XML 40 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Asset Retirement Obligations | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015
Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract] |
Asset retirement obligations | Asset Retirement Obligations The Company records obligations related to retirement costs of natural gas distribution mains and lines, decommissioning of certain electric generating facilities, reclamation of certain aggregate properties, special handling and disposal of hazardous materials at certain electric generating facilities, natural gas distribution facilities and buildings, and certain other obligations as asset retirement obligations. A reconciliation of the Company's liability, which is included in other accrued liabilities and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
| 2015 |  | 2014 |
| (In thousands)
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 27,211 |  | $ | 27,327 |
Liabilities incurred | 2,751 |  | 1,697 |
Liabilities settled | (1,708 | ) | (3,231 | )
Accretion expense | 1,163 |  | 1,112 |
Revisions in estimates | 211,836 |  | (73 | )
Other | 971 |  | 379 |
Balance at end of year | $ | 242,224 |  | $ | 27,211 |
The 2015 revisions in estimates consist principally of updated natural gas distribution mains and lines asset retirement obligation costs. The Company believes that largely all expenses related to asset retirement obligations at the Company's regulated operations will be recovered in rates over time and, accordingly, defers such expenses as regulatory assets.

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://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 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration