TEC is a participant in the comprehensive retirement plans of TECO Energy. The following table presents detail related to TECO Energy’s periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefits. Amounts disclosed for TECO Energy’s pension benefits include the amounts related to its qualified pension plan and non-qualified, non-contributory SERP and Restoration Plan.

TECO Energy Benefit Cost
(millions)	Pension Benefits								Other Postretirement Benefits
Three months ended September 30,	2019				2018				2019			2018
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	5			$	5			$	1		$	0
Interest cost		8				8				3			1
Expected return on assets		(12	)			(13	)			0			0
Amortization of:
Actuarial (gain) loss		3				5				(2	)		1
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4			$	5			$	2		$	2
Nine months ended September 30,
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	15			$	16			$	1		$	1
Interest cost		24				22				6			5
Expected return on assets		(38	)			(37	)			0			0
Amortization of:
Actuarial (gain) loss		11				14				(2	)		0
Settlement cost		1		⁽¹⁾		2		⁽¹⁾		0			0
Net periodic benefit cost	$	13			$	17			$	5		$	6

(1)Represents TECO Energy’s SERP and Restoration Plan settlement charges as a result of the prior retirements of certain executives.

TEC’s portion of the net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was $2 million and $4 million for pension benefits, and $2 million and $2 million for other postretirement benefits. TEC’s portion of the net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was $9 million and $9 million for pension benefits, and $5 million and $6 million for other postretirement benefits.

TECO Energy assumed a long-term EROA of 7.35% and a discount rate of 4.34% for pension benefits under its qualified pension plan for 2019. For TECO Energy’s other postretirement benefits, TECO Energy used a discount rate of 4.38% for 2019.

TECO Energy made contributions of $20 million and $10 million to its qualified pension plan in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. TEC’s portion of these contributions was $15 million and $8 million, respectively. TECO Energy and TEC do not expect to make additional contributions to the pension plan for the remainder of 2019.

Included in the benefit cost discussed above, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, $3 million and $9 million, respectively, of unamortized prior service benefits and costs and actuarial gains and losses were reclassified by TEC from regulatory assets to the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income, compared with $4 million and $14 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.