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Retirement benefits
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Retirement benefits
10 · Retirement benefits
Defined benefit plans. Substantially all of the employees of HEI and the Utilities participate in the Retirement Plan for Employees of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and Participating Subsidiaries (HEI Pension Plan). Substantially all of the employees of ASB and its subsidiaries participated in the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan (ASB Pension Plan) until it was frozen on December 31, 2007. The HEI Pension Plan and the ASB Pension Plan (collectively, the Plans) are qualified, noncontributory defined benefit pension plans and include, in the case of the HEI Pension Plan, benefits for utility union employees determined in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements between the Utilities and the union. The Plans are subject to the provisions of ERISA. In addition, some current and former executives and directors of HEI and its subsidiaries participate in noncontributory, nonqualified plans (collectively, Supplemental Plans). In general, benefits are based on the employees’ or directors’ years of service and compensation.
The continuation of the Plans and the Supplemental Plans and the payment of any contribution thereunder are not assumed as contractual obligations by the participating employers. The Supplemental Plan for directors has been frozen since 1996. The ASB Pension Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2007. The HEI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and ASB Supplemental Executive Retirement, Disability, and Death Benefit Plan (noncontributory, nonqualified, defined benefit plans) were frozen as of December 31, 2008. No participants have accrued any benefits under these plans after the respective plan’s freeze and the plans will be terminated at the time all remaining benefits have been paid.
Each participating employer reserves the right to terminate its participation in the applicable plans at any time, and HEI and ASB reserve the right to terminate their respective plans at any time. If a participating employer terminates its participation in the Plans, the interest of each affected participant would become 100% vested to the extent funded. Upon the termination of the Plans, assets would be distributed to affected participants in accordance with the applicable allocation provisions of ERISA and any excess assets that exist would be paid to the participating employers. Participants’ benefits in the Plans are covered up to certain limits under insurance provided by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
To determine pension costs for HEI and its subsidiaries under the Plans and the Supplemental Plans, it is necessary to make complex calculations and estimates based on numerous assumptions, including the assumptions identified under “Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans information” below.
Postretirement benefits other than pensions.  HEI and the Utilities provide eligible employees health and life insurance benefits upon retirement under the Postretirement Welfare Benefits Plan for Employees of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and participating employers (Hawaiian Electric Benefits Plan). Eligibility of employees and dependents is based on eligibility to retire at termination, the retirement date and the date of hire. The plan was amended in 2011, changing eligibility for certain bargaining unit employees hired prior to May 1, 2011, based on new minimum age and service requirements effective January 1, 2012, per the collective bargaining agreement, and certain management employees hired prior to May 1, 2011 based on new eligibility minimum age and service requirements effective January 1, 2012. The minimum age and service requirements for management and bargaining unit employees hired May 1, 2011 and thereafter have increased and their dependents are not eligible to receive postretirement benefits. Employees may be eligible to receive benefits from the HEI Pension Plan but may not be eligible for postretirement welfare benefits if the different eligibility requirements are not met.
The executive death benefit plan was frozen on September 10, 2009 to participants and benefit levels as of that date. The electric discount was eliminated for management employees and retirees of Hawaiian Electric in August 2009, Hawaii Electric Light in November 2010, and Maui Electric in August 2010, and for bargaining unit employees and retirees on January 31, 2011 per the collective bargaining agreement.
The Company’s and Utilities' cost for OPEB has been adjusted to reflect the plan amendments, which reduced benefits and created prior service credits to be amortized over average future service of affected participants. The amortization of the prior service credit will reduce benefit costs over the next few years until the various credit bases are fully recognized. Each participating employer reserves the right to terminate its participation in the Hawaiian Electric Benefits Plan at any time.
Balance sheet recognition of the funded status of retirement plans.  Employers must recognize on their balance sheets the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans with an offset to AOCI in shareholders’ equity (using the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO), to calculate the funded status).
The PUC allowed the Utilities to adopt pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms in previous rate cases. The amount of the net periodic pension cost (NPPC) and net periodic benefits costs (NPBC) to be recovered in rates is established by the PUC in each rate case. Under the Utilities’ tracking mechanisms, any actual costs determined in accordance with GAAP that are over/under amounts allowed in rates are charged/credited to a regulatory asset/liability. The regulatory asset/liability for each utility will then be amortized over 5 years beginning with the respective utility’s next rate case. Accordingly, all retirement benefit expenses (except for executive life and nonqualified pension plan expenses, which amounted to $1.0 million and 1.2 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively) determined in accordance with GAAP will be recovered.
Under the tracking mechanisms, amounts that would otherwise be recorded in AOCI (excluding amounts for executive life and nonqualified pension plans), which amounts include the prepaid pension asset, net of taxes, as well as other pension and OPEB charges, are allowed to be reclassified as a regulatory asset, as those costs will be recovered in rates through the NPPC and NPBC in the future. The Utilities have reclassified to a regulatory asset/(liability) charges for retirement benefits that would otherwise be recorded in AOCI (amounting to the elimination of a potential charge to AOCI of $(41) million pretax and $340 million pretax for 2015 and 2014, respectively).
Under the pension tracking mechanism, the Utilities’ are required to make contributions to the pension trust in the amount of the actuarially calculated NPPC, except when limited by the ERISA minimum contribution requirements or the maximum contribution limitations on deductible contributions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.
The OPEB tracking mechanisms generally require the Utilities to make contributions to the OPEB trust in the amount of the actuarially calculated NPBC, except when limited by material, adverse consequences imposed by federal regulations.
Retirement benefits expense for the Utilities for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $30 million, $32 million and $30 million, respectively.
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans information.  The changes in the obligations and assets of the Company’s and Utilities' retirement benefit plans and the changes in AOCI (gross) for 2015 and 2014 and the funded status of these plans and amounts related to these plans reflected in the Company’s and Utilities' consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
 
