Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits |
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Defined Contribution Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits |
13. PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Pension Plans The pension plans of Spire consist of plans for employees at the Missouri Utilities, the employees of Spire Alabama and employees of the subsidiaries of Spire EnergySouth. The Missouri Utilities have non-contributory, defined benefit, trusteed forms of pension plans covering the majority of their employees. Plan assets consist primarily of corporate and U.S. government obligations and a growth segment consisting of exposure to equity markets, commodities, real estate and inflation-indexed securities, achieved through derivative instruments. Spire Alabama has non-contributory, defined benefit, trusteed forms of pension plans covering the majority of its employees. Qualified plan assets are comprised of mutual and commingled funds consisting of U.S. equities with varying strategies, global equities, alternative investments, and fixed income investments. The net periodic pension costs include the following components:
Other changes in plan assets and pension benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income or loss include the following:
Spire pension obligations are driven by separate plan and regulatory provisions governing Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire EnergySouth pension plans. Pursuant to the provisions of the Missouri Utilities’ and Spire Alabama’s pension plans, pension obligations may be satisfied by monthly annuities, lump-sum cash payments, or special termination benefits. Lump-sum payments are recognized as settlements (which can result in gains or losses) only if the total of such payments exceeds the sum of service and interest costs in a specific year. Special termination benefits, when offered, are also recognized as settlements which can result in gains or losses No Spire plans met the criteria for settlement recognition for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 two Spire Alabama plans and one Spire Missouri plan met the criteria for settlement recognition, requiring re-measurement of the obligation under those plans using updated census data and assumptions for discount rate and mortality. For the remeasurements, the discount rates for the Missouri plans were updated to 4.20% and 4.15% at June 30, 2018 (from 3.70% and 3.75% at September 30, 2017), and the discount rate for the Alabama plan was updated to 4.20% (from 3.65%). Lump-sum payments recognized as settlements during fiscal years 2018 and 2017 were $82.8 ($65.5 attributable to Spire Missouri and $17.3 to Spire Alabama) and $62.2 ($43.5 attributable to Spire Missouri and $18.7 to Spire Alabama), respectively. Pursuant to a MoPSC Order, the return on plan assets is based on the market-related value of plan assets implemented prospectively over a period. Gains or losses not yet includible in pension cost are amortized only to the extent that such gain or loss exceeds 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets. Such excess is amortized over the average remaining service life of active participants.Up to April 18, 2018, the recovery in rates for Spire Missouri East’s qualified pension plan was based on an annual allowance of $15.5 effective January 1, 2011. The recovery in rates for Spire Missouri West’s qualified pension plan was based on an annual allowance of approximately $9.9 effective February 20, 2010. Effective April 19, 2018, the pension cost for Spire Missouri West included in customer rates was reduced from $9.9 to $5.5 per year, the pension cost included in the Spire Missouri East customer rates was increased from $15.5 to $29.0 per year. Over an amortization period of eight years, Spire Missouri East rates also include the amortization of $173.0 of assets for pension and other postretirement benefits, and Spire Missouri West rates will be reduced by the amortization of a $26.2 net liability for pension and other postretirement benefits. These changes are discussed further in Note 15, Regulatory Matters. The difference between these amounts and pension expense as calculated pursuant to the above and that otherwise would be included in the statements of income and statements of comprehensive income is deferred as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. The following table shows the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the pension benefit obligation at September 30:
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the fair value of plan assets at September 30:
The following table sets forth the amounts recognized in the balance sheets at September 30:
Pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss not yet recognized as components of net periodic pension cost consist of:
At September 30, 2019, the following pre-tax amounts are expected to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost during fiscal 2020:
The assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension costs for Spire Missouri are as follows:
The assumptions used to calculate net periodic pension costs for Spire Alabama are as follows:
The discount rate is based on long-term, high quality bond indices at the measurement date. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the investment portfolio. Assumed projected rates of return for each asset class were selected after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns. The overall expected rate of return for the portfolio was developed based on the target allocation for each class. The assumptions used to calculate the benefit obligations are as follows:
Following are the year-end projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for plans that have a projected benefit obligation and an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
Following are the targeted and actual plan assets by category as of September 30 of each year for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama:
