XML 151 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.6.0.2
Retirement Benefits (All Registrants)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Retirement Benefits (All Registrants)
(All Registrants)
 
As of December 31, 2016, Exelon sponsored defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for essentially all employees.

Effective March 23, 2016, Exelon became the sponsor of all of PHI's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and assumed PHI's benefit plan obligations and related assets. As a result, PHI's benefit plan net obligation and related regulatory assets were transferred to Exelon and remeasured at the merger date using current assumptions, including discount rates.
 

The table below shows the pension and other postretirement benefit plans in which employees of each operating company participated at December 31, 2016.

 
 
Operating Company(e)
Name of Plan:
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
BSC
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
Qualified Pension Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Retirement Program(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Cash Balance Pension Plan(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Pension Plan for Bargaining
Unit Employees(a)
 
X
  
X
  
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon New England Union Employees Pension
Plan(a)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Employee Pension Plan for Clinton, TMI
and Oyster Creek(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension Plan of Constellation Energy Group, Inc.(b)
 
X
  
X
 
X
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension Plan of Constellation Energy Nuclear
   Group, LLC(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Mile Point Pension Plan(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Mystic Power, LLC Union Employees
Pension Plan Including Plan A and Plan B(b)

 
X
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pepco Holdings LLC Retirement Plan(d)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Non-Qualified Pension Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Supplemental Pension Benefit
Plan and 2000 Excess Benefit Plan(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Supplemental Management
Retirement Plan(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Senior Executive
Supplemental Plan(b)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Supplemental
Pension Plan(b)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Benefits
Restoration Plan(b)
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Nuclear Plan, LLC Executive
   Retirement Plan(c) 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Nuclear Plan, LLC Benefits
   Restoration Plan(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baltimore Gas & Electric Company Executive
Benefit Plan(b)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baltimore Gas & Electric Company Manager
Benefit Plan(b)

 
X
  
X
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pepco Holdings LLC 2011 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan(d)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Conectiv Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (d)

 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
X
 
X
Pepco Holdings LLC Combined Executive Retirement Plan (d)

 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
Atlantic City Electric Director Retirement Plan (d)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
Operating Company(e)
Name of Plan:
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
BSC
 
PHI
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PECO Energy Company Retiree Medical Plan(a)
 
X
  
X
 
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Health Care Program(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Employees’ Life Insurance
Plan(a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon Corporation Health Reimbursement
Arrangement Plan
 (a)
 
X
  
X
  
X
  
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Retiree Medical
Plan(b)
 
X
  
X
 
X
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Retiree Dental
Plan(b)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Employee Life
Insurance Plan and Family Life Insurance Plan(b)
 
X
  
X
 
X
 
X
  
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Constellation Mystic Power, LLC
Post-Employment Medical Account Savings
Plan(b)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exelon New England Union Post-Employment
Medical Savings Account Plan(a)
 
X
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retiree Medical Plan of Constellation Energy
   Nuclear Group LLC(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retiree Dental Plan of Constellation Energy
   Nuclear Group LLC(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC Medical Care and Prescription Drug Plan for Retired
   Employees(c)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pepco Holdings LLC Welfare Plan for Retirees(d)
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
______________________
(a)
These plans are collectively referred to as the legacy Exelon plans.
(b)
These plans are collectively referred to as the legacy Constellation Energy Group (CEG) Plans.
(c)
These plans are collectively referred to as the legacy CENG plans.
(d)
These plans are collectively referred to as the legacy PHI plans.
(e)
Employees generally remain in their legacy benefit plans when transferring between operating companies.

Exelon’s traditional and cash balance pension plans are intended to be tax-qualified defined benefit plans. Substantially all non-union employees and electing union employees hired on or after January 1, 2001 participate in cash balance pension plans. Effective January 1, 2009, substantially all newly-hired union-represented employees participate in cash balance pension plans. Exelon has elected that the trusts underlying these plans be treated as qualified trusts under the IRC. If certain conditions are met, Exelon can deduct payments made to the qualified trusts, subject to certain IRC limitations.
 
Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status
 
Exelon recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and OPEB plans as an asset or liability on its balance sheet, with offsetting entries to AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities), in accordance with the applicable authoritative guidance. The measurement date for the plans is December 31.
 
During the first quarter of 2016, Exelon received an updated valuation of its legacy Exelon, CEG and CENG pension and other postretirement benefit obligations to reflect actual census data as of January 1, 2016. This valuation resulted in an increase to the pension obligation of $35 million and a decrease to the other postretirement benefit obligation of $8 million. Additionally, accumulated other comprehensive loss increased by approximately $2 million (after tax), regulatory assets increased by approximately $27 million, and regulatory liabilities increased by approximately $3 million.

The legacy PHI pension and other postretirement benefit plans were initially remeasured on February 29, 2016 as a result of the short time between the merger close and the end of the first quarter of 2016, using current assumptions, including the discount rate.  Exelon updated these amounts in the second quarter of 2016 to reflect assumptions at March 31, 2016 resulting in a $25 million reduction in the net obligation.


The following tables provide a rollforward of the changes in the benefit obligations and plan assets for the most recent two years for all plans combined:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Exelon
2016(b)
 
2015
 
2016(b)
 
2015
Change in benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
17,753

 
$
18,256

 
$
3,938

 
$
4,197

Service cost
354


326


107


119

Interest cost
830


710


185


167

Plan participants’ contributions

 

 
54

 
42

Actuarial (gain) loss
567

 
(582
)
 
(136
)
 
(341
)
Plan amendments
(60
)
 

 

 
(23
)
Acquisitions/divestitures(a)
2,667

 

 
589

 

Settlements


(34
)




Gross benefits paid
(1,051
)

(923
)

(280
)

(223
)
Net benefit obligation at end of year
$
21,060

 
$
17,753

 
$
4,457

 
$
3,938

 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Exelon
2016(b)
 
2015
 
2016(b)
 
2015
Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of net plan assets at beginning of year
$
14,347

 
$
14,874

 
$
2,293

 
$
2,430

Actual return on plan assets
1,061

 
(32
)
 
128

 
4

Employer contributions
347


462


50


40

Plan participants’ contributions

 

 
54

 
42

Gross benefits paid
(1,051
)

(923
)

(280
)

(223
)
Acquisitions/divestitures(a)
2,087

 

 
333

 

Settlements


(34
)




Fair value of net plan assets at end of year
$
16,791

 
$
14,347

 
$
2,578

 
$
2,293


 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
Change in benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net benefit obligation at beginning of the period
$
2,490

 
$
2,638

 
$
563

 
$
632

Service cost
12

 
57

 
1

 
7

Interest cost
26

 
109

 
6

 
24

Actuarial (gain) loss
(30
)
 
(151
)
 
(5
)
 
(61
)
Gross benefits paid
(2
)
 
(163
)
 
(1
)
 
(39
)
Net benefit obligation at end of the period
$
2,496

 
$
2,490

 
$
564

 
$
563


 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of net plan assets at beginning of the period
$
2,018

 
$
2,236

 
$
348

 
$
367

Actual return on plan assets

 
(61
)
 

 
1

Employer and plan participant contributions
4

 
6

 
1

 
5

Gross benefits paid by plan
(2
)
 
(163
)
 
(1
)
 
(25
)
Fair value of net plan assets at end of the period
$
2,020

 
$
2,018

 
$
348

 
$
348

____________________ 
(a)
Effective March 23, 2016, Exelon became the sponsor of PHI's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans.
(b)
2016 amounts include PHI for the period of March 24, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

Exelon and PHI present their benefit obligations and plan assets net on their balance sheet within the following line items:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Exelon
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2016(a)
 
2015
Other current liabilities
$
21

 
$
21

 
$
31

 
$
27

Pension obligations
4,248


3,385





Non-pension postretirement benefit obligations

 

 
1,848


1,618

Unfunded status (net benefit obligation less plan
assets)
$
4,269


$
3,406


$
1,879


$
1,645


 
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
 
 
Predecessor
 
Predecessor
PHI
 
2015
 
2015
Other current liabilities
 
$
6

 
$

Pension obligations
 
466

 

Non-pension postretirement benefit obligations
 

 
215

Unfunded status (net benefit obligation less plan assets)
 
$
472

 
$
215


____________________ 
(a)
Effective March 23, 2016, Exelon became the sponsor of PHI's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and assumed PHI's benefit plan obligations and related assets.

The funded status of the pension and other postretirement benefit obligations refers to the difference between plan assets and estimated obligations of the plan. The funded status changes over time due to several factors, including contribution levels, assumed discount rates and actual returns on plan assets.
 
The following tables provide the projected benefit obligations (PBO), accumulated benefit obligation (ABO), and fair value of plan assets for all pension plans with a PBO or ABO in excess of plan assets.
 
PBO in excess of plan assets
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
2016
 
2015
 
2015
Projected benefit obligation
$
21,060

 
$
17,753

 
$
2,490

Fair value of net plan assets
16,791

 
14,347

 
2,018

 

ABO in excess of plan assets
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
2016
 
2015
 
2015
Projected benefit obligation
$
21,060

 
$
17,753

 
$
2,490

Accumulated benefit obligation
19,930

 
16,792

 
2,275

Fair value of net plan assets
16,791

 
14,347

 
2,018



On a PBO basis, the Exelon plans were funded at 80% and 81% at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and the PHI plans were funded at 81% at December 31, 2015. On an ABO basis, the Exelon plans were funded at 84% and 85% at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and the PHI plans were funded at 89% at December 31, 2015. The ABO differs from the PBO in that the ABO includes no assumption about future compensation levels.
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

The majority of the 2016 pension benefit cost for the legacy Exelon, CEG and CENG plans is calculated using an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 7.00% and a discount rate of 4.29%. The majority of the 2016 other postretirement benefit cost for the legacy Exelon, CEG and CENG plans is calculated using an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.71% for funded plans and a discount rate of 4.29%. The majority of the 2016 pension benefit cost of the legacy PHI plans is calculated using an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.50% and a discount rate of 3.96%. The 2016 other postretirement benefit cost for the legacy PHI plan is calculated using an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.75% and a discount rate of 3.80%.

A portion of the net periodic benefit cost for all pension and OPEB plans is capitalized within each of the Registrants' Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following tables present the components of Exelon’s net periodic benefit costs, prior to any capitalization, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the components of PHI's predecessor net periodic benefit costs, prior to any capitalization, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the period January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016.

 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Exelon
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2014
Components of net periodic
benefit cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
354


$
326


$
293


$
107


$
119


$
117

Interest cost
830


710


749


185


167


186

Expected return on assets
(1,141
)
 
(1,026
)
 
(994
)
 
(162
)
 
(151
)
 
(154
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost (credit)
14

 
13

 
14

 
(185
)
 
(174
)
 
(122
)
Actuarial loss
554

 
571

 
420

 
63

 
80

 
50

Settlement and other charges(b)
2

 
2

 
2

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost
$
613

 
$
596

 
$
484

 
$
8

 
$
41

 
$
77


_______________________ 
(a)
2016 amounts include PHI for the period of March 24, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
(b)
2016 amount includes an additional termination benefit for PHI.

