Retirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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 September 30, 2013, the plan’s estimated investment performance through September 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 $475 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 nine months ended September 30, 2013, and 2012:

	Pension Benefits (a)												Postretirement Benefits (a)
	Three Months						Nine Months						Three Months						Nine Months
	2013			2012			2013			2012			2013			2012			2013			2012
Service cost	$	23		$	20		$	69		$	61		$	6		$	5		$	17		$	16
Interest cost	40			42			121			125			11			12			34			36
Expected return on plan assets	(54		)	(52		)	(162		)	(156		)	(16		)	(14		)	(47		)	(42		)
Amortization of:
Transition obligation	—			—			—			—			—			1			—			1
Prior service cost (benefit)	(1		)	(1		)	(3		)	(3		)	(1		)	(1		)	(3		)	(3		)
Actuarial loss	23			19			69			56			2			1			6			3
Net periodic benefit cost	$	31		$	28		$	94		$	83		$	2		$	4		$	7		$	11

(a) Excludes the EEI plans as they are included in discontinued operations.

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 incurred for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and 2012:

	Pension Costs								Postretirement Costs
	Three Months				Nine Months				Three Months				Nine Months
	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
Ameren Missouri	$	18	$	16	$	54	$	48	$	2	$	2	$	7	$	7
Ameren Illinois	10		9		31		27		(b)		1		(b)		3
Other	3		3		9		8		(b)		1		(b)		1
Ameren(a)	$	31	$	28	$	94	$	83	$	2	$	4	$	7	$	11

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

(b) Less than $1 million.