Employee Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Note 7 – Employee Benefit Plans

Net periodic benefit cost (credit) is as follows:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended   March 31,
	2017			2016
	(Millions)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	13		$	14
Interest cost	15			15
Expected return on plan assets	(20		)	(21		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	7			8
Net periodic benefit cost	$	15		$	16

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended   March 31,
	2017			2016
	(Millions)
Components of net periodic benefit cost (credit):
Interest cost	$	2		$	2
Expected return on plan assets	(3		)	(3		)
Amortization of prior service credit	(3		)	(3		)
Reclassification to regulatory liability	1			1
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	(3	)	$	(3	)

Amortization of prior service credit and net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefitcost (credit) for our other postretirement benefit plans associated with Transco and Northwest Pipeline are recorded to regulatory assets/liabilities instead of other comprehensive income (loss). The amounts of amortization of prior service credit recognized in regulatory liabilities were $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we contributed $1 million to our pension plans and $1 million to our other postretirement benefit plans. We presently anticipate making additional contributions of approximately $62 million to our pension plans and approximately $6 million to our other postretirement benefit plans in the remainder of 2017.