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Asset Retirement Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

26. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

AROs mostly relate to reclamation of land at the thermal, hydro and combustion turbine sites; and the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls in transmission and distribution equipment and a pipeline site. Certain hydro, transmission and distribution assets may have additional AROs that cannot be measured as these assets are expected to be used for an indefinite period and, as a result, a reasonable estimate of the fair value of any related ARO cannot be made.

The change in ARO for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

millions of Canadian dollars	2020		2019
Balance, January 1	$	185	$	205
Additions		10		-
Liabilities settled (1)		(25)		(25)
Accretion included in depreciation expense		9		7
Accretion deferred to regulatory asset (included in property, plant and equipment)		(3)		-
Other		1		3
Change in foreign exchange rate		1		(5)
Balance, December 31	$	178	$	185
(1) Tampa Electric produces ash and other by-products, collectively known as CCR's, at its Big Bend and Polk power stations. The decreases in ARO in 2020 and 2019 are due to the closure of CCR management facilities.