Note 19. Employee Benefit Plans

Dominion Energy

The components of Dominion Energy's provision for net periodic benefit cost (credit) were as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
(millions)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Service cost	$	39		$	35		$	7		$	7
Interest cost		84			86			14			16
Expected return on plan assets		(165	)		(159	)		(36	)		(32	)
Amortization of prior service credit		—			—			(13	)		(12	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		48			40			3			3
Settlements		—			1			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)⁽¹⁾	$	6		$	3		$	(25	)	$	(18	)

(1)

The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than the service cost component are included in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Employer Contributions

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Dominion Energy made no contributions to its defined benefit pension plans or other postretirement benefit plans. Dominion Energy expects to contribute approximately $12 million to its other postretirement benefit plans through VEBAs during the remainder of 2018.

Dominion Energy Gas

Dominion Energy Gas participates in certain Dominion Energy benefit plans as described in Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Companies' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. See Note 18 for more information.

The components of Dominion Energy Gas' provision for net periodic benefit cost (credit) for employees represented by collective bargaining units were as follows:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
(millions)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Service cost	$	4		$	4		$	1		$	1
Interest cost		7			7			3			3
Expected return on plan assets		(37	)		(35	)		(8	)		(6	)
Amortization of prior service credit		—			—			(1	)		—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		5			4			1			1
Net periodic benefit credit⁽¹⁾	$	(21	)	$	(20	)	$	(4	)	$	(1	)

(1)

The components of net periodic benefit credit other than the service cost component are included in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Employer Contributions

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Dominion Energy Gas made no contributions to its defined benefit pension plans or other postretirement benefit plans. Dominion Energy Gas expects to contribute approximately $12 million to its other postretirement benefit plans through VEBAs, for both employees represented by collective bargaining units and employees not represented by collective bargaining units, during the remainder of 2018.