Spire Missouri’s investment policies are designed to maximize, to the extent possible, the funded status of the plans over time, and minimize volatility of funding and costs. The policy seeks to maximize investment returns consistent with these objectives and Spire Missouri’s tolerance for risk. The duration of plan liabilities and the impact of potential changes in asset values on the funded status are fundamental considerations in the selection of plan assets. Outside investment management specialists are utilized in each asset class. Such specialists are provided with guidelines, where appropriate, designed to ensure that the investment portfolio is managed in accordance with the policy. The policy seeks to avoid significant concentrations of risk by investing in a diversified portfolio of assets, currently including a growth (equity) component and a liability-driven (debt) component. Investments in corporate, U.S. government and agencies, and, to a lesser extent, international debt securities seek to provide duration matching with plan liabilities, and typically have investment grade ratings and reflect allocations across various entities and industries. There are also exposures to additional asset types in the target portfolio: commodities, real estate and inflation-indexed securities. For the Missouri East plan, the investment policy permits the use of derivative instruments, which may be used to achieve the desired market exposure of an index, adjust portfolio duration, or rebalance the total portfolio to the target asset allocation. The growth strategy utilizes a combination of derivative instruments and debt securities to achieve diversified exposure to equity and other markets while generating returns from the fixed-income investments and providing further duration matching with the liabilities. Performance and compliance with the guidelines is regularly monitored. The policy calls for increased allocations to debt securities as the funded status improves. Spire Alabama employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets with a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, corporate financial condition and market conditions. Spire Alabama has developed an investment strategy that focuses on asset allocation, diversification and quality guidelines. The investment goals are to obtain an adequate level of return to meet future obligations of the plans by providing above average risk-adjusted returns with a risk exposure in the mid-range of comparable funds. Investment managers are retained by Spire Alabama to manage separate pools of assets. Funds are allocated to such managers in order to achieve an appropriate, diversified, and balanced asset mix. Comparative market and peer group benchmarks are utilized to ensure that investment managers are performing satisfactorily. Spire Alabama seeks to maintain an appropriate level of diversification to minimize the risk of large losses in a single asset class. Accordingly, plan assets for the pension plans do not have a concentration of assets in a single entity, industry, country, commodity or class of investment fund. Following are expected pension benefit payments for the succeeding five fiscal years, and in aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter, for Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama:
The funding policy of Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama is to contribute an amount not less than the minimum required by government funding standards nor more than the maximum deductible amount for federal income tax purposes. Spire Missouri’s contributions to the pension plans in fiscal 2020 are anticipated to be $29.0 into the qualified trusts, and $0.6 into the non-qualified plans. Spire Alabama had $0.5 of required contributions to the qualified pension plans during 2019 and made discretionary contributions to the qualified pension plans totaling $20.1 during fiscal 2018. Spire Alabama’s contributions to the pension plans in fiscal 2020 are anticipated to be $13.8 into the qualified trusts. Other Postretirement Benefits Spire and the Utilities provide certain life insurance benefits at retirement. Spire Missouri plans provide for medical insurance after early retirement until age 65. For retirements prior to January 1, 2015, the Spire Missouri West plans provided medical insurance after retirement until death. The Spire Alabama plans provide medical insurance upon retirement until death for certain retirees depending on the type of employee and the date the employee was originally hired. Net periodic postretirement benefit costs consist of the following components:
Other changes in plan assets and postretirement benefit obligations recognized in OCI include the following:
Pursuant to a MoPSC Order, the return on plan assets is based on the market-related value of plan assets implemented prospectively over a This change is discussed further in Note 15, Regulatory Matters. The difference between these amounts and postretirement benefit cost based on the above and that otherwise would be included in the statements of income and statements of comprehensive income is deferred as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. period. Gains and losses not yet includible in postretirement benefit cost are amortized only to the extent that such gain or loss exceeds 10% of the greater of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets. Such excess is amortized over the average remaining service life of active participants. Up to April 18, 2019, the recovery in rates for Spire Missouri’s postretirement benefit plans is based on an annual allowance of $9.5 effective January 1, 2011. Effective April 19, 2019, the allowance was reduced to $8.6.The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the postretirement benefit obligation at September 30:
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the fair value of plan assets at September 30:
