Pension Benefits

Total Periodic Benefit Cost

The components of the Companies’ total periodic benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended June 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2017	2016	2017	2016
Service cost – including administrative expenses	$66	$69	$61	$65
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	148	149	139	140
Expected return on plan assets	(243)	(237)	(229)	(225)
Recognition of net actuarial loss	149	149	141	141
Recognition of prior service costs	(4)	1	(5)	—
TOTAL PERIODIC BENEFIT COST	$116	$131	$107	$121
Cost capitalized	(51)	(53)	(48)	(50)
Reconciliation to rate level	(3)	13	(5)	14
Cost charged to operating expenses	$62	$91	$54	$85



	For the Six Months Ended June 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2017	2016	2017	2016
Service cost – including administrative expenses	$132	$138	$123	$129
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	296	298	277	280
Expected return on plan assets	(484)	(474)	(459)	(449)
Recognition of net actuarial loss	297	298	282	282
Recognition of prior service costs	(9)	2	(10)	1
NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST	$232	$262	$213	$243
Cost capitalized	(94)	(106)	(88)	(99)
Reconciliation to rate level	(14)	26	(16)	26
Cost charged to operating expenses	$124	$182	$109	$170

Expected Contributions

Based on estimates as of June 30, 2017, the Companies expect to make contributions to the pension plans during 2017 of $450 million (of which $412 million is to be contributed by CECONY). The Companies’ policy is to fund the total periodic benefit cost of the qualified plan to the extent tax deductible and to also contribute to the non-qualified supplemental plans. During the first six months of 2017, the Companies contributed $283 million to the pension plans, nearly all of which was contributed by CECONY. CECONY also contributed $14 million to its external trust supplemental plans.