XML 78 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.0.814
Retirement Benefits
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Ameren’s pension plans are funded in compliance with income tax regulations and to meet federal funding or regulatory requirements. As a result, Ameren expects to fund its pension plans at a level equal to the greater of the pension expense or the legally required minimum contribution. Considering Ameren’s assumptions at September 30, 2015, the plan’s estimated investment performance through September 30, 2015, and Ameren’s pension funding policy, Ameren expects to make annual contributions of $50 million to $110 million through 2019, with aggregate estimated contributions of $350 million. These amounts are estimates which may change with actual investment performance, changes in interest rates, any pertinent changes in government regulations, and any voluntary contributions. Separately, our policy for postretirement benefits is primarily to fund the voluntary employees’ beneficiary association trusts to match the annual postretirement expense.
The following table presents the components of the net periodic benefit cost (benefit) incurred for Ameren’s pension and postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
 
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
  
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
Service cost
$
23

 
$
20

 
$
69

 
$
60

 
$
6

 
$
5

 
$
17

 
$
14

 
Interest cost
43

 
46

 
130

 
137

 
12

 
12

 
36

 
37

 
Expected return on plan assets
(62
)
 
(58
)
 
(186
)
 
(172
)
 
(17
)
 
(16
)
 
(51
)
 
(48
)
 
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service benefit
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
Actuarial loss (gain)
19

 
13

 
56

 
37

 
1

 
(2
)
 
4

 
(5
)
 
Settlement loss
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)
$
23

 
$
20

 
$
70

 
$
61

 
$
1

 
$
(3
)
 
$
3

 
$
(6
)
 

Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are responsible for their respective shares of Ameren’s pension and postretirement costs. The following table presents the pension costs and the postretirement benefit costs (benefit) incurred for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:
  
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
 
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
  
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
Ameren Missouri(a)
$
14

 
$
13

 
$
42

 
$
38

 
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
6

 
$
2

 
Ameren Illinois
9

 
7

 
28

 
22

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
(7
)
 
Other
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
Ameren(a)(b)
$
23

 
$
20

 
$
70

 
$
61

 
$
1

 
$
(3
)
 
$
3

 
$
(6
)
 

(a)
The amounts above do not include the impact of the regulatory tracking mechanism for the difference between the level of pension and postretirement benefit costs incurred by Ameren Missouri under GAAP and the level of such costs built into rates.
(b)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrants and nonregistrant subsidiaries.