The key assumptions used to value benefit obligations and calculate net periodic benefit cost
for our DB and OPEB Plans include the following:
2018 2017
Discount rate for net periodic benefit cost, beginning of year 3.50% 4.02%
Discount rate for benefit obligations, end of year (a) 4.15% 3.50%
Expected return on plan assets for the period (net of investment expenses) 7.00% 7.00%
Rate of compensation increase, beginning of year 3.00% 3.00%
Healthcare cost trend rate (applicable only to OPEB Plans) 7.00% 7.50%
‘) An increase or decrease in the discount rate of 0.5% would result ina change in the funded status as of December 31, 2018,
for the DB Plan and the OPEB Plans of approximately $2.0 million and $316 thousand, respectively .
The estimated net actuarial loss for our DB Plan that will be amortized in 2019 from the
regulatory assets into net periodic benefit costs is $372,000. The estimated net actuarial gain
and prior service cost for our OPEB Plans that will be amortized in 2019 from the regulatory
assets into net periodic benefit costs is $5,300.
In establishing its investment policy, the Company has considered the fact that the DB Plan is
a major retirement vehicle for its employees and the basic goal underlying the establishment
of the policy is to provide that the assets of the DB Plan are invested in accordance with the
asset allocation range targets to achieve our expected return on DB Plan assets. The Company’s
investment strategy applies to its OPEB Plans as well as the DB Plan. The expected long-term
rate of return on DB Plan and OPEB Plan assets is based on the Plans’ expected asset
allocation, expected returns on various classes of Plan assets, as well as historical returns.
The assets of our Post-65 Plan are held in two separate Voluntary Employee Beneficiary
Association (“VEBA”) trusts. The VEBA plan assets are maintained in directed trust accounts
at a commercial bank.
The investment strategy for the Company’s DB Plan and OPEB Plans utilizes several different
asset classes with varying risk/return characteristics. The following table indicates the asset
allocation percentages of the fair value of the DB Plan and OPEB Plans’ assets for each major
type of plan asset as of December 31, 2018, as well as the targeted allocation range:
DB Plan OPEB Plans
Asset Asset
Allocation Allocation
Range Range
Equities 59% 30% - 100% 65% 30% - 100%
Fixed income 41% 20% - 70% 32% 0% - 50%
Cash and cash equivalents 0% 0% - 15% 3% 0% - 15%
Total 100% 100%
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