2015
 
2014
(in thousands)
Pension
benefits
 
Other
benefits
 
Pension
benefits
 
Other
benefits
HEI consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation, January 1
$
1,847,228

 
$
219,209

 
$
1,446,291

 
$
176,099

Service cost
66,260

 
3,927

 
49,264

 
3,490

Interest cost
76,960

 
9,011

 
72,202

 
8,550

Actuarial losses (gains)
(124,239
)
 
(2,911
)
 
342,446

 
39,098

Benefits paid and expenses
(68,179
)
 
(7,696
)
 
(62,975
)
 
(8,028
)
Benefit obligation, December 31
1,798,030

 
221,540

 
1,847,228

 
219,209

Fair value of plan assets, January 1
1,266,060

 
180,332

 
1,186,669

 
179,330

Actual (loss) return on plan assets
(14,422
)
 
(2,866
)
 
81,123

 
9,149

Employer contributions
86,802

 
917

 
60,103

 
(257
)
Benefits paid and expenses
(66,966
)
 
(7,696
)
 
(61,835
)
 
(7,890
)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31
1,271,474

 
170,687

 
1,266,060

 
180,332

Accrued benefit asset (liability), December 31
$
(526,556
)
 
$
(50,853
)
 
$
(581,168
)
 
$
(38,877
)
Other assets
$
12,509

 
$

 
$
12,800

 
$

Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability
(539,065
)
 
(50,853
)
 
(593,968
)
 
(38,877
)
Accrued benefit asset (liability), December 31
$
(526,556
)
 
$
(50,853
)
 
$
(581,168
)
 
$
(38,877
)
AOCI debit/(credit), January 1 (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)
$
639,831

 
$
20,933

 
$
317,544

 
$
(21,722
)
Recognized during year – prior service credit (cost)
(4
)
 
1,793

 
(88
)
 
1,793

Recognized during year – net actuarial (losses) gains
(36,800
)
 
(1,796
)
 
(20,304
)
 
11

Occurring during year – net actuarial losses (gains)
(21,264
)
 
11,620

 
342,679

 
40,851

AOCI debit/(credit) before cumulative impact of PUC D&Os, December 31
581,763

 
32,550

 
639,831

 
20,933

Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os
(538,784
)
 
(35,333
)
 
(592,291
)
 
(22,975
)
AOCI debit/(credit), December 31
$
42,979

 
$
(2,783
)
 
