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.

In late June 2019, PSEG approved a plan amendment to its qualified pension plan, effective July 1, 2019. The amendment involved the spin-off of predominantly active participants from the existing qualified pension plan into a new qualified pension plan. Benefits offered to the plan participants remain unchanged. As a result of the amendment, the existing plan’s pension benefit obligations, as well as the asset values, were remeasured as of July 1, 2019. The weighted average discount rate for the combined plans decreased from 4.41% to 3.65%. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets remains at 7.80%. Actuarial gains and losses associated with the existing plan will be amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants (as opposed to the average remaining service of active participants prior to the plan being split). Actuarial gains and losses associated with the new plan will be amortized over the average remaining service of active participants. The combined remeasured qualified pension plans’ projected benefit obligation as of July 1, 2019 was $6.4 billion.

In December 2018, PSEG amended certain provisions of its OPEB plans applicable to all current and future Medicare-eligible retirees and spouses who receive or will receive subsidized healthcare from PSEG. Effective January 1, 2021, the PSEG-sponsored Medicare-eligible plans will be replaced by a Medicare private exchange. For each Medicare-eligible retiree and spouse, PSEG will provide annual credits to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, which can be used to pay for medical, prescription drug, and dental plan premiums, as well as certain out-of-pocket costs. The amendment resulted in a $559 million reduction in PSEG’s OPEB obligation as of December 31, 2018.

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. Amounts shown do not reflect the impacts of capitalization and co-owner allocations. Only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable.




	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,
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
	Millions
Components of Net Periodic Benefit (Credits) Costs
Service Cost (included in O&M Expense)	$	33		$	32		$	2		$	4		$	90		$	97		$	7		$	13
Non-Service Components of Pension and OPEB (Credits) Costs
Interest Cost	51			52			12			16			167			156			34			49
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(108		)	(111		)	(9		)	(9		)	(301		)	(331		)	(27		)	(30		)
Amortization of Net
Prior Service Credit	(4		)	(4		)	(32		)	(1		)	(13		)	(13		)	(96		)	(1		)
Actuarial Loss	21			22			13			16			75			64			38			48
Non-Service Components of Pension and OPEB (Credits) Costs	(40		)	(41		)	(16		)	22			(72		)	(124		)	(51		)	66
Total Benefit (Credits) Costs	$	(7	)	$	(9	)	$	(14	)	$	26		$	18		$	(27	)	$	(44	)	$	79

Pension and OPEB costs for PSE&G, PSEG 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,
	2019			2018			2019			2018		2019		2018			2019			2018
	Millions
PSE&G	$	(6	)	$	(8	)	$	(14	)	$	17	$	7	$	(23	)	$	(46	)	$	51
PSEG Power	(2		)	(2		)	—			8		5		(7		)	2			24
Other	1			1			—			1		6		3			—			4
Total Benefit (Credits) Costs	$	(7	)	$	(9	)	$	(14	)	$	26	$	18	$	(27	)	$	(44	)	$	79

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, PSEG contributed its entire 2019 annual planned contribution of $10 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 5. 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 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 $14 million and $28 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, Servco completed its entire 2019 annual planned contribution into its pension plan. Servco’s pension-related revenues and costs were $20 million and $40 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were $1 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and $4 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

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.

In late June 2019, PSEG approved a plan amendment to its qualified pension plan, effective July 1, 2019. The amendment involved the spin-off of predominantly active participants from the existing qualified pension plan into a new qualified pension plan. Benefits offered to the plan participants remain unchanged. As a result of the amendment, the existing plan’s pension benefit obligations, as well as the asset values, were remeasured as of July 1, 2019. The weighted average discount rate for the combined plans decreased from 4.41% to 3.65%. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets remains at 7.80%. Actuarial gains and losses associated with the existing plan will be amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of the inactive participants (as opposed to the average remaining service of active participants prior to the plan being split). Actuarial gains and losses associated with the new plan will be amortized over the average remaining service of active participants. The combined remeasured qualified pension plans’ projected benefit obligation as of July 1, 2019 was $6.4 billion.

In December 2018, PSEG amended certain provisions of its OPEB plans applicable to all current and future Medicare-eligible retirees and spouses who receive or will receive subsidized healthcare from PSEG. Effective January 1, 2021, the PSEG-sponsored Medicare-eligible plans will be replaced by a Medicare private exchange. For each Medicare-eligible retiree and spouse, PSEG will provide annual credits to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, which can be used to pay for medical, prescription drug, and dental plan premiums, as well as certain out-of-pocket costs. The amendment resulted in a $559 million reduction in PSEG’s OPEB obligation as of December 31, 2018.

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. Amounts shown do not reflect the impacts of capitalization and co-owner allocations. Only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable.




	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,
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
	Millions
Components of Net Periodic Benefit (Credits) Costs
Service Cost (included in O&M Expense)	$	33		$	32		$	2		$	4		$	90		$	97		$	7		$	13
Non-Service Components of Pension and OPEB (Credits) Costs
Interest Cost	51			52			12			16			167			156			34			49
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(108		)	(111		)	(9		)	(9		)	(301		)	(331		)	(27		)	(30		)
Amortization of Net
Prior Service Credit	(4		)	(4		)	(32		)	(1		)	(13		)	(13		)	(96		)	(1		)
Actuarial Loss	21			22			13			16			75			64			38			48
Non-Service Components of Pension and OPEB (Credits) Costs	(40		)	(41		)	(16		)	22			(72		)	(124		)	(51		)	66
Total Benefit (Credits) Costs	$	(7	)	$	(9	)	$	(14	)	$	26		$	18		$	(27	)	$	(44	)	$	79

Pension and OPEB costs for PSE&G, PSEG 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,
	2019			2018			2019			2018		2019		2018			2019			2018
	Millions
PSE&G	$	(6	)	$	(8	)	$	(14	)	$	17	$	7	$	(23	)	$	(46	)	$	51
PSEG Power	(2		)	(2		)	—			8		5		(7		)	2			24
Other	1			1			—			1		6		3			—			4
Total Benefit (Credits) Costs	$	(7	)	$	(9	)	$	(14	)	$	26	$	18	$	(27	)	$	(44	)	$	79

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, PSEG contributed its entire 2019 annual planned contribution of $10 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 5. 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 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 $14 million and $28 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. As of September 30, 2019, Servco completed its entire 2019 annual planned contribution into its pension plan. Servco’s pension-related revenues and costs were $20 million and $40 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The OPEB-related revenues earned and costs incurred were $1 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and $4 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.