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Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

Consistent with the process for rate recovery of pension and postretirement benefits for its employees, SPS accounts for its participation in, and related costs of, pension and other postretirement benefit plans sponsored by Xcel Energy Inc. as multiple employer plans. SPS is responsible for its share of cash contributions, plan costs and obligations and is entitled to its share of plan assets; accordingly, SPS accounts for its pro rata share of these plans, including pension expense and contributions, resulting in accounting consistent with that of a single employer plan exclusively for SPS employees.

Xcel Energy, which includes SPS, offers various benefit plans to its employees. Approximately 67 percent of employees that receive benefits are represented by several local labor unions under several collective-bargaining agreements. At Dec. 31, 2016, SPS had 833 bargaining employees covered under a collective-bargaining agreement, which expired in October 2014. While collective bargaining is ongoing, the terms and conditions of the expired agreement are automatically extended.

The plans invest in various instruments which are disclosed under the accounting guidance for fair value measurements which establishes a hierarchical framework for disclosing the observability of the inputs utilized in measuring fair value. The three levels in the hierarchy and examples of each level are as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets as of the reporting date. The types of assets included in Level 1 are highly liquid and actively traded instruments with quoted prices.

Level 2 — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, but are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. The types of assets included in Level 2 are typically either comparable to actively traded securities or contracts, or priced with models using highly observable inputs.

Level 3 — Significant inputs to pricing have little or no observability as of the reporting date. The types of assets included in Level 3 are those with inputs requiring significant management judgment or estimation.

Specific valuation methods include the following:

Cash equivalents The fair values of cash equivalents are generally based on cost plus accrued interest; money market funds are measured using quoted NAVs.

Insurance contracts — Insurance contract fair values take into consideration the value of the investments in separate accounts of the insurer, which are priced based on observable inputs.

Investments in commingled funds, equity securities and other funds — Equity securities are valued using quoted prices in active markets. The fair values for commingled funds are measured using NAVs, which take into consideration the value of underlying fund investments, as well as the other accrued assets and liabilities of a fund, in order to determine a per share market value. The investments in commingled funds may be redeemed for NAV with proper notice. Proper notice varies by fund and can range from daily with a few days’ notice to annually with 90 days’ notice. Private equity investments require approval of the fund for any unscheduled redemption, and such redemptions may be approved or denied by the fund at its sole discretion. Depending on the fund, unscheduled distributions from real estate investments may require approval of the fund or may be redeemed with proper notice, which is typically quarterly with 45-90 days’ notice; however, withdrawals from real estate investments may be delayed or discounted as a result of fund illiquidity.

Investments in debt securities — Fair values for debt securities are determined by a third party pricing service using recent trades and observable spreads from benchmark interest rates for similar securities.

Derivative Instruments Fair values for foreign currency derivatives are determined using pricing models based on the prevailing forward exchange rate of the underlying currencies. The fair values of interest rate derivatives are based on broker quotes that utilize current market interest rate forecasts.

Pension Benefits

Xcel Energy, which includes SPS, has several noncontributory, defined benefit pension plans that cover almost all employees. Generally, benefits are based on a combination of years of service, the employee’s average pay and, in some cases, social security benefits. Xcel Energy Inc.’s and SPS’ policy is to fully fund into an external trust the actuarially determined pension costs recognized for ratemaking and financial reporting purposes, subject to the limitations of applicable employee benefit and tax laws.

In addition to the qualified pension plans, Xcel Energy maintains a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) and a nonqualified pension plan. The SERP is maintained for certain executives that were participants in the plan in 2008, when the SERP was closed to new participants. The nonqualified pension plan provides unfunded, nonqualified benefits for compensation that is in excess of the limits applicable to the qualified pension plans, with distributions attributable to SPS funded by SPS’ operating cash flows. The total obligations of the SERP and nonqualified plan as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015 were $43.5 million and $41.8 million, respectively, of which $2.5 million and $2.6 million were attributable to SPS. In 2016 and 2015, Xcel Energy recognized net benefit cost for financial reporting for the SERP and nonqualified plans of $7.9 million and $9.5 million, respectively, of which $0.2 million and $0.3 million were attributable to SPS.

