Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]

Note 9 – Employee Benefit Plans

Net periodic benefit cost (credit) is as follows:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended   September 30,						Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(Millions)
Components of net periodic benefit cost (credit):
Service cost	$	11		$	12		$	33		$	37
Interest cost	13			12			38			35
Expected return on plan assets	(15		)	(16		)	(46		)	(47		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	3			6			11			17
Net actuarial loss from settlements	1			1			1			2
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	13		$	15		$	37		$	44

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended   September 30,						Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(Millions)
Components of net periodic benefit cost (credit):
Service cost	$	1		$	1		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	2			1			6			5
Expected return on plan assets	(3		)	(2		)	(8		)	(8		)
Amortization of prior service credit	—			—			—			(1		)
Reclassification to regulatory liability	—			—			1			1
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(2	)

The components of Net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than the Service cost component are included in Other income (expense) – net below Operating income (loss) in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Amortization of prior service credit included in Net periodic benefit cost (credit) for our other postretirement benefit plans associated with Transco and Northwest Pipeline is recorded to regulatory assets/liabilities instead of Other comprehensive income (loss). The amount of Amortization of prior service credit recognized in regulatory liabilities was $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we contributed $63 million to our pension plans and $4 million to our other postretirement benefit plans. We presently anticipate making additional contributions of approximately $1 million to our pension plans and approximately $1 million to our other postretirement benefit plans in the remainder of 2019.