$
47,540

 
$
(2,042
)
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
581,951

 
$
44,845

 
$
640,015

 
$
35,022

Prior service gain
(188
)
 
(12,295
)
 
(184
)
 
(14,089
)
AOCI debit/(credit) before cumulative impact of PUC D&Os, December 31
581,763

 
32,550

 
639,831

 
20,933

Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os
(538,784
)
 
(35,333
)
 
(592,291
)
 
(22,975
)
AOCI debit/(credit), December 31
42,979

 
(2,783
)
 
47,540

 
(2,042
)
Income taxes (benefits)
(16,944
)
 
1,084

 
(18,742
)
 
795

AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits), December 31
$
26,035

 
$
(1,699
)
 
$
28,798

 
$
(1,247
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
(in thousands)
Pension
benefits
 
Other
benefits
 
Pension
benefits
 
Other
benefits
Hawaiian Electric consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation, January 1
$
1,690,777

 
$
211,760

 
$
1,320,810

 
$
169,579

Service cost
64,262

 
3,870

 
47,597

 
3,392

Interest cost
70,529

 
8,700

 
65,979

 
8,234

Actuarial losses (gains)
(114,286
)
 
(2,860
)
 
314,210

 
38,488

Benefits paid and expenses
(63,037
)
 
(7,598
)
 
(57,819
)
 
(7,933
)
Transfers
1,445

 
118

 

 

Benefit obligation, December 31
1,649,690

 
213,990

 
1,690,777

 
211,760

Fair value of plan assets, January 1
1,129,005

 
177,256

 
1,058,260

 
176,291

Actual (loss) return on plan assets
(10,646
)
 
(2,712
)
 
69,242

 
9,036

Employer contributions
85,139

 
864

 
58,948

 
(274
)
Benefits paid and expenses
(62,584
)
 
(7,598
)
 
(57,445
)
 
(7,797
)
Other
919

 
120

 

 

Fair value of plan assets, December 31
1,141,833

 
167,930

 
1,129,005

 
177,256

Accrued benefit asset (liability), December 31
$
(507,857
)
 
$
(46,060
)
 
$
(561,772
)
 
$
(34,504
)
Other liabilities (short-term)
(425
)
 
(518
)
 
(421
)
 
(460
)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability
(507,432
)
 
(45,542
)
 
(561,351
)
 
(34,044
)
Accrued benefit asset (liability), December 31
$
(507,857
)
 
$
(46,060
)
 
$
(561,772
)
 
$
(34,504
)
AOCI debit/(credit), January 1 (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)
$
595,103

 
$
20,090

 
$
295,973

 
$
(21,907
)
Recognized during year – prior service credit (cost)
(40
)
 
1,804

 
(62
)
 
1,804

Recognized during year – net actuarial losses
(33,371
)
 
(1,754
)
 
(18,459
)
 

Occurring during year – net actuarial losses (gains)
(20,574
)
 
11,345

 
317,651

 
40,193

AOCI debit/(credit) before cumulative impact of PUC D&Os, December 31
541,118

 
31,485

 
595,103

 
20,090

Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os
(538,784
)
 
(35,333
)
 
(592,291
)
 
(22,975
)
AOCI debit/(credit), December 31
$
2,334

 
$
(3,848
)
 
$
2,812

 
$
(2,885
)
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
541,071

 
$
43,784

 
$
595,017

 
$
34,192

Prior service cost (gain)
47

 
(12,299
)
 
86

 
(14,102
)
AOCI debit/(credit) before cumulative impact of PUC D&Os, December 31
541,118

 
31,485

 
595,103

 
20,090

Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os
(538,784
)
 
(35,333
)
 
(592,291
)
 
(22,975
)
AOCI debit/(credit), December 31
2,334

 
(3,848
)
 
2,812

 
(2,885
)
Income taxes (benefits)
(908
)
 
1,497

 
(1,094
)
 
1,122

AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits), December 31
$
1,426

 
$
(2,351
)
 
$
1,718

 
$
(1,763
)

