

 
938

 
2,814

 
836

Actual return on plan assets
376

 
156

 
385

 
104

Employer contributions
156

 
25

 
128

 
45

Federal subsidy on benefits paid
(b)

 
3

 
(b)

 
4

Early retiree reinsurance program receipt
(b)

 

 
(b)

 
2

Participant contributions

 
16

 

 
16

Benefits paid
(198
)
 
(64
)
 
(200
)
 
(69
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
3,461

 
1,074

 
3,127

 
938

Funded status – deficiency
439

 
22

 
924

 
219

Accrued benefit cost at December 31
$
439

$
22

 
$
924

$
219

Amounts recognized in the balance sheet consist of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncurrent asset(e)
$

$
(9
)
 
$

$

Current liability(f)
3

 
1

 
3

 
2

Noncurrent liability
436

 
30

 
921

 
217

Net liability recognized
$
439

$
22

 
$
924

$
219

Amounts recognized in regulatory assets consist of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial (gain) loss
$
282

$
(71
)
 
$
699

$
103

Prior service cost (credit)
(7
)
 
(20
)
 
(6
)
 
(24
)
Amounts (pretax) recognized in accumulated OCI consist of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial (gain) loss
17

 
(12
)
 
65

 
5

Prior service cost (credit)

 
(1
)
 
(14
)
 
(6
)
Total
$
292

$
(104
)
 
$
744

$
78

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
(b)
Not applicable.
(c)
Effective with the divestiture of New AER on December 2, 2013, the liability for active management employees of New AER and its subsidiaries not eligible to retire were neither transferred to IPH nor retained by Ameren, which resulted in a curtailment gain. See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations for further information on the divestiture.
(d)
Effective with the divestiture of New AER on December 2, 2013, the liability for active union employees of New AER and its subsidiaries not eligible to retire was transferred to IPH based on the assumption of the collective bargaining agreements in place, which resulted in a settlement. See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations for further information on the divestiture.
(e)
Included in "Other assets" on Ameren's consolidated balance sheet.
(f)
Included in "Other current liabilities" on Ameren's consolidated balance sheet.

The following table presents the assumptions used to determine our benefit obligations at December 31, 2013, and 2012:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Discount rate at measurement date
4.75
%
 
4.00
%
 
4.75
%
 
4.00
%
Increase in future compensation
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

Medical cost trend rate (initial)

 

 
5.00

 
5.00

Medical cost trend rate (ultimate)

 

 
5.00

 
5.00

Years to ultimate rate

 

 

 


Ameren determines discount rate assumptions by identifying a theoretical settlement portfolio of high-quality corporate bonds sufficient to provide for a plan's projected benefit payments, pursuant to authoritative accounting guidance on the determination of discount rates used for defined benefit plan obligations. The settlement portfolio of bonds is selected from a pool of over 500 high-quality corporate bonds.  A single discount rate is then determined; that rate results in a discounted value of the plan's benefit payments that equates to the market value of the selected bonds.
Funding
Pension benefits are based on the employees’ years of service and compensation. Ameren’s pension plan is funded in compliance with income tax regulations and federal funding or regulatory requirements. As a result, Ameren expects to fund its pension plan at a level equal to the greater of the pension expense or the legally required minimum contribution. Considering its assumptions at December 31, 2013, its investment performance in 2013, and its pension funding policy, Ameren expects to make annual contributions of $20 million to $100 million in each of the next five years, with aggregate estimated contributions of $270 million. We expect Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ portion of the future funding requirements to be 52%, and 47%, respectively. These amounts are estimates. They may change based on actual investment performance, changes in interest rates, changes in our assumptions, changes in government regulations, and any voluntary contributions. Our funding policy for postretirement benefits is primarily to fund the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trusts to match the annual postretirement expense.
The following table presents the cash contributions made to our defined benefit retirement plan and to our postretirement plans during 2013, 2012, and 2011:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Ameren Missouri
$
60

