EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The following tables show the components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) (including amounts capitalized to our balance sheets) for our benefit plans:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30				Nine Months Ended September 30
(in millions)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	6.0	$	12.3	$	18.0	$	38.9
Interest cost	30.5		23.2		91.7		68.4
Expected return on plan assets	(46.8)		(51.6)		(140.6)		(156.8)
Loss on plan settlement	—		1.1		—		3.3
Amortization of prior service cost	—		0.4		0.1		1.2
Amortization of net actuarial loss	8.1		19.0		24.8		57.2
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	(2.2)	$	4.4	$	(6.0)	$	12.2

	OPEB Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30				Nine Months Ended September 30
(in millions)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	2.4	$	3.6	$	7.3	$	10.7
Interest cost	5.4		3.8		16.2		11.5
Expected return on plan assets	(13.3)		(17.2)		(39.8)		(51.7)
Amortization of prior service credit	(3.7)		(4.0)		(11.1)		(11.9)
Amortization of net actuarial gain	(3.0)		(6.2)		(9.2)		(18.5)
Net periodic benefit credit	$	(12.2)	$	(20.0)	$	(36.6)	$	(59.9)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we made contributions and payments of $11.4 million related to our pension plans and $1.6 million related to our OPEB plans. We expect to make contributions and payments of $3.2 million related to our pension plans and $0.3 million related to our OPEB plans during the remainder of 2023, dependent upon various factors affecting us, including our liquidity position and possible tax law changes.

Effective January 1, 2023, the PSCW approved escrow accounting for pension and OPEB costs. As a result, as of September 30, 2023, we recorded an $8.0 million regulatory asset for pension costs and an $11.1 million regulatory asset for OPEB costs. The above tables do not reflect any adjustments for the creation of these regulatory assets.