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Asset Retirement Obligations | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] |
Asset Retirement Obligations | Asset Retirement Obligations The ARO is recorded based on the determination of underlying assumptions, such as the Company’s discount rate, estimates of the future costs for decommissioning, and the timing of the removal activities to be performed. Any changes in these assumptions underlying the required calculations may require revisions to the estimated ARO when identified. A reconciliation of ARO is as follows:
| PNMR |  | PNM |  | TNMP
| (In thousands)
Liability at December 31, 2008(1) | $ | 63,675 |  |  | $ | 62,879 |  |  | $ | 711 |
Liabilities incurred | 3,464 |  |  | 3,464 |  |  | — |
Liabilities settled | (8 | ) |  | (8 | ) |  | — |
Accretion expense | 5,751 |  |  | 5,683 |  |  | 60 |
Revisions to estimated cash flows (2) | (1,919 | ) |  | (1,919 | ) |  | — |
Liability at December 31, 2009 | 70,963 |  |  | 70,099 |  |  | 771 |
Liabilities incurred | 532 |  |  | 531 |  |  | — |
Liabilities settled | (603 | ) |  | (413 | ) |  | (190 | )
Accretion expense | 6,019 |  |  | 5,945 |  |  | 67 |
Revisions to estimated cash flows (2) | (274 | ) |  | (274 | ) |  | — |
Liability at December 31, 2010 | 76,637 |  |  | 75,888 |  |  | 648 |
Liabilities incurred | 60 |  |  | 60 |  |  | — |
Liabilities settled | (4 | ) |  | — |  |  | (4 | )
Accretion expense | 6,114 |  |  | 6,051 |  |  | 55 |
Revisions to estimated cash flows (2) | (3,574 | ) |  | (3,574 | ) |  | — |
Liability at December 31, 2011 | $ | 79,233 |  |  | $ | 78,425 |  |  | $ | 699 |
(1) | ARO for PNMR and PNM includes $0.2 million at December 31, 2008 for PNM Gas.
(2) | Based on studies to estimate amount and timing of future ARO expenditures. PNM has an ARO for PVNGS that includes the obligations for nuclear decommissioning of that facility. In 2011, a new decommissioning study for PVNGS reflects updated cash flow estimates and the 20-year license extension, which extends the commencement of decommissioning to 2045. The new study resulted in a $4.2 million decrease to the ARO.

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- 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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 143 -Paragraph 22 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7569-110849 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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