Other Postretirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Total Periodic Benefit Cost

The components of the Companies’ total periodic other postretirement benefit cost/(credit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2020	2019	2020	2019
Service cost	$5	$4	$4	$3
Interest cost on accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation	9	11	8	9
Expected return on plan assets	(16)	(16)	(14)	(14)
Recognition of net actuarial loss/(gain)	3	(2)	3	(2)
Recognition of prior service credit	(1)	(1)	—	—
TOTAL PERIODIC OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST/(CREDIT)	$—	$(4)	$1	$(4)
Cost capitalized	(2)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Reconciliation to rate level	2	3	—	2
Total credit recognized	$—	$(2)	$(1)	$(4)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2020	2019	2020	2019
Service cost	$16	$13	$12	$9
Interest cost on accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation	28	33	23	27
Expected return on plan assets	(49)	(49)	(41)	(41)
Recognition of net actuarial loss/(gain)	34	(6)	32	(7)
Recognition of prior service credit	(3)	(2)	(1)	(1)
TOTAL PERIODIC OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST/(CREDIT)	$26	$(11)	$25	$(13)
Cost capitalized	(7)	(6)	(5)	(4)
Reconciliation to rate level	(19)	10	(24)	6
Total credit recognized	$—	$(7)	$(4)	$(11)

For information about the presentation of the components of other postretirement benefit costs, see Note E.

Contributions

During the first nine months of 2020, the Companies contributed $3 million (all of which was made by CECONY) to the other postretirement benefit plans. The Companies' policy is to fund the total periodic benefit cost of the plans to the extent tax deductible.