Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (OPEB)

PSEG sponsors qualified and nonqualified pension plans and OPEB plans covering PSEG’s and its participating affiliates’ current and former employees who meet certain eligibility criteria.

As of December 31, 2016, PSEG merged its three qualified defined benefit pension plans (excluding Servco plans) into one plan, thereby also merging all of the pension plans’ assets. As a result, the total net periodic benefit costs, net of amounts capitalized, decreased by approximately $12 million and $36 million for the three months and nine months, ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as compared to the 2017 amounts that would have been recognized had the plans not been merged. This is due to the amortization period for gains and losses for the merged plan resulting in lower amortization than that of the individual plans. No changes were made to the benefit formulas, vesting provisions, or to the employees covered by the plans.

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs relating to all qualified and nonqualified pension and OPEB plans on an aggregate basis for PSEG, excluding Servco.




	Pension Benefits						OPEB						Pension Benefits						OPEB
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
	Millions
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs
Service Cost	$	29		$	28		$	4		$	5		$	86		$	82		$	12		$	13
Interest Cost	51			50			15			15			153			151			47			44
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(98		)	(98		)	(8		)	(8		)	(295		)	(295		)	(25		)	(23		)
Amortization of Net
Prior Service Cost (Credit)	(5		)	(5		)	(3		)	(4		)	(14		)	(14		)	(8		)	(11		)
Actuarial Loss	24			39			13			10			73			118			38			30
Total Benefit Costs	$	1		$	14		$	21		$	18		$	3		$	42		$	64		$	53

Pension and OPEB costs for PSE&G, Power and PSEG’s other subsidiaries, excluding Servco, are detailed as follows:




	Pension Benefits					OPEB				Pension Benefits					OPEB
	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,				September 30,					September 30,
	2017			2016		2017		2016		2017			2016		2017		2016
	Millions
PSE&G	$	(1	)	$	8	$	13	$	11	$	(3	)	$	22	$	40	$	33
Power	—			3		7		6		1			11		20		17
Other	2			3		1		1		5			9		4		3
Total Benefit Costs	$	1		$	14	$	21	$	18	$	3		$	42	$	64	$	53

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, PSEG contributed its entire planned contribution for the year 2017 of $14 million into its OPEB plan.

Servco Pension and OPEB

At the direction of LIPA, Servco sponsors benefit plans that cover its current and former employees who meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the OSA, all of these and any future employee benefit costs are to be funded by LIPA. See Note 4. Variable Interest Entity. These obligations, as well as the offsetting long-term receivable, are separately presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet of PSEG.

Servco amounts are not included in any of the preceding pension and OPEB benefit cost disclosures. Pension and OPEB costs of Servco are accounted for according to the OSA. Servco recognizes expenses for contributions to its pension plan trusts and for OPEB payments made to retirees. Operating Revenues are recognized for the reimbursement of these costs. Servco’s pension-related revenues and costs were $18 million and $16 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $35 million and $28 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Servco’s pension-related costs of $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 represent its entire planned contribution for the year 2017. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were $1 million and $3 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were immaterial for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (OPEB)

PSEG sponsors qualified and nonqualified pension plans and OPEB plans covering PSEG’s and its participating affiliates’ current and former employees who meet certain eligibility criteria.

As of December 31, 2016, PSEG merged its three qualified defined benefit pension plans (excluding Servco plans) into one plan, thereby also merging all of the pension plans’ assets. As a result, the total net periodic benefit costs, net of amounts capitalized, decreased by approximately $12 million and $36 million for the three months and nine months, ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as compared to the 2017 amounts that would have been recognized had the plans not been merged. This is due to the amortization period for gains and losses for the merged plan resulting in lower amortization than that of the individual plans. No changes were made to the benefit formulas, vesting provisions, or to the employees covered by the plans.

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs relating to all qualified and nonqualified pension and OPEB plans on an aggregate basis for PSEG, excluding Servco.




	Pension Benefits						OPEB						Pension Benefits						OPEB
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
	Millions
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs
Service Cost	$	29		$	28		$	4		$	5		$	86		$	82		$	12		$	13
Interest Cost	51			50			15			15			153			151			47			44
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(98		)	(98		)	(8		)	(8		)	(295		)	(295		)	(25		)	(23		)
Amortization of Net
Prior Service Cost (Credit)	(5		)	(5		)	(3		)	(4		)	(14		)	(14		)	(8		)	(11		)
Actuarial Loss	24			39			13			10			73			118			38			30
Total Benefit Costs	$	1		$	14		$	21		$	18		$	3		$	42		$	64		$	53

Pension and OPEB costs for PSE&G, Power and PSEG’s other subsidiaries, excluding Servco, are detailed as follows:




	Pension Benefits					OPEB				Pension Benefits					OPEB
	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,				September 30,					September 30,
	2017			2016		2017		2016		2017			2016		2017		2016
	Millions
PSE&G	$	(1	)	$	8	$	13	$	11	$	(3	)	$	22	$	40	$	33
Power	—			3		7		6		1			11		20		17
Other	2			3		1		1		5			9		4		3
Total Benefit Costs	$	1		$	14	$	21	$	18	$	3		$	42	$	64	$	53

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, PSEG contributed its entire planned contribution for the year 2017 of $14 million into its OPEB plan.

Servco Pension and OPEB

At the direction of LIPA, Servco sponsors benefit plans that cover its current and former employees who meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the OSA, all of these and any future employee benefit costs are to be funded by LIPA. See Note 4. Variable Interest Entity. These obligations, as well as the offsetting long-term receivable, are separately presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet of PSEG.

Servco amounts are not included in any of the preceding pension and OPEB benefit cost disclosures. Pension and OPEB costs of Servco are accounted for according to the OSA. Servco recognizes expenses for contributions to its pension plan trusts and for OPEB payments made to retirees. Operating Revenues are recognized for the reimbursement of these costs. Servco’s pension-related revenues and costs were $18 million and $16 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $35 million and $28 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Servco’s pension-related costs of $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 represent its entire planned contribution for the year 2017. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were $1 million and $3 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were immaterial for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016.