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Employee Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits

We participate in WEC Energy Group's defined benefit pension plans and OPEB plans that cover substantially all of our employees. We are responsible for our share of the plan assets and obligations. The benefits for a portion of these plans are funded through irrevocable trusts, as allowed for income tax purposes. Our balance sheets reflect only the liabilities associated with our past and current employees and our share of the plan assets and obligations. We also offer medical, dental, and life insurance benefits to active employees and their dependents. We expense the costs of these benefits as incurred.

Generally, employees who started with us after 1995 receive a benefit based on a percentage of their annual salary plus an interest credit, while employees who started before 1996 receive a benefit based upon years of service and final average salary. New
management employees hired after December 31, 2014, and certain new represented employees hired after May 1, 2017, receive an annual company contribution to their 401(k) savings plan instead of being enrolled in the defined benefit plans.

We use a year-end measurement date to measure the funded status of all of the pension and OPEB plans. Due to the regulated nature of our business, we have concluded that substantially all of the unrecognized costs resulting from the recognition of the funded status of the pension and OPEB plans qualify as a regulatory asset.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in our share of the plans' benefit obligations and fair value of assets:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
 
(in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change in benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligation at January 1
 
$
1,099.4

 
$
1,193.9

 
$
227.7

 
$
303.5

 
Service cost
 
12.6

 
13.2

 
4.5

 
6.9

 
Interest cost
 
45.2

 
42.3

 
9.5

 
11.1

 
Participant contributions
 
—

 
—

 
6.1

 
7.6

 
Plan amendments
 
—

 
—

 
2.7

 
—

 
Net transfer to affiliates
 
(5.3
)
(1) 
(4.5
)
(1) 
—

 
—

 
Actuarial loss (gain)
 
81.5

 
(62.7
)
 
(29.8
)
 
(86.2
)
 
Benefit payments
 
(85.1
)
 
(82.8
)
 
(16.2
)
 
(22.8
)
 
Federal subsidy on benefits paid
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
1.1

 
0.9

 
Transfer
 
—

 
—

 
1.7

(2) 
6.7

(2) 
Obligation at December 31
 
$
1,148.3

 
$
1,099.4

 
$
207.3

 
$
227.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value of plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at January 1
 
$
1,019.8

 
$
1,134.1

 
$
201.5

 
$
220.1

 
Actual return on plan assets
 
156.7

 
(31.0
)
 
35.4

 
(5.7
)
 
Employer contributions
 
3.8

 
4.0

 
1.7

 
2.3

 
Participant contributions
 
—

 
—

 
6.1

 
7.6

 
Net transfer to affiliates
 
(0.6
)
(1) 
(4.5
)
(1) 
—

 
—

 
Benefit payments
 
(85.1
)
 
(82.8
)
 
(16.2
)
 
(22.8
)
 
Fair value at December 31
 
$
1,094.6

 
$
1,019.8

 
$
228.5

 
$
201.5

 
Funded status at December 31
 
$
(53.7
)
 
$
(79.6
)
 
$
21.2

 
$
(26.2
)
 


(1) 
Benefit obligations and plan assets were moved along with our employees who were transferred to/from affiliated entities. See Note 3, Related Parties, for more information.

(2) 
Represents a premium medical account that was transferred into the OPEB benefit obligation.

The amounts recognized on our balance sheets at December 31 related to the funded status of the benefit plans were as follows:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
(in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Other long-term assets
 
$
6.1

 
$
12.7

 
$
21.2

 
$
—

Pension and OPEB obligations
 
59.8

 
92.3

 
—

 
26.2

Total net (liabilities) assets
 
$
(53.7
)
 
$
(79.6
)
 
$
21.2

 
$
(26.2
)


The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $1,147.0 million and $1,097.9 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The following table shows information for the pension plans for which we have an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets. Amounts presented are as of December 31:
(in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
1,040.7

 
$
997.0

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
1,039.5

 
995.5

Fair value of plan assets
 
980.9

 
904.7



The following table shows the amounts that have not yet been recognized in our net periodic benefit cost as of December 31:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
(in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net regulatory assets (liabilities)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
 
