XML 40 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.1
Retirement Benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT BENEFITS RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The following table presents the components of the net periodic benefit cost (income) incurred for Ameren’s pension and postretirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Three Months
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Service cost(a)
$
27

 
$
22

 
$
4

 
$
4

Non-service cost components:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest cost
43

 
47

 
10

 
11

Expected return on plan assets
(73
)
 
(69
)
 
(20
)
 
(19
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service benefit
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Actuarial loss (gain)
14

 
6

 
(2
)
 
(4
)
Total non-service cost components(b)
$
(16
)
 
$
(16
)
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(13
)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)
$
11

 
$
6

 
$
(9
)
 
$
(9
)
(a)
Service cost, net of capitalization, is reflected in “Operating Expenses – Other operations and maintenance” on Ameren’s statement of income.
(b)
Non-service cost components are reflected in “Other Income, Net” on Ameren’s statement of income. See Note 5 – Other Income, Net for additional information.
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are responsible for their respective shares of Ameren’s pension and postretirement costs. The following table presents the respective share of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs (income) incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Three Months
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Ameren Missouri(a)
$
4

 
$
1

 
$
(1
)
 
$
(2
)
Ameren Illinois
7

 
5

 
(8
)
 
(7
)
Ameren(a)
$
11

 
$
6

 
$
(9
)
 
$
(9
)

(a)
Does 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 included in rates.
Funding
Ameren expects to make annual contributions of approximately $5 million to $45 million in each year through 2024, with aggregate estimated contributions of $115 million, based on its assumptions at March 31, 2020, its investment performance in 2020, and its pension funding policy. This is an increase from the aggregate estimated contributions of $70 million at December 31, 2019, due to year-to-date performance of Ameren’s pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets in 2020.