XML 133 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Asset Retirement Obligations | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019
Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract] |
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS | ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS FirstEnergy has recognized applicable legal obligations for AROs and their associated cost, primarily for the decommissioning of the TMI-2 nuclear generating facility and environmental remediation, including reclamation of sludge disposal ponds, closure of coal ash disposal sites, underground and above-ground storage tanks and wastewater treatment lagoons. In addition, FirstEnergy has recognized conditional retirement obligations, primarily for asbestos remediation. The following table summarizes the changes to the ARO balances during 2019 and 2018:
ARO Reconciliation |  | (In millions)
Balance, January 1, 2018 |  | $ | 570 |
Changes in timing and amount of estimated cash flows |  | 203 |
Liabilities settled |  | (1 | )
Accretion |  | 40 |
Balance, December 31, 2018 |  | $ | 812 |
Liabilities settled |  | (2 | )
Accretion |  | 46 |
Balance, December 31, 2019 (1) |  | $ | 856 |
(1) Includes $691 million related to TMI-2 classified as held for sale. See Note 15, "Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies," for further information. In April 2015, the EPA finalized regulations for the disposal of CCRs (non-hazardous), establishing national standards for landfill design, structural integrity design and assessment criteria for surface impoundments, groundwater monitoring and protection procedures and other operational and reporting procedures to assure the safe disposal of CCRs from electric generating plants. On September 13, 2017, the EPA announced that it would reconsider certain provisions of the final regulations. On July 17, 2018, the EPA Administrator signed a final rule extending the deadline for certain CCR facilities to cease disposal and commence closure activities, as well as, establishing less stringent groundwater monitoring and protection requirements. On August 21, 2018, the D.C. Circuit remanded sections of the CCR Rule to the EPA to provide additional safeguards for unlined CCR impoundments that are more protective of human health and the environment. On November 4, 2019, the EPA issued a proposed rule accelerating the date that certain CCR impoundments must cease accepting waste and initiate closure to August 31, 2020. The proposed rule, which includes a 60-day comment period, provides exceptions, which could allow extensions to closure dates. During the fourth quarter of 2018, based on studies completed by a third-party to reassess the estimated costs and timing to decommission TMI-2, JCP&L, ME and PN increased their ARO by a total of approximately $172 million, with a regulatory offset. The increase in the ARO resulted primarily from accelerated timing of the estimated cash flows associated with decommissioning.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for an asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2175671 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration