Pension Benefits

Total Periodic Benefit Cost

The components of the Companies’ total periodic benefit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:



	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2017	2016	2017	2016
Service cost – including administrative expenses	$66	$69	$61	$65
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	148	149	139	140
Expected return on plan assets	(243)	(237)	(229)	(225)
Recognition of net actuarial loss	149	149	141	141
Recognition of prior service costs	(4)	1	(5)	—
TOTAL PERIODIC BENEFIT COST	$116	$131	$107	$121
Cost capitalized	(40)	(51)	(37)	(49)
Reconciliation to rate level	(14)	10	(16)	13
Cost charged to operating expenses	$62	$90	$54	$85



	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Con Edison		CECONY
(Millions of Dollars)	2017	2016	2017	2016
Service cost – including administrative expenses	$197	$207	$184	$194
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	444	447	416	419
Expected return on plan assets	(726)	(711)	(689)	(674)
Recognition of net actuarial loss	446	447	423	424
Recognition of prior service costs	(13)	3	(14)	1
TOTAL PERIODIC BENEFIT COST	$348	$393	$320	$364
Cost capitalized	(134)	(157)	(125)	(148)
Reconciliation to rate level	(28)	35	(32)	39
Cost charged to operating expenses	$186	$271	$163	$255

Expected Contributions

Based on estimates as of September 30, 2017, the Companies expect to make contributions to the pension plans during 2017 of $450 million (of which $412 million is to be contributed by CECONY). The Companies’ policy is to fund the total periodic benefit cost of the qualified plan to the extent tax deductible and to also contribute to the non-qualified supplemental plans. During the first nine months of 2017, the Companies contributed $446 million to the pension plans (of which $409 million was contributed by CECONY). CECONY also contributed $14 million to its external trust for supplemental plans.