The Company does not expect any plan assets to be returned to the Company during the calendar year 2016.
The dates used to determine retirement benefit measurements for the defined benefit plans were December 31 of 2015, 2014 and 2013.
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Pension Protection Act) signed into law on August 17, 2006, amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).  Among other things, the Pension Protection Act changed the funding rules for qualified pension plans. On August 8, 2014, President Obama signed the latest change to the Pension Protection Act, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (HATFA). HATFA resulted in an increase of the Adjusted Funding Target Attainment Percentage (AFTAP) for benefit distribution purposes and eased funding requirements effective with the 2014 plan year (a plan sponsor could have elected to apply the provisions of HATFA to 2013, but the Company did not so elect). As a result, the minimum funding requirements for the HEI Retirement Plan under ERISA are less than the net periodic cost for 2014 and 2015. Nevertheless, to satisfy the requirements of the Utilities pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms, the Utilities contributed the net periodic cost in 2014 and 2015 and expect to contribute the net periodic cost in 2016.
The Pension Protection Act provides that if a pension plan’s funded status falls below certain levels, more conservative assumptions must be used to value obligations under the pension plan. The HEI Retirement Plan met the threshold requirements in each of 2013, 2014 and 2015 so that the more conservative assumptions did not apply for either 2014 or 2015 and will not apply for 2016. Other factors could cause changes to the required contribution levels.
For purposes of calculating NPPC and NPBC, the Company and the Utilities have determined the market-related value of retirement benefit plan assets by calculating the difference between the expected return and the actual return on the fair value of the plan assets, then amortizing the difference over future years – 0% in the first year and 25% in each of years two through five – and finally adding or subtracting the unamortized differences for the past four years from fair value. The method includes a 15% range restriction around the fair value of such assets (i.e., 85% to 115% of fair value).
A primary goal of the plans is to achieve long-term asset growth sufficient to pay future benefit obligations at a reasonable level of risk. The investment policy target for defined benefit pension and OPEB plans reflects the philosophy that long-term growth can best be achieved by prudent investments in equity securities while balancing overall fund volatility by an appropriate allocation to fixed income securities. In order to reduce the level of portfolio risk and volatility in returns, efforts have been made to diversify the plans’ investments by asset class, geographic region, market capitalization and investment style.
The asset allocation of defined benefit retirement plans to equity and fixed income securities managers and related investment policy targets and ranges were as follows:
 
Pension benefits1
 
Other benefits2
 
 
 
 
 
Investment policy
 
 
 
 
 
Investment policy
December 31
2015

 
2014

 
Target

 
Range
 
2015

 
2014

 
Target

 
Range
Assets held by category
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Equity securities managers
70
%
 
73
%
 
70
%
 
65-75
 
70
%
 
72
%
 
70
%
 
65-75
Fixed income securities managers
30

 
27

 
30

 
25-35
 
30

 
28

 
30

 
25-35
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
 
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
 

1  
Asset allocation for 2015 and 2014 is applicable to only HEI and the Utilities. In 2014, ASB revised its defined benefit pension plan asset allocation to a liability driven investment strategy and as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, nearly all of its pension assets were invested in fixed income securities.
2 
Asset allocation for 2015 and 2014 is applicable to only HEI and the Utilities. ASB does not fund its other benefits.
See Note 16 for additional disclosures about the fair value of the retirement benefit plans’ assets.
The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the accounting for the plans:
 
Pension benefits
 
Other benefits
December 31
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.60
%
 
4.22
%
 
5.09
%
 
4.57
%
 
4.17
%
 
5.03
%
Rate of compensation increase
3.5

 
3.5

 
3.5

 
NA   

 
NA   

 
NA   

Net periodic pension/benefit cost (years ended)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.22