In 2016, Xcel Energy established rabbi trusts to provide partial funding for future distributions of the SERP and its deferred compensation plan. Rabbi trust funding of deferred compensation plan distributions attributable to SPS will be supplemented by SPS operating cash flows as determined necessary. The amount of rabbi trust funding attributable to SPS is immaterial. Also in 2016, Xcel Energy amended the deferred compensation plan to provide eligible participants the ability to diversify deferred settlements of equity awards, other than time-based equity awards, into various fund options.

Xcel Energy Inc. and SPS base the investment-return assumption on expected long-term performance for each of the investment types included in the pension asset portfolio and consider the historical returns achieved by the asset portfolio over the past 20-year or longer period, as well as the long-term return levels projected and recommended by investment experts. Xcel Energy Inc. and SPS continually review the pension assumptions. The pension cost determination assumes a forecasted mix of investment types over the long-term.

Investment returns in 2016 were below the assumed level of 6.78 percent;
Investment returns in 2015 were below the assumed level of 7.22 percent;
Investment returns in 2014 were above the assumed level of 6.90 percent; and
In 2017, SPS’ expected investment-return assumption is 6.80 percent.

The assets are invested in a portfolio according to Xcel Energy Inc.’s and SPS’ return, liquidity and diversification objectives to provide a source of funding for plan obligations and minimize the necessity of contributions to the plan, within appropriate levels of risk. The principal mechanism for achieving these objectives is the projected allocation of assets to selected asset classes, given the long-term risk, return, and liquidity characteristics of each particular asset class. There were no significant concentrations of risk in any particular industry, index, or entity. Market volatility can impact even well-diversified portfolios and significantly affect the return levels achieved by pension assets in any year.

The following table presents the target pension asset allocations for SPS at Dec. 31 for the upcoming year:
 
 
2016
 
2015
Domestic and international equity securities
 
36
%
 
36
%
Long-duration fixed income and interest rate swap securities
 
31

 
31

Short-to-intermediate fixed income securities
 
15

 
12

Alternative investments
 
16

 
19

Cash
 
2

 
2

Total
 
100
%
 
100
%


The ongoing investment strategy is based on plan-specific investment recommendations that seek to minimize potential investment and interest rate risk as a plan’s funded status increases over time. The investment recommendations result in a greater percentage of long-duration fixed income securities being allocated to specific plans having relatively higher funded status ratios and a greater percentage of growth assets being allocated to plans having relatively lower funded status ratios. The aggregate projected asset allocation presented in the table above for the master pension trust results from the plan-specific strategies.

Pension Plan Assets

The following tables present, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, SPS’ pension plan assets that are measured at fair value as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
Dec. 31, 2016
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Investments Measured at NAV (a)
 
Total
Cash equivalents
 
$
29,237

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
29,237

Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
62,899

 
62,899

Non U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
46,403

 
46,403

U.S. corporate bond funds
 

 

 

 
41,226

 
41,226

Emerging market equity funds
 

 

 

 
24,637

 
24,637

Emerging market debt funds
 

 

 

 
20,399

 
20,399

Commodity funds
 

 

 

 
2,876

 
2,876

Private equity investments
 

 

 

 
12,098

 
12,098

Real estate
 

 

 

 
23,232

 
23,232

Other commingled funds
 

 

 

 
28,247

 
28,247

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government securities
 

 
38,105

 

 

 
38,105

U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
36,293

 

 

 
36,293

Non U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
5,818

 

 

 
5,818

Mortgage-backed securities
 

 
821

 

 

 
821

Asset-backed securities
 

 
389

 

 

 
389

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equities
 
10,477

 

 

 

 
10,477

Other
 

 
(2,762
)
 

 

 
(2,762
)
Total
 
$
39,714

 
$
78,664

 
$

 
$
262,017

 
$
380,395


(a)
Based on the requirements of ASU No. 2015-07, investments measured at fair value using a NAV methodology have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 2 for further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07.

 
 
Dec. 31, 2015
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Investments Measured at NAV (a)
 
Total
Cash equivalents
 
$
22,999

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
22,999

Derivatives
 

 
553

 

 

 
553

Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
55,533

 
55,533

Non U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
53,449

 
53,449

U.S. corporate bond funds
 

 

 

 
32,020

 
32,020

Emerging market equity funds
 

 

 

 
23,891

 
23,891

Emerging market debt funds
 

 

 

 
23,169

 
23,169

Commodity funds
 

 

 

 
7,884

 
7,884

Private equity investments
 

 

 

 
19,114

 
19,114

Real estate
 

 

 

 
27,690

 
27,690

Other commingled funds
 

 

 

 
29,793

 
29,793

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government securities
 

 
37,495

 

 

 
37,495

U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
28,826

 

 

 
28,826

Non U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
4,626

 

 

 
4,626

Asset-backed securities
 

 
323

 

 

 
323

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equities
 
13,492

 

 

 

 
13,492

Other
 

 
(1,944
)
 

 

 
(1,944
)
Total
 
$
36,491

 
$
69,879

 
$

 
$
272,543

 
$
378,913



(a)
Based on the requirements of ASU No. 2015-07, investments measured at fair value using a NAV methodology have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 2 for further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07.

There were no assets transferred in or out of Level 3 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Benefit Obligations — A comparison of the actuarially computed pension benefit obligation and plan assets for SPS is presented in the following table:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Accumulated Benefit Obligation at Dec. 31
 
$
453,317

 
$
429,726

 
 
 
 
 
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
 
 
 
 
Obligation at Jan. 1
 
$
467,394

 
$
500,690

Service cost
 
9,761

 
11,006

Interest cost
 
21,259

 
20,184

Actuarial loss (gain)
 
25,053

 
(35,154
)
Transfer to other plan
 
(3,305
)
 
(2,843
)
Benefit payments
 
(36,561
)
 
(26,489
)
Obligation at Dec. 31
 
$
483,601

 
$
467,394


(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets:
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1
 
$
378,913

 
$
402,269

Actual return (loss) on plan assets
 
23,306

 
(6,013
)
Employer contributions
 
18,088

 
11,651

Transfer to other plan
 
(3,351
)
 
(2,505
)
Benefit payments
 
(36,561
)
 
(26,489
)
Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31
 
$
380,395

 
$
378,913


(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31:
 
 
 
 
Funded status (a)
 
$
(103,206
)
 
$
(88,481
)

(a) 
Amounts are recognized in noncurrent liabilities on SPS’ balance sheets.
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
247,381

 
$
236,107


(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates:
 
 
 
 
Current regulatory assets
 
$
13,524

 
$
13,690

Noncurrent regulatory assets
 
233,857

 
222,417

Total
 
$
247,381

 
$
236,107


Measurement date
 
Dec. 31, 2016
 
Dec. 31, 2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations:
 
 
 
 
Discount rate for year-end valuation
 
4.13
%
 
4.66
%
Expected average long-term increase in compensation level
 
3.75

 
4.00

Mortality table
 
RP-2014

 
RP-2014



Mortality — In 2014, the Society of Actuaries published a new mortality table (RP-2014) and projection scale (MP-2014) that increased the overall life expectancy of males and females. On Dec. 31, 2014 SPS adopted the RP-2014 table, with modifications, based on its population and specific experience and a modified MP-2014 projection scale. During 2016, a new projection table was released (MP-2016).  In 2016, SPS adopted a modified version of the MP-2016 table and will continue to utilize the RP-2014 base table, modified for company experience.

Cash Flows Cash funding requirements can be impacted by changes to actuarial assumptions, actual asset levels and other calculations prescribed by the funding requirements of income tax and other pension-related regulations. Required contributions were made in 2014 through 2017 to meet minimum funding requirements.

