XML 31 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Asset Retirement Obligations | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016
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, natural gas transmission lines, storage facilities, 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 deferred credits and other liabilities - other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
| 2016 |  | 2015 |
| (In thousands)
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 242,224 |  | $ | 27,211 |
Liabilities incurred | 15,114 |  | 2,751 |
Liabilities settled | (4,338 | ) | (1,708 | )
Accretion expense | 13,918 |  | 2,134 |
Revisions in estimates | 48,052 |  | 211,836 |
Balance at end of year | $ | 314,970 |  | $ | 242,224 |
The 2016 revisions in estimates consist principally of updated asset retirement obligation costs associated with natural gas transmission lines and storage facilities at the pipeline and midstream segment. The 2015 revisions in estimates consist principally of updated asset retirement obligation costs associated with natural gas distribution mains and lines at the natural gas distribution segment. 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. For more information on the Company's regulatory assets and liabilities, see Note 4.

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