 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
12

 
$
57

 
$
44

 
$
1

 
$
7

 
$
7

Interest cost
26

 
109

 
109

 
6

 
24

 
26

Expected return on assets
(30
)
 
(140
)
 
(141
)
 
(5
)
 
(22
)
 
(24
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost (credit)

 
2

 
2

 
(3
)
 
(13
)
 
(13
)
Actuarial loss
14

 
65

 
45

 
2

 
8

 
3

Net periodic benefit cost
$
22

 
$
93

 
$
59

 
$
1

 
$
4

 
$
(1
)


 Components of AOCI and Regulatory Assets
 
Under the authoritative guidance for regulatory accounting, a portion of current year actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs (credits) is capitalized within Exelon’s Consolidated Balance Sheets to reflect the expected regulatory recovery of these amounts, which would otherwise be recorded to AOCI. The following tables provide the components of AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 for all plans combined and the components of PHI's predecessor AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the period January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016.
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Exelon
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2014
Changes in plan assets and benefit
obligations recognized in AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current year actuarial loss (gain)
$
644

 
$
476

 
$
1,639

 
$
(101
)
 
$
(194
)
 
$
561

Amortization of actuarial loss
(554
)
 
(571
)
 
(420
)
 
(63
)
 
(80
)
 
(50
)
Current year prior service (credit) cost
(60
)
 

 

 

 
(23
)
 
(1,012
)
Amortization of prior service (cost)
credit
(14
)
 
(13
)
 
(14
)
 
185

 
174

 
122

Settlements

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 

 

 

Acquisitions
994

 

 

 
94

 

 

Total recognized in AOCI and
regulatory assets (liabilities)
$
1,010


$
(110
)
 
$
1,203

 
$
115


$
(123
)
 
$
(379
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total recognized in AOCI
$
51

 
$
(64
)
 
$
788

 
$
20

 
$
(63
)
 
$
(162
)
Total recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities)
$
959

 
$
(46
)
 
$
415

 
$
95

 
$
(60
)
 
$
(217
)

 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Changes in plan assets and benefit
obligations recognized in AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current year actuarial loss (gain)
$

 
$
50

 
$
276

 
$

 
$
(39
)
 
$
62

Amortization of actuarial loss
(14
)
 
(65
)
 
(45
)
 
(2
)
 
(8
)
 
(3
)
Amortization of prior service (cost) credit

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
3

 
13

 
13

Total recognized in AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities) 
$
(14
)
 
$
(17
)
 
$
229

 
$
1

 
$
(34
)
 
$
72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total recognized in AOCI
$
(1
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
17

 
$

 
$

 
$

Total recognized in regulatory assets (liabilities)
$
(13
)
 
$
(6
)
 
$
212

 
$
1

 
$
(34
)
 
$
72


_______________________ 
(a)
2016 amounts include PHI for the period of March 24, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

The following table provides the components of gross accumulated other comprehensive loss and regulatory assets (liabilities) that have not been recognized as components of periodic benefit cost at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for all plans combined:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
 
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2015
 
2016(a)
 
2015
 
2015
Prior service cost (credit)
$
(31
)

$
36

 
$
6

 
$
(710
)
 
$
(812
)
 
$
(88
)
Actuarial loss
8,387

 
7,310

 
910

 
724

 
711

 
128

Total (a)
$
8,356

 
$
7,346

 
$
916

 
$
14

 
$
(101
)
 
$
40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total included in AOCI
$
4,297

 
$
4,246

 
$
46

 
$
(42
)
 
$
(63
)
 
$

Total included in regulatory assets (liabilities)
$
4,059

 
$
3,100

 
$
870

 
$
56

 
$
(38
)
 
$
40

______________________
(a)
Effective March 23, 2016, Exelon became the sponsor of PHI's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and assumed PHI's benefit plan obligations and related assets.

The following table provides the impact to Exelon’s AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2016 as a result of the components of periodic benefit costs that are expected to be amortized in 2017. These estimates are subject to the completion of an actuarial valuation of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, which will reflect actual census data as of January 1, 2017 and actual claims activity as of December 31, 2016. The valuation is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017 for the majority of the benefit plans.
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Prior service cost (credit)
$
1

 
$
(188
)
Actuarial loss
605

 
55

Total (a)
$
606


$
(133
)
___________________ 
(a)
Of the $606 million related to pension benefits at December 31, 2016, $297 million and $309 million are expected to be amortized from AOCI and regulatory assets in 2017, respectively. Of the $(133) million related to other postretirement benefits at December 31, 2016, $(70) million and $(63) million are expected to be amortized from AOCI and regulatory assets (liabilities) in 2017, respectively.

Assumptions
 
The measurement of the plan obligations and costs of providing benefits under Exelon’s defined benefit and other postretirement plans involves various factors, including the development of valuation assumptions and inputs and accounting policy elections. The measurement of benefit obligations and costs is impacted by several assumptions and inputs, including the discount rate applied to benefit obligations, the long-term EROA, Exelon’s expected level of contributions to the plans, the long-term expected investment rate credited to employees participating in cash balance plans and the anticipated rate of increase of health care costs. Additionally, assumptions related to plan participants include the incidence of mortality, the expected remaining service period, the level of compensation and rate of compensation increases, employee age and length of service, among other factors. When developing the required assumptions, Exelon considers historical information as well as future expectations.

Expected Rate of Return. In selecting the EROA, Exelon considers historical economic indicators (including inflation and GDP growth) that impact asset returns, as well as expectations regarding future long-term capital market performance, weighted by Exelon’s target asset class allocations.

