NiSource provides defined contribution plans and noncontributory defined benefit retirement plans that cover employees of subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo. Benefits under the defined benefit retirement plans reflect the employees’ compensation, years of service and age at retirement. Additionally, NiSource provides health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees of subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo. The majority of employees may become eligible for these benefits if they reach retirement age while working for subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo. The expected cost of such benefits is accrued during the employees’ years of service. Current rates charged to customers of subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo include postretirement benefit costs. Cash contributions are remitted to grantor trusts.

Subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo are participants in the consolidated NiSource defined benefit retirement plans (the Plans), and therefore, subsidiaries of Columbia OpCo are allocated a ratable portion of NiSource’s grantor trusts for the Plans in which its employees and retirees participate. As a result, the Partnership follows multiple employer accounting under the provisions of GAAP.