 
$
52

 
$
43

 
$
10

 
$
9

 
$
9

Ameren Illinois
50

 
46

 
28

 
11

 
35

 
118

Other
46

 
30

 
25

 
4

 
1

 
2

Ameren(a)
156

 
128

 
96

 
25

 
45

 
129

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
Investment Strategy and Policies
Ameren manages plan assets in accordance with the “prudent investor” guidelines contained in ERISA. The investment committee, to the extent authority is delegated to it by the finance committee of Ameren’s board of directors, implements investment strategy and asset allocation guidelines for the plan assets. The investment committee includes members of senior management. The investment committee’s goals are twofold: first, to ensure that sufficient funds are available to provide the benefits at the time they are payable; second, to maximize total return on plan assets and minimize expense volatility consistent with its tolerance for risk. Ameren delegates investment management to specialists in each asset class. As appropriate, Ameren provides the investment manager with guidelines that specify allowable and prohibited investment types. The investment committee regularly monitors manager performance and compliance with investment guidelines.
The expected return on plan assets assumption is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the investment portfolio. Projected rates of return for each asset class were estimated after an analysis of historical experience, future expectations, and the volatility of the various asset classes. After considering the target asset allocation for each asset class, we adjusted the overall expected rate of return for the portfolio for historical and expected experience of active portfolio management results compared with benchmark returns and for the effect of expenses paid from plan assets. Ameren will use an expected return on plan assets for its pension plan assets and postretirement plan assets of 7.25% and 7.00%, respectively, in 2014. No plan assets are expected to be returned to Ameren during 2014.
Ameren’s investment committee strives to assemble a portfolio of diversified assets that does not create a significant concentration of risks. The investment committee develops asset allocation guidelines between asset classes, and it creates diversification through investments in assets that differ by type (equity, debt, real estate, private equity), duration, market capitalization, country, style (growth or value) and industry, among other factors. The diversification of assets is displayed in the target allocation table below. The investment committee also routinely rebalances the plan assets to adhere to the diversification goals. The investment committee’s strategy reduces the concentration of investment risk; however, Ameren is still subject to overall market risk. The following table presents our target allocations for 2014 and our pension and postretirement plans’ asset categories as of December 31, 2013, and 2012.
Asset
Category
Target Allocation
2014
 
Percentage of Plan Assets at December  31,
2013
 
2012
Pension Plan:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
0 - 5  %
 
2
%
 
2
%
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
29 - 39
 
36

 
34
%
U.S. small and mid-capitalization
2 - 12
 
8

 
7
%
International and emerging markets
9 - 19
 
14

 
13
%
Total equity
50 - 60
 
58

 
54
%
Debt securities
35 - 45
 
36

 
39
%
Real estate
0 -   9  
 
4

 
4
%
Private equity
0 -   4  
 
(a)

 
1
%
Total
 
 
100
%
 
100
%
Postretirement Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
0 - 10 %
 
4
%
 
4
%
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
33 - 43
 
41
%
 
40
%
U.S. small and mid-capitalization
3 - 13
 
8
%
 
8
%
International
10 - 20
 
14
%
 
14
%
Total equity
55 - 65
 
63
%
 
62
%
Debt securities
30 - 40
 
33
%
 
34
%
Total
 
 
100
%
 
100
%

(a)
Less than 1% of plan assets.
In general, the United States large capitalization equity investments are passively managed or indexed, whereas the international, emerging markets, United States small capitalization, and United States mid-capitalization equity investments are actively managed by investment managers. Debt securities include a broad range of fixed income vehicles. Debt security investments in high-yield securities, emerging market securities, and non-United States dollar-denominated securities are owned by the plans, but in limited quantities to reduce risk. Most of the debt security investments are under active management by investment managers. Real estate investments include private real estate vehicles; however, Ameren does not, by policy, hold direct investments in real estate property. Ameren’s investment in private equity funds consists of 9 different limited partnerships, with invested capital ranging from $0.1 million to $5 million each, which invest primarily in a diversified number of small United States-based companies. No further commitments may be made to private equity investments without approval by the finance committee of the board of directors. Additionally, Ameren’s investment committee allows investment managers to use derivatives, such as index futures, exchange traded funds, foreign exchange futures, and options, in certain situations, to increase or to reduce market exposure in an efficient and timely manner.
Fair Value Measurements of Plan Assets
Investments in the pension and postretirement benefit plans were stated at fair value as of December 31, 2013. The fair value of an asset is the amount that would be received upon sale in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Cash and cash equivalents have initial maturities of three months or less and are recorded at cost plus accrued interest. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Investments traded in active markets on national or international securities exchanges are valued at closing prices on the last business day on or before the measurement date. Securities traded in over-the-counter markets are valued based on quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Derivative contracts are valued at fair value, as determined by the investment managers (or independent third parties on behalf of the investment managers), who use proprietary models and take into consideration exchange quotations on underlying instruments, dealer quotations, and other market information. The fair value of real estate is based on annual appraisal reports prepared by an independent real estate appraiser.
The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements, the pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2013:
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identified Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
5

 
$
39

 
$

 
$
44

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
107

 
1,162

 

 
1,269

U.S. small and mid-capitalization
273

 

 

 
273

International and emerging markets
143

 
372

 

 
515

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds

 
860

 

 
860

Municipal bonds

 
149

 

 
149

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 
256

 

 
256

Other

 
27

 

 
27

Real estate

 

 
131

 
131

Private equity

 

 
15

 
15

Derivative assets
1

 

 

 
1

Derivative liabilities
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Total
$
528

 
$
2,865

 
$
146

 
$
3,539

Less: Medical benefit assets at December 31(a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(112
)
Plus: Net receivables at December 31(b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
34

