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Employee Benefit Plans
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit PlansNet periodic benefit costs for our pension and post-retirement benefits plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are set forth in the following tables:
Chesapeake
Pension Plan		FPU
Pension Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan
For the Three Months Ended September 30,2021202020212020202120202021202020212020
(in thousands)          
Interest cost$34 $46 $429 $518 $12 $16 $6 $8 $6 $10 
Expected return on plan assets(40)(42)(830)(745)— — — — — — 
Amortization of prior service credit— — — — — — (19)(19)— — 
Amortization of net (gain) loss60 65 155 135 7 5 10 12 (2)— 
Net periodic cost (benefit)54 69 (246)(92)19 21 (3)1 4 10 
Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset— — — — — — — — — 2 
Total periodic cost (benefit)$54 $69 $(246)$(92)$19 $21 $(3)$1 $4 $12 
Chesapeake
Pension Plan		FPU
Pension Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,2021202020212020202120202021202020212020
(in thousands)          
Interest cost$102 $138 $1,287 $1,554 $36 $48 $18 $24 $18 $30 
Expected return on plan assets(120)(126)(2,490)(2,235)— — — — — — 
Amortization of prior service credit— — — — — — (57)(57)— — 
Amortization of net (gain) loss180 195 465 405 21 15 30 36 (6)— 
Net periodic cost (benefit)162 207 (738)(276)57 63 (9)3 12 30 
Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset— — — — — — — — — 6 
Total periodic cost (benefit)$162 $207 $(738)$(276)$57 $63 $(9)$3 $12 $36 

In 2019, we began executing a de-risking strategy for the Chesapeake Pension Plan. In line with this strategy, we have decided to fully terminate the Chesapeake Pension Plan, which we expect to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2021 and will recognize the necessary expense associated with the termination of the Chesapeake Pension Plan at that time.

The components of our net periodic costs have been recorded or reclassified to other expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Pursuant to their respective regulatory orders, FPU and Chesapeake Utilities continue to record, as a regulatory asset, a portion of their unrecognized postretirement benefit costs related to their regulated operations. The portion of the unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs related to FPU’s unregulated operations and Chesapeake Utilities' operations is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income.
The following tables present the amounts included in the regulatory asset and accumulated other comprehensive income that were recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Chesapeake
Pension
Plan		FPU
Pension
Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan		Total
(in thousands)
Prior service credit$— $— $— $(19)$— $(19)
Net loss60 155 7 10 (2)230 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost60 155 7 (9)(2)211 
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive (income)/loss (1)
60 29 7 (9)— 87 
Recognized from regulatory asset— 126 — — (2)124 
Total$60 $155 $7 $(9)$(2)$211 
    
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020Chesapeake
Pension
Plan		FPU
Pension
Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan		Total
(in thousands)
Prior service credit$— $— $— $(19)$— $(19)
Net loss65 135 5 12 — 217 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost65 135 5 (7)— 198 
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive (income)/loss (1)
65 26 5 (7)— 89 
Recognized from regulatory asset— 109 — — — 109 
Total$65 $135 $5 $(7)$— $198 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021Chesapeake
Pension
Plan		FPU
Pension
Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan		Total
(in thousands)
Prior service credit$— $— $— $(57)$— $(57)
Net loss180 465 21 30 (6)690 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost180 465 21 (27)(6)633 
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive (income)/loss (1)
180 87 21 (27)(1)260 
Recognized from regulatory asset— 378 — — (5)373 
Total$180 $465 $21 $(27)$(6)$633 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020Chesapeake
Pension
Plan		FPU
Pension
Plan		Chesapeake SERPChesapeake
Postretirement
Plan		FPU
Medical
Plan		Total
(in thousands)
Prior service credit$— $— $— $(57)$— $(57)
Net loss195 405 15 36 — 651 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost195 405 15 (21)— 594 
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive (income)/loss (1)
195 78 15 (21)— 267 
Recognized from regulatory asset— 327 — — — 327 
Total$195 $405 $15 $(21)$— $594 
    
(1) See Note 9, Stockholders' Equity.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we contributed approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively to the Chesapeake Pension Plan and approximately $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively, to the FPU Pension Plan. We expect to contribute approximately $2.1 million to the FPU Pension Plan during 2021, which represents the minimum annual contribution payments required. We will make all required contributions to the Chesapeake Pension Plan so that it can be terminated before the end of the year.
The Chesapeake SERP, the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan and the FPU Medical Plan are unfunded and are expected to be paid out of our general funds. Cash benefits paid under the Chesapeake SERP for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were immaterial and $0.1 million, respectively. We expect to pay total cash benefits of approximately $0.2 million under the Chesapeake SERP in 2021. Cash benefits paid under the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and nine ended September 30, 2021 were immaterial and $0.2 million, respectively. We estimate that approximately $0.2 million will be paid for such benefits under the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan in 2021. Cash benefits paid under the FPU Medical Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, were $0.1 million. We estimate that approximately $0.1 million will be paid for such benefits under the FPU Medical Plan in 2021.