$
460.1

 
$
491.0

 
$
(115.3
)
 
$
(66.6
)
Prior service credits
 
(2.3
)
 
(1.8
)
 
(1.5
)
 
(6.1
)
Total
 
$
457.8

 
$
489.2

 
$
(116.8
)
 
$
(72.7
)


The following table shows the estimated amounts that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost during 2020:
(in millions)
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
Net actuarial loss (gain)
 
$
36.6

 
$
(9.5
)
Prior service credits
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.6
)
Total 2020 – estimated amortization
 
$
36.5

 
$
(10.1
)

The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) (including amounts capitalized to our balance sheets) for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
(in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Service cost
 
$
12.6

 
$
13.2

 
$
12.2

 
$
4.5

 
$
6.9

 
$
7.0

Interest cost
 
45.2

 
42.3

 
47.0

 
9.5

 
11.1

 
12.1

Expected return on plan assets
 
(72.4
)
 
(75.2
)
 
(76.6
)
 
(14.3
)
 
(15.5
)
 
(14.7
)
Plan settlement
 
—

 
—

 
4.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
 
0.5

 
0.8

 
1.1

 
(1.9
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(1.4
)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)
 
28.0

 
38.0

 
35.4

 
(2.1
)
 
—

 
—

Net periodic benefit cost (credit)
 
$
13.9

 
$
19.1

 
$
23.2

 
$
(4.3
)
 
$
0.3

 
$
3.0


The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations for the plans were as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Discount rate
 
3.39%
 
4.30%
 
3.40%
 
4.30%
Rate of compensation increase
 
4.00%
 
3.40%
 
N/A
 
N/A
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
6.00%
 
6.25%
Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
2028
 
2024
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
6.04%
 
6.12%
Ultimate trend rate (Post 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65)
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
2028
 
2028

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for the plans were as follows for the years ended December 31:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Discount rate
 
4.30%
 
3.65%
 
4.12%
Expected return on plan assets
 
7.00%
 
7.00%
 
7.00%
Rate of compensation increase
 
3.40%
 
3.40%
 
3.20%

 
 
OPEB Benefits
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Discount rate
 
4.30%
 
3.65%
 
4.10%
Expected return on plan assets
 
7.25%
 
7.25%
 
7.25%
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Pre 65)
 
6.25%
 
6.50%
 
7.00%
Ultimate trend rate (Pre 65)
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Pre 65)
 
2024
 
2024
 
2021
Assumed medical cost trend rate (Post 65)
 
6.12%
 
6.18%
 
7.00%
Ultimate trend rate (Post 65)
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
 
5.00%
Year ultimate trend rate is reached (Post 65)
 
2028
 
2028
 
2021


WEC Energy Group consults with its investment advisors on an annual basis to help forecast expected long-term returns on plan assets by reviewing historical returns as well as calculating expected total trust returns using the weighted-average of long-term market returns for each of the major target asset categories utilized in the fund. For 2020, the expected return on asset assumption is 6.75% for the pension plan and 7.00% for the OPEB plan.

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported by us for the health care plans. For the year ended December 31, 2019, a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effects:
(in millions)
 
1% Increase
 
1% Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit cost
 
$
1.7

 
$
(1.4
)
Effect on the health care component of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
 
14.4

 
(12.0
)


Plan Assets

Current pension trust assets and amounts which are expected to be contributed to the trusts in the future are expected to be adequate to meet pension payment obligations to current and future retirees.

The Investment Trust Policy Committee oversees investment matters related to all of our funded benefit plans. The Committee works with external actuaries and investment consultants on an on-going basis to establish and monitor investment strategies and target asset allocations. Forecasted cash flows for plan liabilities are regularly updated based on annual valuation results. Target allocations are determined utilizing projected benefit payment cash flows and risk analyses of appropriate investments. They are intended to reduce risk, provide long-term financial stability for the plans and maintain funded levels which meet long-term plan obligations while preserving sufficient liquidity for near-term benefit payments.

Our pension trust target asset allocation is 35% equity investments, 55% fixed income investments, and 10% private equity and real estate investments. The two OPEB trusts' target asset allocations are 50% equity investments and 50% fixed income investments, and 70% equity investments and 30% fixed income investments, respectively. Equity securities include investments in large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. Fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries, mortgage and other asset backed securities, commercial paper, and United States Treasuries.

Pension and OPEB plan investments are recorded at fair value. See Note 1(n), Fair Value Measurements, for more information regarding the fair value hierarchy and the classification of fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used.

The following tables summarize the fair values of our investments by asset class:
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
Pension Plan Assets
 
OPEB Assets
(in millions)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Asset Class
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unites States equity
 
$
103.3

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
103.3

 
$
27.9

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
27.9

International equity
 
98.4

 
—

 
—

 
98.4

 
28.5

 
—

 
—

 
28.5

Fixed income securities: *
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States bonds
 
49.1

 
438.9

 
—

 
488.0

 
23.1

 
52.6

 
—

 
75.7

International bonds
 
27.7

 
29.2

 
—

 
56.9

 
5.8

 
2.9

 
—

 
8.7

 
 
$
278.5

 
$
468.1

 
$
—

 
$
746.6

 
$
85.3

 
$
55.5

 
$
—

 
$
140.8

Investments measured at net asset value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
348.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
87.7

Total
 
$
278.5

 
$
468.1

 
$
—

 
$
1,094.6

 
$
85.3

 
$
55.5

 
$
—

 
$
228.5


*
This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries.
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Pension Plan Assets
 
OPEB Assets
(in millions)
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Asset Class
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States equity
 
$
89.0

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
89.0

 
$
24.6

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
24.6

International equity
 
85.8

 
—

 
—

 
85.8

 
24.0

 
—

 
—

 
24.0

Fixed income securities: *
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States bonds
 
66.2

 
436.5

 
—

 
502.7

 
24.0

 
48.2

 
—

 
72.2

International bonds
 
8.3

 
31.4

 
—

 
39.7

 
1.6

 
3.0

 
—

 
4.6

 
 
$
249.3

 
$
467.9

 
$
—

 
$
717.2

 
$
74.2

 
$
51.2

 
$
—

 
$
125.4

Investments measured at net asset value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
302.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
76.1

Total
 
$
249.3

 
$
467.9

 
$
—

 
$
1,019.8

 
$
74.2

 
$
51.2

 
$
—

 
$
201.5


*
This category represents investment grade bonds of United States and foreign issuers denominated in United States dollars from diverse industries.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of pension and OPEB plan assets categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
Private Equity and Real Estate
(in millions)
 
Pension
 
OPEB
Beginning balance at January 1, 2018
 
$
55.3

 
$
3.8

Realized and unrealized gains
 
4.1

 
0.8

Purchases
 
9.8

 
0.7

Liquidations
 
(1.2
)
 
(0.1
)
Transfers out of level 3
 
(68.0
)
 
(5.2
)
Ending balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
—

 
$
—


Cash Flows

We expect to contribute $3.7 million to the pension plans and $0.1 million to the OPEB plans in 2020, dependent upon various factors affecting us, including our liquidity position and the effects of the Tax Legislation.

The following table shows the payments, reflecting expected future service, that we expect to make for pension and OPEB over the next 10 years:
(in millions)
 
Pension Benefits
 
OPEB Benefits
2020
 
$
90.6

 
$
11.4

2021
 
88.2

 
11.4

2022
 
83.7

 
11.6

2023
 
82.6

 
11.8

2024
 
80.2

 
11.7

2025-2029
 
350.1

 
58.3



Savings Plans

WEC Energy Group sponsors 401(k) savings plans that allow substantially all of our full-time employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax and/or after-tax income in accordance with plan-specified guidelines. A percentage of employee contributions are matched by us through a contribution into the employee's savings plan account, up to certain limits. The 401(k) savings plans include an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Certain employees receive an employer retirement contribution, which amounts are contributed to an employee's savings plan account. Total costs incurred under all of these plans was $11.9 million in both 2019 and 2018, and $11.7 million in 2017.