 
5.09

 
4.13

 
4.17

 
5.03

 
4.07

Expected return on plan assets1
7.75

 
7.75

 
7.75

 
7.75

 
7.75

 
7.75

Rate of compensation increase
3.5

 
3.5

 
3.5

 
NA   

 
NA   

 
NA   

NA  Not applicable
1 For 2015, HEI's and utilities' plan assets only. For 2015, ASB's expected return on plan assets was 4.22%.
The Company and the Utilities based their selection of an assumed discount rate for 2016 NPPC, NPBC and December 31, 2015 disclosure on a cash flow matching analysis that utilized bond information provided by Bloomberg for all non-callable, high quality bonds (i.e., rated AA- or better) as of December 31, 2015. In selecting the expected rate of return on plan assets for 2016 NPPC and NPBC: a) HEI and the Utilities considered economic forecasts for the types of investments held by the plans (primarily equity and fixed income investments), the Plans’ asset allocations, industry and corporate surveys and the past performance of the plans’ assets in selecting 7.75% and b) ASB considered its revised asset allocation in 2014 to a liability driven investment strategy in selecting 4.8%, which is consistent with the assumed discount rate as of December 31, 2015 with a 20 basis point active manager premium.
The Company and the Utilities adopted mortality tables published in October 2014 by the Society of Actuaries as its mortality assumptions as of December 31, 2014. The use of the RP-2014 Tables and the Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2014 had a significant effect on the Company’s and the Utilities’ benefit obligations and increased their costs and required contributions for 2015. The Company and the Utilities adopted revised mortality tables for their mortality assumptions as of December 31, 2015 (based on information published by the Society of Actuaries in October 2015), the use of which lowered obligations of the Company and Utilities as of December 31, 2015 and will lower their costs and required contributions in 2016.
As of December 31, 2015, the assumed health care trend rates for 2016 and future years were as follows: medical, 8%, grading down to 5% for 2028 and thereafter; dental, 5%; and vision, 4%. As of December 31, 2014, the assumed health care trend rates for 2015 and future years were as follows: medical, 7.25%, grading down to 5% for 2024 and thereafter; dental, 5%; and vision, 4%. Medicare Advantage reimbursements are expected to phase out by 2016. For post age 65, the medical trend is 3% higher than pre-65 for 2015 to reflect anticipated increases above the ordinary medical trend rates. Starting in 2016, pre-65 and post-65 health care trend rates are assumed to be the same .
The components of NPPC and NPBC were as follows:
 
Pension benefits
 
Other benefits
(in thousands)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
HEI consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
66,260

 
$
49,264

 
$
56,405

 
$
3,927

 
$
3,490

 
$
4,306

Interest cost
76,960

 
72,202

 
64,788

 
9,011

 
8,550

 
7,569

Expected return on plan assets
(88,554
)
 
(81,355
)
 
(72,537
)
 
(11,664
)
 
(10,902
)
 
(10,147
)
Amortization of net prior service (gain) cost
4

 
88

 
(97
)
 
(1,793
)
 
(1,793
)
 
(1,793
)
Amortization of net actuarial losses (gains)
36,800

 
20,304

 
38,438

 
1,796

 
(11
)
 
1,602

Net periodic pension/benefit cost
91,470

 
60,503

 
86,997

 
1,277

 
(666
)
 
1,537

Impact of PUC D&Os
(40,011
)
 
(13,324
)
 
(38,104
)
 
(240
)
 
1,976

 
(1,458
)
Net periodic pension/benefit cost (adjusted for impact of PUC D&Os)
51,459

 
47,179

 
48,893

 
1,037

 
1,310

 
79

Hawaiian Electric consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
64,262

 
$
47,597

 
$
54,482

 
$
3,870

 
$
3,392

 
$
4,163

Interest cost
70,529

 
65,979

 
59,119

 
8,700

 
8,234

 
7,288

Expected return on plan assets
(82,541
)
 
(72,661
)
 
(64,551
)
 
(11,495
)
 
(10,739
)
 
(10,002
)
Amortization of net prior service (gain) cost
40

 
62

 
(464
)
 
(1,804
)
 
(1,804
)
 
(1,803
)
Amortization of net actuarial losses
33,371

 
18,459

 
34,597

 
1,754

 

 
1,544

Net periodic pension/benefit cost
85,661

 
59,436

 
83,183

 
1,025

 
(917
)
 
1,190

Impact of PUC D&Os
(40,011
)
 
(13,324
)
 
(38,104
)
 
(240
)
 
1,976

 
(1,458
)
Net periodic pension/benefit cost (adjusted for impact of PUC D&Os)
$
45,650

 
$
46,112

 
$
45,079

 
$
785

 
$
1,059

 
$
(268
)

