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Retirement Benefits
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Ameren’s pension and postretirement 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 June 30, 2013, the plan’s estimated investment performance through June 30, 2013, and Ameren’s pension funding policy, Ameren expects to make annual contributions of $50 million to $150 million in each of the next five years, with aggregate estimated contributions of $500 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. Our policy for postretirement benefits is primarily to fund the voluntary employee’s beneficiary association trusts to match the annual postretirement expense.
The following table presents the components of the net periodic benefit cost for Ameren’s pension and postretirement benefit plans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012:
  
Pension Benefits (a)
 
Postretirement Benefits (a)
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Service cost
$
22

 
$
20

 
$
46

 
$
41

 
$
5

 
$
5

 
$
11

 
$
11

Interest cost
41

 
41

 
81

 
83

 
11

 
11

 
23

 
24

Expected return on plan assets
(54
)
 
(52
)
 
(108
)
 
(104
)
 
(15
)
 
(14
)
 
(31
)
 
(28
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost (benefit)
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Actuarial loss
24

 
18

 
46

 
37

 
2

 
(1
)
 
4

 
2

Net periodic benefit cost
$
32

 
$
26

 
$
63

 
$
55

 
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
5

 
$
7

(a)
Excludes the EEI plans as they are included in discontinued operations.
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are responsible for their share of the pension and postretirement costs. The following table presents the pension costs and the postretirement benefit costs incurred for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012:
  
Pension Costs
 
Postretirement Costs
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
  
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Ameren Missouri
$
18

 
$
16

 
$
36

 
$
32

 
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
5

 
$
5

Ameren Illinois
11

 
8

 
21

 
18

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
2

Other
3

 
2

 
6

 
5

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

Ameren(a)
$
32

 
$
26

 
$
63

 
$
55

 
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
5

 
$
7

(a)
Includes amounts for Ameren registrants and nonregistrant subsidiaries, but excludes the EEI plans as they are included in discontinued operations.