Mortality. For the December 31, 2014 actuarial valuation, Exelon changed its assumption of mortality to reflect more recent expectations of future improvements in life expectancy. The change was supported through completion of an experience study and supplemental analyses performed by Exelon's actuaries. The change in assumption resulted in increases of $361 million and $117 million in the pension and other postretirement benefits obligations as of December 31, 2014, respectively. There were no changes to the mortality assumption in 2015 or 2016.

The following assumptions were used to determine the benefit obligations for the plans at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Assumptions used to determine year-end benefit obligations are the assumptions used to estimate the subsequent year’s net periodic benefit costs.

 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Exelon
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
Discount rate
4.04
%
(a)  
4.29
%
(b)  
3.94
%
(c) 
4.04
%
(a)  
4.29
%
(b)  
3.92
%
(c) 
Rate of compensation increase
    
(d) 
    
(d)  
 
(d)  
    
(d)  
    
(d)  
 
(d)  
Mortality table
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
 
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
 
Health care cost trend on covered charges
N/A
  
N/A
  
N/A
 
5.50% with
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
5.50%
decreasing
to
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
6.00%
decreasing
to
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
 
 
Predecessor
 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016 (e)
 
2015
 
2014
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016 (e)
 
2015
 
2014
Discount rate
 
 
4.65%/4.55%

(f) 
4.20
%
 
 
 
4.55
%
 
4.15
%
Rate of compensation
increase
 
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
 
 
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
Mortality table
 
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2015
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2014
 
 
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2015
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2014
Health care cost trend on covered charges
 
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
 
 
6.33% pre-65 and 5.40% post-65
decreasing to ultimate trend of
5.00% in 2020
 
6.67% pre-65 and 5.50% post-65
decreasing to ultimate trend of
5.00% in 2020
_____________________________
(a)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to determine the majority of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefits obligations as of December 31, 2016. Certain benefit plans used individual rates ranging from 3.66% - 4.11% and 4.00% - 4.17% for pension and other postretirement plans, respectively.
(b)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to determine the majority of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefits obligations as of December 31, 2015. Certain benefit plans used individual rates ranging from 3.68% - 4.14% and 4.32% - 4.43% for pension and other postretirement plans, respectively.
(c)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to determine the majority of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefits obligations as of December 31, 2014. Certain benefit plans used individual rates ranging from 3.29% - 3.82% and 3.99% - 4.06% for pension and other postretirement plans, respectively.
(d)
The legacy Exelon, CEG and CENG pension and other postretirement plans used a rate of compensation increase of 3.25% through 2019 and 3.75% thereafter, while the legacy PHI pension and other postretirement plans used a weighted-average rate of compensation increase of 5% for all periods.
(e)
Obligation was not remeasured during this period.
(f)
The discount rate for the qualified and nonqualified pension plans was 4.65% and 4.55%, respectively.

The following assumptions were used to determine the net periodic benefit costs for the plans for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, as well as for the PHI predecessor period January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Exelon
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
Discount rate
4.29
%
(a) 
3.94
%
(b) 
4.80
%
(c)  
4.29
%
(a) 
3.92
%
(b) 
4.90
%
(c)  
Expected return on plan assets
7.00
%
(d) 
7.00
%
(d) 
7.00
%
(d) 
6.71
%
(d) 
6.50
%
(d) 
6.59
%
(d) 
Rate of compensation increase
    


(e) 
 
 

(e)  
 

(f) 
 
    


(e)  
 

(e) 
 
 

(f) 
 
Mortality table
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table with Scale AA improvements
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table projected to 2012 with improvement scale AA, with Scale BB-2D improvements (adjusted)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
RP-2000 table with Scale AA improvements
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Health care cost trend on covered charges
N/A
  
N/A
  
N/A
  
5.50%
decreasing
to
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
6.00%
decreasing
to
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
6.00%
decreasing
to
ultimate
trend of
5.00% in
2017
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 
Predecessor
 
Predecessor
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
PHI
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
2015
 
2014
Discount rate
4.65%/4.55%

(h)
4.20
%
 
5.05
%
 
4.55
%
 
4.15
%
 
5.00
%
Expected return on plan assets(g)
6.50
%
 
6.50
%
 
7.00
%
 
6.75
%
 
6.75
%
 
7.25
%
Rate of compensation
increase
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
 
5.00
%
Mortality table
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2015

 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2014
 
2014 Mortality tables prescribed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2015
 
RP-2014 table with improvement scale MP-2014
 
2014 Mortality tables prescribed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006
Health care cost trend on covered charges
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
6.33% pre-65 and 5.40% post-65
decreasing to ultimate trend of
5.00% in 2020

 
6.67% pre-65 and 5.50% post-65
decreasing to ultimate trend of
5.00% in 2020
 
7.00% pre-65 and 5.60% post-65
decreasing to ultimate trend of
5.00% in 2020
___________________________
(a)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to establish the majority of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefits costs for the year ended December 31, 2016. Certain benefit plans used individual rates ranging from 3.68%-4.14% and 4.32%-4.43% for pension and other postretirement plans, respectively.
(b)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to establish the majority of Exelon's pension and other postretirement benefits costs for the year ended December 31, 2015. Certain benefit plans used individual rates ranging from 3.29%-3.82% and 3.99%-4.06% for pension and other postretirement plans, respectively.
(c)
The discount rates above represent the blended rates used to establish the majority of Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefits costs for the year ended December 31, 2014. Certain of the other postretirement benefit plans were remeasured as of April 30, 2014 using an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 6.59% and a discount rate of 4.30%. Costs for the year ended December 31, 2014 reflect the impact of this remeasurement. On April 1, 2014, Generation assumed operational control of CENG’s nuclear fleet.  As a result, Exelon became the sponsor of CENG’s legacy pension and OPEB plans effective July 14, 2014; discount rates for those plans, impacting 2014 costs, ranged from 3.60%-4.30% and 4.09%-4.55%, respectively. See Note 5 - Investment in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC for further information.
(d)
Not applicable to pension and other postretirement benefit plans that do not have plan assets.
(e)
3.25% through 2019 and 3.75% thereafter.
(f)
3.25% through 2018 and 3.75% thereafter.
(g)
Expected return on other postretirement benefit plan assets is pre-tax.
(h)
The discount rate for the qualified and nonqualified pension plans was 4.65% and 4.55%, respectively.

