Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

PNMR and its subsidiaries maintain qualified defined benefit pension plans, postretirement benefit plans providing medical and dental benefits, and executive retirement programs (collectively, the “PNM Plans” and “TNMP Plans”). PNMR maintains the legal obligation for the benefits owed to participants under these plans.

Additional information concerning pension and OPEB plans is contained in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2016 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Annual net periodic benefit cost for the plans is actuarially determined using the methods and assumptions set forth in that note and is recognized ratably throughout the year. See New Accounting Pronouncements in Note 1.

PNM Plans

The following tables present the components of the PNM Plans’ net periodic benefit cost:



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Plan						OPEB Plan						Executive Retirement Program
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017		2016
	(In thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	24		$	35		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	6,727			7,577			1,006			1,087			174		203
Expected return on plan assets	(8,451		)	(8,854		)	(1,308		)	(1,371		)	—		—
Amortization of net (gain) loss	4,001			3,455			921			286			78		64
Amortization of prior service cost	(241		)	(241		)	(416		)	(7		)	—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,036		$	1,937		$	227		$	30		$	252	$	267



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Plan						OPEB Plan						Executive Retirement Program
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017		2016
	(In thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	72		$	105		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	20,181			22,731			3,019			3,260			523		609
Expected return on plan assets	(25,352		)	(26,562		)	(3,923		)	(4,113		)	—		—
Amortization of net (gain) loss	12,004			10,365			2,762			858			235		192
Amortization of prior service cost	(724		)	(724		)	(1,248		)	(22		)	—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,109		$	5,810		$	682		$	88		$	758	$	801

PNM did not make any contributions to its pension plan trust in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and does not anticipate making any contributions to the pension plan in 2017-2021, based on current law, including recent amendments to funding requirements, and estimates of portfolio performance. The funding assumptions were developed using discount rates of 4.1% to 4.9%. Actual amounts to be funded in the future will be dependent on the actuarial assumptions at that time, including the appropriate discount rate. PNM may make additional contributions at its discretion. PNM made no contributions to the OPEB trust in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and $0.8 million and $2.4 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. PNM does not expect to make any contributions to the OPEB trust in 2017-2021. Disbursements under the executive retirement program, which are funded by PNM and considered to be contributions to the plan, were $0.4 million and $1.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and $0.4 million and $1.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and are expected to total $1.5 million during 2017 and $5.8 million for 2018-2021.

TNMP Plans

The following tables present the components of the TNMP Plans’ net periodic benefit cost:



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Plan						OPEB Plan						Executive Retirement Program
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017		2016
	(In thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	36		$	46		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	722			826			139			169			8		10
Expected return on plan assets	(945		)	(986		)	(114		)	(122		)	—		—
Amortization of net (gain) loss	231			175			(20		)	(10		)	2		1
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			—			—			—		—
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	8		$	15		$	41		$	83		$	10	$	11



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Plan						OPEB Plan						Executive Retirement Program
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017		2016
	(In thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	107		$	139		$	—	$	—
Interest cost	2,165			2,478			417			508			25		30
Expected return on plan assets	(2,834		)	(2,957		)	(342		)	(367		)	—		—
Amortization of net (gain) loss	692			525			(60		)	(30		)	7		1
Amortization of prior service cost	—			—			—			—			—		—
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	23		$	46		$	122		$	250		$	32	$	31

TNMP did not make any contributions to its pension plan trust in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and does not anticipate making any contributions in 2017-2021, based on current law, including recent amendments to funding requirements, and estimates of portfolio performance. The funding assumptions were developed using discount rates of 4.1% to 4.9%. Actual amounts to be funded in the future will depend on the actuarial assumptions at that time, including the appropriate discount rate. TNMP may make additional contributions at its discretion. TNMP made contributions of none and $0.7 million to the OPEB trust in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and no contribution in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. TNMP does not expect to make any additional contributions to the OPEB trust in 2017 and expects to make contributions totaling $1.4 million for 2018-2021. Disbursements under the executive retirement program, which are funded by TNMP and considered to be contributions to the plan, were less than $0.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and are expected to total $0.1 million during 2017 and $0.4 million in 2018-2021.