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Retirement benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Retirement benefits Retirement benefits
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans information.  For the first three months of 2019, the Company contributed $8 million ($8 million by the Utilities) to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans, compared to $16 million ($15 million by the Utilities) in the first three months of 2018. The Company’s current estimate of contributions to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans in 2019 is $47.5 million ($46.8 million by the Utilities, $0.7 million by HEI and nil by ASB), compared to $38.5 million ($37.6 million by the Utilities, $0.9 million by HEI and nil by ASB) in 2018. In addition, the Company expects to pay directly $2.6 million ($1.2 million by the Utilities) of benefits in 2019, compared to $1.5 million ($0.6 million by the Utilities) paid in 2018.
The components of NPPC and NPBC for HEI consolidated and Hawaiian Electric consolidated were as follows:
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
 
Pension benefits
 
Other benefits
(in thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
HEI consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
15,382

 
$
17,113

 
$
541

 
$
669

Interest cost
 
21,033

 
19,234

 
1,997

 
1,931

Expected return on plan assets
 
(27,998
)
 
(27,254
)
 
(3,086
)
 
(3,192
)
Amortization of net prior service gain
 
(11
)
 
(10
)
 
(452
)
 
(452
)
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses
 
3,839

 
7,395

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
Net periodic pension/benefit cost (return)
 
12,245

 
16,478

 
(1,003
)
 
(1,046
)
Impact of PUC D&Os
 
12,279

 
2,657

 
811

 
1,071

Net periodic pension/benefit cost (adjusted for impact of PUC D&Os)
 
$
24,524

 
$
19,135

 
$
(192
)
 
$
25

Hawaiian Electric consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
 
$
15,001

 
$
16,673

 
$
537

 
$
664

Interest cost
 
19,414

 
17,710

 
1,917

 
1,859

Expected return on plan assets
 
(26,164
)
 
(25,607
)
 
(3,035
)
 
(3,140
)
Amortization of net prior service (gain) cost
 
2

 
2

 
(451
)
 
(451
)
Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
3,576

 
6,710

 
—

 
—

Net periodic pension/benefit cost (return)
 
11,829

 
15,488

 
(1,032
)
 
(1,068
)
Impact of PUC D&Os
 
12,279

 
2,657

 
811

 
1,071

Net periodic pension/benefit cost (adjusted for impact of PUC D&Os)
 
$
24,108

 
$
18,145

 
$
(221
)
 
$
3


HEI consolidated recorded retirement benefits expense of $15 million ($14 million by the Utilities) and $12 million ($11 million by the Utilities) in the first three months of 2019 and 2018, respectively, and charged the remaining net periodic benefit cost primarily to electric utility plant.
The Utilities have implemented pension and OPEB tracking mechanisms under which all of their retirement benefit expenses (except for executive life and nonqualified pension plan expenses) determined in accordance with GAAP are recovered over time. Under the tracking mechanisms, these retirement benefit costs that are over/under amounts allowed in rates are charged/credited to a regulatory asset/liability. The regulatory asset/liability for each utility will be amortized over 5 years beginning with the issuance of the PUC’s D&O in the respective utility’s next rate case.
Defined contribution plans information.  For the first three months of 2019 and 2018, the Company’s expenses for its defined contribution pension plans under the Hawaiian Electric Industries Retirement Savings Plan (HEIRSP) and the ASB 401(k) Plan were $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and cash contributions for both were $3.7 million. For the first three months of 2019 and 2018, the Utilities’ expenses for its defined contribution pension plan under the HEIRSP were $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and cash contributions were $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively.