PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost:


	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Operating expenses:
Service cost	$	120	$	116	$	359	$	349
Interest expense:
Interest expense	1,155		1,063		3,464		3,189
Expected return on plan assets	(1,286)		(1,264)		(3,858)		(3,793)
Amortization of prior service cost	11		10		32		31
Settlement loss	91		—		609		—
Actuarial loss	422		511		1,267		1,533
Net periodic pension cost	$	513	$	436	$	1,873	$	1,309


	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Operating expenses:
Service cost	$	4	$	3	$	11	$	10
Interest expense:
Interest expense	83		85		248		254
Amortization of prior service cost	(177)		(178)		(532)		(533)
Actuarial loss	109		115		328		345
Net periodic pension cost	$	19	$	25	$	55	$	76

13. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, contributions were made to pension plans and postretirement health and life insurance benefits of approximately $4,629 and $261, respectively. Additional contributions to pension plans and postretirement health and life insurance benefits of approximately $2,101 and $256, respectively, are expected during the remainder of fiscal 2019. During the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2018, the Company's cash payments activity triggered settlement accounting, which resulted in $91 and $609 of settlement loss recorded in interest expense, respectively.