Fair value of pension plans assets at year end
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
3,461

(a)
Medical benefit (health and welfare) component for accounts maintained in accordance with Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code to fund a portion of the postretirement obligation.
(b)
Receivables related to pending security sales, offset by payables related to pending security purchases.
The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements, the pension plan assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2012:
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identified Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1

 
$
28

 
$

 
$
29

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
83

 
1,007

 

 
1,090

U.S. small and mid-capitalization
235

 

 

 
235

International and emerging markets
134

 
301

 

 
435

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds

 
832

 

 
832

Municipal bonds

 
176

 

 
176

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 
250

 

 
250

Other

 
17

 

 
17

Real estate

 

 
118

 
118

Private equity

 

 
19

 
19

Derivative assets

 

 

 

Derivative liabilities
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Total
$
452

 
$
2,611

 
$
137

 
$
3,200

Less: Medical benefit assets at December 31(a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(102
)
Plus: Net receivables at December 31(b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
29

Fair value of pension plans assets at year end
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
3,127

(a)
Medical benefit (health and welfare) component for accounts maintained in accordance with Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code to fund a portion of the postretirement obligation.
(b)
Receivables related to pending security sales, offset by payables related to pending security purchases.
The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the pension plan assets classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, and 2012:
 
Beginning
Balance at
January 1,
 
Actual Return on
Plan Assets Related
to Assets Still Held
at the Reporting Date
 
Actual Return on
Plan Assets Related
to Assets Sold
During the Period
 
Purchases,
Sales, and
Settlements, Net
 
Net
Transfers
into (out of)
of Level 3
 
Ending Balance at
December 31,
2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate
$
118

 
$
9

 
$

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
131

Private equity
19

 
(9
)
 
11

 
(6
)
 

 
15

2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate
$
108

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
118

Private equity
23

 
(7
)
 
8

 
(5
)
 

 
19


The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements, the postretirement benefit plans assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2013:
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identified Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
77

 
$

 
$

 
$
77

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
297

 
101

 

 
398

U.S. small and mid-capitalization
77

 

 

 
77

International
39

 
96

 

 
135

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds

 
89

 

 
89

Municipal bonds

 
103

 

 
103

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 
72

 

 
72

Asset-backed securities

 
10

 

 
10

Other

 
40

 

 
40

Total
$
490

 
$
511

 
$

 
$
1,001

Plus: Medical benefit assets at December 31(a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
112

Less: Net payables at December 31(b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(39
)
Fair value of postretirement benefit plans assets at year end
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,074

(a)
Medical benefit (health and welfare) component for 401(h) accounts to fund a portion of the postretirement obligation. These 401(h) assets are included in the pension plan assets shown above.
(b)
Payables related to pending security purchases, offset by Medicare, interest receivables, and receivables related to pending security sales.
The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements, the postretirement benefit plans assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2012:
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identified Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
83

 
$

 
$

 
$
83

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. large capitalization
245

 
88

 

 
333

U.S. small and mid-capitalization
66

 

 

 
66

International
45

 
69

 

 
114

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds

 
88

 

 
88

Municipal bonds

 
91

 

 
91

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 
67

 

 
67

Asset-backed securities

 
18

 

 
18

Other

 
22

 

 
22

Total
$
439

 
$
443

 
$

 
$
882

Plus: Medical benefit assets at December 31(a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
102

Less: Net payables at December 31(b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(46
)
Fair value of postretirement benefit plans assets at year end
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
938

(a)
Medical benefit (health and welfare) component for 401(h) accounts to fund a portion of the postretirement obligation. These 401(h) assets are included in the pension plan assets shown above.
(b)
Payables related to pending security purchases, offset by Medicare, interest receivables, and receivables related to pending security sales.
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
The following table presents the components of the net periodic benefit cost of our pension and postretirement benefit plans during 2013, 2012, and 2011:
 
Pension Benefits
Ameren(a)
 
Postretirement Benefits
Ameren(a)
2013
 
 
 
Service cost
$
91

 
$
22

Interest cost
163

 
46

Expected return on plan assets
(218
)
 
(62
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
Transition obligation

 

Prior service cost
(2
)
 
(6
)
Actuarial loss
87

 
8

Curtailment gain
(12
)
 
(7
)
Net periodic benefit cost(b)
$
109

 
$
1

2012
 
 
 
Service cost
$
81

 
$
22

Interest cost
166

 
47

Expected return on plan assets
(208
)
 
(56
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
Transition obligation

 
2

Prior service cost
(3
)
 
(6
)
Actuarial loss
75

 
5

Net periodic benefit cost(c)
$
111

 
$
14

2011
 
 
 
Service cost
$
73

 
$
20

Interest cost
175

 
54

Expected return on plan assets
(211
)
 
(50
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
Transition obligation

 
2

Prior service cost
(1
)
 
(6
)
Actuarial loss
41

 
3

Net periodic benefit cost(c)
$
77

 
$
23

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
(b)
The net periodic benefit cost includes a $6 million and a $7 million net gain for pension benefits and postretirement benefits, respectively, which was included in "Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes" on Ameren's consolidated statement of income (loss). This net gain includes the curtailment gain recognized in 2013 as a result of a significant reduction in employees as of the December 2, 2013 closing date of the New AER divestiture. See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations for additional information on the divestiture.
(c)
The net periodic benefit cost includes $9 million and $- million in total net costs for pension benefits and postretirement benefits, respectively, for 2012 which were included in "Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes" on Ameren's consolidated statement of income (loss). The net periodic benefit cost includes $7 million and $- million in total net costs for pension benefits and postretirement benefits, respectively, for 2011 which were included in "Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes" on Ameren's consolidated statement of income (loss). See Note 16 – Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations for additional information on the divestiture.
The current year expected return on plan assets is determined primarily by adjusting the prior-year market-related asset value for current year contributions, disbursements, and expected return, plus 25% of the actual return in excess of (or less than) expected return for the four prior years.
The estimated amounts that will be amortized from regulatory assets and accumulated OCI into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 are as follows:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
Ameren(a)
 
Ameren(a)
Regulatory assets:
 
 
 
Prior service cost (credit)
$
(1
)
 
$
(4
)
Net actuarial loss
60

 
9

Accumulated OCI:
 
 
 
Net actuarial (gain) loss
1

 
(2
)
Total
$
60

 
$
3

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
Prior service cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over the average future service of active participants benefiting under the plan amendment. The net actuarial (gain) loss subject to amortization is amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years.
The Ameren Companies are responsible for their share of the pension and postretirement benefit costs. The following table presents the pension costs and the postretirement benefit costs incurred and included in continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
  
Pension Costs
 
Postretirement Costs
  
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Ameren Missouri
$
69

 
$
63

 
$
51

 
$
8

 
$
10

 
$
11

Ameren Illinois
41

 
37

 
16

 

 
4

 
11

Other
5

 
2

 
3

 

 

 
1

Ameren(a)
115

 
102

 
70

 
8

 
14

 
23

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.
The expected pension and postretirement benefit payments from qualified trust and company funds and the federal subsidy for postretirement benefits related to prescription drug benefits, which reflect expected future service, as of December 31, 2013, are as follows:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
Paid from
Qualified
Trust
 
        Paid from
         Company
      Funds
 
        Paid from
         Qualified
      Trust
 
        Paid from
         Company
      Funds
 
        Federal
         Subsidy
2014
$
247

 
$
3

 
$
61

 
$
2

 
$
3

2015
249

 
3

 
63

 
2

 
4

2016
255

 
3

 
66

 
2

 
4

2017
260

 
3

 
69

 
2

 
4

2018
264

 
3

 
72

 
2

 
4

2019 - 2023
1,342

 
14

 
394

 
12

 
19


The following table presents the assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for our pension and postretirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Discount rate at measurement date
4.00
%
 
4.50
%
 
5.25
%
 
4.00
%
 
4.50
%
 
5.25
%
Expected return on plan assets
7.50

 
7.75

 
8.00

 
7.25

 
7.50

 
7.75

Increase in future compensation
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

 
3.50

Medical cost trend rate (initial)

 

 

 
5.00

 
5.50

 
6.00

Medical cost trend rate (ultimate)

 

 

 
5.00

 
5.00

 
5.00

Years to ultimate rate

 

 

 

 
1 year

 
2 years


The table below reflects the sensitivity of Ameren’s plans to potential changes in key assumptions:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
  
Service Cost
and Interest
Cost
 
    Projected
    Benefit
     Obligation
 
    Service Cost
    and Interest
    Cost
 
    Postretirement
      Benefit
       Obligation
0.25% decrease in discount rate
$
(2
)
 
$
109

 
$

 
$
32

0.25% increase in salary scale
2

 
17

 

 

1.00% increase in annual medical trend

 

 
2

 
40

1.00% decrease in annual medical trend

 

 
(2
)
 
(37
)

Other
Ameren sponsors a 401(k) plan for eligible employees. The Ameren 401(k) plan covered all eligible employees at December 31, 2013. The plan allowed employees to contribute a portion of their compensation in accordance with specific guidelines. Ameren matched a percentage of the employee contributions up to certain limits. The following table presents the portion of the matching contribution to the Ameren 401(k) plan attributable to the continuing operations for each of the Ameren Companies for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Ameren Missouri
$
16

 
$
16

 
$
16

Ameren Illinois
10

 
9

 
8

Other
1

 
1

 
1

Ameren(a)
27

 
26

 
25

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrant and nonregistrant subsidiaries.