Assumed health care cost trend rates impact the other postretirement benefit plan costs reported for Exelon's participant populations with plan designs that do not have a cap on cost growth. A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
 
Effect of a one percentage point increase in assumed health care cost trend:
 
on 2016 total service and interest cost components
$
9

on postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2016
105

Effect of a one percentage point decrease in assumed health care cost trend:
 
on 2016 total service and interest cost components
(8
)
on postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2016
(95
)

 

Contributions
 
The following tables provide contributions to the pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
2016(a)
 
2015(a)
 
2014(a)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Exelon
$
347


$
462


$
332


$
50


$
40


$
291

Generation
140

 
231

 
173

 
12

 
14

 
124

ComEd
33

 
143

 
122

 
5

 
7

 
125

PECO
30

 
40

 
11

 

 

 
5

BGE
31

 
1

 

 
18

 
16

 
17

BSC(b)
39

 
47

 
26

 
3

 
3

 
20

Pepco
24

 

 

 
8

 
2

 
1

DPL
22

 

 

 

 

 

ACE
15

 

 

 
2

 
3

 
3

PHISCO (c)
17

 

 

 
2

 

 


 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Successor
 
 
Predecessor
 
Successor
 
 
Predecessor
 
March 24, 2016 to December 31, 2016
 
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
March 24, 2016 to December 31, 2016
 
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
PHI
$
74

 
 
$
4

 
$

 
$

 
$
12

 
 
$

 
$
5

 
$
4

_________________________
(a)
Exelon's and Generation's pension contributions include $25 million, $36 million and $43 million related to the legacy CENG plans that was funded by CENG as provided in an Employee Matters Agreement (EMA) between Exelon and CENG for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(b)
Includes $6 million, $5 million, and $9 million of pension contributions funded by Exelon Corporate, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
(c)
PHISCO’s pension contributions for the year ended December 31, 2016 include $4 million of contributions made prior to the closing of Exelon’s merger with PHI on March 23, 2016.
Management considers various factors when making pension funding decisions, including actuarially determined minimum contribution requirements under ERISA, contributions required to avoid benefit restrictions and at-risk status as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the Act), management of the pension obligation and regulatory implications. The Act requires the attainment of certain funding levels to avoid benefit restrictions (such as an inability to pay lump sums or to accrue benefits prospectively), and at-risk status (which triggers higher minimum contribution requirements and participant notification). Additionally, the projected contribution reflects a funding strategy for the legacy Exelon, CEG and CENG plans of contributing the greater of $250 million until the qualified plans are fully funded on an ABO basis, and the minimum amounts under ERISA to avoid benefit restrictions and at-risk status. This level funding strategy helps minimize volatility of future period required pension contributions. Contributions to the PHI qualified pension plan are $60 million.
The following table provides all registrants' planned contributions to the qualified pension plans, planned benefit payments to non-qualified pension plans, and planned contributions to other postretirement plans in 2017:
 
Qualified Pension Plans(a)
 
Non-Qualified Pension Plans(b)
 
Other
Postretirement
Benefits(c)
Exelon
$
310

 
$
23

 
$
44

Generation
127

 
6

 
12

ComEd
33

 
1

 
2

PECO
23

 
1

 

BGE
38

 
2

 
16

PHI
60

 
8

 
12

Pepco
60

 
1

 
10

DPL

 

 

ACE

 

 

_____________________
(a)
Exelon's and Generation's expected qualified pension plan contributions above include $21 million related to the legacy CENG plans that will be funded by CENG as provided in an EMA between Exelon and CENG.
(b)
Unlike the qualified pension plans, Exelon’s non-qualified pension plans are not funded.
(c)
Unlike the qualified pension plans, other postretirement plans are not subject to statutory minimum contribution requirements. OPEB funding generally follows accounting costs however, Exelon’s management has historically considered several factors in determining the level of contributions to its other postretirement benefit plans, including liabilities management, levels of benefit claims paid and regulatory implications (amounts deemed prudent to meet regulatory expectations and best assure continued rate recovery). These amounts include benefit payments related to unfunded plans.
 
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
 
Estimated future benefit payments to participants in all of the pension plans and postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2016 were:
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Postretirement
Benefits
2017
$
1,360

 
$
244

2018
1,170

 
250

2019
1,191

 
256

2020
1,223

 
263

2021
1,275

 
272

2022 through 2026
6,791

 
1,456

Total estimated future benefit payments through 2026
$
13,010


$
2,741


 
Allocation to Exelon Subsidiaries
 
All registrants account for their participation in Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans by applying multi-employer accounting. Employee-related assets and liabilities, including both pension and postretirement liabilities, for the legacy Exelon plans were allocated by Exelon to its subsidiaries based on the number of active employees as of January 1, 2001 as part of Exelon’s corporate restructuring. The obligation for Generation, ComEd and PECO reflects the initial allocation and the cumulative costs incurred and contributions made since January 1, 2001. Historically, Exelon has allocated the components of pension and other postretirement costs to the subsidiaries in the legacy Exelon plans based upon several factors, including the measures of active employee participation in each plan. Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions were allocated to legacy Exelon subsidiaries in proportion to active service costs recognized and total costs recognized, respectively. Beginning in 2015, Exelon began allocating costs related to its legacy Exelon pension and other postretirement benefit plans to its subsidiaries based on both active and retired employee participation and contributions are allocated based on accounting cost. The impact of this allocation methodology change was not material to any Registrant. For legacy CEG, legacy CENG, and legacy PHI plans, components of pension and other postretirement benefit costs and contributions have been, and will continue to be, allocated to the subsidiaries based on employee participation (both active and retired).
 