Total voluntary and required pension funding contributions across all four of Xcel Energy’s pension plans were as follows:

$150.0 million in January 2017, of which $23.0 million was attributable to SPS;
$125.2 million in 2016, of which $18.1 million was attributable to SPS
$90.1 million in 2015, of which $11.7 million was attributable to SPS; and
$130.6 million in 2014, of which $4.9 million was attributable to SPS.

For future years, Xcel Energy and SPS anticipate contributions will be made as necessary.

Plan Amendments In 2016 and 2015, there were no plan amendments made which affected the benefit obligation.

Benefit Costs The components of SPS’ net periodic pension cost were:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost
 
$
9,761

 
$
11,006

 
$
9,184

Interest cost
 
21,259

 
20,184

 
20,444

Expected return on plan assets
 
(27,602
)
 
(28,610
)
 
(26,179
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 

 
39

 
54

Amortization of net loss
 
11,986

 
15,087

 
13,326

Net periodic pension cost
 
15,404

 
17,706

 
16,829

Credits not recognized due to effects of regulation
 
2,042

 
2,597

 
3,170

Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting
 
$
17,446

 
$
20,303

 
$
19,999


 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
4.66
%
 
4.11
%
 
4.75
%
Expected average long-term increase in compensation level
 
4.00

 
3.75

 
3.75

Expected average long-term rate of return on assets
 
6.78

 
7.22

 
6.90



In addition to the benefit costs in the table above, for the pension plans sponsored by Xcel Energy Inc., costs are allocated to SPS based on Xcel Energy Services Inc. employees’ labor costs. Amounts allocated to SPS were $4.4 million, $4.8 million and $4.1 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Pension costs include an expected return impact for the current year that may differ from actual investment performance in the plan. The return assumption used for 2017 pension cost calculations is 6.80 percent. The cost calculation uses a market-related valuation of pension assets. Xcel Energy, including SPS, uses a calculated value method to determine the market-related value of the plan assets. The market-related value begins with the fair market value of assets as of the beginning of the year. The market-related value is determined by adjusting the fair market value of assets to reflect the investment gains and losses (the difference between the actual investment return and the expected investment return on the market-related value) during each of the previous five years at the rate of 20 percent per year. As these differences between actual investment returns and the expected investment returns are incorporated into the market-related value, the differences are recognized over the expected average remaining years of service for active employees.

Defined Contribution Plans

Xcel Energy, which includes SPS, maintains 401(k) and other defined contribution plans that cover substantially all employees. The expense to these plans for SPS was approximately $2.8 million in 2016, and $2.6 million in 2015 and 2014.

Postretirement Health Care Benefits

Xcel Energy, which includes SPS, has a contributory health and welfare benefit plan that provides health care and death benefits to certain retirees. Xcel Energy discontinued contributing toward health care benefits for SPS nonbargaining employees retiring after June 30, 2003. Employees of NCE who retired in 2002 continue to receive employer-subsidized health care benefits. Nonbargaining employees of the former NCE who retired after 1998, bargaining employees of the former NCE who retired after 1999 and nonbargaining employees of NCE who retired after June 30, 2003, are eligible to participate in the Xcel Energy health care program with no employer subsidy.

Regulatory agencies for nearly all retail and wholesale utility customers have allowed rate recovery of accrued postretirement benefit costs.

Plan Assets — Certain state agencies that regulate Xcel Energy Inc.’s utility subsidiaries also have issued guidelines related to the funding of postretirement benefit costs. SPS is required to fund postretirement benefit costs for Texas and New Mexico jurisdictional amounts collected in rates. These assets are invested in a manner consistent with the investment strategy for the pension plan.

The following table presents the target postretirement asset allocations for Xcel Energy Inc. and SPS at Dec. 31 for the upcoming year:
 
 
2016
 
2015
Domestic and international equity securities
 
25
%
 
25
%
Short-to-intermediate fixed income securities
 
57

 
57

Alternative investments
 
13

 
13

Cash
 
5

 
5

Total
 
100
%
 
100
%


Xcel Energy Inc. and SPS base investment-return assumptions for the postretirement health care fund assets on expected long-term performance for each of the investment types included in the asset portfolio. Assumptions and target allocations are determined at the master trust level. The investment mix at each of Xcel Energy Inc.’s utility subsidiaries may vary from the investment mix of the total asset portfolio. The assets are invested in a portfolio according to Xcel Energy Inc.’s and SPS’ return, liquidity and diversification objectives to provide a source of funding for plan obligations and minimize the necessity of contributions to the plan, within appropriate levels of risk. The principal mechanism for achieving these objectives is the projected allocation of assets to selected asset classes, given the long-term risk, return, correlation and liquidity characteristics of each particular asset class. There were no significant concentrations of risk in any particular industry, index, or entity. Market volatility can impact even well-diversified portfolios and significantly affect the return levels achieved by postretirement health care assets in any year.

The following tables present, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, SPS’ proportionate allocation of the total postretirement benefit plan assets that are measured at fair value as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
Dec. 31, 2016
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Investments Measured at NAV (a)

 
Total
Cash equivalents
 
$
1,966

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,966

Insurance contracts
 

 
4,519

 

 

 
4,519

Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
5,208

 
5,208

U.S fixed income funds
 

 

 

 
2,593

 
2,593

Emerging market debt funds
 

 

 

 
2,911

 
2,911

Other commingled funds
 

 

 

 
5,258

 
5,258

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government securities
 

 
3,611

 

 

 
3,611

U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
5,962

 

 

 
5,962

Non U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
1,653

 

 

 
1,653

Asset-backed securities
 

 
1,810

 

 

 
1,810

Mortgage-backed securities
 

 
2,748

 

 

 
2,748

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non U.S. equities
 
3,919

 

 

 

 
3,919

Other
 

 
139

 

 

 
139

Total
 
$
5,885

 
$
20,442

 
$

 
$
15,970

 
$
42,297


(a) 
Based on the requirements of ASU No. 2015-07, investments measured at fair value using a NAV methodology have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 2 for further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07.

 
 
Dec. 31, 2015
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Investments Measured at NAV (a)

 
Total
Cash equivalents
 
$
1,873

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,873

Insurance contracts
 

 
4,501

 

 

 
4,501

Commingled funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
3,643

 
3,643

Non U.S. equity funds
 

 

 

 
3,204

 
3,204

U.S fixed income funds
 

 

 

 
2,311

 
2,311

Emerging market equity funds
 

 

 

 
1,058

 
1,058

Emerging market debt funds
 

 

 

 
3,401

 
3,401

Other commingled funds
 

 

 

 
5,910

 
5,910

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government securities
 

 
3,742

 

 

 
3,742

U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
5,710

 

 

 
5,710

Non U.S. corporate bonds
 

 
1,239

 

 

 
1,239

Asset-backed securities
 

 
2,736

 

 

 
2,736

Mortgage-backed securities
 

 
3,396

 

 

 
3,396

Other
 

 
(40
)
 

 

 
(40
)
Total
 
$
1,873

 
$
21,284

 
$

 
$
19,527

 
$
42,684

(a) 
Based on the requirements of ASU No. 2015-07, investments measured at fair value using a NAV methodology have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 2 for further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07.

There were no assets transferred in or out of Level 3 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Benefit Obligations — A comparison of the actuarially computed benefit obligation and plan assets for SPS is presented in the following table:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
 
 
 
 
Obligation at Jan. 1
 
$
40,864

 
$
44,342

Service cost
 
775

 
954

Interest cost
 
1,821

 
1,745

Medicare subsidy reimbursements
 
31

 
45

Plan participants’ contributions
 
653

 
687

Actuarial loss (gain)
 
1,293

 
(3,793
)
Benefit payments
 
(3,577
)
 
(3,116
)
Obligation at Dec. 31
 
$
41,860

 
$
40,864


(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets:
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1
 
$
42,684

 
$
45,356

Actual return (loss) on plan assets
 
1,978

 
(421
)
Plan participants’ contributions
 
653

 
687

Employer contributions
 
559

 
178

Benefit payments
 
(3,577
)
 
(3,116
)
Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31
 
$
42,297

 
$
42,684


(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31:
 
 
 
 
Funded status (a)
 
$
437

 
$
1,820


(a) 
Amounts are recognized in noncurrent assets on SPS’ balance sheet as of Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015.
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Credit:
 
 
 
 
Net gain
 
$
(12,595
)
 
$
(14,870
)
Prior service credit
 
(2,630
)
 
(3,031
)
Total
 
$
(15,225
)
 
$
(17,901
)

(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Credit Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates:
 
 
 
 
Current regulatory liabilities
 
$
(1,004
)
 
$
(985
)
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities
 
(14,221
)
 
(16,916
)
Total
 
$
(15,225
)
 
$
(17,901
)

Measurement date
 
Dec. 31, 2016
 
Dec. 31, 2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations:
 
 
 
 
Discount rate for year-end valuation
 
4.13
%
 
4.65
%
Mortality table
 
RP 2014

 
RP 2014

Health care costs trend rate — initial
 
5.50
%
 
6.00
%


Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the initial medical trend rate was decreased from 6.0 percent to 5.5 percent. The ultimate trend assumption remained at 4.5 percent. The period until the ultimate rate is reached is two years. Xcel Energy Inc. and SPS base the medical trend assumption on the long-term cost inflation expected in the health care market, considering the levels projected and recommended by industry experts, as well as recent actual medical cost increases experienced by the retiree medical plan.

A one-percent change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects on SPS:
 
 
One-Percentage Point
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Increase
 
Decrease
APBO
 
$
3,979

 
$
(3,389
)
Service and interest components
 
273

 
(231
)


Cash Flows — The postretirement health care plans have no funding requirements under income tax and other retirement-related regulations other than fulfilling benefit payment obligations, when claims are presented and approved under the plans. Additional cash funding requirements are prescribed by certain state and federal rate regulatory authorities. Xcel Energy, which includes SPS, contributed $17.9 million, $18.3 million and $17.1 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $0.6 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million were attributable to SPS. Xcel Energy expects to contribute approximately $11.8 million during 2017, of which amounts attributable to SPS will be zero.

Plan Amendments In 2016 and 2015, there were no plan amendments made which affected the benefit obligation.

Benefit Costs — The components of SPS’ net periodic postretirement benefit costs were:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost
 
$
775

 
$
954

 
$
1,246

Interest cost
 
1,821

 
1,745

 
2,572

Expected return on plan assets
 
(2,377
)
 
(2,540
)
 
(3,247
)
Amortization of prior service credit
 
(401
)
 
(401
)
 
(401
)
Amortization of net gain
 
(583
)
 
(639
)
 
(321
)
Net periodic postretirement benefit credit
 
$
(765
)
 
$
(881
)
 
$
(151
)

 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
4.65
%
 
4.08
%
 
4.82
%
Expected average long-term rate of return on assets
 
5.80

 
5.80

 
7.20



In addition to the benefit costs in the table above, for the postretirement health care plans sponsored by Xcel Energy Inc., costs are allocated to SPS based on Xcel Energy Services Inc. employees’ labor costs.

Projected Benefit Payments — The following table lists SPS’ projected benefit payments for the pension and postretirement benefit plans:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Projected
Pension Benefit
Payments
 
Gross Projected
Postretirement
Health Care
Benefit Payments
 
Expected
Medicare Part D
Subsidies
 
Net Projected
Postretirement
Health Care
Benefit Payments
2017
 
$
28,596

 
$
3,420

 
$
24

 
$
3,396

2018
 
28,086

 
3,203

 
26

 
3,177

2019
 
28,545

 
3,008

 
24

 
2,984

2020
 
29,567

 
3,015

 
25

 
2,990

2021
 
29,716

 
3,096

 
26

 
3,070

2022-2026
 
156,673

 
14,135

 
148

 
13,987