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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits, Description [Abstract]  
Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information
The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented in the following tables. Most of these costs are recoverable through our tariff rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our rate base or deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense or other non-operating expense.
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
4,652

 
$
4,045

 
$
3,366

 
$
2,703

Interest cost(1)
5,843

 
6,801

 
2,653

 
2,958

Expected return on assets(1)
(7,079
)
 
(7,113
)
 
(2,625
)
 
(2,665
)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)(1)
(58
)
 
(58
)
 
43

 
44

Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss(1)
3,242

 
1,607

 
(334
)
 
(2,044
)
Net periodic pension cost
$
6,600

 
$
5,282

 
$
3,103

 
$
996

 
Six Months Ended March 31
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
9,305

 
$
8,090

 
$
6,733

 
$
5,405

Interest cost(1)
11,686

 
13,600

 
5,306

 
5,919

Expected return on assets(1)
(14,158
)
 
(14,226
)
 
(5,249
)
 
(5,330
)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)(1)
(116
)
 
(116
)
 
87

 
87

Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss(1)
6,483

 
3,215

 
(669
)
 
(4,089
)
Net periodic pension cost
$
13,200

 
$
10,563

 
$
6,208

 
$
1,992



(1)
The components of net periodic cost other than the service cost component are included in the line item other non-operating expense in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income or are capitalized on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as a regulatory asset or liability, as described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
The amount of funding required for our defined benefit plan is determined in accordance with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) and is influenced by the funded position of the plan when the funding requirements are determined on January 1 of each year. Based upon the determination as of January 1, 2020, we are not required to make a minimum contribution to our defined benefit plan during fiscal 2020. However, we may consider whether a voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain funding levels.
For the six months ended March 31, 2020 we contributed $7.4 million to our postretirement medical plans. We anticipate contributing a total of between $10 million and $20 million to our postretirement plans during fiscal 2020.