The estimated prior service credit, net actuarial loss and net transition obligation for defined benefit plans that will be amortized from AOCI or regulatory assets into NPPC and NPBC during 2016 is as follows:
 
HEI consolidated
 
Hawaiian Electric consolidated
(in millions)
Pension benefits
 
Other benefits
 
Pension benefits
 
Other benefits
Estimated prior service cost (credit)
$
(0.1
)
 
$
(1.8
)
 
$

 
$
(1.8
)
Net actuarial loss
23.9

 
1.1

 
21.8

 
1.1


The Company recorded pension expense of $35 million, $32 million and $34 million and OPEB expense of $0.9 million, $1.2 million and $0.4 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and charged the remaining amounts primarily to electric utility plant. The Utilities recorded pension expense of $29 million, $31 million and $30 million and OPEB expense of $0.7 million, $1.0 million and nil in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and charged the remaining amounts primarily to electric utility plant.
The health care cost trend rate assumptions can have a significant effect on the amounts reported for other benefits. As of December 31, 2015, for the Company, a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have increased the total service and interest cost by $0.2 million and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) by $3.8 million, and a one-percentage-point decrease would have reduced the total service and interest cost by $0.3 million and the APBO by $4.4 million. As of December 31, 2015, for the Utilities, a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have increased the total service and interest cost by $0.2 million and the APBO by $3.7 million, and a one-percentage-point decrease would have reduced the total service and interest cost by $0.2 million and the APBO by $4.3 million.
HEI consolidated. The defined benefit pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations (ABOs), which do not consider projected pay increases (unlike the PBOs shown in the table above), in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, had aggregate ABOs of $1.5 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, and plan assets of $1.2 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. The defined benefit pension plans with PBOs in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2015, had aggregate PBOs of $1.7 billion and plan assets of $1.2 billion. The defined benefit pension plans with PBOs in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2014, had aggregate PBOs of $1.7 billion and plan assets of $1.2 billion. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the other postretirement benefit plans shown in the table above had ABOs in excess of plan assets.
The Company estimates that the cash funding for the qualified defined benefit pension plans in 2016 will be $65 million, which should fully satisfy the minimum required contributions to those plans, including requirements of the Utilities’ pension tracking mechanisms and the Plan’s funding policy. The Company's current estimate of contributions to its other postretirement benefit plans in 2016 is $49,000.
As of December 31, 2015, the benefits expected to be paid under all retirement benefit plans in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 through 2025 amount to $80 million, $84 million, $87 million, $91 million, $96 million and $547 million, respectively.
Hawaiian Electric consolidated. The defined benefit pension plans with ABOs in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, had aggregate ABOs of $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, and plan assets of $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. All the defined benefit pension plans shown in the table above had PBOs in excess of plan assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the other postretirement benefit plan shown in the table above had ABOs in excess of plan assets.
The Utilities estimate that the cash funding for the qualified defined benefit pension plan in 2016 will be $64 million, which should fully satisfy the minimum required contributions to that Plan, including requirements of the pension tracking mechanisms and the Plan’s funding policy. The Utilities' current estimate of contributions to its other postretirement benefit plans in 2016 is $23,000.
As of December 31, 2015, the benefits expected to be paid under all retirement benefit plans in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 through 2025 amounted to $74 million, $77 million, $80 million, $84 million, $88 million and $501 million, respectively.
Defined contribution plans information.  The ASB 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan, which includes a discretionary employer profit sharing contribution by ASB (AmeriShare) and a matching contribution by ASB on the first 4% of employee deferrals (AmeriMatch).
Changes to retirement benefits for HEI and utility employees commencing employment after April 30, 2011 include a reduction of benefits provided through the defined benefit plan and the addition of a 50% match by the applicable employer on the first 6% of employee deferrals through the defined contribution plan (under the Hawaiian Electric Industries Retirement Savings Plan).
For 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s expense for its defined contribution pension plans under the HEIRSP and the ASB 401(k) Plan was $6 million, $5 million and $5 million, respectively, and cash contributions were $5 million, $5 million and $4 million, respectively. The Utilities’ expense for its defined contribution pension plan under the HEIRSP Plan for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $1.5 million, $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively.