NOTE 10 - PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
We offer defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans and OPEB plans to a significant portion of our employees and retirees. Benefits are also provided through multiemployer plans for certain union members.
The following are the components of defined benefit pension and OPEB costs (credits):
Defined Benefit Pension Costs (Credits)
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(In Millions) |
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2022 |
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2021 |
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2022 |
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2021 |
Service cost |
$ |
12
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$ |
14 |
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$ |
24
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$ |
28 |
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Interest cost |
31
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26 |
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63
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52 |
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Expected return on plan assets |
(92) |
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(90) |
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(184) |
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(180) |
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Amortization: |
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Net actuarial loss |
3
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8 |
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7
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16 |
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Net periodic benefit credits |
$ |
(46) |
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$ |
(42) |
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$ |
(90) |
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$ |
(84) |
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OPEB Costs (Credits)
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(In Millions) |
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2022 |
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2021 |
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2022 |
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2021 |
Service cost |
$ |
10
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$ |
12 |
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$ |
21
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$ |
25 |
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Interest cost |
20
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19 |
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40
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37 |
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Expected return on plan assets |
(9) |
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(10) |
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(19) |
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(20) |
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Amortization: |
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Net actuarial loss (gain) |
(3) |
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1 |
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(6) |
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2 |
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Net periodic benefit costs |
$ |
18
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$ |
22 |
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$ |
36
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$ |
44 |
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Based on funding requirements, we made no defined benefit pension contributions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Based on funding requirements, we made defined benefit pension contributions of $7 million and $153 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. As a result of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) enacted on March 27, 2020, we deferred $118 million of 2020 pension contributions, which were paid on January 4, 2021. We made contributions of $28 million and $56 million to our voluntary employee benefit association trust plans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, we made contributions of $5 million for our voluntary employee benefit association trust plans
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