The following table sets forth the amounts recognized in the balance sheets at September 30:
Pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss not yet recognized as components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost consist of:
At September 30, 2019, the following pre-tax amounts are expected to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic postretirement benefit cost during fiscal 2020:
The assumptions used to calculate net periodic postretirement benefit costs for Spire Missouri are as follows:
The assumptions used to calculate net periodic postretirement benefit costs for Spire Alabama are as follows:
The discount rate is based on long-term, high quality bond indices at the measurement date. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the investment portfolio. Assumed projected rates of return for each asset class were selected after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns. The overall expected rate of return for the portfolio was developed based on the target allocation for each class. The assumptions used to calculate the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations are as follows:
The assumed medical cost trend rates at September 30 are as follows:
The following table presents the effects of an assumed 1% change in the assumed medical cost trend rate:
Following are the targeted and actual plan assets by category as of September 30 of each year for Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama:
Missouri and Alabama state laws provide for the recovery in rates of costs accrued pursuant to GAAP provided that such costs are funded through an independent, external funding mechanism. The Utilities have established Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association and Rabbi Trusts as external funding mechanisms. Their investment policies seek to maximize investment returns consistent with their tolerance for risk. Outside investment management specialists are utilized in each asset class. Such specialists are provided with guidelines, where appropriate, designed to ensure that the investment portfolio is managed in accordance with policy. Performance and compliance with the guidelines is regularly monitored. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama currently invest in mutual funds which are rebalanced periodically to the target allocation. The mutual funds are diversified across U.S. stock and bond markets, and for Spire Alabama, international stock markets. Following are expected postretirement benefit payments for the succeeding five fiscal years, and in aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter for Spire, Spire Missouri, and Spire Alabama:
The Utilities’ funding policy is to contribute amounts to the trusts equal to the periodic benefit cost calculated pursuant to GAAP as recovered in rates. For Spire Missouri, contributions to the postretirement plans in fiscal 2020 are anticipated to be $2.0 to the qualified trusts and $0.5 paid directly to participants from Spire Missouri funds. It is not anticipated that contributions will be made to the Spire Alabama postretirement plans in fiscal 2020. Other Plans Spire Services Inc. sponsors a 401(k) plan that cover substantially all employees of Spire Inc. and its subsidiaries. The plan allows employees to contribute a portion of their base pay in accordance with specific guidelines. The cost of the defined contribution plan for Spire Inc. totaled $13.8, $12.5, and $11.5 for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Spire Missouri provides a match of such contributions within specific limits. The cost of the defined contribution plan for Spire Missouri amounted to $10.0, $9.0, and $8.4 for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Spire Alabama also provides a match of employee contributions within specific limits. The cost of the defined contribution plan for Spire Alabama amounted to $3.1, $3.0, and $2.7 for fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Fair Value Measurements of Pension and Other Postretirement Plan Assets Spire The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of the Spire pension plan assets:
The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of Spire’s postretirement plan assets:
Cash and cash equivalents include money market mutual funds valued based on quoted market prices. Fair values of derivative instruments are calculated by investment managers who use valuation models that incorporate observable market inputs. Debt securities are valued based on broker/dealer quotations or by using observable market inputs. The stock and bond mutual funds are valued at the quoted market price of the identical securities. Spire Missouri The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of Spire Missouri’s pension plan assets:
The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of Spire Missouri’s postretirement plan assets:
Cash and cash equivalents include money market mutual funds valued based on quoted market prices. Fair values of derivative instruments are calculated by investment managers who use valuation models that incorporate observable market inputs. Debt securities are valued based on broker/dealer quotations or by using observable market inputs. The stock and bond mutual funds are valued at the quoted market price of the identical securities. Spire Alabama The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of Spire Alabama’s pension plan assets:
The table below categorizes the fair value measurements of Spire Alabama’s postretirement plan assets:
Cash and cash equivalents include money market mutual funds valued based on quoted market prices. Fair values of derivative instruments are calculated by investment managers who use valuation models that incorporate observable market inputs. Debt securities are valued based on broker/dealer quotations or by using observable market inputs. The stock and bond mutual funds are valued at the quoted market price of the identical securities. |