Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

Note 8 Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees. The net periodic benefit cost is based on estimated values and an extensive use of assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, the rate of future compensation increases received by the Company's employees, mortality, turnover, and medical costs. The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit costs:

					Pension Benefits
		Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended
		June 30,							June 30,
		2011			2010				2011			2010
Service cost	$	2,087		$	2,344		$	1,044			$	1,172
Interest cost		5,928			6,440				2,964			3,220
Expected return on plan assets		(5,191	)		(5,592	)			(2,596	)		(2,796	)
Amortization of prior service cost		87			70				43			35
Amortization of actuarial loss		2,033			2,060				1,016			1,030
Capitalized costs		(1,808	)		(1,685	)			(951	)		(888	)
Settlement charge		-			884				-			884
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,136		$	4,521		$	1,520			$	2,657
					Other
					Postretirement Benefits
		Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended
		June 30,							June 30,
		2011			2010				2011			2010
Service cost	$	751		$	610			$	376		$	305
Interest cost		1,623			1,240				812			620
Expected return on plan assets		(1,243	)		(924	)			(621	)		(462	)
Amortization of transition obligation		69			52				34			26
Amortization of prior service cost		(178	)		(134	)			(89	)		(67	)
Amortization of actuarial loss		411			342				206			171
Amortization of regulatory asset		68			68				34			34
Capitalized costs		(343	)		(250	)			(188	)		(129	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,158		$	1,004			$	564		$	498

The Company made cash contributions of $16,540 to its defined benefit pension plans during the first six months of 2011, and intends to make cash contributions of $600 to the plans during the remainder of 2011. In addition, the Company expects to make cash contributions of $2,012 for the funding of its other postretirement benefit plans during the remainder of 2011.