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Other Postretirement Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Other Postretirement Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits
The Utilities and Con Edison Transmission currently have contributory comprehensive hospital, medical and prescription drug programs for eligible retirees, their dependents and surviving spouses.
CECONY also has a contributory life insurance program for bargaining unit employees and provides basic life insurance benefits up to a specified maximum at no cost to certain retired management employees. O&R has a non-contributory life insurance program for retirees. Certain employees of Con Edison Transmission are eligible to receive benefits under these programs. Programs include the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees, the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Weekly Employees, the Consolidated Edison Group Life Insurance Plan, the Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. Hourly Retirees’ Group Insurance Plan, and the Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. Management Retirees’ Group Insurance Plan.
Total Periodic Benefit Cost
The components of the Companies’ total periodic postretirement benefit costs/(credit) for 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
  Con EdisonCECONY
(Millions of Dollars)202420232022202420232022
Service cost$13$14$18$10$12$15
Interest cost on accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation
475735404930
Expected return on plan assets(68)(70)(72)(55)(56)(58)
Recognition of net actuarial loss/(gain)(20)(16)(14)(13)(8)(9)
Recognition of prior service credit(1)(2)(1)———
TOTAL PERIODIC POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COST/(CREDIT)$(29)$(17)$(34)$(18)$(3)$(22)
Cost capitalized(6)(6)(8)(5)(5)(7)
Reconciliation to rate level1642913(2)24
Total credit recognized$(19)$(19)$(13)$(10)$(10)$(5)
For information about the presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost and disclosure requirements, see Note E.
Funded Status
The funded status of the programs at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
  Con EdisonCECONY
(Millions of Dollars)202420232022202420232022
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$963$1,058$1,398$825$921$1,189
Service cost131418101215
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
475735404930
Net actuarial gain(57)(93)(311)(38)(94)(239)
Benefits paid and administrative expenses, net of subsidies
(120)(128)(130)(112)(118)(121)
Participant contributions525548505547
BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT END OF YEAR$898$963$1,058$775$825$921
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$929$860$1,150$750$708$955
Actual return on plan assets56116(225)4484(187)
Employer contributions132213101710
Employer group waiver plan subsidies665655605250
Participant contributions525548505547
Benefits paid(182)(180)(181)(170)(166)(167)
FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS AT END OF YEAR$934$929$860$744$750$708
FUNDED STATUS$36$(34)$(198)$(31)$(75)$(213)
Unrecognized net loss/(gain)($119)$(90)$37($57)$(41)$78
Unrecognized prior service costs(9)(10)(12)———
The decrease in the other postretirement benefits funded status liability at December 31, 2024 for Con Edison and CECONY of $70 million and $44 million, respectively, compared with December 31, 2023, was primarily due to decreased net actuarial gains in 2024. The decrease in the other postretirement benefits funded status liability at December 31, 2023 for Con Edison and CECONY of $164 million and $138 million, respectively, compared with December 31, 2022, was primarily due to updated per capita costs based on plan experience and higher asset returns in 2023. For 2024, included within the funded status are noncurrent assets of $271 million and $180 million for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively. For 2023, included within the funded status are noncurrent assets of
$224 million and $154 million for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively. For 2022, included within the funded status are noncurrent assets of $72 million and $27 million for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively.
For Con Edison, the decrease in funded status liability at December 31, 2024 corresponds with a net decrease to regulatory assets and increase to regulatory liabilities of $26 million for unrecognized net gains and unrecognized prior service costs associated with the Utilities consistent with the accounting rules for regulated operations, a credit to OCI of $1 million (net of taxes) for the unrecognized net gains and an immaterial change to OCI for the unrecognized prior service costs associated with Con Edison Transmission and RECO.
For CECONY, the decrease in funded status liability at December 31, 2024 corresponds with a net decrease to regulatory assets and increase to regulatory liabilities of $16 million for unrecognized net gains and the unrecognized prior service costs associated with the company consistent with the accounting rules for regulated operations, a credit to OCI of $1 million (net of taxes) for the unrecognized net gains and an immaterial change to OCI for the unrecognized prior service costs associated with eligible employees of Con Edison Transmission who previously worked for CECONY.
Assumptions
The actuarial assumptions were as follows: 
202420232022
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31:
Discount Rate
CECONY5.55 %5.05 %5.35 %
O&R5.65 %5.15 %5.45 %
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31:
Discount Rate
CECONY5.05 %5.35 %2.75 %
O&R5.15 %5.45 %3.00 %
Expected Return on Plan Assets6.45 %6.80 %6.80 %
Refer to Note E for descriptions of the basis for determining the expected return on assets, investment policies and strategies and the assumed discount rate.
The health care cost trend rates for covered medical and prescription medication expenses used to determine the accumulated other postretirement benefit obligations (APBO) at December 31, 2024 were assumed to increase each year, with the initial rate gradually decreasing to the ultimate rate as follows:
Initial Cost Trend RateUltimate Cost Trend RateYear That Ultimate Rate is Reached
Pre-65 Medical7.00%4.50%2038
Post-65 Medical4.50%4.50%—
Prescription Medications7.50%4.50%2037
Expected Benefit Payments
Based on current assumptions, the Companies expect to make the following benefit payments over the next ten years, net of receipt of governmental subsidies and participant contributions:
(Millions of Dollars)Con EdisonCECONY
2025$67$59
20266860
20277061
20287162
20297163
2030-2034$346$303
Expected Contributions
Based on estimates as of December 31, 2024, Con Edison expects to make a contribution of $6 million (all of which is expected to be made by CECONY) to the other postretirement benefit plans in 2025. The Companies’ policy is to fund the total periodic benefit cost of the plans to the extent tax deductible.
Plan Assets
The asset allocations for CECONY’s other postretirement benefit plans at the end of 2024, 2023 and 2022, and the target allocation for 2025 are as follows:
  Target Allocation RangePlan Assets at December 31,
Asset Category2025202420232022
Equity Securities
35%-55%
41 %44 %49 %
Debt Securities
40%-60%
51 %51 %51 %
Real Estate and Other Alternatives
—%-9%
8 %5 %— %
Total100%100 %100 %100 %
Con Edison has established postretirement health and life insurance benefit plan trusts for the investment of assets to be used for the exclusive purpose of providing other postretirement benefits to participants and beneficiaries.
Refer to Note E for a discussion of Con Edison’s investment policy for its benefit plans.
The fair values of the plans' assets at December 31, 2024 by asset category as defined by the accounting rules for fair value measurements (see Note R) are as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)Level 1Level 2Total
Equity (a)$—$302$302
Other Fixed Income Debt (b)—323323
Cash and Cash Equivalents (c)72734
Commingled Trust Fund (d)
—3838
Real Estate (e)(f)
$39
Total investments$7$690$736
Funds for retiree health benefits (g)
5090140
Investments (including funds for retiree health benefits)$57$780$876
Funds for retiree health benefits measured at net asset value (f)(g)
39
Pending activities (h)
  19
Total fair value of plan net assets  $934
(a)Equity is comprised of a passively managed commingled index fund benchmarked to the MSCI All Country World Index.
(b)Other Fixed Income Debt is comprised of a passively managed commingled index fund benchmarked to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Credit Index and an active separately managed portfolio indexed to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Credit Index.
(c)Cash and Cash Equivalents is comprised of short-term investments and money markets.
(d)Commingled Trust Fund is comprised of an actively managed commingled trust fund benchmarked to the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index.
(e)Real Estate investments are open-end real estate funds that invest in a portfolio of real properties that are broadly diversified by geography and property type. The real estate asset class is expected to produce returns from income and capital appreciation. Real estate also provides a hedge against inflation. The funds allow for quarterly redemptions, however the amount and timing of distributions are subject to market conditions and are currently uncertain.
(f)In accordance with ASU 2015-07, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or its equivalent), certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(g)The Companies set aside funds for retiree health benefits through a separate account within the pension trust, as permitted under Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In accordance with the Code, the plan’s investments in the 401(h) account may not be used for, or diverted to, any purpose other than providing health benefits for retirees. The net assets held in the 401(h) account are calculated based on a pro-rata percentage allocation of the net assets in the pension plan. The related obligations for health benefits are not included in the pension plan’s obligations and are included in the Companies’ other postretirement benefit obligation. See Note E.
(h)Pending activities include security purchases and sales that have not settled, interest and dividends that have not been received, and reflects adjustments for available estimates at year-end.
The fair values of the plans' assets at December 31, 2023 by asset category (see Note R) are as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)Level 1Level 2Total
Equity (a)$—$331$331
Other Fixed Income Debt (b)—323323
Cash and Cash Equivalents (c)71825
Commingled Trust Fund (d)
— 38 38 
Total investments$7$710$717
Funds for retiree health benefits (e)
5296148
Investments (including funds for retiree health benefits)$59$806$865
Funds for retiree health benefits measured at net asset value (f)(g)
45
Pending activities (h)
  19
Total fair value of plan net assets  $929
(a) - (h) Reference is made to footnotes (a) through (h) in the above table of other postretirement benefit plan assets at December 31, 2024 by asset category.

The fair values of CECONY's portion of the plans' assets at December 31, 2024 by asset category as defined by the accounting rules for fair value measurements (see Note R) are as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)Level 1Level 2Total
Equity (a)$—$205$205
Other Fixed Income Debt (b)—233233
Cash and Cash Equivalents (c)72633
Commingled Trust Fund (d)
— 38 38
Real Estate (e)(f)
$39
Total investments$7$502$548
Funds for retiree health benefits (g)
5090$140
Investments (including funds for retiree health benefits)$57$592$688
Funds for retiree health benefits measured at net asset value (f)(g)
39
Pending activities (h)
  17
Total fair value of plan net assets  $744
(a) - (h) Reference is made to footnotes (a) through (h) in the above table of other postretirement benefit plan assets at December 31, 2024 by asset category.
The fair values of CECONY's portion of the plans' assets at December 31, 2023 by asset category (see Note R) are as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)Level 1Level 2Total
Equity (a)$—$241$241
Other Fixed Income Debt (b)—237237
Cash and Cash Equivalents (c)71724
Commingled Trust Fund (d)
— 38 38
Real Estate (e)(f)
Total investments$7$533$540
Funds for retiree health benefits (g)
5296$148
Investments (including funds for retiree health benefits)$59$629$688
Funds for retiree health benefits measured at net asset value (e)(g)
45
Pending activities (h)
  17
Total fair value of plan net assets  $750
(a) - (h) Reference is made to footnotes (a) through (h) in the above table of other postretirement benefit plan assets at December 31, 2024 by asset category.