Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Benefit Plans

Benefit Plans

Tables 10.1 and 10.2 provide the components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension, supplemental executive retirement and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

Components of net periodic benefit cost
Table	10.1
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		Pension and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans				Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
(In thousands)		2021		2020		2021		2020
Service cost		$	1,908	$	1,848	$	377	$	316
Interest cost		2,794		3,375		163		208
Expected return on plan assets		(5,229)		(5,526)		(2,216)		(1,852)
Amortization of net actuarial losses (gains)		1,403		1,580		(425)		(196)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(60)		(62)		53		13
Cost of settlements		4,732		6,520		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)		$	5,548	$	7,735	$	(2,048)	$	(1,511)

Components of net periodic benefit cost
Table	10.2
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		Pension and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans				Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
(In thousands)		2021		2020		2021		2020
Service cost		$	5,724	$	5,545	$	1,131	$	947
Interest cost		8,383		10,125		487		624
Expected return on plan assets		(15,687)		(16,579)		(6,647)		(5,556)
Amortization of net actuarial losses (gains)		4,208		4,740		(1,273)		(587)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(179)		(186)		159		38
Cost of settlements		4,732		6,520		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)		$	7,181	$	10,165	$	(6,143)	$	(4,534)

Contributions of $6.9 million have been made to our qualified pension and supplemental executive retirement plan in 2021. We recorded pension settlement accounting charges of $4.7 million and $6.5 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.