The amounts below were included in capital expenditures and operating and maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for each of the entities allocated portion of the pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs. These amounts include the recognized contractual termination benefit charges, curtailment gains, and settlement charges:
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
Exelon
 
Generation
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
BSC(a)
 
Pepco
 
DPL
 
ACE
 
PHISCO(a)
2016(b)
$
621

 
$
218


$
166


$
33

 
$
68

 
$
48

 
$
31

 
$
18

 
$
15

 
$
47

2015
637

 
269


206


39

 
66

 
57

 
30

 
15

 
15

 
37

2014
561

 
250


162


36

 
67

 
46

 
22

 
7

 
13

 
16


 
Successor
 
 
Predecessor
PHI
March 24, 2016 to December 31, 2016
 
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs
$
88

 
 
$
23

 
$
97

 
$
58

_____________________
(a)
These amounts primarily represent amounts billed to Exelon’s subsidiaries through intercompany allocations. These amounts are not included in the Generation, ComEd, PECO, BGE, Pepco, DPL or ACE amounts above.
(b)
Pepco's, DPL's, ACE's and PHISCO's pension and postretirement benefit costs for the year ended December 31, 2016 include $7 million, $4 million, $3 million and $9 million, respectively, of costs incurred prior to the closing of Exelon’s merger with PHI on March 23, 2016.


Plan Assets
 
Investment Strategy. On a regular basis, Exelon evaluates its investment strategy to ensure that plan assets will be sufficient to pay plan benefits when due. As part of this ongoing evaluation, Exelon may make changes to its targeted asset allocation and investment strategy.
 
Exelon has developed and implemented a liability hedging investment strategy for its qualified pension plans that has reduced the volatility of its pension assets relative to its pension liabilities. Exelon is likely to continue to gradually increase the liability hedging portfolio as the funded status of its plans improves. The overall objective is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns that will balance the liquidity requirements of the plans’ liabilities while striving to minimize the risk of significant losses. Trust assets for Exelon’s other postretirement plans are managed in a diversified investment strategy that prioritizes maximizing liquidity and returns while minimizing asset volatility.
 
Exelon used an EROA of 7.00% and 6.60% to estimate its 2017 pension and other postretirement benefit costs, respectively.
 
Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefit plan target asset allocations at December 31, 2016 and 2015 asset allocations were as follows:
 
Pension Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
 
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
 
 
Percentage of Plan Assets
at December 31,
Asset Category
Target Allocation
 
2016
 
2015
 
2015
Equity securities
33
%
 
33
%
 
35
%
 
28
%
Fixed income securities
39
%
 
39

 
34

 
66

Alternative investments(a)
28
%
 
28

 
31

 
6

Total
 
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
    
 
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Predecessor
 
 
 
Exelon
 
PHI
 
 
 
Percentage of Plan Assets
at December 31,
Asset Category
Target Allocation
 
2016
 
2015
 
2015
Equity securities
43
%
 
47
%
 
43
%
 
63
%
Fixed income securities
28
%
 
29

 
27

 
34

Alternative investments(a)
29
%
 
24

 
30

 
3

Total
 
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
___________________
(a)
Alternative investments include private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and private credit.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. Exelon evaluated its pension and other postretirement benefit plans’ asset portfolios for the existence of significant concentrations of credit risk as of December 31, 2016. Types of concentrations that were evaluated include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, and individual fund. As of December 31, 2016, there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10% of plan assets) of risk in Exelon’s pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
The following tables present pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets measured and recorded at fair value on the Registrants' Consolidated Balance Sheets on a recurring basis and their level within the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2016 and 2015:

Exelon 
At December 31, 2016(a)(d)
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Pension plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
325

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
325

      Equities(b)
3,144

 

 
2

 
2,535

 
5,681

Fixed income:





 
 
 

U.S. Treasury and agencies
1,008

 
192

 

 

 
1,200

State and municipal debt

 
64

 

 

 
64

Corporate debt

 
3,641

 
206

 

 
3,847

Other(b)

 
340

 

 
748

 
1,088

Fixed income subtotal
1,008


4,237


206

 
748

 
6,199

Private equity

 

 

 
991

 
991

Hedge funds

 

 

 
1,962

 
1,962

Real estate

 

 

 
828

 
828

Private credit

 

 

 
833

 
833

Pension plan assets subtotal
$
4,477


$
4,237


$
208

 
$
7,897

 
$
16,819


At December 31, 2016(a)(d)
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Other postretirement benefit plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
24

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
24

Equities
547

 
2

 

 
644

 
1,193

Fixed income:





 
 
 

U.S. Treasury and agencies
9

 
59

 

 

 
68

State and municipal debt

 
134

 

 

 
134

Corporate debt

 
43

 

 

 
43

Other
256

 
60

 

 
131

 
447

Fixed income subtotal
265


296




131

 
692

Hedge funds

 

 

 
445

 
445

Real estate

 

 

 
117

 
117

Private credit

 

 

 
107

 
107

Other postretirement benefit plan assets subtotal
$
836


$
298


$

 
$
1,444


$
2,578

Total pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets(c)
$
5,313

 
$
4,535

 
$
208

 
$
9,341

 
$
19,397


At December 31, 2015(a)
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Pension plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
210

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
210

Equities(b)
3,571

 

 
2

 
1,462

 
5,035

Fixed income:


 


 


 
 
 


U.S. Treasury and agencies
1,001

 
79

 

 

 
1,080

State and municipal debt

 
61

 

 

 
61

Corporate debt

 
2,901

 
165

 

 
3,066

Other(b)

 
146

 

 
452

 
598

Fixed income subtotal
1,001


3,187


165

 
452

 
4,805

Private equity

 

 

 
924

 
924

Hedge funds

 

 

 
1,924

 
1,924

Real estate

 

 

 
725

 
725

Private credit

 

 

 
699

 
699

Pension plan assets subtotal
$
4,782


$
3,187


$
167

 
$
6,186


$
14,322

At December 31, 2015(a)
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Other postretirement benefit plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
15

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
15

Equities
510

 
2

 

 
480

 
992

Fixed income:





 
 
 

U.S. Treasury and agencies
11

 
53

 

 

 
64

State and municipal debt

 
131

 

 

 
131

Corporate debt

 
44

 

 

 
44

Other
155

 
59

 

 
146

 
360

Fixed income subtotal
166


287



 
146

 
599

Hedge funds

 

 

 
451

 
451

Real estate

 

 

 
131

 
131

Private credit

 

 

 
103

 
103

Other postretirement benefit plan assets subtotal
$
691


$
289


$

 
$
1,311

 
$
2,291

Total pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets(c)
$
5,473

 
$
3,476

 
$
167

 
$
7,497

 
$
16,613

 
Predecessor
 
December 31, 2015(a)
PHI
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Pension plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
50

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
50

      Equities
335

 

 

 
224

 
559

Fixed income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and agencies
114

 
15

 

 

 
129

State and municipal debt

 
18

 

 

 
18

Corporate debt securities

 
625

 

 

 
625

Other

 
40

 

 
504

 
544

Fixed income subtotal
114

 
698

 

 
504

 
1,316

Private equity

 

 

 
38

 
38

Real estate

 

 

 
46

 
46

Pension plan assets subtotal
$
499

 
$
698

 
$

 
$
812

 
$
2,009


 
Predecessor
 
December 31, 2015(a)
PHI
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Not subject to leveling
 
Total
Other postretirement benefit plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
8

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
8

Equities
197

 

 

 
22

 
219

Fixed income - other
121

 

 

 

 
121

Other postretirement benefit plan assets subtotal
$
326

 
$

 
$

 
$
22

 
$
348

Total pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets(e)
$
825

 
$
698

 
$

 
$
834

 
$
2,357

____________________
(a)
See Note 12Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities for a description of levels within the fair value hierarchy.
(b)
Includes derivative instruments of $1 million and $5 million, which have a total notional amount of $2,918 million and $1,774 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The notional principal amounts for these instruments provide one measure of the transaction volume outstanding as of the fiscal years ended and do not represent the amount of the company’s exposure to credit or market loss.
(c)
Excludes net liabilities of $28 million and net assets of $27 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are required to reconcile to the fair value of net plan assets. These items consist primarily of receivables related to pending securities sales, interest and dividends receivable, and payables related to pending securities purchases.
(d)
Effective March 23, 2016, Exelon became sponsor of PHI's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and assumed PHI's benefit plan obligations and related assets.
(e)
Excludes net assets of $9 million at December 31, 2015, which are required to reconcile to the fair value of net plan assets. These items consist primarily of receivables related to pending securities sales, interest and dividends receivable, and payables related to pending securities purchased.

The following table presents the reconciliation of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value for pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Exelon

 
Fixed
income
 
Equities
 
Total
Pension Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of January 1, 2016
$
165


$
2

 
$
167

Actual return on plan assets:



 


Relating to assets still held at the
reporting date
(2
)


 
(2
)
Purchases, sales and settlements:



 


Purchases
69



 
69

Sales
(14
)


 
(14
)
Settlements(a)
(12
)


 
(12
)
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
206


$
2

 
$
208



 
Fixed income
 
Equities
 
Total
Pension Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of January 1, 2015
$
120


$
2

 
$
122

Actual return on plan assets:



 


Relating to assets still held at the
reporting date
(8
)


 
(8
)
Purchases, sales and settlements:



 


Purchases
61



 
61

      Settlements(a)
(8
)


 
(8
)
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
165


$
2

 
$
167

 
 
________________________
(a)
Represents cash settlements only.

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended December 31, 2016 for the pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets.

Valuation Techniques Used to Determine Fair Value
 
Cash equivalents. Investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased, including certain short-term fixed income securities and money market funds, are considered cash equivalents. The fair values are based on observable market prices and, therefore, are included in the recurring fair value measurements hierarchy as Level 1.
 
Equities. Equities consist of individually held equity securities, equity mutual funds and equity commingled funds in domestic and foreign markets. With respect to individually held equity securities, the trustees obtain prices from pricing services, whose prices are obtained from direct feeds from market exchanges, which Exelon is able to independently corroborate. Equity securities held individually, including real estate investment trusts, rights and warrants, are primarily traded on exchanges that contain only actively traded securities due to the volume trading requirements imposed by these exchanges. Equity securities are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and are categorized as Level 1. Certain private placement equity securities are categorized as Level 3 because they are not publicly traded and are priced using significant unobservable inputs.
 
Equity commingled funds and mutual funds are maintained by investment companies that hold certain investments in accordance with a stated set of fund objectives, which are consistent with the plans’ overall investment strategy. The values of some of these funds are publicly quoted. For mutual funds which are publicly quoted, the funds are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and have been categorized as Level 1. For equity commingled funds and mutual funds which are not publicly quoted, the fund administrators value the funds using the NAV per fund share, derived from the quoted prices in active markets of the underlying securities and are not classified within the fair value hierarchy. These investments typically can be redeemed monthly with 30 or less days of notice and without further restrictions.

 
Fixed income. For fixed income securities, which consist primarily of corporate debt securities, foreign government securities, municipal bonds, asset and mortgage-backed securities, commingled funds, mutual funds and derivative instruments, the trustees obtain multiple prices from pricing vendors whenever possible, which enables cross-provider validations in addition to checks for unusual daily movements. A primary price source is identified based on asset type, class or issue for each security. With respect to individually held fixed income securities, the trustees monitor prices supplied by pricing services and may use a supplemental price source or change the primary price source of a given security if the portfolio managers challenge an assigned price and the trustees determine that another price source is considered to be preferable. Exelon has obtained an understanding of how these prices are derived, including the nature and observability of the inputs used in deriving such prices. Additionally, Exelon selectively corroborates the fair values of securities by comparison to other market-based price sources. Investments in U.S. Treasury securities have been categorized as Level 1 because they trade in highly-liquid and transparent markets. Certain private placement fixed income securities have been categorized as Level 3 because they are priced using certain significant unobservable inputs and are typically illiquid. The remaining fixed income securities, including certain other fixed income investments, are based on evaluated prices that reflect observable market information, such as actual trade information of similar securities, adjusted for observable differences and are categorized as Level 2.
 
Other fixed income investments primarily consist of fixed income commingled funds and mutual funds, which are maintained by investment companies and hold certain investments in accordance with a stated set of fund objectives, which are consistent with Exelon’s overall investment strategy. The values of some of these funds are publicly quoted. For mutual funds which are publicly quoted, the funds are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and have been categorized as Level 1. For fixed income commingled funds and mutual funds which are not publicly quoted, the fund administrators value the funds using the NAV per fund share, derived from the quoted prices in active markets of the underlying securities and are not classified within the fair value hierarchy. These investments typically can be redeemed monthly with 30 or less days of notice and without further restrictions.

Derivative instruments consisting primarily of futures and interest rate swaps to manage risk are recorded at fair value.  Over the counter derivatives are valued daily based on quoted prices in active markets and trade in open markets, and have been categorized as Level 1.  Derivative instruments other than over the counter derivatives are valued based on external price data of comparable securities and have been categorized as Level 2.

Private equity. Private equity investments include those in limited partnerships that invest in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange such as leveraged buyouts, growth capital, venture capital, distressed investments and investments in natural resources. Private equity valuations are reported by the fund manager and are based on the valuation of the underlying investments, which include unobservable inputs such as cost, operating results, discounted future cash flows and market based comparable data. The fair value of private equity investments is determined using NAV or its equivalent as a practical expedient, and therefore, these investments are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.
 
Hedge funds. Hedge fund investments include those seeking to maximize absolute returns using a broad range of strategies to enhance returns and provide additional diversification. The fair value of hedge funds is determined using NAV or its equivalent as a practical expedient, and therefore, hedge funds are not classified within the fair value hierarchy. Exelon has the ability to redeem these investments at NAV or its equivalent subject to certain restrictions which may include a lock-up period or a gate.
 
Real estate. Real estate funds are funds with a direct investment in pools of real estate properties. These funds are valued by investment managers on a periodic basis using pricing models that use independent appraisals from sources with professional qualifications. These valuation inputs are not highly observable. The fair value of real estate investments is determined using NAV or its equivalent as a practical expedient, and therefore, these investments are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.

Private credit. Private credit investments primarily consist of limited partnerships that invest in private debt strategies. These investments are generally less liquid assets with an underlying term of 3 to 5 years and are intended to be held to maturity.  The fair value of these investments is determined by the fund manager or administrator and include unobservable inputs such as cost, operating results, and discounted cash flows.  The fair value of private credit investments is determined using NAV or its equivalent as a practical expedient, and therefore, these investments are not classified within the fair value hierarchy.

 
Defined Contribution Savings Plan (All Registrants)
 
The Registrants participate in various 401(k) defined contribution savings plans that are sponsored by Exelon. The plans are qualified under applicable sections of the IRC and allow employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax and after-tax income in accordance with specified guidelines. All Registrants match a percentage of the employee contributions up to certain limits. The following table presents matching contributions to the savings plan for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
Exelon(a)
 
Generation(a)
 
ComEd
 
PECO
 
BGE
 
BSC(b)
 
Pepco(c)
 
DPL(c)
 
ACE
 
PHISCO(c)
2016
$
164

 
$
79


$
34


$
10


$
12


$
19

 
$
3

 
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
6

2015
148

 
80


32


11


14


11

 
3

 
2

 
2

 
6

2014
103

 
51


26


8


8


10

 
3

 
2

 
1

 
6


 
Successor
 
 
Predecessor
PHI
March 24, 2016 to December 31, 2016
 
 
January 1, 2016 to March 23, 2016
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Saving Plan Matching Contributions
$
10

 
 
$
3

 
$
14

 
$
13

_________________________
(a)
Includes $13 million, $9 million and $5 million related to CENG for the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and for the period from April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, respectively.
(b)
These amounts primarily represent amounts billed to Exelon’s subsidiaries through intercompany allocations. These costs are not included in the Generation, ComEd, PECO, or BGE amounts above.
(c)
Pepco's, DPL's and PHISCO's matching contributions include $1 million, $1 million and $1 million, respectively, of costs incurred prior to the closing of Exelon's merger with PHI on March 23, 2016, which is not included in Exelon's matching contributions at December 31, 2016.