Company: ATO
Filing Date: 2025-11-14
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000731802-25-000056
Chunk: 122

Company: ATMOS ENERGY CORP
Filing Date: 2025-11-14
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 8
Chunk 122
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 income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income or are capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets as a regulatory asset or liability, as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

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Table of ContentsATMOS ENERGY CORPORATIONNOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Estimated Future Benefit PaymentsThe following benefit payments for our defined benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:PensionPlanSupplementalPlans (In thousands)2026$40,122 $6,277 202739,190 9,627 202838,729 28,392 202938,798 3,783 203038,777 3,615 2031-2035178,831 31,031 Postretirement Benefits PlanWe sponsor the Retiree Medical Plan for Retirees and Disabled Employees of Atmos Energy Corporation (the Retiree Medical Plan). This plan provides medical and prescription drug protection to all qualified participants based on their date of retirement. The Retiree Medical Plan provides different levels of benefits depending on the level of coverage chosen by the participants and the terms of predecessor plans. Effective January 1, 2022, the Retiree Medical Plan was amended to change the post-65 retiree coverage to Via Benefits with an Atmos Energy funded Health Reimbursement Account. Eligible post-65 retirees and post-65 spouses will be able to elect coverage through Via Benefits, including those that previously deferred or declined retiree coverage.Generally, our funding policy is to contribute annually an amount in accordance with the requirements of ERISA. However, additional voluntary contributions are made annually as considered necessary. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future. We expect to contribute between $13 million and $18 million to our Retiree Medical Plan during fiscal 2026.We maintain a formal investment policy with respect to the assets in our Retiree Medical Plan to ensure the assets funding the Retiree Medical Plan are appropriately invested to maintain an acceptable level of risk. We also consider our current financial status when making recommendations and decisions regarding the Retiree Medical Plan.We currently invest the assets funding our Retiree Medical Plan in diversified investment funds which consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, and fixed income securities. The diversified investment funds may invest up to 75 percent of assets in common stocks and convertible securities. The following table